Just bought a 99 E320 4matic wagon, 83,000 miles.I Was driving on snowy roads last night and noticed when stopped in fairly deep unplowed snow the car wont get going again, when i watched the car from to outside i noticed the front tires wont spin while the back do. I tried with the ESP off and same thing. Is this correct? It seems as though the AWD is working while driving, just wont engage to get unstuck. I own a Audi s6 also, and am impressed with the way the 4matic handles in comparison with it, but this doesnt seem normal. Any thoughts?

Anybody?

Nobody?

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1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

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1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

Any advice would be a guess, scan all modules for fault codes.

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Steve Cattaneo www.mastertechtrans.com


03 SL500
02 MB AMG
87 560 SEC
87 300D
928S 83
85 928 S2 EURO

All wheel drive is permanent on that car, it doesnt just come on when needed. if you were drving in deep unplowed snow, its possible you actually lifted the car up enough off its wheels where it couldnt get traction. Believe me, I've done it before

When a 4-matic vehicle is off the ground (say on a lift) and in drive, the rear wheels will spin while the front do not as this is the path of least resistance. You can actually stop the rear wheels from spinning and the fronts will start.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350