M-Class Transfer Case

The 44-09 4WD transfer case. Borg-Warner makes the best transfer cases.

A double planetary open differential inside this transfer case connects to the M's front and rear axles. The torque split is 50/50 up to October 19, 1998 when it was changed to 48/52 front rear. The transfer case is protected by a heavy duty steel crossmember, shown partially in the lower left, which connects to the two longitudinal box section frame members. The M's heavy-duty box section frame is made of tough Krupp steel, and welded by Budd Canada, ThyssenKrupp's Canadian frame specialist.

Low range increases torque 2.64 times. The ML320 has a crawl ratio of 38.59:1. Mercedes-Benz StarShift® "Twelve speeds and the brains to use them. Five forward speeds and one reverse are more choices than some SUVs offer, but the M-Class gives you twice that. Push a button and the electronic transfer case shifts into low range: The ML320's 38.59:1 crawl ratio is the lowest of any automatic SUV. The notched shift gate lets you downshift and withhold upshifts like a manual gearbox. Or let the driver adaptive control select the shift points that best match the road and how you're driving it, from desert byway to open highway to snowy switchback." text Mercedes-Benz

StarShift

shift

drive-off torque table

Mercedes Towing Capacities

M-Class diff locks

Veni, vidi, M.

Wolfgang's ML Page