I live in a townhouse without a personal garage space, so I took my '98 ML320 to the local Oil Pro shop with these instructions, and for $30 the transfer case fluid was replaced. I was a little heartbroken driving from the shop home, but after driving a few miles and making a short stop, the noise has completely seized. Not even my wife's sensitive ears can hear it. I am very excited, and I hope the noise is gone for good.
Both Mercedes and my local mechanic were quoting $4500 and $3900 respectively to replace my transfer case. Thank God for cmitch and all your wonderful contributions. I even contemplated trading my car in for under 5K at a carmax.
Somebody tell me, is the merc dealership just ignorant of this issue or were they trying to rip me off?
I am really disappointed with my ML, I spend almost 2K to 3K a year fixing issues: replaced catalytic converter once, replaced driver window swith three times and many more...my '93 Nissan altima barely gives me any problems.
In about 2000 to 3000 miles, do it again to ensure that you've gotten all the trash/filings out. The sound may come back and another fluid change will take care of it.
Dealers are fond of spending your money and, in most cases, it's best to avoid them. They would have loved to replaced your transfer case.
__________________ Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.- Mark Twain
I have 1000mi on the transfer case oil change and the clicking is gone.
I will keep you posted.
just curious why people have stated that it took at least 1000 miles after the transfer case fluid change or 2-3 fluid changes the sound went away. There is no filter in the case so I'm wonder how it could miraculously self heal from the clicks after several changes or after some mileage.
My question is what is inside that suddenly stops clicking after those intervals? If it is dirty fluid, then why would it take several hundred miles or 1000 miles after the fluid change to go away. I can understand 2-3 changes would clean up the inside if it was really dirty, but then again what can be so filthy inside that makes the loud clicking sound and by cleaning it up, it goes away?
just curious why people have stated that it took at least 1000 miles after the transfer case fluid change or 2-3 fluid changes the sound went away. There is no filter in the case so I'm wonder how it could miraculously self heal from the clicks after several changes or after some mileage.
My question is what is inside that suddenly stops clicking after those intervals? If it is dirty fluid, then why would it take several hundred miles or 1000 miles after the fluid change to go away. I can understand 2-3 changes would clean up the inside if it was really dirty, but then again what can be so filthy inside that makes the loud clicking sound and by cleaning it up, it goes away?
No one knows WHY. I just know, for certain, that it does. All I can guess is that the internal parts get 'gunked' with trash and sludge and as this trash and sludge gets cleaned out by the new fluid, it causes the newer fluid to degrade in performance while cleaning up the parts that cause the noise. Of course, all this is guessing and conjecture.
Hey guys. After reading through this thread, it looks like I'll be adding this to my Sunday activities -
The Engine oil valve referenced on Page 2 of this forum (understanding it's for the engine oil and not diff, trannys, transfers, etc.) is really a great thing. I use them on all my cars, and have been for years, makes an engine oil change a breeze.
Sorry to temporarily high-jack this thread, and no, I don't work for Fumoto.
Fumoto drain plug 
Linear Mode
