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DO NOT mention ANY tuners here. This thread is strictly to to be informative. If you have something negative to say about a tuner, post on another thread.
There has been too much fighting here recently regarding our all wheel drive system, how it works, and what can damage it. We have an engine info thread here already, this can be the all wheel drive info thread.
Please feel free to add additional information, preferably from Mercedes.
Permanent all wheel drive. This version is the most common throughout the Mercedes lineup. Power can be sent from left to right, but not front to rear.
AMG Permanent all wheel drive. This is what comes on our C43 models. Power can be sent left to right, but not front to rear. Notice the heavy rear bias on this all wheel drive system. While not as advanced as the viariable AMG all wheel drive, it is less complex and less expensive to service.
Variable all wheel drive. Brands like Audi and BMW have an all wheel drive that is similar to this. When road conditions are good, the car is front wheel drive, but when the car detects loss of traction, the rear axle can take up to 50% of total power. Power can be sent from left to right and from front to back. This version is strictly for fuel saving measures and only available on front wheel drive platform Mercedes.
AMG Variable all wheel drive. This is the most advanced all wheel drive Mercedes currently offers. Power can be sent left to right and front to back. This all wheel drive system allows up to 100% of power to be sent to the rear wheels and when needed, up to 50% to be sent to the front wheels. While cruising on the highway, this variable system defaults to 100% rear wheel drive for fuel savings. Downside to this all wheel drive is complexity, addition weight, and multiplate clutch servicing.
Watch the video of the CLS above at around the 30 second mark.
It's spinning the rear wheels but no movement at the front. It's certainly not 4matic+ so might be an idea to track down some info on how that 4matic version is advertised.
I found this.. " On the CLS 450, the optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive system features a fixed 31/69 split of power between front and rear, and the CLS 53 has the standard 4Matic+ system to constantly adjust torque to wherever it is needed. " https://www.motortrend.com/cars/merc...cls-53-review/
Just so people are aware, in stock c43 if you stomp on the breaks and floor the gas the max rpm for launch is around 2000 rpm.. not enough for the front wheels to stay stationary and back wheels to spin.. on some TUNES tho.. they have developed a way to up that rpm threshold to over 3000 rpm.. thus when you hold the breaks and floor the gas and hold it for longer period of time, the rear wheel break loose and enable you to do burnout before the front wheels have a chance to catch up..it would be similar to having the back wheels on rollers..you can also see this in drifting in the snow, sometimes the front wheels look stationary while the back wheels are doing most of the work. Launching or torque braking as in the C43 isn’t healthy for the drivetrain whether in stock or tuned form but is definitely fun!
Are you serious? Did you read my first post. We have 3 threads full of back and forth b**ching. I try to start an actual thread that HELPS people understand how our cars work, I never mention any tuner, and you bring this sh*t back up? Are you here to help or troll the forum?
Read your post again. You can’t even spell brake correctly, yet we are supposed to take advice from you?
Come back after you google the difference between brake and break.
Watch the video of the CLS above at around the 30 second mark.
It's spinning the rear wheels but no movement at the front. It's certainly not 4matic+ so might be an idea to track down some info on how that 4matic version is advertised.
Good find. I’m having trouble finding info on the CLS450 4matic. Might be because the car is so new.
Permanent all wheel drive. This version is the most common throughout the Mercedes lineup. Power can be sent from left to right, but not front to rear.
AMG Permanent all wheel drive. This is what comes on our C43 models. Power can be sent left to right, but not front to rear. Notice the heavy rear bias on this all wheel drive system. While not as advanced as the viariable AMG all wheel drive, it is less complex and less expensive to service.
Variable all wheel drive. Brands like Audi and BMW have an all wheel drive that is similar to this. When road conditions are good, the car is front wheel drive, but when the car detects loss of traction, the rear axle can take up to 50% of total power. Power can be sent from left to right and from front to back. This version is strictly for fuel saving measures and only available on front wheel drive platform Mercedes.
AMG Variable all wheel drive. This is the most advanced all wheel drive Mercedes currently offers. Power can be sent left to right and front to back. This all wheel drive system allows up to 100% of power to be sent to the rear wheels and when needed, up to 50% to be sent to the front wheels. While cruising on the highway, this variable system defaults to 100% rear wheel drive for fuel savings. Downside to this all wheel drive is complexity, addition weight, and multiplate clutch servicing.
Apologies for the ignorant questions that are about to follow which the answers may be obvious.
In our C43, does that mean with power split being ~40:60 that the car drives "like" a rear wheeled drive car, but has the benefit of being 4matic, like say compared to C63s?
This next question may again sound stupid and obvious but here goes and I hope I word it correctly. If I turn off the traction control, does it help when dragging on a race track, does it enable you to drift your car? Does the car behave more like rear wheel?
Thanks for posting that info. I cant believe how fast I can turn corners fast with my C43 and maintain complete control. Mind you I never had a car as good as this ever.
In our C43, does that mean with power split being ~40:60 that the car drives "like" a rear wheeled drive car, but has the benefit of being 4matic, like say compared to C63s?
Yes
Originally Posted by AMG C43 3LV6
This next question may again sound stupid and obvious but here goes and I hope I word it correctly. If I turn off the traction control, does it help when dragging on a race track, does it enable you to drift your car? Does the car behave more like rear wheel?
I'm not sure you can totally turn of the traction control. It might help some but really not sure.
Apologies for the ignorant questions that are about to follow which the answers may be obvious.
In our C43, does that mean with power split being ~40:60 that the car drives "like" a rear wheeled drive car, but has the benefit of being 4matic, like say compared to C63s?
This next question may again sound stupid and obvious but here goes and I hope I word it correctly. If I turn off the traction control, does it help when dragging on a race track, does it enable you to drift your car? Does the car behave more like rear wheel?
Thanks for posting that info. I cant believe how fast I can turn corners fast with my C43 and maintain complete control. Mind you I never had a car as good as this ever.
The C43 has a 31:69 power split, meaning 31% of power is sent to the front axle and 69% is sent to the rear axle. People say it feels like a rwd car because you can slide the rear of the car out and you can lose rear traction on a launch.
Awd systems, like Audi Quattro usually have a 40:60 power split. This makes it more difficult to lose traction in a straight line, but you can see more understeer and lose steering feel in the process.
When launching the C43 hold the traction button down for a full 5 seconds. You want the wheels to spin freely when launching and a little rear wheel slip will keep the motor for bogging down. Turning traction control off will allow more slip, Mercedes has a emergency traction control that is more difficult to turn off that kicks in if the car begins to lose control.
If I’m taking a corner aggressively, I don’t like when I can feel the rear brakes keeping my car in line, so I normally drive with traction control off.
How well do the C43s handle power braking? Is it the preferred method of launching? What kinds of differences in times from power braking and dead punching the gas?
How well do the C43s handle power braking? Is it the preferred method of launching? What kinds of differences in times from power braking and dead punching the gas?
Henry or Munis can elaborate better than I can, but most of us hold the brake and quickly get the rpm a little over 2000 and release. If you hold the rpm there too long it can heat up the trans and the ecu (I believe) will pull power.
How much faster? I don’t have a dragy yet, so I’m not sure.
Henry or Munis can elaborate better than I can, but most of us hold the brake and quickly get the rpm a little over 2000 and release. If you hold the rpm there too long it can heat up the trans and the ecu (I believe) will pull power.
How much faster? I don’t have a dragy yet, so I’m not sure.
Yes, this is true. If you hold it too long it will heat up your trans and your launch will not put all the power to the ground. Happened to my friend with his. I also notice that if you brake boost from the launch (up to 2500) and let go and try to do it again it does not build the boost as fast. If you are going to the 1/4 track this is something to consider when you pull up to the line. This happened to me an effected my time tremendously.
Yes, this is true. If you hold it too long it will heat up your trans and your launch will not put all the power to the ground. Happened to my friend with his. I also notice that if you brake boost from the launch (up to 2500) and let go and try to do it again it does not build the boost as fast. If you are going to the 1/4 track this is something to consider when you pull up to the line. This happened to me an effected my time tremendously.
I can imagine that it would boil the fluid if it gets too hot. I am too used to my mannies.
DO NOT mention ANY tuners here. This thread is strictly to to be informative. If you have something negative to say about a tuner, post on another thread.
There has been too much fighting here recently regarding our all wheel drive system, how it works, and what can damage it. We have an engine info thread here already, this can be the all wheel drive info thread.
Please feel free to add additional information, preferably from Mercedes.
hello there...I'mjust a 2yrs owner of a w164, 2009 ml350 4matic.
Had a small debate with a friend. Said all ml350 (w163 and w164) are 4matics. I during my purchase noticed that the sites had 2 types of listings for ml.. .the RWD (didn't have the 4matic badge) and the 4matics. So I disagreed with him.
Please can some one clear the air for us.
thanks
hello there...I'mjust a 2yrs owner of a w164, 2009 ml350 4matic.
Had a small debate with a friend. Said all ml350 (w163 and w164) are 4matics. I during my purchase noticed that the sites had 2 types of listings for ml.. .the RWD (didn't have the 4matic badge) and the 4matics. So I disagreed with him.
Please can some one clear the air for us.
thanks
C43 4matic can’t get off of rollers if the the 2 rear and one front is on them! Even if the two rear wheels are on rollers and both fronts are on the ground it has a hard time but eventually can pull forward, but not easily
10-18-2018, 04:07 PM
