My dad and I have talked about picking up something AWD to keep at his house for my 16 year old sister to drive this winter if she needs to (she drives my 87 300D while her 92 300D is getting painted) or just as a spare AWD vehicle.

Someone locally is selling a 300E 4matic with around 150k miles on it.

So:

How can I make sure the 4matic works?

Anything I should look for related to the 4matic?

Does changing the fluid in the transfer case help extend its life?

Is even 4matic good in the snow?

Otherwise I'm very familiar with 124s and have a good idea of what I am looking at, but I have zero experience with early 4matic.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

Question #1: If you spin the tires and the little triangle in your dash does not light up then something is not right.

Question #2: The service history of the 4Matic matters. Check the records. Other than that I'd check it for leaks and get it on a lift. They don't call it $Matic for nothing!

Question #3: I'd think so.

Question #4: Yes, 4Matic's are excellent in the snow. I'm considering importing a 4Matic Diesel (yes they do exist) from Europe once cash allows.

My best advice is have the 4Matic system looked over with someone who's experienced (Good Indy) if you're not familiar. The 4Matics are excellent when everything is right. But an account drainer when they're neglected.

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Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k

I'm well aware of these but they aren't cheap when they aren't rusted to hell. I've seen really nice examples of 124 300TD 4matics in the 10,000+ euro range. Neat indeed, but I'm not sure its worth the outlay. The vast majority of 124 4matics I've seen in Germany were 260E's and cataclysmically rusty.

Thanks for the insight, I'm going to schedule an appointment to see the car.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

I live in Denver and I've never even put snow tires on mine. I'm not afraid to plow snow with the front bumper either. The T-case's don't break they just leak internally and eventually it overflows onto the exhaust. As long as the 4-m light comes on with the key and goes out when started the system should be functional.

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90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff

Got there and there was black paint over the 4M light.


Took it to a gravel parking lot, 4matic nor the ASR worked.


PASS

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

Generally, that is not a good sign.

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http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...aman/Fleet.jpg

Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

Yup. It's rare to find a good 4Matic. I passed on a 4Matic with working ASR and 4Matic a few months back about 10 minutes from my house. The price was ridiculous. He wanted $5250,00. Keep looking, you'll find one eventually. There out there.

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Only diesels in this driveway.
2005 E320 CDI 243k Black/Black
2008 Chevy 3500HD Duramax 340k
2004 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 220k

Pass on a 124 4matic, run run run.

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Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay

Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold)

i lost a 100 dollar deposit on a 4matic...best money every spent by not buying it.

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Even a good one has a heavy steering feel to it and wheel doesn't return to center after a turn normally, like you always have to turn it back to center, really odd, like driving a semi. (Actually a semi feels better than a 124 4matic)

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Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay

Click here to see a photo album of my '62 Sprite Project Moneypit (Now Sold)

It was free to look, don't worry I didn't buy it.

__________________
68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i