hobie

There seems to be a high incedence of differential failures in the forum. Some questions for those who have had replacements:

1>how many miles?

2>first symptoms? ie. seeping from cover before noise?

3>build date of car? perhaps a bad batch... or a poor design?

4>any techs see a TSB?

5>mods? ie. pulley?

6>How assertive did you have to be to get replacement?

7>the big q>>does a pulley mod void the warranty on the diff?

Thanks, mine is seeping but still quiet.

avlis

I can't answer any of your questions. But I can say with confidence that the pulley cannot cause the diff to fail. It's designed for much higher torque than the pullied 2.3 can ever put out. It certainly can't cause it to leak. Therefore it should still be covered under warrenty. The dealer will surely tell you it's not becuase they don't want to spend the $2k to replace it. Pound your fists and don't take no for an answer.

rrf

The reasoning goes like this: if C32 uses the same diff, you could go to about 332 lb-ft (349HP) before anyone could say you overstressed it by your mod. Therefore your pulley could not cause a problem.

BTW the C32 uses a 3.06 final gear ratio, do you know C230Ks? If same ratio probably the same diff.

TimmyC230boy

does the Coupe use the same Diff as the C32?

dswildfire

no, c230k uses a 3.27

Lynn

They use the same differential. There are at least five ring and pinion sets for it, so MB can select the proper gearing for the various engine and transmission combinations.

20FHK02

call me stupid, how can you tell if the differential goes bad?

TNat

My differential went at 6500 miles. I dont know how, but it sounded like a machine gun was going off in the back. Dealer replaced whole rear in three days, no questions asked. No seeping and car was built in 3/02. No mods.

TimmyC230boy

OK so.... saying that, the coupe does use the same diff as the C32 just a different gear ratio. So the C230 should have NO PROBLEM handling the extra power from a pulley, chip etc.

Yellow_Fly_Red

I noticed a whining noise when I am travelling at 80kph..
the mech at the dealership determined that the Rear diff is the cause.. and they have ordered a new diff for replacement.

I am waiting for a new diff to arrive from Germany. Should arrive in about 2-3 weeks.

I noticed the whining noise when I had about 10,000 kms (6000 miles?) on the odometer.

I currently have 16,000 Kms on my odometer.

I wonder if the other C-class cars ever have this problem...
like the 240, 320 or the C32.