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Yesterday, went out to the country side to visit some friends. While making a u-turn, my ML slips into the snowbank. I thought 4matic would get me out with ease. Boy, was I wrong. Here are some pics:
I have Michelin Pilot sport A/S+ tires. Tried rocking the suv with traction control on, off...even dyno mode. Nothing works because only 1 tire would spin (right rear tire), the other 3 wouldn't the moment there's no traction. I thought all 4 tires should spin regardless with traction control off? But the damn system keeps interfering and cuts power immediately. The left side tires,even on gravel, wouldn't spin. Totally demoralizing here...
Luckily, a neighbor was kind enough to pull out his tractor and drag the ML out.
I have no idea how 4matic really works but after this, I really don't care anymore. 4matic plain sucks! What's everyone's experience with 4matic?
For getting stuck like that you need a locking center differential system and I think jeep has that; also snow tires may have helped
that scenario is exceptionally rare to be in... the situation you were in. It's not what 4 matic is meant for ... the ML is not for off roading or hills of deep snow ... check out a rubicon or a hummer
my experience with all our 4 matics is that it's good; I prefer my vtm-4 in the mdx a bit more though in turns
Weird. Looking from the pictures even with the A/S+ tires being all season, they look pretty low on tread. That could just be the pictures though.
At the same time, from the 2nd and 3rd pictures, it looks like the ML is almost high centered on the one side too?
Personal opinion, I drive a 2014 E63 with winters, and up here in Edmonton, Alberta, I have yet to have any issues getting out of a lot of snow in -35Celcius.
Also isn't our AWD system technically RWD biased with 31/69 split at all times, and then it just limits the torque to certain wheels up to a certain speed.
I'm just totally bummed that I couldn't get out with just that amount of snow, esp one side was completely on dry ground. Snow tires may have helped but I wasn't planning to go off-roading, or purposely plow through snowbanks, hence the A/S tires. The tires were just bought 3 months ago so they are relatively almost-new. I was hoping that they system would at least let some wheel spin or spin the 2 left tires to slowly inch its way out but it acted like any normal front/rear wheel drive cars. Really disappointing to say the least.
I'm just totally bummed that I couldn't get out with just that amount of snow, esp one side was completely on dry ground. Snow tires may have helped but I wasn't planning to go off-roading, or purposely plow through snowbanks, hence the A/S tires. The tires were just bought 3 months ago so they are relatively almost-new. I was hoping that they system would at least let some wheel spin or spin the 2 left tires to slowly inch its way out but it acted like any normal front/rear wheel drive cars. Really disappointing to say the least.
One side was on dry ground, but the other side had weight transferred to an 18" wall of snow. You had the resistance of the snow on the body on top of other issues. As stated, locking diff may have gotten you out, benefit of a G wagon.
Weird. Looking from the pictures even with the A/S+ tires being all season, they look pretty low on tread. That could just be the pictures though.
At the same time, from the 2nd and 3rd pictures, it looks like the ML is almost high centered on the one side too?
Personal opinion, I drive a 2014 E63 with winters, and up here in Edmonton, Alberta, I have yet to have any issues getting out of a lot of snow in -35Celcius.
Also isn't our AWD system technically RWD biased with 31/69 split at all times, and then it just limits the torque to certain wheels up to a certain speed.
Up here in Alberta as well.
Never had the E63 in that situation (off camber / half the car on low friction surface), but might have been a bit different with winter tires on the vehicle. Can appreciate that the electronic traction systems would have prevented you from putting the power where you needed it unfortunately.
It pushes through deep snow (if necessary) as long as you don't get high centered/hung up.
Never had the E63 in that situation (off camber / half the car on low friction surface), but might have been a bit different with winter tires on the vehicle. Can appreciate that the electronic traction systems would have prevented you from putting the power where you needed it unfortunately.
It pushes through deep snow (if necessary) as long as you don't get high centered/hung up.
If the system would've put the power to the left tires, I would've gotten out but damn system said NOPE!
First off when you are stuck that way with no locking diff you are screwed. Also, you have the wrong tires. Combine all of that and you get stuck. Also, a ML63 is not made for that lol. You can still get stuck with AWD or anything really.
Nope. They did always say don't drive too fast in slippery conditions.
Mechanical or getting yourself out of a snowbank?
As another poster said, I was in that 1% stuck-er group.
I have read this whole thread a couple of times and it sure makes me laugh and worry at the same time.
the most important thing to me that the OP said was that only one tire was spinning. Some say winter tires may have helped, we’ll, they have to turn first. 4 matic is meant apply the brake to the spinning tire to send the traction to the tires with traction. I’m not saying that other AWD would have gotten out of that situation, but for sure it should have at least spun the tires.
One side was on dry ground, but the other side had weight transferred to an 18" wall of snow. You had the resistance of the snow on the body on top of other issues. As stated, locking diff may have gotten you out, benefit of a G wagon.
Diff locks or a subaru driveline would have got this out... bugger but hey you got aml63 just now a few cars off the lights, you will feel better
Last edited by cunningstunts; Sep 6, 2020 at 07:47 PM.
For getting stuck like that you need a locking center differential system and I think jeep has that; also snow tires may have helped
that scenario is exceptionally rare to be in... the situation you were in. It's not what 4 matic is meant for ... the ML is not for off roading or hills of deep snow ... check out a rubicon or a hummer
my experience with all our 4 matics is that it's good; I prefer my vtm-4 in the mdx a bit more though in turns
Or a G, which has a locking center, front and rear.
ML and GL also come with optional off road package which includes center and rear locking diffs, but not in the 63 variants.
The key is tires. Winter tires would make a big difference. And if one wheel ou spins, apply brake very briefly to trick 4matic to apply torque to the other wheels. And straighten the steering wheel when you're initially trying to gain traction and move/rock the car put of trouble.
ML and GL also come with optional off road package which includes center and rear locking diffs, but not in the 63 variants.
The key is tires. Winter tires would make a big difference. And if one wheel ou spins, apply brake very briefly to trick 4matic to apply torque to the other wheels. And straighten the steering wheel when you're initially trying to gain traction and move/rock the car put of trouble.
I remember when I got my first set of winter tires in the 2000s. I put them on my 04 C230 after 3-4 years of driving in the snow up here in Michigan. It was a complete night and day difference. That first winter I was at a super bowl party where there was about 8 inches on the ground when I left. My car had no trouble navigating back home 10 miles. Of course there were some parts where I got a bit squirly but I could feel that the car was gripping the road beneath unlike all seasons.
Yes, it was driver error for slipping into the snow ditch but mechanical error for such a poor 4matic system.
Originally Posted by PeteyV
I remember when I got my first set of winter tires in the 2000s. I put them on my 04 C230 after 3-4 years of driving in the snow up here in Michigan. It was a complete night and day difference. That first winter I was at a super bowl party where there was about 8 inches on the ground when I left. My car had no trouble navigating back home 10 miles. Of course there were some parts where I got a bit squirly but I could feel that the car was gripping the road beneath unlike all seasons.
Snow tires is complete night and difference. I would know... living in the upper midwest all my life. But in this situation, I doubt snow tires would've done any difference.
There is something off. 3 months old Michelin PilotSport A/S (post #4)? Left rear tire's thread appears to be very shallow if not bold (yes maybe the pictures, but in both pictures focusing on that tire it appears to be shallow/bold). But it is getting even better - the front right tire is clearly Continental (difficult to say DWS/06 or DTD's SRS+).
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