W211 E280 CDI - OM642920 engine - High level of vibration

[johnsco]

I suffered a low-speed crunch to my left-hand front corner a few days ago - My fault - Only about 5 miles per hour and nobody hurt.
There is damage to the front vallance and nearside spot-light.
Also a crack in the front corner of the intercooler, which is causing a lack of power over 40 mph.
Other than that, the car drives and handles OK and I am putting it thru my insurance to do the repairs.
Not so simple ....
I drove it for a couple of long motorway runs.
That was when the loss of power was noticed, which I traced to the intercooler.
However, while on a short local journey, I stopped at traffic lights.
Suddenly, without any apparent reason, a high level of engine vibration started.
After driving home carefully, I did a bit of investigation.
The vibration is caused by engine speed.
It eases off at revs above 1200 rpm.
It is there with the car in P / N / D / R and is there whether the car is stationery or moving.
The car still drives OK.
There are no warnings, EML etc.

The insurance company inspector and I had a look at it.
We both reckoned that the problem was the crankshaft pulley vibration damper, which looked as if the rubber insert was separating.
We both agreed that this could not have been caused by the bump and that I would sort it prior to the bodywork repairs.

My usual garage had a look at it with me and agreed that this was the first thing to fix.
So - Having fitted a new MB-supplied vibration damper - We've found that it hasn't solved the problem.

Next - I fear either an engine mounting or (horrors !) the torque converter.
The next step will be to take the serpentine belt of the crankshaft pulley and see if that stops the vibration.

Any thoughts would be warmly-welcomed.
Thanks.

 

[m80]

You don't mention age or mileage.
Replacing engine mounts, and even the gearbox mount while at it, is a v reasonable 2nd step (following the removal of the aux belt). Does yours have 2 aux belts?

I would give some attention to the other radiators, the AC condensor in particular. The intercooler is the most vulnerable but worth checking the others.

Edit- sorry just seen it's a 211. Likely it's time for engine mounts anyway.

 

[johnsco]

Hi m80.
It's 2009 and 185,000 miles..
There is only one belt - The sepentine belt driving all accessories.
I've checked over all the rads / heat exchangers .... No probs that I can see.

 

[Londonscottish]

I had an engine mount give up on my 211. Even though it was a 5.0, it still vibrated surprisingly badly.

 

[johnsco]

Removing the serpentine belt has made no difference to the vibration.
Bother !
Next Step - I'm getting the two front engine mounting from MB today.
[Not that they'll have them in stock]
I'll keep you up to date.
Any further thoughts would be welcome.

 

[m80]

Removing the serpentine belt has made no difference to the vibration.
Bother !
Next Step - I'm getting the two front engine mounting from MB today.
[Not that they'll have them in stock]
I'll keep you up to date.
Any further thoughts would be welcome.

You might well find the correct number here

Mercedes > Mercedes EPC Online > nemigaparts.com

Parts catalogs. Spare parts catalog Mercedes EPC Online. Mercedes.

nemigaparts.com

and then source through eBay or similar.

I would do the gearbox mount also, as it is the cheaper of the threee, and easiest to fit.

 

[johnsco]

Thanks m80
I've just come out of nemigaparts.com.
I'll get all three mounts ... Might as well cover all possibilities.
I'm in a hurry to get this sorted.
I'm desperate for the car back on the road.
So - I'm off to MB Leeds to get my wallet emptied.
Just hoping !!!!

 

[m80]

Thanks m80
I've just come out of nemigaparts.com.
I'll get all three mounts ... Might as well cover all possibilities.
I'm in a hurry to get this sorted.
I'm desperate for the car back on the road.
So - I'm off to MB Leeds to get my wallet emptied.
Just hoping !!!!

I'm not suggesting the gearbox mount is the culprit, assuming you're keeping the motor for a while the replacing of all mounts is a tick in the box for another good few years.

With my motors I'm in hope that we will be allowed to use them for maybe 10 years more, fingers and toes crossed. That being the case replacing anything now that is likely to become an issue means I get full benefit and shouldn't be diagnosing issues caused by them.

 

[Londonscottish]

Any further thoughts would be welcome.

FWIW I had the engine pulley rubber break up on mine - it wobbled a lot and was likely to throw a belt but it didn't create any discernable vibration.

 

[johnsco]

I'm not suggesting the gearbox mount is the culprit, assuming you're keeping the motor for a while the replacing of all mounts is a tick in the box for another good few years.

With my motors I'm in hope that we will be allowed to use them for maybe 10 years more, fingers and toes crossed. That being the case replacing anything now that is likely to become an issue means I get full benefit and shouldn't be diagnosing issues caused by them.

I am hoping to keep the car for a number of years.
As you say - At 185,000 miles - New engine mounts is good preventative maintenance.
I've ordered the three mounts from MB-Leeds .... Promised for 9.00am on Thursday morning.

 

[johnsco]

So - The story continues.
I picked up the three engine mounts and fastening screws from MB Leeds.
On this occasion - MB Leeds did everything right - Correct parts - on time - and pleasant service.

I took the car to Rodley Motors in Bradford - My trusted garage.
Ben and Matthew were confidant that changing the mounts would cure the problem.
I must admit - I wasn't so sure.
They were right and I was wrong.
The front N/S mount had disintegrated and spilled its guts.
Replacing all three mounts has completely cured the vibration and the engine is as sweet as it ever was.
Result !!

I learn something every day.
I hadn't realised that the two front engine mounts are oil-filled mounts.
The effect of the failure of one of them was dramatic.
It goes to show how much vibration a 3 litre V6 diesel kicks out and how effective the oil-filled mounts are in damping it.

The N/S front mount is easy to do.
The O/S front mount is difficult to access because of the position of the exhaust.
The rear mount is easy to do (and cheap)

It's been an expensive week.
The crankshaft pulley vibration damper costs were:
Pulley / damper MA642 030 04 03 £220.00 + VAT
Window / washer MA604 990 0040 £ 4.50 + VAT
Hex-head bolt MN000000 005724 £ 2.25 + VAT
Woodruff key MN006888 005012 £ 2.25 + VAT

The engine mount costs were:
Front mounts (2-off) A211 240 30 17 £ 95.00 + VAT each
Hex head bolt N304017 010051 £ 2.45 + VAT each
Combi-hex-head bolt A202 990 22 01 £ 2.65 + VAT each
Rear mount A212 240 04 18 £ 39.30 + VAT

No regrets ....... New vibration damper and new engine mounts ....... Should see me out.
Happy days !

 

[m80]

Nice one.

Were the mounts Febi or Lemforder?

 

[johnsco]

Nice one.

Were the mounts Febi or Lemforder?

I don't know.
They were from MB and in an MB box with an MB Pt. No.
I didn't look too closely before they were fitted.
I was rather surprised when I saw how big they were.
But .... for £95 .... I guess I should have expected it.

I might have got all parts cheaper on Autodoc.
I was just desperate to get the car up and running.

 

[m80]

I've had a quick look on eBay and prices seem to be around £75 - £80+. So a saving, but for peace of mind paying MB seems more than reasonable.

It's pretty obvious why I'm looking.
The 211 is loverly to drive, but if we're aiming to run it for some years yet why not enjoy new mounts now? They'll out last the car the way things are going.

 

[johnsco]

My engine mounts and the crank-shaft pulley/vibration damper were almost certainly originals.
I bought the car from Mercland at 111,000 miles 7 years ago and it's now at 185,000 miles.
It has been a VERY GOOD car.
I've worked it hard when I was in business as an inpection engineer and it never failed me.
As an estate, it's a very useful work-horse .... as well as being a pretty smart car.
[Note: Not a "SMART CAR"]

 

[Londonscottish]

So - The story continues.
I picked up the three engine mounts and fastening screws from MB Leeds.
On this occasion - MB Leeds did everything right - Correct parts - on time - and pleasant service.

I took the car to Rodley Motors in Bradford - My trusted garage.
Ben and Matthew were confidant that changing the mounts would cure the problem.
I must admit - I wasn't so sure.
They were right and I was wrong.
The front N/S mount had disintegrated and spilled its guts.
Replacing all three mounts has completely cured the vibration and the engine is as sweet as it ever was.
Result !!

I learn something every day.
I hadn't realised that the two front engine mounts are oil-filled mounts.
The effect of the failure of one of them was dramatic.
It goes to show how much vibration a 3 litre V6 diesel kicks out and how effective the oil-filled mounts are in damping it.

The N/S front mount is easy to do.
The O/S front mount is difficult to access because of the position of the exhaust.
The rear mount is easy to do (and cheap)

It's been an expensive week.
The crankshaft pulley vibration damper costs were:
Pulley / damper MA642 030 04 03 £220.00 + VAT
Window / washer MA604 990 0040 £ 4.50 + VAT
Hex-head bolt MN000000 005724 £ 2.25 + VAT
Woodruff key MN006888 005012 £ 2.25 + VAT

The engine mount costs were:
Front mounts (2-off) A211 240 30 17 £ 95.00 + VAT each
Hex head bolt N304017 010051 £ 2.45 + VAT each
Combi-hex-head bolt A202 990 22 01 £ 2.65 + VAT each
Rear mount A212 240 04 18 £ 39.30 + VAT

No regrets ....... New vibration damper and new engine mounts ....... Should see me out.
Happy days !

Excellent. Same thing happened to my n/s engine mount.

To a certain extent the engine mounts & crank pulley are consumables.

Now you can relax for the next 10 years/100k.

 

[W1ghty]

Nice one.

Were the mounts Febi or Lemforder?

I bought Lemforder from Autodoc the other year in a sale (I had the advantage of time which @johnsco did not ) . The Lemforder ones had MB part numbers on them
I paid £100 ish for the 2 mounts and the tranny mount . My Indy charged £100 to fit them . That was at 100k + on my W211 as preventative maintenance. It was a noticeable difference afterwards .

 

[Lenny63]

Glad you got sorted. They are an awesome motor, the om642 is so sweet! Mine is on 189k now

 

[johnsco]

Glad you got sorted. They are an awesome motor, the om642 is so sweet! Mine is on 189k now

Indeed they are an awesome motor
Loads of power
Smooth and sweet again now that the engine mounts are replaced

 

[Lenny63]

Next up...remap !! You'll see how they boogie then