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My E550 4matic (103k miles) started giving me noise from the rear a short while back. I was hoping it was just my extremely worn tires. My Indy told me it was tires, left rear wheel bearing and the diff. I replaced the tires and wheel bearing, hoping the noise would go down some, but it is still there. I took it to another Indy to look at, and they told me it was bad pinions in the diff. I am looking at $2800 installed for the fix. Of course I am out of warranty. Hopefully, the car gets back to the quiet car I love so much after this.
Now I see the Eurocharged tune is dirt cheap. Why must this happen now? Oh well, things could always be much worse.
My E550 4matic (103k miles) started giving me noise from the rear a short while back. I was hoping it was just my extremely worn tires. My Indy told me it was tires, left rear wheel bearing and the diff. I replaced the tires and wheel bearing, hoping the noise would go down some, but it is still there. I took it to another Indy to look at, and they told me it was bad pinions in the diff. I am looking at $2800 installed for the fix. Of course I am out of warranty. Hopefully, the car gets back to the quiet car I love so much after this.
Now I see the Eurocharged tune is dirt cheap. Why must this happen now? Oh well, things could always be much worse.
Sorry to hear about this I'm just curious... did you maintain the oil changes for the differential? It's awful to have such a big repair at 100K miles...
Sorry to hear about this I'm just curious... did you maintain the oil changes for the differential? It's awful to have such a big repair at 100K miles...
I purchased the car used, and it had over 50k miles on it. I never did a diff oil change. The weird thing is after my last oil change, my Indy recommended that I get the fluids other than oil changed as I was past due. I told him I would schedule it, but never did. I was anticipating doing it on my next oil change.
I purchased the car used, and it had over 50k miles on it. I never did a diff oil change. The weird thing is after my last oil change, my Indy recommended that I get the fluids other than oil changed as I was past due. I told him I would schedule it, but never did. I was anticipating doing it on my next oil change.
I was just curious because I basically have the same car as you. I have my 40K mile service coming up and I've heard conflicting advice so I researched it and apparently, at least according to the manual, this should be done about every 40K miles...
Do you think perhaps changing the differential oil might address this, because it seems it is long past due? -- Or have you been told as a matter of fact there is proof that this is a mechanical issue?
It is mechanical at this point. Once I get it repaired, I will ask the Indy what the recommended interval is.
Be careful what the Indy says... I'd go by whatever is on the service booklet for your car, which calls for this service every 39K miles. My Indy claimed I don't have to do this service at 40K miles but after much research decided to follow the guidelines on the service booklet for the car, which calls for transmission and transfer case fluids every 39K miles or so along with the brake fluid...
This is a moot point for you because you said you are out of warranty but if you don't follow the service schedule and something happens to your differential MB could have declined to cover it...
I think my Indy is as strict as or stricter than Mercedes itself. If the manual says 40k miles, my Indy would probably recommend it after every 6 oil changes. My interval is 5k miles. Other than the diff, my car is pretty solid and I still love it.
Dropped my E off Friday morning to get diff replaced. This left me in the C32 (summer tires) for the weekend. Just in time for the snow. Fortunately, my mechanic called me around noon on Friday to tell me he was done. Went and picked up the E. It sounds like a Mercedes again.
No more noise. I got my smooth luxury car back.
We got snow today, and my Continental DWS tires performed perfectly.
We got snow and I was able to use my snowblower for the second time. Purchased it at end of last snow season.
As the famous poet Ice Cube said....."Today was a good day"
I recently had this same problem on my 2007 Mercedes E350 4matic. The rear differential was making a terrible rubbing noise, very similar to what a really bad wheel bearing sounds like. It turned out to be the outer pinion bearing. Like everywhere I have read, it would cost roughly $6000.00 to get a new one installed from Mercedes along with returning the old core.
I just got it fixed by having all the bearings replaced with 4 new bearings; 2 new pinion bearings/ races and 2 new carrier bearings/races along with having new seals installed. I saved thousands plus now I know I have brand new bearings and races, news seals and fresh fluid. Below are some pictures
These bearings were real hard to come by, a lot of work to locate and had to be shipped from Europe.
This forum has been very informative and I feel I have to give back so if anyone has this problem and is in the New York area, I am in Westchester County NY, contact me and I can connect you with a great shop that did the work very reasonably compared to replacing the whole differential.
Yes, sounds like it could be. Are you close to NY by any chance?
You should have a mechanic check it out on a lift while running up the engine.
So a lot of people are having problems with the rear differentials on their 4 matic Mercedes E350's, E550's, E500's and GLK350's. If you are having noise coming from the rear differential, either a rubbing noise sounding like a bad wheel bearing or whining noise, it is most likely the rear differential bearings.
Mercedes only sells the whole differential. The reason I know all of this is because I had this problem with my 07 E350 4matic.
If anyone has this problem and is in the New York area, I am in Westchester County NY, contact me. I can have the rear differential rebuild done very reasonably.
I am updated this from my original post, I have a lot more experience with the rear differential rebuild of this model car and a bunch of other models that use the same bearings. The problem with these rear differentials is the bearings. Especially the outer pinion bearing. And this is true on 2007-2009 Mercedes Benz E350 and E550 4matics, 2003-2006 E500 4matic, 2010 GLK350 4matic and probably other models also. I can guarantee at least those models from first hand experience. When Mercedes spec'd the outer pinion bearing from NTN, they did not make it heavy duty enough and most all of these models rear diffs will fail at some point. -So it is not recommended to buy a used one and put it in because its just a matter of time before that one will also fail. Now available is a new and improved outer pinion bearing that was designed and made more heavy duty and robust, with more rollers. Below is a link to buy them on ebay with many sold and a known perfect fit. Any capable shop that does rear diff. rebuilds can do it. It is pretty straight forward.
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
There's another source of these parts. Benzexpert.com sells bearings and parts for several models of Mercedes and also happens to be a long time forum member who's a strong contributor to the site, lots of questions answered and DIY's written.
Send an email from the website, mention the forum and receive a 5% discount on any items purchased for a limited time.
I've never heard of repairing a differential costing so much. Had my front diff removed, repaired and bearings replaced for ~ $800 including parts here on the west coast. They'll do it for $300 + parts off the vehicle and you can ship to them.
Send an email from the site for help locating a shop.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Nov 8, 2017 at 12:48 PM.
My E550 4matic (103k miles) started giving me noise from the rear a short while back. I was hoping it was just my extremely worn tires. My Indy told me it was tires, left rear wheel bearing and the diff. I replaced the tires and wheel bearing, hoping the noise would go down some, but it is still there. I took it to another Indy to look at, and they told me it was bad pinions in the diff. I am looking at $2800 installed for the fix. Of course I am out of warranty. Hopefully, the car gets back to the quiet car I love so much after this.
Now I see the Eurocharged tune is dirt cheap. Why must this happen now? Oh well, things could always be much worse.
Get a rear diff out of a wrecking yard! Get an AMG, or diesel rear end; the diff, and axles are stronger/larger! You can replace that for about a grand with labor; then get your tune installed for what you’d pay to rebuild it!
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Had my front diff removed, repaired and bearings replaced for ~ $800 including parts here on the west coast. They'll do it for $300 + parts off the vehicle and you can ship to them.
