1991 300TE 4Matic

[CJohnson]

Hey MB World, I'm considering purchasing a 1991 300TE 4Matic with less than 100,000 miles. It's an absolutely gorgeous car in nearly mint condition. It drove down the interstate with in complete silence and felt like an absolute tank. The level of build quality is apparent the second you touch the door handle to open the door. Nothing showed up on the Auto Check, but I have some questions about the W124 4Matic cars. 1. The transmission shifted butter smooth, but I have a concern with highway speeds. It was absolutely dead quiet at speed, but I feel like it wasn't shifting into overdrive. It was hovering around 3500 RPM at 70. My non-turbo Volvo 940 with an Aisin-Warner transmission and 4.10 gears is around 3500 RPM at 75 MPH. It just didn't seem right. I've driven a W220 S500 and it was barely breathing at 70. I feel like this should be the same way. I've experienced issues with electronic overdrive solenoids failing, but I'm not sure what the W124 gearbox is like. I'm thinking it could be a simple kickdown cable issue, but I want to know what you all think. 2. Is early 4Matic any good? I'm from Dallas, but I'm a student at OU. I don't need 4Matic, but this car might be too clean to pass up. What are the typical 4Matic issues? I seriously know nothing about 4Matic, or really Mercedes in general, but I do have a fair bit of mechanical ability. 3. How bad are the headlights? My 940 had the nasty US-spec headlights, but I swapped them out for some ecodes. I'm expecting similarly terrible headlights on this. I'm assuming they're easily swapable for W124 ecodes. I appreciate any response and have included some pictures of the car, as well as one of my 940. And here's my 940.

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[Saijin_Naib]

1) Overdrive? lol. We've only got a 4spd autobox, you're right on the money rpmwise at that speed. The car and the trans can handle it, and surprisingly, so can the gas tank.

2) Early 4matic has a reputation for being unstoppable when it works, and unfixable when it breaks. If you're an "advanced" mechanic, you'll likely have no issues fixing it when it goes. If it does decide to crap out on you and you don't want to fix it, disconnect the front transfer case and just drive it as a RWD car.

3) DOT-Spec optics in the w124 are complete and utter ****. Change them out immediately, aim them properly, and buy good bulbs.

Both cars are very nice

[RHW]

The 4matic is a great snow-winter machine, but the reliability of this generation of 4matics was not so great. They can go, and there are many 200k + 4matics out there. But I sold mine because, if it ever gives you trouble, access to seriously competent and experienced support is scarce, almost not available. It is a $4-5K potential cost if it goes, and if it failed 3 years later, what shop would stand behind their work without pointing out "the new cause"

And, if you do not need the 4x4, it is weight, big weight, meaning gas mileage and paint-drying-slow acceleration up hills. I think it has the m104, so not as slow as my 89 which I sold at 120k to my mechanic for his daughter.

[AdrianL]

I like volvos too, and that mercedes is beautiful! I've got no personal experience with the mercedes 4matic system, but i've heard it's literally like driving a tank.

[CJohnson]

Originally Posted by Saijin_Naib

1) Overdrive? lol. We've only got a 4spd autobox, you're right on the money rpmwise at that speed. The car and the trans can handle it, and surprisingly, so can the gas tank.

2) Early 4matic has a reputation for being unstoppable when it works, and unfixable when it breaks. If you're an "advanced" mechanic, you'll likely have no issues fixing it when it goes. If it does decide to crap out on you and you don't want to fix it, disconnect the front transfer case and just drive it as a RWD car.

3) DOT-Spec optics in the w124 are complete and utter ****. Change them out immediately, aim them properly, and buy good bulbs.

Both cars are very nice

Awesome. Thanks for all of the info. What sort of gas mileage should I expect? I expected the headlights to be garbage.


I may or may not have been admiring your car. It's just so clean!

[Saijin_Naib]

Originally Posted by CJohnson

Awesome. Thanks for all of the info. What sort of gas mileage should I expect? I expected the headlights to be garbage.

I may or may not have been admiring your car. It's just so clean!

No problem man, there are tons of things you'll need to research now that you've got a w124. I'll throw you a tip: search the forums first before you ask, and don't create like, 500 threads. It'll make people much happier if you attempt to look things up and keep your whole progress to one or a few threads. Besides, then you have a nice chronological record of all you've learned and done

Well, in the coupe doing about 65 on the highway I can usually turn 24+mpg, sometimes as high as 28mpg (when my exhaust was rotted open ). So for you, I'd expect similar. The 4matic won't drag at all over I think 30mph, so you're not going to have any losses that way.

Thanks man, I literally JUST got it to that state. Plenty more to come, I'm not even half-way to my vision for the car.


If you need convincing about 4matic:

You Tube

You Tube

Get good tires :P

[CJohnson]

I haven't purchased it yet, but am strongly considering it. My 940 may be sold for $3,000 I I do decide to sell it and buy this.

[ptoro01]

Saijin Naib, I think there are 3 critical problems with that video ...

A-He's picking the easy slaloms
B-Going way too slow
C-Not doing it backwards

I'd also say D- he's not drunk but not sure he isn't..

A rwd 300e is already very balanced on snow. My experience on new all-seasons is that it's very controllable, the rear predictable and with the stiffer suspension it actually stops too. But that's judging it as a rwd, not a field plowing offroader in a foot of powder. Cool vid.

[chlippo]

Originally Posted by RHW

I think it has the m104, so not as slow as my 89 which I sold at 120k to my mechanic for his daughter.

Pictures clearly shows this car have an M103.

I am not into 4 matic's specially if you dont need it, but i understand that this cars looks too good to pass on! pretty clean car!

[CJohnson]

Picking the car up tomorrow. Can't resist it.

[CJohnson]

Or....maybe not. Just not a good financial decision right now.

[Saijin_Naib]

Why not man? You're not likely to see a clean one like this again too soon.

[MercBimmerman]

From "Mercedes-Benz E-Class Owners Bible 1986-1995":

The first generation 4Matic system was originally a complex electronically controlled system with automatically engaging four-wheel drive (4WD), the system employs locking central and rear differentials to provide additional traction in slippery conditions.
The center differential, also known as the transfer case, contains two clutches. Each hydraulically enabled clutch is controlled separately to allow for three modes of operation:
2WD (mode 0) where 100% of available torque is available to the rear axle while the front axle is disconnected, and two 4WD modes which allow for 35/65 front/rear axle torque split (mode 1) or 50/50 front/rear axle torque split (mode 2). The rear differential lock, previously known as ASD on Mercedes-Benz models, can also be locked (mode 3) if rear wheel slip is still present when the transfer case 50/50 4WD mode 2 is engaged.
Due to safety and stability concerns there is no front differential lock. The 4Matic system uses inputs from the three channel ABS system and a steering wheel angle sensor to decide when to intervene. 4WD is disengaged automatically if the ABS service brakes are applied. Engine throttle control is not inherent in the W124 system.
Two W124 variants of the 4Matic system were produced: the first system (1986-1991) used a mechanical pressure test lever to disable the system hydraulically while the second system variant (1992/1993) used an electrical test switch to break power to the system. The latter system variant when in test mode allows for continued operation of the rear shock self-levelling system (SLS) when installed.

The 2nd gen is completely different with all time AWD with each individual wheel controlled by speed sensors, ABS, and electronic accelerator.
Having both versions,the 1st gen is not bad but the 2nd gen is very quick from a stop because of the all time AWD, and the traction is excellence even in the most adverse weather condition.



Even my 1993 400E with ASR, although only RWD, did a pretty good job in the snow.