djdinHHI

MB 2013 E350 4-Matic wagon, bought new in 2013; previously owned 2000 E350 4-Matic wagon which ran like a tank (unstoppable, in a positive way)
March 19, 2019 Mileage 60,346 – Moaning noise on turning – Dealer re-built Transfer case per LI28.00-P-051499

November 7, 2019 Mileage 66,917 – Performed A- service and again same type of noise on turning – Dealer re-built transmission , transfer case still “shuddering” authorized to replace transmission. At this point the extended warrantee covered the repair work at the local dealer

October 28, 2020 Mileage 69,105 – Performed B service at local dealer

December 2, 2020 Mileage 69,352 – Brake pad and rotors front and rear, two new tires, replace spark plugs. Rest all ok

December 20, 2020 Mileage 69,491 - Cornering at slow speed such as into parking space same “moaning/shuddering” noise is heard. Same basic noise and vibration as heard back in 3/19 and 11/19.
So my question is: Will MB cover further repairs AGAIN to Trans and Transfer case? "What are my odds?" Are there repair bulletins that would cover this... having the same failure in 3,000 miles even though now out of warrantee?
Thx

LILBENZ230

I am not sure what your odds are, but usually these rebuilds do come with a warranty. Usually a year, which you're just outside of.. but 3,000 miles? Come on. I think you have a chance.

diesel_dan

Whenever the warranty Co. has covered a repair on my car, on the invoice it states that the repair is guaranteed for 24 months, unlimited miles. MB has to agree to that if they want to be paid. On a MB repair you pay out of pocket, I would expect MB would cover it at least 12 months/12K miles (but I don't know)... Take a look at your RO's for the prior work, and in any case I'd be back at that dealer ASAP to get the complaint recorded.

ghlkal

Dang, that's frustrating.

Did the warranty cover the original transfer case repair?

Let us know how this works out

Arrie

It seems to me the original problem was never fixed. It failing twice within about 9000 miles indicates it was not fixed.

The “moaning” noise to me sounds like the transfer case bearing failure that so many 4-Matic drivers have experienced and after the fix this should not come back so quickly. If it did then bearing clearance was not set correctly.

The shuddering while turning slow speed in my opinion is a separate issue but it likely shows up at the same time with moaning noise as this is when big forces are present in the system. It is the spring loaded center differential lock that must allow movement and this movement noticeably happens when driving slow making sharp turns like in parking lots. That is when big speed difference is created between front and rear axles and shudder results as the lock will “stick-release” under flexibility of the power train parts (like tires).

There are lots of posts about this and some people have even done a lock disk “cleaning” operation where they jack one rear tire up from ground and then run the car on drive for a few seconds. This procedure will force the center differential lock to slip as only rear axle has movement.

pierrejoliat

Interesting take, I thought it sounded like a combo issue as well, centering on the front differential and transfer case, just guessing here but it is my understanding that front and back are "open" differentials, except on the back of the AMG cars.

Arrie

Yes, front and rear are open without lock but in the center there is a lock. Without it your 4-Matic would not be much of an AWD car. Mercedes U-Tube videos about the center differential lock said it holds 10 Nm of torque, which is meaningless without knowing all of the gear ratios between the wheels but sounds so technical to someone who doesn't even know what a Nm is. This lock must allow speed difference between axles and in normal driving you don't feel anything as small speed difference can happen even under the wheels but when you make sharp turns the lock must slip a lot and that's when the jerking can be felt.

pierrejoliat

Wow, 10 Newton Meters is like 7.3 foot lbs. that is not much, interesting.

Arrie

Yes, very small torque but it all depends how fast the shaft turns as how much it can hold between axles.