Under cladding torn off
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
1999 e320 W210, 2017 G63, 2020 E63s wagon
Under cladding torn off
Hi Guys,
Yesterday while driving my 1999 W210 E320, I heard a horrible sound coming from under the engine bay. Pulling over to the side of the freeway, I saw most of the plastic under cladding of the front bumper/engine bay/front wheel wells was shredded. I tried tearing it off on the side of the freeway but could not. So I rolled home slowly and jacked up the car. Was able to remove the front panel just behind the front bumper and had to cut as little as I had to from the front wheel housings. I also had to remove the plastic cladding protecting the oil reservoir.
Question is, do I need said cladding?
If said cladding needs to be replaced, where would I get it from other than the dealer?
Your help would be much appreciated.
Yesterday while driving my 1999 W210 E320, I heard a horrible sound coming from under the engine bay. Pulling over to the side of the freeway, I saw most of the plastic under cladding of the front bumper/engine bay/front wheel wells was shredded. I tried tearing it off on the side of the freeway but could not. So I rolled home slowly and jacked up the car. Was able to remove the front panel just behind the front bumper and had to cut as little as I had to from the front wheel housings. I also had to remove the plastic cladding protecting the oil reservoir.
Question is, do I need said cladding?
If said cladding needs to be replaced, where would I get it from other than the dealer?
Your help would be much appreciated.
Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 193
Likes: 1
2001 E-430 4-Matic
The bolts and nuts holding that shield are easily stripped when changing the oil. I replaced them on mine. Other than keeping the bottom of the car clean, I don't see why it's absolutely needed. I don't know where else you would find the shield besides the dealer. If you do replace it, you'll need new nuts and bolts.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,225
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I drove without belly pans on W210 for years.
Front pan is also reinforcing the bumper, so it is good to have, but the pans are more cosmetic with some sound-dampening features (if you still have soft pillows on them).
I ditto the experience that grease monkeys at Jiffy lube put pneumatic wrenches on small screws and mess up the clip that holds them. You can buy those clips from dealer as well as pan is dealer-only item. Try internet dealers for better pricing.
Front pan is also reinforcing the bumper, so it is good to have, but the pans are more cosmetic with some sound-dampening features (if you still have soft pillows on them).
I ditto the experience that grease monkeys at Jiffy lube put pneumatic wrenches on small screws and mess up the clip that holds them. You can buy those clips from dealer as well as pan is dealer-only item. Try internet dealers for better pricing.
