Buying advice for an E Class needed please.

[Matto]

Thanks for all the helpful comments. I'll have another check through the service history when I pick the car up in the week to check if it has had a gear box service done recently or not and report back.

I've had a look through the online mot history checker. It shows the last 8 mot's and there have only been 3 advisorys in that time and they were a reg plate issue, "upper and under trays fitted" (whatever that means) and a windscreen crack years ago.

Yes I will be sure to avoid speed bumps or at least go over them very slowly. It's the wife I've got to be careful with. Hopefully she won't need to borrow it any time soon as she'd think nothing of flying over a speed bump!

 

[Matto]

[QUOTE=" driving around 30 then really put my foot down and it seemed to be unresponsive for around half a second and then it kicked in and shot off fast.

My 2009 (w211) E320 is the same, been like that since I got it at 70k miles now done 100k miles and its just the same. My take its normal.

As others have said G/Box service essential - official spec is 60,000Kms = 37,200 miles. If you get this done ask if they drain the TC - on some this isn't straightforward. [/QUOTE]

Thanks thats good to know.

When you say "if I get the gearbox serviced ask if they drain the TC as on some this isn't straightforward" can you explain exactly what you mean just so I understand. Also, if it turns out the gearbox is overdue a service would it likely start off with smaller problems at first or could your gearbox just suddenly pack in with no warning? Sorry for all the stupid questions everyone.

 

[Smart320]

You would very likely get symptoms if no gearbox service. Do not panic, if there is no confirmation of a service within the last 37 k miles ( or 4 years if under the mileage ) then just get it booked in .
Make sure they are experts in MB gearboxes, I would find an Indie reasonably near to you. Just ask that they change TC as well, costs more as they need more new fluid and time.

 

[Gollom]

Not sure if a common issue or if I've just been unlucky, but needed to replace the thermostat on most Mercs I have owned. The one on this W211 was about £50 from e-bay and about the same for my Indie to fit. Benefit has been an MPG improvement from low 30's to high 30's straight away - so well worth doing!

 

[Matto]

Hi guys. Finally got the car. Not had much time with it yet but so far I couldn't be any happier. Looks great and drives like a dream!

As advised by you guys I am looking into getting the gearbox serviced. I asked a local Indi garage that specialises in Mercs that somebody I know recommended to me. They said that they can do the full transmission service no problem but my model does not have a TC drain point as it's sealed however they do try to drain/flush out as much as they can. What do you think, will this do the job?

 

[David404]

When you say "if I get the gearbox serviced ask if they drain the TC as on some this isn't straightforward" can you explain exactly what you mean just so I understand. Also, if it turns out the gearbox is overdue a service would it likely start off with smaller problems at first or could your gearbox just suddenly pack in with no warning? Sorry for all the stupid questions everyone.

The gearbox and TC share the same oil. My understanding is that some TCs have a drain plug at the bottom some don't. if yours doesn't have a drain plug then simply draining the oil from the gearbox sump wont drain the oil in the TC which I think means your only changing about 2/3 to 3/4 of the oil in the system. I think old oil id flushed out by disconnecting an oil supply hose at the gearbox rad and briefly starting the engine which pumps the oil out. Re-connect hose and top up again. The extra oil and labour I think add £25/£30 to the bill. I understand this is s reasonably common scenario and not unique to MB.

I believe lack of servicing most commonly results in the conductor plate becoming defective which I think is around £700. Not sure if failure is progressive or not or if its recoverable once its starred to fail by servicing the box. All I can say is when I got my W211 at 70k miles with no evidence the box had been serviced it was the first thing I did and it will get done again soon as its coming up on the 37,200 miles.

All that said the 7G-Tronic isn't generally regarded as unreliable, provided its serviced. The E class is a great car to drive. Just remind youtrself that youre driving a car that cost the original owner the thick end of £40k - youre excused the deprereciation but will pick up a bit more on manintence. You should definitely find a good Indie.

Enjoy.

 

[markjay]

My only slight worry was on the test drive I was driving around 30 then really put my foot down and it seemed to be unresponsive for around half a second and then it kicked in and shot off fast. I've Googled it and people and have had similar happen and there are a lot of different opinions to what this problem can be. I'm hoping it's just me not being experienced driving automatics but it could also be a Problem?

I am hoping it's just turbo lag. I'm pretty sure it was completely normal from a standing start it was just when I was cruising along around 30 then suddenly put my foot down there was nothing for maybe half a second possibly 1 second then it accelerated off fast after a the brief pause. It didn't feel right to me.

Is this with the 7g auto gearbox?

 

[Matto]

The gearbox and TC share the same oil. My understanding is that some TCs have a drain plug at the bottom some don't. if yours doesn't have a drain plug then simply draining the oil from the gearbox sump wont drain the oil in the TC which I think means your only changing about 2/3 to 3/4 of the oil in the system. I think old oil id flushed out by disconnecting an oil supply hose at the gearbox rad and briefly starting the engine which pumps the oil out. Re-connect hose and top up again. The extra oil and labour I think add £25/£30 to the bill. I understand this is s reasonably common scenario and not unique to MB.

I believe lack of servicing most commonly results in the conductor plate becoming defective which I think is around £700. Not sure if failure is progressive or not or if its recoverable once its starred to fail by servicing the box. All I can say is when I got my W211 at 70k miles with no evidence the box had been serviced it was the first thing I did and it will get done again soon as its coming up on the 37,200 miles.

All that said the 7G-Tronic isn't generally regarded as unreliable, provided its serviced. The E class is a great car to drive. Just remind youtrself that youre driving a car that cost the original owner the thick end of £40k - youre excused the deprereciation but will pick up a bit more on manintence. You should definitely find a good Indie.

Enjoy.

Thanks for the answer. I will phone around and see what a couple of other garages say to see if anybody can flush the lot out.

I don't need to remind myself, everytime I drive it I can see and feel it was a £30k/40k car The interor looks almost brand new someone looked after this really well. Why would somebody pay the same money for something like a focus that's 2 or 3 years newer when they could drive one of these?

 

[Matto]

Is this with the 7g auto gearbox?

Yes.

It drives absolutely perfect it was just me on the test drive being a bit heavy on the accelerator and not being used to driving an automatic I think.

 

[Brian k]

How about some pics Matto ?

 

[Matto]

Sure I'll take some pics tomorrow. The ones I have on my phone aren't great as my camera lense is cracked.

 

[Matto]

Hi guys just checking back in.

Regarding the gearbox service and draining the TC, I've spoken to 3 different MB indi garages and they all say if it is sealed with no drain point (I've been told mine is sealed) then there us no way they can drain the oil. I tried MB themselves and they said the same thing, they can't do it if no drain point.
He checked through my service history on their computer and he confirmed that my car had a gearbox service at 43,500 miles. I asked him does that mean its due another gearbox service as I thought it was every 37,500 but he says that it only really needs doing the once . Is this correct?

 

[Smart320]

No, every 4 years or 37,500 miles , which ever comes first

 

[Matto]

No, every 4 years or 37,500 miles , which ever comes first

Yes sorry I knew that, the thing thats confusing me is that the guy at MB said it only really needs doing once then it's done, as in you don't need to ever do it again.

 

[markjay]

They might be correct, the maintenance schedule for some gearboxes was indeed defined by MB as 'once at X miles or X years', so the garage is not making it up, but even so the recommendation is to treat it as 'every...' instead of 'once'.

As for no drain plug... this is an odd comment. I have been doing lots of DYI work back in the day, the standard practice for these cases was to siphon-out as much ATF as you can through the filler plug or tube, then carefully lower the sump. There's also a method for removing the ATF from the Torque Converter if it has no drain plug too.

I guess that for some MB dealers this simply falls in the 'too much work' category, i.e. if it's not a quick job they're not interested.

 

[BaldGuy]

If it's had one gearbox service that's better than nothing... there's no hurry to get it done but any of the indies on this forum all know how to do it... and when done it's noticeably smoother... enjoy the new car... it's sounds like a good one....

 

[David404]

Is this with the 7g auto gearbox?

YES - I have the 7G.

 

[David404]

They might be correct, the maintenance schedule for some gearboxes was indeed defined by MB as 'once at X miles or X years', so the garage is not making it up, but even so the recommendation is to treat it as 'every...' instead of 'once'.

Agree. reading around it seems MB have changed their mind a couple of times on gearbox servicing. Form never, sealed for life, to once only at x miles/y years to every x miles/y years.

'In the wild' general census for the 7G-Tronic boxes as in my W211 seems to be service every 37,200miles/4 years which ever comes first. FWIW - Had mine done when I got the car and its coming up on 37,200 so will be done again.

 

[Piff]

Is the 280 V6 a turbo unit. I didn’t think so, but I’m no expert. If it isn’t then turbo lag will not be the cause of a lethargic gearbox.

In addition to the service requirements of the gearbox, you may want to looking into “resetting” the gearbox.
The gearbox “learns” the driving style of the owner. If the previous owners drove a relaxed style then the gearbox may seem lethargic. Search on here for “gearbox reset”

Our 280SLK needed a thermometer recently which backs up Golloms finding.

 

[Piff]

Auto correct..........
Should read thermostat