2011 B-class torque converter failed

[15b4 Lambourne]

My 30 month old B-class (2011 - old style) torque converter in the auto gear box has failed. The car is done 28,000 miles. Thankfully Mercedes are repairing it under warranty.

This sounds expensive and has unsettled me a bit

Is this a known weakness on these cars? I think I will sell the car and buy something different.

Is the new style B-class auto box a different design or will this be a likely weakness too please?

I am inclined to buy a C-Class estate. The courtesy car that Mercedes have given me whilst they sort out my B-Class is a C-220 CDI auto estate and its wonderful. I expect this is more of a classic auto gear box design and more likely to run and run (which is what I had intended for my failed B-class)

Tim

 

[HumberMart]

By 2011 the CVT gearbox in first gen B's are usually ok in terms of reliability but perhaps still not as robust as the 5 and 7 speeds in the W204 C Class.

The new B's have a 7 speed Dual Clutch box with no torque convertor. This GB bears no relation to the old CVT one.

However although these new DCT's are now widely used on the new A's, B's, CLA etc. it's a bit too early to judge their reliability. They certainly have suffered software problems and also some have needed pressure sensors replacing.

We had ours fail on my wife's new B twice in 15 months. It wouldn't stop me buying another though as they do make the cars very economical and with so many of them now on the road MB will be forced to fix any early issues.

 

[15b4 Lambourne]

Thanks - those comments are very helpful

Gosh I am surprised that a new style B-class has had gear box sensor problems twice in 15 months, but still .....

 

[HumberMart]

Thanks - those comments are very helpful Gosh I am surprised that a new style B-class has had gear box sensor problems twice in 15 months, but still .....

Yeah. It seems CAR Mag have also had similar trouble with their long term A Class with the same new DCT. Theirs keeps getting stuck in reverse and iirc they have had to have sensors replaced.

My wife's was one of the early cars fitted with this box, so 2 years on they are likely to have sorted out a few teething troubles.