epowers777

My buddys got a 92 4 matic wagon with a new engine. He put over 8 thousand into it. He wants it gone. It needs new rear wheel bearings and he is tired of putting money into it. Hes asking 3 thousand since im a friend. SHOULD I?????
The 4 matic scares me but i need a 4 wheel drive live in foresthill above auburn in cali it snows.
SO tell me about 4 matic it has a self leveling system to. If it breaks is it pricy. also everything was done at the benz dealer.

neanderthal

you are right to be scared of the 4matic system.

it can be very hard to diagnose and repair for the layman mercedes mechanic.

but if your buddy has already put all that money into the car, then perhaps that is a steal.

ps2cho

Just have a mechanic check the entire car out before buying it. This way you know what you are looking at right off the bat.

GEDaggett

Just as a note pretty much anything that breaks on these cars is "pricey" to fix. It is a bit better if you don't have to take it to a shop and can do it yourself but parts are 35-50% more than your typical American or Asian import.
Just be prepared for that. If you want a sample go to a parts website and compare a part for your current ride to the Benz and you will see what I am talking about.

epowers777

Im not worried about fixing anything I can do it all myself. Im just worried about hydrolics. I can do it all myself just dont know anyhting about hydrolics. I love my 300e just would like the all wheel drive. Can someone explain to me how the all wheel drive works?

124-Fan

The 4matic system is brilliant. I love it. I have 4 W124 4matics and 3 W210 4matics and have done all repair on them myself
( I know.. owning 7 cars is sick.. but I can´t help it.. actually 8 now.. just bought another W124 300E 4matic )

But I must say, that the old 4matic system, as found in the W124, is far better than what you see in the W210 cars.

-The W124 4matic car is rear wheel driven until wheelspin is detected by means of three wheel speed sensors. One at each front wheel and one at the rear diff.
There are two clutches in the transfer case which engage the 4 wheel drive in three stages along with a rear diff lock, giving you traction at minimal 3 wheels.
-The ones I own and have owned haven´t given me much trouble and one has covered 350 thousand km. ( approx. 220k miles. ) without problems.

-I definately recommend these cars..
The W124 is in my opinion the best Mercedes ever made...

Cheers,

epowers777

so theres no real hydrolics involved>?

124-Fan

Yes, there are hydraulics. The clutches in the transfer case are hydraulically operated. Also the rear diff lock.
Cheers,

RHW

I am transferring my 4matic wagon to gf this week, she has her Pilot in the paper.

It's been a great car for 3 winters for me, and the 4matic has not yet caused even a lick of trouble.

From reading these boards, I've been virtually ready to dump the car if the 4matic goes. (I'd consider dumping $4K into it to get it fixed though - passing it along doesn't change the fact that if it breaks, I gotta fix it or replace it)

NOW, I am down to 3, and maybe that's enough. Looks like I may run the Sportline for a winter car. Yech. (but I've got a 4x4 work truck in the parking lot)

W124 fan, I love your sickness!!

Real1shepherd

I agree that the first generation 4matics were the best. That coincides with everything I've read in retrospect. Some yrs after I bought my '92 4matic wagon, MB dropped the 4matic line to the States. Eventually it re-appeared as a 'second generation' 4matic system. Translation-cheaper to manufacture and service, not better.

I've had some incredible driving experiences 'on the edge' with my '92 4matic. Of course I wouldn't recommend driving the car like that to anyone, but be advised, if in good mechanical condition, the car is up to about anything you can throw at it, traction related. What I tell people is that it's a sports car which thinks it's a wagon.;-)

Basically, the first generation 4matic has three traction modes;
Phase 1) Shifts from rear wheel drive to all wheel drive-35% power to front/65% power to rear

Phase II) Locks the center differential in the transfer case-distributes 50% power to front/50% to rear

Phase III) 50% power to front/50% power to rear and rear differential locks.
(It's an ingenious system with a computer module and sensors at each wheel that work if you're braking, going backwards/forwards, different speeds etc. WAY more advanced than off-road lockers controlled by compressors, manual switches or cables. Those are Neanderthal by comparison-but we're not talking apples to apples here.)

And yeah, for those of you who will whine and complain about high repair bills through the dealers etc, forget owning this model MB. With the high mileage that most of them have now, they deserve some TLC and nothing more appropriate than an owner/enthusiast who wants to work on the car himself, scrounging for parts other than through a dealer network. There are plenty of forums now dedicated to this car and ample DIY sections with pics. Buy the appropriate tools and dig into the fray, as you will be amply rewarded with the W124 4matic series. I'm going for 500K on mine (before an engine swap) and I'm half way there.

124-fan.....there is no cure for the W124 4matic sickness, but if it's any consolation

Kevin

124-Fan

I know, thanks man. I see that you share my sickness and I totally agree with your comments.. welcome to the club.

Cheers,

White_Knuckles

Nice overview R-Shep!

I always had fear factor from myths and legends that the systems were filled with spendy bits requiring a NASA engineer to troubleshoot.

Real1shepherd

Thanks guys. I go about this whole 'service' issue with the idea that; 'if it was built by men, then it can be serviced by men'. At least the W124 was....later models seem plagued by less quality and computer issues.

I'm very frustrated right now with the 'cold weather blues'. I have this ancient detached garage that even though it's cleaned out and organized, I can only pull in about half way with the wagon. I can't tear into like the cylinder head gasket, because while I send the head off to a machine shop, I can't secure the car/garage. Fixes now have to be half a day or less....real bummer as I know exactly what the car needs. Added to my blues is the fact that my garage was broken into a couple of months ago and $5,400 in mechanics tools were stolen. I keep headin' over to that big ol' red tool chest and it's not there anymore. The car is just gotta make it until spring!

Kevin

epowers777

Hey I just read the whole post wow sorry I did pay attention my grandma was sick about that time. BUT I GOT THE CAR!!!! and for way cheap. just got to sell the 300e

epowers777

Holy crap he drove a long time with the bad wheel bearing. MMM I hope its still the wheel bearing. It makes a humm and when you turn it goes away passanger side.