[Real1shepherd]

Wow.....what a roaring whore of a job. Even the passenger side mount, which is considered the 'easy one' was trouble. Problem is each mount sits exactly on top of the 4matic half shafts. We had the motor up so high that the shroud was rubbing the fan just to pry in the new mount-had to take the shroud off. Even then we had to pry/ push with wood dowels (so as not to damage anything). Once it got in place of course, there was all kinds of room and no problems getting the old compressed one out at the beginning.

The driver's side is still not done.....although I can reach the top bolt with my fingers, absolutely everything is in the way over it...engine intake manifold etc and of course the half shaft under it, starter and steering box on either side. If the half-shaft wasn't there, I could see it as reasonably doable.

My concern is that I will have to jack the motor even higher to clear for the new mount-I don't really have anything on that side to pry on. In the end I may have to rent a cherry picker to finish this side...what a bastard. The mounts sure need it though...they are roughly a third less thick than the new ones!

So...has anyone done mounts on a 4amtic wagon and if so, how did the driver's side work out?? Any tips to pass along, before I plunge into darkness?

Kevin

 

[Real1shepherd]

I guess as a last resort and if I have room, I can take off the mount bracket from the engine. Today it's raining, so that kills the project for now-small garage is occupied. Running one new mount and one old mount, how Joe Dirt...

Kevin

 

[augapfel]

I bought my 90 TE 4Matic mostly to get firsthand experience with that system. Had the car up on a lift a couple of times and -- wow -- roaring whore is the right expression. Everything having to do with that system and anything near it is just plain awful to service. I especially like the way they had to relocate the kickdown solenoid to the left side of the trans.
To me a 124 4Matic is a car that you buy new and keep until the warranty expires. Then you unload it. I guess my opinion would soften a bit if I lived in an area where the all wheel drive capability was used more often. Here in SE PA, though, it's mostly a way to give yourself a major headache.

 

[Real1shepherd]

True all dat.....but I'm the original owner, paid a small fortune for the car, lost it in a divorce and then got it back. I'm sentimentally attached, obviously....and I never got to put the majority of miles on it, she did. So....my lofty goal is to put 500,000 on the car, total. Maybe the first 4matic to do so in the States.

Honestly, it's a great car in function as I go snowboarding all the time and when the 4matic works, there's nothing else like it. However, it is the worst car for stop 'n go traffic (eventual mechanical failure) and also the worst car to live in a salt belt. I really believe that its rural existence (and here in this arid climate) is keeping it alive.

Yeah and working on it presents special problems for sure....I'd even go further to say the car is 'special-ed'. An errant bad-child of the MB marque....

Kevin

 

[Real1shepherd]

Update: I can't begin to tell ya what that driver's side engine mount was like on the 4matic. Words can't describe the lack of space, the bad angles, the darkness factor and fooling with a floor jack to get the engine height just right. I decided to forgo the cherry picker because of the rain, but I strongly advise to use one if you can.

I couldn't find a tool to loosen the top mount bolt....so, I took all the bolts off the engine mount bracket (4), while cautiously raising the motor. Then....I took out the two bolts on the bottom of the mount.....after that, I was able to use a wood dowel and beat the mount/engine mount bracket as an assembly, sideways-enough to now access the top bolt.

Even with the two now separated...mount/engine mount bracket, I still had clearance issues getting the old mount completely out of the cars. I had to re-lower the engine (but still supported by the jack), start the car and turn the wheels to the right so that the steering linkage was out of the way, shut off the car and raise the engine again.

I considered taking the starter off and even some of the steering linkage, but I like a good challenge. Now comes the part where I have to piece the new mount in place, reattach the engine mount bracket and place that little friggin' metal shield back in its proper place. I had to get a helper to peer down and watch the alignment fun.

Anyway....everything is back in place, passenger side mount done, driver's side mount almost done; I still need to tighten that top bolt somehow. Forget torquing it to spec, as you'll be lucky just to tighten it. I'm thinking about a stubby box end of some kind and using wood for leverage to get the bolt tight.

I bet the MB mechanics drop those half shafts out of the way.....I would if I was charging someone by the hr and I'd also remover the starter-which also looks like 'fun'.. There's probably some ridiculous flat rate charge for doing engine mounts on a 4matic.

Kevin