CrossT

On a trip to San Diego from Tucson a couple of days ago, my lower engine cover, partially disconnected, began to flap and eventually flew away to the side of the road. Is it a problem to have lost it?

thx
todd
97 E420

RichardM98

The primary purpose is sound-proofing and maybe a little aerodynamics. You may hear the engine/trans more at slow speeds and a window open. I assume it tore off. So you'll have to look at the points where it attached to see if the clips pulled out. If so you may need to replace some of the parts it attached to as well as the shroud itself.
Good luck.

ohlord

under the car so air does not flow backwards through the radiator.Replace the belly pan

lkchris

This probably often happens to guys who change their oil via the drain plug!

EdzBenz

This happened to me because the dealer mechanics are morons and didn't attach the pan properly. It flew off on I-80 going through Iowa. I haven't been able to find a source for the pan. Anybody know of where I can get a used one?

RichardM98

Hm... I drove without mine for about a month and didn't notice any increase in engine temp. Anyway MB calls it a sound-proofing panel so that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

Hirnbeiss

Don't listen to the man behind the curtain on cooling, your engine will be cooled just fine. My E430 has been running bottomless since I bought it 3 years ago, and runs cold if anything.
If you're a purist and can't live knowing that your baby doesn't wear undies, check with Phil at mercedesshop.

ohlord

there for a reason and it is more than just sound proofing,put a temp probe behind the radiator of one with and one without and the engine bay will be hotter in the one without.Also with the 420's pure hatred of moisture I would watch it if you don't like to get stranded with a misfiring 420.
just my two cents,you can ignore it if you want
maybe the guy with 58 posts of "I THINKS" can tell you how to dry off the moisture on a m119 engine when it gets wet.
ohlord

CrossT

Thanks guys

Looks like a dealer item. I bought this 420 for a 4 month summer car. My vintage 911 is my 8 month car. Last thing I need is electrical problems in the 420 from the deluge splash up from the monsoon rains we get in the summer in Tucson. My steering rack was replaced by the prior owner and - assuming the belly pan covers that, it was not reattached correctly.

todd
97 E420

Musikmann

Replace your pan. The Mercedes engineers are not morons and would not have designed it that way if it had no useful purpose. The only downside I see is that you might develop an oil leak that the "diaper" catches so you won't know it because there are no drops where you park. That happened to me, and I had a rear main seal leaking that was not discovered until I had the dealer perform an oil consumption test.

MARK CUMMINS

Its there for a reason...

I Have seen several bottom out and take the lower oil pan out

Mercedes makes a STEEL Splash pan that WILL Save the engine if one does a carrier landing with the W210

I Have the STEEL Splash Pans on My W211 W210 and the 209\

My son hit a object on the freeway in the 209 and it Bent the splash pan (Metal)
and That saved the lower oil pan

Install the METAL pan and the HD hardware (Real Bolts..Not sheet metal screws)

EdzBenz

Mark,
Where do I get the steel splash pans?

1benzguy

I lost mine and it Dose raise engine room temp, But the STEEL one sounds nice!!

THX
rk

MARK CUMMINS

I Bought it from Steve @ MBENZNL.com

Its worth the extra cost!