W124 4 matic

[MotardMan]

I have the chance to buy a low mileage (<66k) 300TE 4 matic this afternoon.

Can someone let me have the low down on what to look for on these cars?

Regards,

Jim

 

[Richard Moakes]

Leaking oil from front timing cover, messy but not really an issue.
Quality of coolant in header tank, any oily scum?
Flaring gear changes, more of a problem, it may need a rebuild.
ABS light on permanently, walk away!
Do the brakes squeal or judder? A picky owner would get those fixed !
Lumpy idle? Well just about all M103's have a lumpy idle, just make sure it isn't missing on one of the six cylinders.
Clunks on taking up drive or reverse? Could be worn flex discs (cheap), or perhaps gearbox or diff (expensive)
Check drivers seat for wear, at 66K it should still be in good condition, no tears or sagging. Does it look like a seat that has only done 66K miles?

All the usual stuff, service records, quality or cheap tyres, cleanliness of oil, washer bottle topped up? All clues to whether it is an abused or loved car.

Rust on lips of wheel arches, seems to be a common complaint.

Get underneath and look for oil leaks on that 4matic transfer case etc..., don't know much about them, but I know they are expensive to repair!

Good Luck,

Richard

 

[MotardMan]

Many thx Richard, I appreciate the speedy response.

As a side issue, I just called the vendor to ask for the reg of the car to get it HPI checked, and he did not know the reg (or coulod not recall it)! Not a good sign. He has had the car for 6 months, apparently). I am suspicious that he may be a trader posing as a private seller...... We'll see. I'm going to get my trolley jack and axle stands in ther car and be VERY careful.....

 

[grober]

4 matic checks

check that the 4-matic system service valve labelled TEST is not in the down position. This shuts off the 4-matic system leaving only 2 wheel drive operative. check that the 4-matic warning light DOES come on when driving in slippery conditions which would normally cause the partime system to engage above 15mph. Gentle driving on dry smooth roads the 4-matic light should not light at all, particularly on gradual corners if the system is OK. Many MB techs have said to me the 4-matic system is fraught with problems. the system is sensitive to tyre pressure and new m/s tyres. Excessive vibration when accelerating hard may mean problems with the transfer case which needs special ATF. there were documented problems of leakage of hydralic fluid into the transfer case oil on earlier models requiring a rebuild of the unit. later units were modified to avoid this. The consensus of opinion seems to be that the system was a sophisticated marvel of engineering in its day but an expensive nightmare to repair once any faults developed. I would be looking for a thick file of MB main agent paperwork to show the car is fault free. Mercedes later 4-matic E-class models (not sold in the uk) use a system employing selective wheel braking like the M-class SUV which is much simpler. So if you want to spend lots of time sipping coffee at your local MB DEALER paying frightening bills????????????????

 

[MotardMan]

EEEEk!

Differing and eqaully extreme opinons on the 4matic then!? One with close to 200K and no tranny problems, and then lots of stories about expensive nightmares. From the archives, I see Andy has replaced 3 transfer cases......

Hmmm. The car is on <66,000 miles, which for a 91 model is low. It does have FMBSH too, so I am on the right side of the risk that 4 matic carries...

Thankyou to all th contributors so far, I leave in 30 mins to do the inspection.

Best,

Jim

 

[MotardMan]

Horror car in the Redditch area BEWARE!



The car looked mint, the bodywork was 99%. The interior had wear, and a dog had eaten the backs of the rear head restraints. Not good, but on these cars, par for the course I am afraid.

Underbonnet check revealed a fairly clean example, but the "test" lever for the 4WD and self level was in the test position.... A quick look under the car and there was a lot of fluid under there. It was still dripping and the car had been stood for 10 mins or so. Whatever it was, was dripping on the exhaust and burning off! I poked my finger in a fresh droplet and it was not red like PAS or auto trans fluid, it was not viscous enough to be engine oil, so I had to assume it was oil from the 4WD transfer case, and this with the system having been on test for the 40 mile drive to meet me. I am not sure what would have happened if the 4WD had been engaged? More oil perhaps?

Starting the car was a problem, it did not want to idle, very lumpy, worse than the normal pulsing idle on these cars you would expect, even in good tune. New HT leads had not fixed it either, and whoever fitted those had cracked the plastic moulding on the rocker cover that holds the leads in place. Revving the motor from idle showed a bad misfire that cleared if you held the throttle open. Not advancing the ign perhaps?
When the car was dropped into D from P, it stalled. Repeatedly. The only way to get in D w/o stalling the car was to "heel and toe" the brake and accelerator! Even then, the gate would not allow the selector to engage D unless you went to 2 gear and then shifted to D. Oh dear.......

On the road the car picked up in the gears OK, but the action of the kickdown switch was very notchy, like the switch was loose or not mounted correctly. The steering was vague and heavy, almost like the pump was faulty. By this stage I was not tempted by the immaculate exterior anymore, or the low miles, or the MBFSH. This car wanted A LOT of work to get it viable, and then what?

Needless to say I walked back to my own car, disappointed, but with my £3K securely held on to.....
Mostly thanks to all the great advice I have had from this forum, thank you to all of you for the 4MATIC specific advice, I am most grateful.

Regards,

Jim