ken530i

Anyone hear that a Service Bulletin was issued today for 4Matic transfer case shudder?

Had my wife's 2006 E350 in about 6 months ago for shudder when turning, like backing out of the driveway. Dlr said -- keep driving. Had it in 2 weeks ago for service, and asked again for them to check the shudder. I actually thought it was a steering problem -- like the pump was grinding. Went to pick the car up, and was told they could not duplicate the problem. I asked for the Shop foreman to ride with me, we got in the car -- and no shudder. I told him -- I am not stupid! I asked what they did, and he said they drove the car in figure 8 circles trying to find the steering issue. He then said he believed the problem was the clutch packs in the transfer case not getting enough oil. He thought the fig 8s stirred the oil enough to lube the clutch packs, thereby removing the shudder. Told me to take the car, if the shudder comes back, drive fig 8s and see if it goes away. If so, the problem is definitely the transfer case.

Took the car, shudder came back (2 weeks), fig 8s cleared it up -- but only for about a day -- now the shudder is back. Called dealer today -- SA said they just recieved a bulletin on 4 matic transfer case issues -- for a serial # range. The fix -- replace the transfer case. Repair now scheduled for Friday.

Anyone else having a shuuder issue??

Thks

Ken

Heejin

I had quite similar problem a couple of months ago. I could feel weird vibration while turning in slow speed, like backing out of the driveway. I also thought that it was the steering problem and the dealer also told me that they changed some kind of oil The vibration hasn't come back yet, but I would definitely like to find out if my wife's car is within in the range covered by that Service Bulletin.

Thanks for sharing this info!!!

SAguirre

MBs transfer cases are silky smooth and should not have any vibration/shudder issues. They are an open differential that just runs free and the brakes do all the power transferring. Like you suspected and the bulletin confirmed, you need a new transfer case. My 4-Matic is completely quiet and shudder free.

My last three Audi Quattro cars however, do have a very slight shudder. Only when accelerating and turning (from a dead stop). That is normal for my model Audi, but not for the MB.

I am glad that you got somewhere with the issue and that you will get a new transfer case. I am sure it was a bad batch of them or something like that, but there is no way that a dealer should say that it is normal on a MB vehicle or not to worry about it and to warm it up by making figure-8s.

Steve

Heejin

Oh well... Mine doesn't fall within that range. I guess it was different issue after all.

ken530i

Will keep all posted on Friday's repair.

Appreciate your comments!

ken530i

Repair completed yesterday. I can say the car drives "silky smooth"!

Makes me want to give the wife my E60 530i and take the E350!

51504ed

I currently have the shudder problem with my 06 E350 4Matic. I believe that it falls within the bad batch of transfer cases but the dealer says nothing is covered under any kind of recall and the service bulletin is just what MB recommends to be done. They told me they would try to flush and fill the case first to see if that fixes the problem of course for $550 dollars or replace the case for only $5300, I've contacted MB to see if they will cover the flush and fill out of good will, hopefully I'll know more next week. Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I could do to to get the dealer to cover the cost? Thanks in advance!

cetialpha5

I guess they don't call them stealerships for nothing. $550 sounds pretty high just to change the fluid. I think it's something that can by done by an indy. It's on my list of things to do one of these days. There's several threads on here about how to do it as a DIY. I doubt if they'll do it as goodwill, but if they do, you're all set. But if not, I think an indy should only be a couple hundred if that as there's not a lot of fluid in the transfer case and the rest is just labor.

51504ed

So you have the shudder problem also? Will this cause the car to break down if you continue to drive it?

cetialpha5

No, I'm just planning on doing it as part of normal maintenance.

Here's a couple threads you might want to look into.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...50-00-a-2.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...g-problem.html

51504ed

Thanks for the info. BTW the transfer case is oiled for life so I wouldn't touch it if it's not shuddering.

cetialpha5

The transmission also had lifetime fluid, but they later changed their mind. Seems to be a standard maintenance thing to replace the fluids at some point.

konigstiger

Actually MB requires TC oil change once @ 39000 then changed in 09 to every 40000 miles.