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So I’ve had a message come up stating electronic rear axle differential lock inoperative after taking my car for its service at Mercedes. The message is intermittent and doesn’t seem to be any mechanical concerns.
My car has been going back and forth into the garage for months. Battery has been replaced and several other checks carried out including replacing the rear diff motor. Wires checked and updates completed, but nothing has worked and the error message still appears albeit intermittently. The “technical” team at Mercedes have now suggested to replace the rear differential and will not do this under warranty.
Anyone else had similar issues, and should I be paying for a new diff myself having been through months of awful service through my local Mercedes’ garage?
⏱️ 700HP Facelift converted C63 S Coupe with Drexler 3.06 plated LSD
Originally Posted by Raemundo
So I’ve had a message come up stating electronic rear axle differential lock inoperative after taking my car for its service at Mercedes. The message is intermittent and doesn’t seem to be any mechanical concerns.
My car has been going back and forth into the garage for months. Battery has been replaced and several other checks carried out including replacing the rear diff motor. Wires checked and updates completed, but nothing has worked and the error message still appears albeit intermittently. The “technical” team at Mercedes have now suggested to replace the rear differential and will not do this under warranty.
Anyone else had similar issues, and should I be paying for a new diff myself having been through months of awful service through my local Mercedes’ garage?
Hi when this message comes up the first step Mercedes will do is a software update. If it doesn't fix it, they'll replace the actuator. And if that doesn't help, it's a new diff.
Nine times out of ten, it's the actuator playing up. No need to panic, car is still drivable but diff won't lock from time to time and you'll get the annoying message.
I'm quite experienced with our E-Diffs and have had these issues and researched these things very thoroughly. I've had mine pulled apart, put together and I'm currently having my Ring and Pinion gears swapped as we speak! However, I ditched the E-Diff in my C63S Coupe and I now run an upgraded Drexler (plated) Motorsport LSD in mine which has customizable ramp angles to adjust and put the power down better. No more electronic diff for me again.
hey i had this error message pop up randomly a lot in the early years of the car. the dealership did software updates 3-4 times which would temporarily solve the problem but ultimately within a month or so it used to come back.
Finally asked the dealer to change the diff as it was evident the software updates were not solving the problem. i believe they spoke to Hq, got permission and changed my diff after which the message never came back.
hey i had this error message pop up randomly a lot in the early years of the car. the dealership did software updates 3-4 times which would temporarily solve the problem but ultimately within a month or so it used to come back.
Finally asked the dealer to change the diff as it was evident the software updates were not solving the problem. i believe they spoke to Hq, got permission and changed my diff after which the message never came back.
Same as me. They had to order from Germany and replaced the differential.
What year's your car? My understanding is that early versions of the diff commonly have this problem. It's very common on early AMG GTs as well. As many of these new technologies, they take some time to iron out issues. The later e-diffs seem to be fine and AMG further improved it in the FL and made it faster acting. You probably will have to have it replaced with an updated unit. If the car is out of warranty and you have a good dealership which doesn't sound like you have then you could potentially work out a goodwill deal and have AMG at least cover part of the cost as it is somewhat of a known issue. I had this with other brands, specifically Audi, where they covered 50% of the cost because the issue was known but the failure didn't occur until the car was out of warranty.
Mine is a 2016 so out of warranty.
Mercedes have offered a goodwill of 40% but have charged around 4.5k
I'm therefore having to pay 2.7k for the new diff.
Currently deciding on what’s best to do.
⏱️ 700HP Facelift converted C63 S Coupe with Drexler 3.06 plated LSD
Originally Posted by Raemundo
Mine is a 2016 so out of warranty.
Mercedes have offered a goodwill of 40% but have charged around 4.5k
I'm therefore having to pay 2.7k for the new diff.
Currently deciding on what’s best to do.
Fantastic. Did you even read any of our replies at all or nah?
errm yer which is why I responded with what I did based on other experiences and the questions asked. 🤷🏻♂️
lol mate Jim knows a lot about these cars and the bloke makes an effort to write extra detailed responses....... not once u acknowledged his post lol then you posted with an update saying you can get goodwill blah blah......
So, as Jim mentioned most times it's just the actuator. So tell us have you done the first step yet? Software update? Or are you just going for the big guns and asking the dealer for a whole new diff? 😂😂😂
Ok not sure why your getting your knickers in a twist.
Updates were done
actuator was replaced, error code still there. Old one put back on
had an issue with start stop too so battery was replaced. Sorted start stop but not error code.
code is intermittent and been told there isn’t a mechanical fault. Grateful for the 40% off but still seems a lot and an extreme resolution for what seems like small electrical fault.
appreciate all the responses so far, they’ve been extremely helpful 👍
Ok not sure why your getting your knickers in a twist.
Updates were done
actuator was replaced, error code still there. Old one put back on
had an issue with start stop too so battery was replaced. Sorted start stop but not error code.
code is intermittent and been told there isn’t a mechanical fault. Grateful for the 40% off but still seems a lot and an extreme resolution for what seems like small electrical fault.
appreciate all the responses so far, they’ve been extremely helpful 👍
lol there you go......... its not a bad offer from Mercedes. If you don't plan on upgrading your diff in future just go for the goodwill replacement and be done with it. At least you'll have a new diff.
lol there you go......... its not a bad offer from Mercedes. If you don't plan on upgrading your diff in future just go for the goodwill replacement and be done with it. At least you'll have a new diff.
what's annoying is that I was planning to sell it after the service and now all this. Also as they are unsure of the issue and it seems like a known fault what’s to say I have the same issue next year with the replacement
what's annoying is that I was planning to sell it after the service and now all this. Also as they are unsure of the issue and it seems like a known fault what’s to say I have the same issue next year with the replacement
I was kinda in a similar situation with my previous car. That's where I had the goodwill done with Audi. In my case it was the transmission. The gear position sensor failed, which by itself was like a $100 part, but the entire transmission needed to be dropped and taken apart to get to the sensor, so it ended up being a $6000 job on paper. Audi lowered the price to $5000 and then offered to cover 50% so it ended up being $2500 for me. I was already thinking about getting a new car, but this issue definitely solidified the decision. I wasn't expecting the sensor to fail again, but the Audi dual clutch transmission is not the most reliable piece of kit and the car had also developed an occasional cold start misfire that they could never figure out. I'm not saying the C63 is in the same category. It's fundamentally a solid car and as I said, the revised e-diffs seem solid. Other than for early models like yours I don't really read about e-diff failures.
Hi when this message comes up the first step Mercedes will do is a software update. If it doesn't fix it, they'll replace the actuator. And if that doesn't help, it's a new diff.
Nine times out of ten, it's the actuator playing up. No need to panic, car is still drivable but diff won't lock from time to time and you'll get the annoying message.
I'm quite experienced with our E-Diffs and have had these issues and researched these things very thoroughly. I've had mine pulled apart, put together and I'm currently having my Ring and Pinion gears swapped as we speak! However, I ditched the E-Diff in my C63S Coupe and I now run an upgraded Drexler (plated) Motorsport LSD in mine which has customizable ramp angles to adjust and put the power down better. No more electronic diff for me again.
Hi, were you able to remove the diff error message? If so, how?
regards,
Mondragon
⏱️ 700HP Facelift converted C63 S Coupe with Drexler 3.06 plated LSD
Originally Posted by Mondragon
Hi, were you able to remove the diff error message? If so, how?
regards,
Mondragon
What do you mean mate? Have you touched your diff? As in changed it to a mechanical (aftermarket) LSD? Or are you getting the error with the stock electronic diff?
If you're getting the error with the stock electronic diff, please re-read my post that you quoted.
Hi,
I am getting the error. I want to replace the diff with a Drexeler like you. I have a quote from Drexeler here in Sydney but want to know if you got rid of the message that appears on the dash.
⏱️ 700HP Facelift converted C63 S Coupe with Drexler 3.06 plated LSD
Originally Posted by Mondragon
Hi,
I am getting the error. I want to replace the diff with a Drexeler like you. I have a quote from Drexeler here in Sydney but want to know if you got rid of the message that appears on the dash.
Cool I understand now. Where are you getting the Drexler diff from?
Yes I removed the error it was coded out by RJ Coding. I also posted a small write up on my social media with the details
⏱️ 700HP Facelift converted C63 S Coupe with Drexler 3.06 plated LSD
Originally Posted by Mondragon
I have a quote from Herbert, Drexeler Motor Sport Australia in Moss Vale. $4, 976 excluding fitting
Excellent man. Herbert Gattermeier is the only guy I would allow to touch the diff on this car. He is extremely good at what he does and he is very detailed.
I just had my car there for 3 weeks. He has a full workshop on his property and it's very clean.
He completely rebuilt my diff from the ground up. It cost me a lot but he did many additional things for me including new bearings and pinion gears.
Please be patient with him as he is very detailed in his work so it will take a week or so but he will fit the diff properly.
Yes you will get the error after the Drexler mechanical LSD is installed, but you can just press "Ok" on the steering wheel for now until it's coded out.
Man that looks good and i think its the only way to go. I think there should be a class action against MB for their crap diffs in a premium car. How does it perform. Any tricky situations in wet weather?
It seems I am in the same boat. My 2018 GLS is throwing 2 codes after a battery replacement : a (central) differential lock fault and a low gear inoperable fault (it has the off road package). I do not haf locking diffs in the axles; If I attach my diagnostics scanner I get no errors.
Any ideas ? I would like to avoid going to the MB Workshop. I have not been too happy with them.
So I’ve had a message come up stating electronic rear axle differential lock inoperative after taking my car for its service at Mercedes. The message is intermittent and doesn’t seem to be any mechanical concerns.
My car has been going back and forth into the garage for months. Battery has been replaced and several other checks carried out including replacing the rear diff motor. Wires checked and updates completed, but nothing has worked and the error message still appears albeit intermittently. The “technical” team at Mercedes have now suggested to replace the rear differential and will not do this under warranty.
Anyone else had similar issues, and should I be paying for a new diff myself having been through months of awful service through my local Mercedes’ garage?
Exactly that just happened to me. What can I expect? :/
⏱️ 700HP Facelift converted C63 S Coupe with Drexler 3.06 plated LSD
3 solutions
Originally Posted by Greg Call
Exactly that just happened to me. What can I expect? :/
Don't stress mate
Turn car off for a bit, start her up again see if the message is still there. If not, drive it normally.
1. If the message comes up again, get the drivetrain software updated.
2. If that fails, it's the actuator (not expensive & you can change it yourself without jacking up the car).
3. If you get the message again after the actuator is replaced it's time for a new diff/rebuild but this is rare. As my AMG tech Allen said "90% of the time it's the actuator.
Turn car off for a bit, start her up again see if the message is still there. If not, drive it normally.
1. If the message comes up again, get the drivetrain software updated.
2. If that fails, it's the actuator (not expensive & you can change it yourself without jacking up the car).
3. If you get the message again after the actuator is replaced it's time for a new diff/rebuild but this is rare. As my AMG tech Allen said "90% of the time it's the actuator.
Some guy in the UK posted on a board the diff lock sprocket jumped out of place and needed to be realigned... whatever that means. I don't know if the diff needs to be take out to do this. I assume so. He replaced the motor, aligned the sprocket, and reset the code. I have a motor coming. We'll see.
Hello, I recently had this message pop up several times now and I’m looking to get it fixed.. I hate going to the dealership so I skipped the “software update” step and went straight to buying the actuator. I plan on installing it myself this weekend but I came across a YouTube short(will post below) and the guy was explaining that once you replace the motor it will need to be coded.. so will I have to bring it to the dealership after all?
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
