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All Wheel Drive: all wheel drive explained, differential, electronic differential lock (EDL), haldex, jeep 4wd systems, low range, proactive AWD, quattro evolutions, safety concerns, terrain response system, testdrive, Torque-vectoring AWD, torque split ratio, torsen, viscous coupling

Brands: 4motion, quattro, super select, xDrive

Videos: Diagonal spin test, electronic differential lock test, quattro vs. xdrive test, Viscous Coupling Test

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Recent changes

w204 C-class

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Figure: Mercedes-Benz C-class w204 4matic (176KB)
mercedes-benz-c-w204-4matic

Have you seen a better description of Mercedes W204 C-Class on the web? Please send us the link to or post it in a comment below!

W205 C-class

Figure: Mercedes-Benz C-class w204 4matic (237KB)
mercedes-benz-c-w205-4matic

Do you think this information about Mercedes W205 C-Class is incomplete? Please send us what you know to or leave a comment below.

W124 4matic

Automatic all wheel drive. Normally rear wheel drive vehicle. Power is progressively transferred via multi-plate hydraulic transfer clutch to front wheels when slipping occurs. Torque distribution in this case is 65% to 35% rear to front. ABS sensors are used to detect wheelspin. If more traction is necessary, computer locks another clutch in rear axle. If brake pedal pressed, all clutches disengage to allow the ABS to work properly. On takeoff/acceleration the front axle normally engages, proactively, regardless whether wheel slip is detected or not.

Figure: mercedes benz 4matic w124 (113KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz 300E 4matic 1989 front differential (40KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz 300E 4matic 1989 transfer case (24KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz 300E 4matic 1989 transfer case parts (53KB)
mercedes-benz-300e-4matic-1989-transfer-case-parts

Do you own Mercedes W124 4Matic? Can you please make a photo of the car's 4x4 transmission, switches, dashboard lights, etc. and send it to ?

W210 E-class, R-class

Full-time all wheel drive with 3 open differentials. Torque distribution 35% front / 65% rear via planetary gear. Electronic traction control applies brakes to the wheels that are about to spin and distributes torque from wheels that slip to the wheels with traction.

Figure: mercedes benz 4matic w210 (27KB)
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Figure: mercedes benz 4matic w210 (72KB)
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Figure: mercedes benz 4matic w210 (75KB)
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Figure: mercedes benz 4matic w210 (79KB)
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Do you own Mercedes W210 E-Class, R-Class? Can you please make a photo of the car's 4x4 transmission, switches, dashboard lights, etc. and send it to ?

G-class 461 ...-1991

Part-time all wheel drive. Manually lockable differentials in the front and rear axles.

Figure: Mercedes-Benz G-class 461 transfer case (31KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz G-class 461 front differential (56KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz G-class 461 rear differential (54KB)
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Figure: mercedes benz g class 460 (372KB)
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Figure: mercedes benz g class 460 levers (242KB)
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Do you own Mercedes G-Class 461 ...-1991? Can you please make a photo of the car's 4x4 transmission, switches, dashboard lights, etc. and send it to ?

G-class 463 1991-...

Full-time all wheel drive with 3 manually lockable differentials (buttons). Differentials lock after the vehicle has moved some distance. 2.16 low gear ratio.

Figure: MB G type 463 transfer case (99KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz G-class 463 transfer case (99KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz G-class 463 front differential locking actuatur (23KB)
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Figure: mercedes benz g class 463 differential lock buttons (68KB)
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Figure: mercedes benz g class 463 g550 differential lock buttons (173KB)
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Have you seen a better description of Mercedes G-Class 463 1991-... in a paper magazine? Can you please scan it or take a photo and send it to ?

GL

Figure: Mercedes-Benz GL-class front differential (27KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz GL-class rear differential (52KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz GL-class transfer case (37KB)
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Figure: mercedes benz gl x164 (378KB)
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You have better pictures or videos of Mercedes Gl that you can contribute? Please send them to !

ML W163

Full-time all wheel drive with 3 open differentials. 4ETS electronic traction control, that applies brakes to wheel, that is about to spin, thus transferring torque to wheels, that have traction. M-Class 4ETS kicks in up to about 36 MPH (60 km/h) and if engagement conditions are maintained beyond 60 km/h during acceleration, control is effective to up to 48 MPH (80 km/h).

Two-speed AWD variant of the Borg-Warner 44-09 transfer case (2.64:1 low range).

The torque split is 50/50 up to October 19, 1998 when it was changed to 48/52 front rear.

Figure: mercedes benz m (202KB)
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Figure: mercedes benz m (55KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz ML-class front differential (30KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz ML-class rear differential (36KB)
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Figure: Mercedes-Benz ML-class transfer case (41KB)
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Figure: mercedes benz ml w163 transsmision (550KB)
mercedes-benz-ml-w163-transsmision

Do you think this information about Mercedes Ml W163 is incorrect? Please send us what you know to or leave a comment below.

ML W164

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Do you think this information about Mercedes Ml W164 is incorrect? Please send us what you know to or leave a comment below.

ML W166

Figure: mercedes benz ml w166 (1023KB)
mercedes-benz-ml-w166

Have you seen a better description of Mercedes Ml W166 in a paper magazine? Can you please scan it or take a photo and send it to ?

ML W167

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You have better pictures or videos of Mercedes Ml W167 that you can contribute? Please send them to !

w221 S-class

Figure: Mercedes-Benz S-class 430 4matic transfer case (67KB)
mercedes-benz-s-430-4matic-transfer-case

Figure: Mercedes-Benz S-class (255KB)
mercedes-benz-4matic-w221

Have you seen a better description of Mercedes W221 S-Class in a paper magazine? Can you please scan it or take a photo and send it to ?
There are 11 comments
Rafn A Guðjónsson
August 20, 2020 - 18:06

Hi I need the diff lock for M.Benz 519 2019(new body) Can you help me?

Fernando
November 27, 2016 - 06:31

the GL X164 and the ML W164 w/offroad package have all wheel drive with 4ETS plus Center and Rear Diff Lock plus 2 speed transfer case

OliverTwist
September 06, 2015 - 13:42

Is there any reason why there's no 4Matic option for V12 motors in Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

Reply to OliverTwist
Fernando
November 27, 2016 - 06:27

The Engine is so large, that they can't fit the front diff below it. Plus (and this part i'm guessing) all that power they probably haven't done a diff that can handle it in a small casing

Trades46
June 19, 2012 - 06:43

The C-Class W204 has the same system as the ML shown above, but without the 2-speed transfer case. Instead it employs a multi-disc limited slip diff integrated into the 7G-Tronic that is set bias 45:55. Bias could be varied 70:30 to 30:70. Other than that, the system is nearly identical: Front and Rear open diffs with 4ETS.
This system is also employed on the GLK (non-off-road variant) and W212 E-Class. I believe the W218 CLS also shares the same underpinnings.

Mega
November 06, 2010 - 21:33
4Matic

Mercedes 4Matic has at least center multi-disc clutch LSD, which is not described here. It doesn't only rely on 4ETS to control slipery. This is very useful in low speed off-road condition.

Reply to Mega
George
January 14, 2011 - 21:24
Re: 4Matic

The newest design 4matic has changed the center differential to a 45/55 split, and has an initial pre-load clutch.
There isn't any variable clamp load to regulate the differential.

Mercedes probably could have achieved equivalent traction with the old transfer box by installing a torsen differential in the rear axle.

George
August 17, 2010 - 01:50

That W124 transfer case is one of the most sophisticated, probably ever.
You can have rear wheel drive [0/100, via a locked up center differential and open transfer clutch]
Four wheel drive [35/65, via an open center differential lockup clutch, and closed transfer clutch]
Rigid/fixed four wheel drive [both clutches closed, for getting yourself 'unstuck']

(if the electronics and rear transfer clutch were modernized, you could also have a variable distribution to the front)

Reply to George
abc
December 08, 2014 - 02:38

do u mean 4matic ? 4matic fails here www.youtube.com

felix
March 22, 2010 - 04:58

If possible, please show some detail about the AWD system of S-E-C class that base on front wheel drive.
Thanks

Reply to felix
awdwiki.com
June 10, 2010 - 00:55

Never heard of a four wheel drive SEC-class.
 
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