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Any problems with a 2012 E350 sport 4 matic

Old May 27, 2020 | 02:35 PM
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1997 S320
Any problems with a 2012 E350 sport 4 matic

I looking at a gorgeous 2012 E350 sport that has 87K miles and priced at 12K. Its a private party sale using TRED. Is there anything I should look for? The car is a one owner and had all of its regular schedule service at a local MB dealer. The carfax is clear with no problems or recalls. Any help would be appreciated.
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Old May 27, 2020 | 03:45 PM
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2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Normal stuff to check for is faded wood trim. Open the door and see if the wood trim hidden by the door is the same color as the rest of the trim. Also the driver's seat tends to rip. Check the seam carefully. Passenger one can also rip but less likely due to most people not having passengers often. If it has the pano roof, go over a ramp at an angle to see if you hear the roof cracking from the body flex. Otherwise, it's a mostly reliable car.
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Old May 29, 2020 | 01:47 AM
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Transfer cases are a problem on these cars. They leak, rear clutch pack wears out causing vibration when turning at low speed, transfer case bearings get all pitted and cause noise when picking up speed, the front drive shaft tends to come apart on all 722.9 with integrated transfer case. Motor mounts are common in that mileage range.
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Old May 29, 2020 | 04:56 AM
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Originally Posted by MBENZTECH
Transfer cases are a problem on these cars. They leak, rear clutch pack wears out causing vibration when turning at low speed, transfer case bearings get all pitted and cause noise when picking up speed, the front drive shaft tends to come apart on all 722.9 with integrated transfer case. Motor mounts are common in that mileage range.
Another reason to avoid 4Matic unless it is absolutely necessary in your climate.
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Old May 29, 2020 | 04:17 PM
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24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
Originally Posted by LILBENZ230
Another reason to avoid 4Matic unless it is absolutely necessary in your climate.
Yes maybe, but they are awesome in the snow! Never gone off road yet! Well wet grass at an outdoor concert where other needed a tow out after there cars sank a little in the grass.

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Old May 29, 2020 | 05:25 PM
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24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
Originally Posted by MBENZTECH
Transfer cases are a problem on these cars. They leak, rear clutch pack wears out causing vibration when turning at low speed, transfer case bearings get all pitted and cause noise when picking up speed, the front drive shaft tends to come apart on all 722.9 with integrated transfer case. Motor mounts are common in that mileage range.
Do most 212's have clutch packs in the rear differential? My 12 may turn 30k this summer and my 13 is at 45k so I haven'y got the rear Dif maintanance yet.

Last edited by pierrejoliat; May 29, 2020 at 05:27 PM.
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Old May 31, 2020 | 04:58 PM
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1997 S320
I ended up buying a 2012 E350 sport luxury 4 matic for <$12K . The body is perfect and it only has 87K miles. The upholstery is perfect. Looks like the seats were never sat in.. It is a 1 owner car and showed the meticulous care for the car including the 3m front end protective film and had all the service including detailing done per the maintenance schedule. I read the car fax and no issues there. I was concerned that it might need a brake job but when I inspected the car the rotors and the brakes had lots of meat left. The owner used it to drive on the freeway about 30 miles each day.
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Old Oct 11, 2021 | 02:32 PM
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I just got the B5 service reminder but it has been only 5K since my last service. How do I reset the Reminder?
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Old Mar 1, 2025 | 07:56 PM
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2012 E350 4matic
Does anyone know what the transfer case fluid capacity is for a 2012 E350 4matic gas engine? I'm seeing 700 ml to 1 Liter? And are there any diagrams illustrating both the fill plug and the drain plug?
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Old Mar 2, 2025 | 10:43 AM
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24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
Originally Posted by dmauch
I just got the B5 service reminder but it has been only 5K since my last service. How do I reset the Reminder?
Turn key to position one, hold call button and OK button to get service menu, click on full service, hit ok, make sure dash shows mileage and trip to start with, scroll to service, confirm service

Last edited by pierrejoliat; Mar 2, 2025 at 11:32 AM.
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Old Mar 2, 2025 | 10:44 AM
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24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
Originally Posted by mikarr
Does anyone know what the transfer case fluid capacity is for a 2012 E350 4matic gas engine? I'm seeing 700 ml to 1 Liter? And are there any diagrams illustrating both the fill plug and the drain plug?
Transfer case uses transmission fluid, front differential takes a little over a liter
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Old Mar 3, 2025 | 10:52 AM
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2012 E350 4matic
Thank you for confirming that! Any ideas where I can see an illustration of my transfer case?
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Old Mar 3, 2025 | 01:35 PM
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24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
I don't , maybe online? transfer case is integral to the transmission, so uses transmission fluid, Differentials use gear oil.
You could get a copy of xentry, it likely has pictures

Last edited by pierrejoliat; Mar 3, 2025 at 01:36 PM.
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Old Mar 3, 2025 | 06:13 PM
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Transfer case uses transmission fluid, front differential takes a little over a liter

If I`m not mistaken, front should be around 600-650 ml, I might be wrong.
That`s what I remember reading in some service documents and that`s exactly how much came out of my front diff.
Again, I don`t have any open document in front of me at the moment.

Last edited by 01blackhawk; Mar 3, 2025 at 06:14 PM.
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Old Mar 4, 2025 | 09:32 AM
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24 GLS580 '23 E450 4matic 12 E350 4Matic
Yes, I remember them taking just under a quart and a half

Last edited by pierrejoliat; Mar 4, 2025 at 09:35 AM.
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Old Mar 4, 2025 | 09:42 AM
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On mine (both) the TC is the same, I had the TC fluids changed at the same time as the trans. What sucks...the MB shop (dealership) took THREE TIMES to get the seals correct (I was like a moving smoke screen from the movies when the car warmed up). Not sure if issues with the trans pan seals is a thing or just something that MB of Gainesville FL has a hard time with.

On our GLS and my AMG, no issues what so ever - and, done with the Trans fluids.
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Old Mar 4, 2025 | 11:59 AM
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2012 E350 4matic
Thanks for the follow up on this. I certainly appreciate your input.
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