spyked

So, by now everyone knows the 7 speed auto combo isn't the most robust when coupled with 4Matic. From what I've read on here....it's actually not the transmission, but the 4Matic components on C and GLK cars.

So, is the obvious solution for someone looking for a more reliable W204 to simply get a RWD version? Same 7 speed auto, but no wonky 4Matic parts.

Would you all agree?

keith100

[QUOTE=spyked;5427549]So, by now everyone knows the 7 speed auto combo isn't the most robust when coupled with 4Matic.


So on what factual basis do you make this claim?

MB_inspired

Agreed, I have the same question. My 4matic with the 7Gtronic seems fine. Same with my previous vehicle which was an ML with the 7Gtronic and the 4matic system as well.

spyked

Believe me, I would LOVE to be wrong. But I've read on this very site that the cars with 4MATIC and the 7 speed auto (C, GLK, and ML) are having more and more failures. Again, based on what I've read, they have to replace the transmission because it's "attached" to the 4MATIC differential and when the differential goes south, it's all replaced.

Are the threads on here incorrect? I've read recently that lots of German posts in other forums are talking about the failures as well. I could be mixing something up?

My angle here.....until very recently the car I wanted was a 2012 C300 (4MATIC standard but has the "old" engine). Now I'm researching more and finding the transmissions/drivetrains on these things are failing with some regularity. Thinking IF IT IS TRUE that if the common denominator is the 4MATIC, I would consider a cheaper and less troublesome C250.

But I want to confirm that it's the 4MATIC, and not the 7 speed auto.

theramman

09 C3504Matic with 90klm's on it. Love the car. Never a problem yet.

Where are you reading this??

Carsy

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-failures.html

Crippled

yes that was my thread, the more i look, the less I find, yea i do find threads on failures, but remember you really only hear from people who have issues, nevber do you see a thread that says, hey just checking in on my 100k mile 4matic doing great. i look all over wbay and classified and see many 100k+ mile 4matic w204s on original drivelines. my fathers 2007 4matic has 100k and is a 4matic with no issues, just a replaced valve body at 30k.

i think alot of failures are due to how people drive them and or service them. i real on a glk thread that theres a small vdo part that plastic that fails. also i have yet to read of any deads transmission threads, the common thing i read is the end users hears or feels a vibration, nothing of a trans blowing up leaving them on the side of the road though.

keith100

Good post Crippled - as you say your thread attracted very few complaints about 4matic failures.

About 90% of mercs sold in Canada (MB's figure for Nov '12) are 4matics and if they were experiencing a large failure rate it would be in the motoring press by now for sure. Hell it would be in the regular press. But there's nothing.

Cosworth2000

I think what is really going on here is that people abuse the 4-matic system by spinning the wheels with a kickdown on wet surface.

The 4-Matic system is used to help increase traction and drive ability. If people abuse the system...it will fail just like ANY 4 wheel system

Crippled

very true

dcjwlee

This claim [that 7g + 4m is a poor matchup] is backed up by some of the more knowledgeable folks on this board.

The design of the transmission creates insufficient pressure between the valve body and plates (iirc) causing unnecessary slippage/wear/etc...


Or something along those lines.




As for the 4Matic, Acapulco Bill was saying something about how it needs to be babied.

Crippled

theres plenty out there with 100k+ on stock drivelines. I agree that any awd car needs to be babied to keep longevity, i give mine a good run every now again but a 220hp v6 doesnt put out enought power to really destroy them

theramman

268hp V6 actually. And it's been trouble free for me. It's also a real pleasure to drive. Its no torque monster but it gets the job done IMHO!

Crippled

how many miles?

REVTO9

[quote=keith100;5428028]

REVTO9

And we do not abuse the car either. Its an suv not a street racer......... hope the third one ladt more than 50000 but not holding out much hope and probably will not keep the car

REVTO9

My first babied tansfercase went out at 10000 and now my second is going out at 60000. No towing or hard driving at all. Its not a good unit in the early 2010 glk thats for sure

Cosworth2000

I have the more powerful 302hp in my car and it has had not problems so far but I will keep an eye on it. I'm a cruiser more of the time but I like to feel the power when I get that energy...not very often.

I matched the C350 to the 4-Matic option as it just made sense with the extra hp to handle the extra components. MB does states that the 4-matic system can be damaged if wheel spin and kickdown is used on wet surfaces.

The 4-matic is not an old system and has been built upon ever since it was created and offered to MB vehicles.

I know when I first drove my car I had to get used to the transmission as it switched so many times with the 7 speed. The car only had 12km on it when I got it so I know it was still learning.

Now it really moves, it selects gears and kickdown even in E mode. It's not peppy in E-mode but the power is there if I need it without switching to S.

Almost all new models from 2012 -2013 and future will have the 4-matic system, G, GL, GLK, M, ML, E, and S.

I would think that MB would know how to make a 4-matic system by now and grow upon it over the years, especially since they offer it in almost all models now

Samaral

+1.

spyked

I agree, MB should be building a durable AWD system since some of their main competition is Audi Quattro and BMW XDrive. However, I'm concerned because it seems that transfer cases are having issues on even new cars.

What would make things better is if MB would be more transparent. I want to know, specifically, two things from MB:

1. Considering the failures of 09/10 C Class and M and GLK models, have they found the actual failure point and fixed it for 2011 or 2012 models? I don't see them telling us that because that would mean they admit failure of earlier models.

2. I want to know what they have done to mitigate carbon build up issues in their DI gas engines. They say the new C250 is a new design, but what is new about it in terms of DI? How are they getting around carbon build up without secondary port injectors? Audi and BMW/MINI can't do it...so what does MB know?

The concept of buying an MB is attractive to me because, in the past, they are almost heirloom cars, but it seems like the more research I do, the more stuff I find. Of course, all cars have issues, but I'd like to know if they fix problems as they come up, or wait until redesigns?

Crippled

i would like to know if its a certain model year and or certain part that we can isolates that fails?! I am really really thinking about trading my car in

REVTO9

Mine is a 2010 glk 350 4 matic. I will have to see what the actual part is but it is the same thing in the transfer case as the first one at 10000 miles.