4matic~ 602 ?
 

I chanced on a 1987 230TD 4matic. If I get it, I would be intending on putting a 602, 603 or something similar in it. Does any one have any comments on the 4matic? Good ? bad ? Run from it ? Was there ever a diesel 4matic wagon? Any other comments please.

I've seen a 98 wagon 4matic I believe...
in diesel.
I've only heard negative things about the 4matic, not a well designed system.

4X4 603 wagon may have been offered in Canada.

4matic in a 603 involved a special oil pan. This oil pan had a tunnel through it allowing a halfshaft to go through it.

These were offered in a non-turbo variant in europe.

The 4matic in 124 flavor was an overly complicated system, the later system offered on the 210 chassis was much improved.

I'm thinking about getting a W210 4matic ( or something) as a winter beater for the family and a car for my daughter to drive to school. Honestly, I don't see much point in buying a late-model diesel, they are just as complex as gas engines and are probably not really cost-effective with the current cost of fuel.

It does seem to be the economy gap between diesel and gas has been closing up over time as well. This is just another reason I do not want to pay a lot for a fairly new or used diesel. It is doubtful I could source parts very reasonable for something pretty current.

Newer mercedes products seem to be for much larger wallets. Repairs and maintenance can be very expensive.The fourmatics were also known for it. Kind of a deluxe moneypit.

230TD or TE?

The OM603, M103 and M104 share a pan gasket so you can pretty much use any pan with any engine. Fitment in a chassis and oil pump fitment are other matters. If this follows for the 4 cylinder line, you might be able to swap the M102 for an OM601 and hope it's enough to move an AWD T124.

Can a 124 4-Matic be made more reliable or less troublesome by locking it as a full time AWD system?

Sixto
87 300D

The main problem with the 4Matic is internal leaks in the transfer case causing hydraulic fluid to mix with the transfer case oil. This will over time ruin the transfer case. (big $$$)

4Matic was available here in Europe with M103 2.6 and 3.0 engines and OM603 3.0 diesel with and without turbo. There was never a 4/5-cylinder engine offered with 4Matic in the 124 chassis.

The old (Styre-Puch) 4matic system was better know as the problematic. Mine wasn't terrible, only two transfer-case re-seals, but I sold it at 119,000 miles so I have no idea how it has faired in the 14years since I owned it.

The new 4matic system is much like many of the other cheap on-demand 4wd systems, a crappy reacitve system that tries to lock and gather traction after it has sensed that you're slipping, really worthless IMO in severe conditions.

If you want a German AWD car, buy a quattro.

Thanks guys for your input. It sounds like I am best to stay away from it. Its a 230TE & I planned in putting a 5 cylinder diesel in it. Looks like it wont be a good idea.

If it really was a 230TE with 4Matic, it was something homemade, as all W124 4Matic cars were 6-cylinder, gas or diesel. :)

E S ,
Thats interesting, I havent had a close look at the wagon. I think it is a Japanese one that has been gray marketed to Australia. It definitely had a 4matic badge on the back.
There were some unusual variants that came out in this part of the world.
My 250TD W124 has not got SLS & doesnt look as though it was ever fitted to it. It was a GB delivery.
I have seen a W123 200TD ~ people think a 240d is gutless, try a 2ltr 4 n/a in a w123 wagon !!