cradlemountain

I have owned a '91 300E 4MATIC for about a year. It has 162,000 miles and 4MATIC is not functioning. The front axle shafts are rattling and CV boots are in pretty bad shape.

I need to get just one more year out of this loveable car.

Any ideas on why the axles would be loose and noisy? Is it because the CV joints are in bad shape? Any repair that I can do to make it through one more winter without having a major collapse of one of the CVs?

My local independent mechanic says he can replace both front axle shafts for $3800 including labor! MB tells him there are only 3 axles left in the U.S., at $1,200 each!

Any comments or suggestions that would help this otherwise fine 300E live a little longer?

(By the way, even though we get about 100 inches of snow annually where I live, this car is just fine in the snow without 4MATIC. Just a good set of snow tires certified for extreme conditions is all that I need to make it through a Vermont winter).


THANKS!
Bob

epowers777

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...V%20Boot%20Kit

If yours arent trashed rebuild them. Sounds like they are. My friend bought the front right for 800 from mb.

cradlemountain

Thanks, e. Are you referring to rebuilding just the boots or rebuilding the entire cv joints?

epowers777

the whole cv joint re pack bearings etc. If the bearings are bad Im pretty sure you can order some Just make sure the housing is not damaged. Make sure you dont put this off or it will get expensive.

epowers777

http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/199..._assembly.html
Found this change to 300e 4matic itsset for te. These are way cheaper than the stealership.

silversleeves

google this company cvjreman. I have bought two front axles (l and r) from them and installed them myself. You need the axles specific to 4matic, don't forget to get 2 new axle nuts and 12 allen new bolts from your parts guy or the dealership.
Cheers,
J.

MercBimmerman

Thanks for the company name.
http://www.cvjreman.com/axles.php

Hopefully they can supply the parts so I can rebuild my outer CV joint.

Otherwise I'll repack.
If they still make noise I'll remove the axle and just keep the outer CV housingl mounted to the hub so my wheel wont fall off.
Then it just be RWD.