How long should it take a Mercedes Tech to R&R a 4Matic transfer case in a 1990 300TE?
I am being charged for 10 hours at the local MB dealer. Is this reasonable? They installed a rebuilt transfer case and mount to fix the leak the car had.

TIA

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Ian Read
90 300TE4MATIC (124)
79 300SD (116)
77 240D (123) Mom's

Ian,

That's about the amount of time involved when they did my '91 'TE as well, though they also changed the hydraulic lines at the same time. Don't know if the lines were related to the transfer case of if it was a wyt (while you're there) project.

BTW, if you haven't, you might check with your shop to see if they offer either an AAA or MBCUSA discount

…tracy

Seems a bit high as trans R&R for your car is less than 8hrs.

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MERCEDES BENZ MASTER GUILD TECHNICIAN (6 TIMES)
ASE MASTER TECHNICIAN
27 YEARS DEALER M.B. Shopforeman
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA racecar

Well in turns out that they charged me 12 hours of labour to R&R the transfer case, but gave me a 15% discount. They said that the transmission needed to come out (6.8 hours). So now the 4Matic problem is fixed but now I have other problems including an exhaust leak and I have noticed that the rear left of the car sits 3/4" lower than the rear right (I have checked tire pressures - OK). They tell me that the rear self levelling system is separated from the 4MATIC system therefore they did not touch it. Therefore how come it is not level? This was not the case before I bought it in. Could there be air in the left shock system? Can it be bled out?


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Ian Read
90 300TE4MATIC (124)
79 300SD (116)
77 240D (123) Mom's

I've noticed that with my former 'TE, and about every other car I've owned will not sit level from time to time. I have also had a loooooong series of new problems that arise when or just after a repair session. This has happened both when I've worked on them and/or had them worked on. The moral being that no one thing ever goes wrong at once. Problems don't take turns, they compete for attention. Bastards that they are.

If the work was done by a MB dealer, complain loudly. Complain to 1-800-4-Mercedes. Complain to the BBB, the attorney general. You might get some good will from MB as a consequence.

Hope it works out! I get the feeling that your 4-matic is like my former one, in that it is high maintenance…..

Best of luck!

…tracy