Hey all I only recently got my first Mercedes and it's amazing. However I have hit a wall as I can't figure out if it is a 4matic or base. VIN isn't helping and the older manual is in Japanese. SOS

Turn the steering wheel in one direction then from the front of the car, look at the front spindle / brake area. If this looks like a front wheel drive car with axle shafts, you have 4 matic. If there are not any axle shafts at the front wheels, you have a base car.

What year and model is your car? Its very easy to tell on a W124 since the dipstick is on the exhaust side of the engine and the shifter is different from the 2matic.

smeagol this manual will help you along at some time if you dont have one .Click on GOOGLE Search ,and in on the search box put this --- MODLE 124 MAINTENANCE MANUAL INDEX .. You will be happy when you find it ..