Hello,

I have a dielmma regarding my C300 4matic. When I drove by a road that is still not fully paved with a raised manhole cover, it ripped out couple of holes on the plastic shield under the engine with a siz of a dime. I called MB and the parts itself cost approximately $200 before labor and I am wondering should I get this plastic shield replaced ? Any thoughts are much appreciated.

Steven

 

That skid pad is probably the only thing that saved you from ripping your oil pan off. The skid pad is there for a reason and that is to protect the underside of the car. I would get it replaced and try to remember these cars are low profile.

 

If it were me, I wouldn't replace the pan. Here's why. A couple of dime sized holes in the pan aren't going to make a difference at all. It's a big "plastic" piece designed to protect things above it. But, are two small holes in it going to allow anything to happen? No.
If you are that concerned about it, jack the front end up so you can remove the pan and repair the two holes in it with some epoxy. Save your money.

 

If there were chunks hanging down then replace. But you said there were only a couple of holes. I agree with coyote, fix it yourself if you want or can, otherwise, forget it and watch yourself next time.
In the old days cars never even had these things. I once was forced onto railway tracks and rode the rail for some distance before they used the shield. The car (1978 300D) survived with 0 damage and a new crease in the oil pan.

 

if they are dime size I wouldn't worry about it. Do you mean it ripped out where a couple of screws were mounted? On my C230, that damn thing is mounted with a ridiculous number of screws (had to remove them all to do oil chance) and two would make little or no difference.

 

Thank you very much for all the advises. I have attached two pics for reference. By looking at the pictures now, I think the size indeed is bigger than a dime, sorry for the poor qulaity....

 

An easier way to change your oil is to buy an oil extractor from Harbor freight and suction it out through the dipstick tube. Of course you have to buy a compressor too but you will gain tools and save buig by not going to an oil change station or the dealer. Eventually the tools pay handsomely for themselves.