Mercedes 300TE 4Matic - W124 For Sale (1992)
Mike Walker
MB Enthusiast
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- Mercedes W204 C220cdi Estate Ford Fiesta Mk 4
Looks like a bargain to me.
I have very recently bought this very car. Paid £1400 with an extensive history. I know very little about these 4matic Mercs but so far am really enjoying it.
The 4matic light is on constantly but I also have the 3rd brake light missing, maybe the 2 are linked???
There is also a bit of a rumble from the rear end, are wheel bearings commmon on these or is there more chance of it being a diff or something more serious?
All help greatly appreciated. Many thanks
Ronnie
The 4matic light is on constantly but I also have the 3rd brake light missing, maybe the 2 are linked???
There is also a bit of a rumble from the rear end, are wheel bearings commmon on these or is there more chance of it being a diff or something more serious?
All help greatly appreciated. Many thanks
Ronnie
brucemillar
MB Enthusiast
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- Nov 18, 2010
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- C55 AMG Wagon - W124 300te 4matic Wagon - BMW 4.8is X5 E53 - SWB Pajero 3.5 V6 24v
Ronnie
I own a 1987 4-Matic that has just undergone a complete restoration. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/203841-my-124-300te-4matic-restoration.html
The 4-Matic light being constantly on, indicates that you have lost the 4-Matic and are possibly only getting rear wheel drive. You most certainly will have a permanent fault.
Start with the basics:
1) Is the hydraulic reservoir full? This is located on the RH side of the engine bay as you look into the engine bay. It will have a dip stick on the top.
2) You should have a "test"lever or switch that allows you to enable or disable the 4-Matic hydraulics/system. The lever (if you have that) is located on the RH of the engine bay opposite the reservoir. Pull up to disable and push down (flat) to enable. If the system is switched off? The light will be on permanently.
3) A lot of these cars had the 4-Matic dismantled by removing bits of the drive train. This would be done to avoid costly repairs. Do you have any indication from the previous owner if the system was working?
With a full reservoir and the test lever horizontal you should have no 4-Matic light and all 4 wheels should be driving. Leave the engine running and get underneath and have a look for any leaks. The system uses a fair bit of pressure to pump the fluid. If leaking it is usually a very evident leak, caused by the pressure. If not then you need to get the codes read. On these cars you need to read the "blink codes" by making up a test light. Or take it to decent Independent who knows these cars.
Andy at Wright-Tech in Sidcup knows the 4-Matics very well (he restored the mechanicals on mine). Give him a call and tell him, Bruce said to do so.
They are repairable dependent on budget and willingness to do so. Parts are still available from Mercedes but starting to get scarce now.
One other thing to watch out for. All four wheels must be the same sizes including the tyres. The system does not like mixed sizes. Pressures are also fairly delicate but that would tend to give you a flashing light light. Solid light suggests that it is disabled.
Where in the country are you located?
I own a 1987 4-Matic that has just undergone a complete restoration. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/bodywork/203841-my-124-300te-4matic-restoration.html
The 4-Matic light being constantly on, indicates that you have lost the 4-Matic and are possibly only getting rear wheel drive. You most certainly will have a permanent fault.
Start with the basics:
1) Is the hydraulic reservoir full? This is located on the RH side of the engine bay as you look into the engine bay. It will have a dip stick on the top.
2) You should have a "test"lever or switch that allows you to enable or disable the 4-Matic hydraulics/system. The lever (if you have that) is located on the RH of the engine bay opposite the reservoir. Pull up to disable and push down (flat) to enable. If the system is switched off? The light will be on permanently.
3) A lot of these cars had the 4-Matic dismantled by removing bits of the drive train. This would be done to avoid costly repairs. Do you have any indication from the previous owner if the system was working?
With a full reservoir and the test lever horizontal you should have no 4-Matic light and all 4 wheels should be driving. Leave the engine running and get underneath and have a look for any leaks. The system uses a fair bit of pressure to pump the fluid. If leaking it is usually a very evident leak, caused by the pressure. If not then you need to get the codes read. On these cars you need to read the "blink codes" by making up a test light. Or take it to decent Independent who knows these cars.
Andy at Wright-Tech in Sidcup knows the 4-Matics very well (he restored the mechanicals on mine). Give him a call and tell him, Bruce said to do so.
They are repairable dependent on budget and willingness to do so. Parts are still available from Mercedes but starting to get scarce now.
One other thing to watch out for. All four wheels must be the same sizes including the tyres. The system does not like mixed sizes. Pressures are also fairly delicate but that would tend to give you a flashing light light. Solid light suggests that it is disabled.
Where in the country are you located?
syncropaddy
Active Member
Same colour as my 4matic !
I am down south in Portsmouth.
I've done about 3000 miles with the light on now. I tried to read the blinks with a hack I found on YouTube but couldn't get it to work.
I've also changed the oil in the rear diff because my radio doesn't go loud enough to drown out the noise, but to no avail. By any chance would anyone know where I might be able to source a diff or a refurb? I've quit one quote so far of £600+VAT!
I've done about 3000 miles with the light on now. I tried to read the blinks with a hack I found on YouTube but couldn't get it to work.
I've also changed the oil in the rear diff because my radio doesn't go loud enough to drown out the noise, but to no avail. By any chance would anyone know where I might be able to source a diff or a refurb? I've quit one quote so far of £600+VAT!
- Joined
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Welcome to the forum!
You are lucky as you have an excellent MB specialist very close by to you.
Mercedes Benz & Smart Specialists | Prestige Car Service | Horndean, Hampshire
You are lucky as you have an excellent MB specialist very close by to you.
Mercedes Benz & Smart Specialists | Prestige Car Service | Horndean, Hampshire
bolide
MB Enthusiast
If the car is rumbling it is quite likely to be the rear wheel bearings. Diffs tend to whine rather than rumble - at least at the outset
The bad news is that replacing a rear wheel bearing on a W124 Estate is one of the toughest jobs on the car. Budget about £500 / side if the usual amount of labour is required
Pulling the bearing can be nigh-on impossible and often the hub has to be removed and taken to a machine shop. You might be better off sourcing a pair of secondhand hubs and installing those, or replacing the bearings in them then installing them
There's a certain look on the face of a mechanic who's just replaced a rear wheel bearing on one of these cars. It says "Whatever I charge you, it isn't enough!"
Nick Froome
The bad news is that replacing a rear wheel bearing on a W124 Estate is one of the toughest jobs on the car. Budget about £500 / side if the usual amount of labour is required
Pulling the bearing can be nigh-on impossible and often the hub has to be removed and taken to a machine shop. You might be better off sourcing a pair of secondhand hubs and installing those, or replacing the bearings in them then installing them
There's a certain look on the face of a mechanic who's just replaced a rear wheel bearing on one of these cars. It says "Whatever I charge you, it isn't enough!"
Nick Froome
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As above go and see PCS. You won't regret it. Ollie knows 124s and has maintained ours for years now. The rear wheel bearings aren't always a pig to do. PCS did one of ours a couple of years ago and it took much less time than expected.
tali
MB Enthusiast
Rare with wheeltrims - most seem to have opt alloys fitted
bolide
MB Enthusiast
Diff noise normally changes between power-on and overrun. Wheel bearing noise normally changes when turning left or right on a long radius bend, or when the car goes into or out of long dips in the road, depending on whether it's the rotating or fixed part of the bearing that's worn, and where the wear is
You need expert diagnosis
Nick Froome
Selling
Sadly this is now up for sale. I have gotten a little bored of the car and am looking for something else.
Mercedes 300te 4matic W124 estate | eBay
It is advertised for £1250 but I am open to offers, swaps or Px with anything interesting.
Sadly this is now up for sale. I have gotten a little bored of the car and am looking for something else.
Mercedes 300te 4matic W124 estate | eBay
It is advertised for £1250 but I am open to offers, swaps or Px with anything interesting.
Darrell
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
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It's coming up as sale ended.
