cobac

Hi All -

Is it normal for the 4matic system (MY2000) to be slightly "rough" with it's shifting and downshifting, especially in traffic (here in NYC)?

I've had my car at the dealer for numerous problems, and this is the second time they've looked at the "clunk while downshifting sometimes from rear of car". This time they charged me labor on it as they reset the transmission computer and roadtested and found it as "normal".

I was told that its normal for the 4matic system to sometimes shift harder when accelerating hard or especially noticeable when stopping hard. This is just part of the 4 wheel drive system.

The only cars I have to compare this to are my 99 XJ8 and 2000 S430.... the Jag experienced a similar non-smoothness but it was related to a leaking pinion seal.

MB has said that the rear diff is fine on the car and the transfer case, motor mounts, trans module where replaced as part of other problems.

Please let me know if I should stop ripping my hair out over the "truck" feel of the 4matic system...

Thanks

live2drive

My 4-Matic shift smoothly. I've haven't heard of this complaint before, so I doubt that rough shifting in a 4-Matic is "normal".

Besides which, they're using the same system on many different models. I don't think MB would put a bad system on its entire line-up.

What I have noticed is a failure to diagnose problems properly, especially related to electronics.

sosh

Mine too shifts very smoothly. I do not believe that the 4 Matic has anything to do with trans operastion.

cobac

It's not exactly a problem with the transmission shifting per se.... the transmission shifts beautifully and I love it..

The problem is more like a slight "clunking" that doesn't happen all the time and generally seems to feel as if it's coming from the rear of the car... Basically, it feels like slack in the drivetrain....

Let's use this example.... doing about 15mph foot off gas and brake and coming to a red light. Light turns green before you stop, you floor it... then you feel a light "thunk" from the rear of the car....

I don't know how to describe it really, it feels similar to driving a land rover...

I hate to bring it to the dealer again and be charged for finding "nothing wrong"...

seeksbcdestroy

I have a 98 E320 4-Matic with the SAME EXACT issue, I lifted one side of the car this afternoon and the slack seems to be within the transmission itself (I hear the sound from the rear of the vehicle as well). I have some work to do soon and I plan on doing a more thorough inspection when I have the vehicle on the lift.

Ill try to keep you updated on my findings, personally I think it is something within the 4WD transfer case, as my tranny is NOISY when its below 10 degrees out. I am also planning on doing a full drive train service

fju2112

seeks, let us know what you find...in december im doing oil, differential, and tranny fluid changes. im going to have them look at the transfer case to see if there are any wet screws indicative of leakage. but if there'smore i should be looking for, let me know as i have this issue. i can't remember if it's coming more from the front or rear, but i definitely feel a "hitch" or "clunk" in traffic when the car is going between 1st and 2nd gear at low speeds. the car seems to accelerate beautifully but ill make a note to check that out too - i remember this as happening frequently in slow moving traffic when i have to stop & go a bit.

Quadcammer

I get it too very occasionally, but its not bad enough to bother. Just a very slight jolt, and thats it.

fju2112

hm, my friend who has an awd audi a6 from 2003 said the same thing happens to him in traffic...we're both hoping that it's nothing...my mechanic will call something to my attention if he sees something wrong when he puts it on the lift so ill ask about it at the next change...seems that some people experience this while others do not. could be a quirk of the driver adaptive tranny.

ohlord

the trans adapt program yourself.How many miles on the car?Don't wait change the fluid sooner then later.
ohlord

fju2112

hey ohlord...doing the tranny fluid & filter shortly, among other things...so we'll see what hapens once the differential and tranny fluid is changed, and the transfer case checked out. the suspension and shocks, etc have all been checked very recently and the alignment specialist i go to says everything looks good & clean and in good working order. bought the car w/ new ball joints. can't think of anything else that would cause this problem but some drivers on here experience it, others do not..probably something to do with the driver adaptive tranny depending on driving style (?).

badge707

Could be the lockup torque converter is not unlocking at the right time, too soon or too late. It is supposed to unlock when shifting up or down.That should adjust itself in the computer. Or Not!

I recall MBZ was known for rough shifts, before the lockup was invented. My 82, 84, 86 diesels all had that problem. My Peugeot Diesel, too, that had that same tranny.

MA-E320

I had the exact issue six months ago (while car was under extended warranty). While at 15 mph if you step on the gas you could hear the clunking noise. I took it to the stealer and they found that the planetary gearset inside the transfer case was not OK and it needed imminent replacement. To make a long story short they replaced the planetary gearset and resealed the transfer case. If I had to pay it out of my pocket it would cost around $3K. My $1.5K extended warranty paid for itself.

Since then I have not heard nor experienced anything other than normal. I hope that is not the case with you as any transfer case related work is quite expensive. I would love to hear though what you will find out.

fju2112

hey ma-e320...after looking into transfer case issues on benzworld.org, it appears it just needs to be refilled, a somewhat complicated DIY for the novice (including people like myself who have never really worked under a car before). i wouldn't let the dealership charge me $3k for a replacement on a transfer case when all it needs is more fluid. i'm going to have the transfer case checked for leaks in another 2K miles or so, at the end of december, and if they find some of the screws are wet with tranny fluid, i'll ask them if they will just refill it.

MA-E320

Hey fju2112,

I notice your location is Boston. I would suggest you take your car to Foreign Motors West (MB of Natick). As far as I know they still have the free inspection service special. You do not loose anything!! Usually they pinpoint the problem right away and you do not have any obligation to fix there.

I only paid $100 deductible for all the work as the car was under warranty at the time. My transfer case was not leaking and did not get replaced. What they replaced is the planetary gearset inside and of course refill and reseal.

fju2112

Interesting...my understanding was that dealerships generally do not try to work on transfer cases, that they just replace them. Maybe I was thinking of the planetary gearset? Good idea, I'll look into it. My car is not under warranty though, so I'm a bit nervous...if they tell me it needs to be replaced, that's $3K out of pocket for me. I'm sure I could get a better deal at my indie; I had planned to have them look for leaks when I get some work done in December, but I'll also ask them about the planetary gearset and how it's driving when they test it out.

zx11blade

I am not a big fan of Foreign Motors West. Nothing but a complete horror show. On another MB of mine they had to do a transmission 3 times. I paid for it the 1st time and they paid for it the other 2. I love when a dealer gets to the point where they say " If I were you I would trade this in for a new car". And then after having my car for over 2 months the day I pick it up they can't find the key. Now how was it the car was parked at the front door and noone knew how it got there. And to end this sad state of affairs the tranny started slipping 6 months later. Something about not geting the antifreeze out of the torque converter.

fju2112

can anyone tell me where to get the differential oil for front & rear diff. and how much of it to get for each? i'm having this changed but autohausaz does not sell it...if it's not expensive i can probably get it at dealership, might be the same as buying it cheaper online & paying shipping...

cobac

Also have them check out your universal joints. One dealer told me everything was fine and the clunk was normal, but a second dealer opinion they replaced one of the rear universal joints and it helped a lot. The crank case was replaced by the first dealer which also helped.

Of course, the clunk is still there every so often....especially when the car is low on gas (go figure) but I think it's just how the system runs. Before it really sounded like metal on metal...

sosh

You either misunderstood what had been told to you or you are getting some bad information, the crankcase has absolutly nothing to do with the drive train. Basically all it does is contain the engine oil. Being low on fuel also cannot have any bearing on shift smoothness.

fju2112

help me out here; what are the universal joints?

johnnydee

I also get the clunk at slow speeds when accelerating!
I've learned to ignore it because it is so rare an occurance.
But I'll now have to check all fluid levels!

John

fju2112

it always happens during acceleration for me...it's a slight "thunk" when accelerating from, say, 5-10 or 15-20. after that speed it stops...when i'm cruising and i slam on the pedal....or "accelerate in a spirited fashion"...the tranny seems extremely smooth. ??

Franasia

A universal joint (U joint) or cardan joint is a joint in a rigid rod that allows the rod to "bend" in any direction. Of common use in propeller shafts and steering mechanisms.

The 2WD as well as the 4Matic W210 does not use U joints in the propeller shaft but Flex Disks front and rear. The front propeller shaft in 4Matics does use U joints on both ends.

Cheers.

cobac

Sosh you are right. What I meant to say was the transfer case connected to the trans in the 4 matic which holds transmission fluid.

BostonBenzMan

I agree with you about Foreign Motors West (now part of the Herb Chambers Family). Try visiting the guys at EAS in Waltham. Check them out at www.virtualeas.com They are great! They keep my 2000 E430 4-matic in good working order.