Front Differential replacement
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 131
Likes: 42
2016 GLC300
Front Differential replacement
2016 GLC with 76,400 miles, and just did a B1 Service at the dealer. Only discrepancy I noted when bringing in was a very faint hum at 80mph. Had right wheel bearing replaced a year ago, so I thought it was the left one - I was wrong. They noted the front differential is starting to go, as they found metal in the oil. It's a $4400 repair at this dealer, and likely about $5000 at the dealer closer to me. Took it to an independent German garage and they confirmed the front differential is toast. They are doing it for $3900 with OEM parts.
It seems as though a complete replacement is quite rare based on the lack of threads here. My question is should I have been doing front and rear differential fluid changes all along (obviously yes)? I've never been asked if I wanted to replace the fluid, and the Service Sheet for this model doesn't ever call for the fluid to be replaced.
Along the same line, MB calls for replacing the coolant at 15 years/150,000. Should we be replacing that sooner?
It seems as though a complete replacement is quite rare based on the lack of threads here. My question is should I have been doing front and rear differential fluid changes all along (obviously yes)? I've never been asked if I wanted to replace the fluid, and the Service Sheet for this model doesn't ever call for the fluid to be replaced.
Along the same line, MB calls for replacing the coolant at 15 years/150,000. Should we be replacing that sooner?
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 31,867
Likes: 6,200
2016 GLC with 76,400 miles, and just did a B1 Service at the dealer. Only discrepancy I noted when bringing in was a very faint hum at 80mph. Had right wheel bearing replaced a year ago, so I thought it was the left one - I was wrong. They noted the front differential is starting to go, as they found metal in the oil. It's a $4400 repair at this dealer, and likely about $5000 at the dealer closer to me. Took it to an independent German garage and they confirmed the front differential is toast. They are doing it for $3900 with OEM parts.
It seems as though a complete replacement is quite rare based on the lack of threads here. My question is should I have been doing front and rear differential fluid changes all along (obviously yes)? I've never been asked if I wanted to replace the fluid, and the Service Sheet for this model doesn't ever call for the fluid to be replaced.
Along the same line, MB calls for replacing the coolant at 15 years/150,000. Should we be replacing that sooner?
It seems as though a complete replacement is quite rare based on the lack of threads here. My question is should I have been doing front and rear differential fluid changes all along (obviously yes)? I've never been asked if I wanted to replace the fluid, and the Service Sheet for this model doesn't ever call for the fluid to be replaced.
Along the same line, MB calls for replacing the coolant at 15 years/150,000. Should we be replacing that sooner?
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 440
From: Melbourne, Australia
2010 ML550 VIN WDC1641722A564750, 2010 B180
Front diffs have been a problem for MB since the mid 00s. Crappy bearings impacted the W164s and all the associated models that used the same 4matic setup. They even changed the oil spec as a way of prolonging life onnthe front diffs years ago. Search the forums and maybe even look for recalls? Certainly a complaint to MB in order as any diff in any car should last longer than yours has.
And there has typically been no scheduled service interval for them but good to change fluid every 40,000 miles. Just make sure you get exactly the right spec for it.
And there has typically been no scheduled service interval for them but good to change fluid every 40,000 miles. Just make sure you get exactly the right spec for it.
Last edited by BlackML550; Apr 10, 2025 at 04:28 AM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 31,867
Likes: 6,200
Front diffs have been a problem for MB since the mid 00s. Crappy bearings impacted the W164s and all the associated models that used the same 4matic setup. They even changed the oil spec as a way of prolonging life onnthe front diffs years ago. Search the forums and maybe even look for recalls? Certainly a complaint to MB in order as any diff in any car should last longer than yours has.
And there has typically been no scheduled service interval for them but good to change fluid every 40,000 miles. Just make sure you get exactly the right spec for it.
And there has typically been no scheduled service interval for them but good to change fluid every 40,000 miles. Just make sure you get exactly the right spec for it.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 31,867
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I still remember back then MB had lifetime transmission fluid intervals but that backfired quickly. I forgot if there is a transfer case interval in modern MBs. Lots of MBs' transfer case share the same fluid with the transmission so you drain both but for those that doesn't, I don't remembered if there is an interval as well.
Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 208
Likes: 77
From: Canada
2017 & 2022 GLC 300 4Matic
My 2017 glc300 4matic fluid replaced;
- Rear diff fluid, 120Kkm. About time to change by color. 800ml.75w85
- Transfer case, 200Kkm. Still 30% fluid life left by color. 650ml.75w85
- Front diff, 200Kkm, Still 50% left. 500ml.75w85
My opinion,
Rear diff: is main gears. Every 80K miles (130K km)
Transfer case & Front diff: can be lifetime fluid for the most people. Or 200K miles (300Kkm)
- Rear diff fluid, 120Kkm. About time to change by color. 800ml.75w85
- Transfer case, 200Kkm. Still 30% fluid life left by color. 650ml.75w85
- Front diff, 200Kkm, Still 50% left. 500ml.75w85
My opinion,
Rear diff: is main gears. Every 80K miles (130K km)
Transfer case & Front diff: can be lifetime fluid for the most people. Or 200K miles (300Kkm)
Last edited by sn202020; Apr 10, 2025 at 05:28 PM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 31,867
Likes: 6,200
My 2017 glc300 4matic replaced;
- Rear diff, 120Kkm. About time to change by color.
- Transfer case, 200Kkm. Still 30% fluid life left by color.
- Front diff, 200Kkm, Still 50% left.
My opinion,
Rear diff: is main gears. Every 80K miles (130K km)
Transfer case & Front diff: can be lifetime fluid for the most people. Or 200K miles (300Kkm)
- Rear diff, 120Kkm. About time to change by color.
- Transfer case, 200Kkm. Still 30% fluid life left by color.
- Front diff, 200Kkm, Still 50% left.
My opinion,
Rear diff: is main gears. Every 80K miles (130K km)
Transfer case & Front diff: can be lifetime fluid for the most people. Or 200K miles (300Kkm)
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Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 208
Likes: 77
From: Canada
2017 & 2022 GLC 300 4Matic
This 9 speed auto trasmission has the separated transfer case fluid ( 75w85 gear oil). Transfer case drain is located upper of the transmission mount at the rear of AT.
Last edited by sn202020; Apr 10, 2025 at 05:30 PM.
MBWorld God!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
MBWorld God!
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Would it be the same on the GLE? Back then, Mercedes like to share the exact same fluid the transmission is currently using, not just the type of fluid used is the same but the actual fluid used is running both the transmission and transfer case.
Not sure when they seperated it but a lot of models still use transmission fluid for the transfer case, just in seperate units. At least from what I heard.
Not sure when they seperated it but a lot of models still use transmission fluid for the transfer case, just in seperate units. At least from what I heard.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 31,867
Likes: 6,200
For example, the GLC 43 uses 7G fluid (blue and not red) according to this forum member even though it has a 9G transmission, although as you can clearly tell, the two are seperate units unlike the past: https://mbworld.org/forums/glc63s-gl...ification.html
