Mercedes CLA Forum banner

CLA250 4MATIC Rear Differential DIY-able?

36441 Views 93 Replies 25 Participants Last post by  PaullyP
Hello guys. My CLA250 is just out of warranty and the rear diff is acting up. I was looking to swap in a rear diff off of a crashed CLA and see if it would fix it since Mercedes wants $5000 for the repair. My question is has anyone tried this yet? Is it plug and play or does Mercedes need to re-learn this replacement diff? Is it going to fully just reject this donor differential since its not "new" or "unmarried"? Any help is appreciated.

P.S. I tried calling my local dealers for information and no one is picking up the phones..
  • Like
Reactions: 1
41 - 60 of 94 Posts
Y’all keep talking about getting a good used rear axle, but that’s total oxymoron!
Mine started making noise at about 50k miles. With that said they’re all actually bad, so finding a “good used one” is out of the question. You can buy rebuilt ones so that means parts to rebuild are available, at least to select vendors. I want the option to rebuild my own.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Have you changed yours with a brand new one or rebuilt one?

What would you recommend?
Hi
yes i have the same problem with a 2016 CLA 250 . the dealer has just been dismissive but admits there is an international problem with the CLA
has anyone heard about a recall or any information about Mercedes admitting in righting there is a problem ??
Hello Everyone, I have the same problem with my CLA, just 31000 miles on it. Have you replaced it with a used or rebuilt or brand new?

I would really appreciate any suggestions and the cost involved. I don’t want to pay $5,000 for a brand new one.
Sorry I don’t. My car was covered under extended warranty when the issue arose. It’s been running like new ever since it was fixed. Knock on wood.
Hello Traxem, I thought you said in a previous message that it costed you about $2500 plus labor for a reman?
Just a reman diff is already 2500 ... sure hope you can source a good condition used unit ... seen some on ebay from wreck yards
Do you see any wiring harnesses? If not then you should be ok
Whats the existing one doing now?
Thanks for the info, do you know how I can get a good reman or rebuilt one?
Hello Traxem, I thought you said in a previous message that it costed you about $2500 plus labor for a reman?
I posted my repair invoice, which has part numbers and what labor involved. You can lookup the cost at your local dealer. As I recall, it does require programming.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
@Clanaim - this issue can be a can of worms
A dealer repair will use a reman part sourced thru their parts network
I suppose you can buy one outright from a local or online benz parts house though as @traxem noted its a mechanical and software routine since its an electromechanical gadget
I posted my repair invoice, which has part numbers and what labor involved. You can lookup the cost at your local dealer. As I recall, it does require programming.
Oh okay, I looked at your invoice. There are no charges? So dealer repaired it for you with no fees?
Oh okay, I looked at your invoice. There are no charges? So dealer repaired it for you with no fees?
Yes. I have extended warranty.
Did they unplug the actuator in the rear diff to see if the humming goes away? You’ll lose 4Matic, but the problem will go away until someone comes up with a fix. I find it difficult to believe that MB designed the rear diff to be a 100% throw away part.
I find it difficult to believe that MB designed the rear diff to be a 100% throw away part.
Think they reman the dead ones at some centralized joint (?)
Rebuilding at dealer sites would hold up service bays and jack up labor costs
Have you changed yours with a brand new one or rebuilt one?

What would you recommend?
Disconnected the wire. Haven’t changed it yet. It’s quiet now. Thinking seriously about getting rid of it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hello Everyone, I have the same problem with my CLA, just 31000 miles on it. Have you replaced it with a used or rebuilt or brand new?

I would really appreciate any suggestions and the cost involved. I don’t want to pay $5,000 for a brand new one.
Why is yours not being covered under warranty?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Think they reman the dead ones at some centralized joint (?)
Rebuilding at dealer sites would hold up service bays and jack up labor costs
So they could sell me the damn parts and let me rebuild myself! I’ll never own another MB. Customer service is crap and the cars are crap and just cost a fortune for R&M!

I’m over this car!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’m over this car!
Guess you a bum sample
A buddy had a “reliable” lexus gs ... nice brand new zippy car when it was on the road ... though at least 25% time was at the dealer for something or another from loose trim to rattles to cels to bad gas cap to leaky shocks to dead trunk lock to bad fuel pump to ... you get the idea
Dumped it after 39 month lease and got a e550 and still has it and that one only at the shop for oil changes nothing else thus far in >3yrs still has same brakes tires etc lucky twit
Guess you a bum sample

I guess I didn’t quite get this comment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I guess I didn’t quite get this comment.
Oh ... luck of the draw and you got a problematic vehicle
Nah, I think the MB 4-Matic vehicles are just problematic in general. On the earlier models they had bearing issues in the diffs. The CLA’s are following right along with the issues they are having. This thread pretty much shows that it is not a few of them, it is all of them. If you haven’t had a diff issue in your cla 250 4-matic then get expect to in the near future.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • Like
Reactions: 1
If thats the case wonder if someone in the design chain underspecd the line of rear diffs cuz then that would make sense for premature or unnecessary wear
But then they usually overengineer so thats odd
Is this rear differential problem only with 2014 cla250 models? I keep hearing most users here claiming a 2014 model having rear differential problems. I have a 2015 and thought I might take some precautions and asked a mechanic to change my rear differential fluid, but he said I don't need too, because it's a life time fluid , and added the CLA45 AMG's only needed the rear differential fluid changed every xxx kms. Mine is not a AMG
41 - 60 of 94 Posts
Top