Cross member

[slim_boy_fat]

Got the car on the ramp today at Mainly Merc Independant Glasgow.

Brian gave it the once over and hit it with the needle gun.

Things didnt look so good once he was finished...

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Then he got to work...

First weld on some plates to get the structure back.

Then spray zinc rich paint onto all areas.

Then final underseal everywhere that needs it.

Top job, should last well past my ownership of the car.

The top part of the member was absolutly fine and in general the underneth of the car is on good condition.

Probably could do with new disks and pads all round, but that can wait till the next service in the summer.

 

[alexspurs61]

Interesting, and it looks like a cracking job you've had done there.

Mine - two years older than yours - needed the same. It was the first piece of work I had on it; about sixty quid's worth of work as I remember, but not as pretty as your mechanic's job!

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Nice Job, thanks for posting the information, a good reminder to all 210 owners to have the front crossmember checked and waxoiled every couple of years.

My car has just had its annual MOT and oil change and I asked the garage to remove the front undertray and inspect the crossmember and treat with wax.

As the undertray fits tightly to the crossmember and causes a water trap I asked the garage to use 5mm spacers when refitting the undertray at the rear fixings so that any water ingress could drain.

 

[daveenty]

As the undertray fits tightly to the crossmember and causes a water trap I asked the garage to use 5mm spacers when refitting the undertray at the rear fixings so that any water ingress could drain.

Isn't it a damn shame when you have to ask them though?

Thanks for the info izzi613, I'm sure a lot will appreciate it

 

[izzi613]

Thanks for the info izzi613, I'm sure a lot will appreciate it

What info man? Surely you mean Malcolm.

 

[daveenty]

And at 10.21 this morning I was sober......it gets worse

Sorry whoever (No more nyms)

 

[robs-mbz]

Its good that you got your crossmember repaired, but I should take a close look at the transmission oil cooler pipes if I were you (they run under the radiator), they look very rusty, I just replaced mine, £36 from MBZ, not too bad a DIY job either. You really should have a look at them, you dont want to lose all your transmission fluid and bust your gearbox, that would be an expensive repair!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Its good that you got your crossmember repaired, but I should take a close look at the transmission oil cooler pipes if I were you (they run under the radiator), they look very rusty, I just replaced mine, £36 from MBZ, not too bad a DIY job either. You really should have a look at them, you dont want to lose all your transmission fluid and bust your gearbox, that would be an expensive repair!

Cheers, there now covered in underseal so will prob last at least until the next service (the summer) but will probably get them to fit them at the same time.

I assume you have to to refill the trany will fluid after it done.

 

[bigasotonuk]

I take it from the posts this is very common in w210 that and the rust issues in the body panels too i think i,ll steer clear of the intended E36 AMG and stay with a W202 possibly C36 or C43.
Incidently (just out of interest) anyone know how much a new cross member from Merc would of been?

 

[robs-mbz]

I lost just half a litre of transmission fluid. Replacement looks to be a real pig of a job at first, but its only about an hours work. The connections between the flexible hoses and the rigid pipes are a simple union, no problems there. Two or three brackets hold the pipes to the crossmember, again easy enough to get at. The connections to the radiator are banjo's to the front of the rad. You can't see them at all, but you will notice that as you look at the radiator from the front of the car, there is a blanking plug in the plastic shroud on the left of the radiator, remove this plug and the top banjo connection can be seen. Use a socket and extension to undo, the rear copper washer will fall off into the shroud so keep your eye on it! The bottom banjo coupling looks to be even harder to get at, remove the hose from the right hand end of the intercooler (two hose clips) and remove the 6mm bolt that holds the right hand end of the cooler to the radiator. The intercooler can then be dropped down on that side by about three inches, go to the front of the car again and remove the grill cover that gives access to the towing hitch, you can then see the banjo which can be undone with the socket and extension. Re-assembly is just a reverse procedure starting with the banjo's. It is a bit of a fiddle threading the new tubes into place and fitting the rear copper washers will test your patience, but its pretty straight forward. Its a good idea to cover the open ends of the pipes with masking tape to keep out dirt as you thread them through. The new pipes seem to be plastic coated so they should last forever. Good luck!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I take it from the posts this is very common in w210 that and the rust issues in the body panels too i think i,ll steer clear of the intended E36 AMG and stay with a W202 possibly C36 or C43.
Incidently (just out of interest) anyone know how much a new cross member from Merc would of been?

The W202 are not exactly rust free i gather. But no doubt the 210 is a shed in this department, at least it means you can get a decent car on the cheap as long as you have your eyes open.

I believe a new cross member is around £1000 not sure if that was just the part or supplied and fitted.

Anyway no need for a new one if it can be nicely repaired.

Go with the C36, v8 is nice but ultimatly i think the 36 is the better car. Either one is very nice, :mrgreen:

 

[Uncle Benz]

Nice job on the front cross member. I've done 3 of these myself now. Worth also looking at the front spring upper seats.

If the cross member is rotten I have found the spring seats are not far behind.

Does anyone know why the 300TD seems to be the worst affected by these corrosion probs??

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Nice job on the front cross member. I've done 3 of these myself now. Worth also looking at the front spring upper seats.

If the cross member is rotten I have found the spring seats are not far behind.

Does anyone know why the 300TD seems to be the worst affected by these corrosion probs??

Yes, he checked the spring mounts and was happy they were in good nik

 

[230K]

Hi

There is a repair plate for these crossmembers available from MB. I will see if i can source part no.

230K

 

[230K]

Hi

Part number for new soffit plate is A210 628 15 16 about £15. Also listed are 2 spacers A116 997 15 81. These keep the acoustic covering down a bit to allow water to drain thus not letting it happen again.

230K