E280CDi 7-speed auto gearbox suddenly making a noise?

[Baddiley]

Good afternoon all. I'm new to the forum, but I hope someone out there can give me a suggestion or two, relating to what appears to be a noisy gearbox, all of a sudden!

Noise sounds like something is rubbing (so bearings), but appears not to be wheel-bearings. Noise is more pronounced when backing off the power and the gearbox shifts fine in all gears (7-speed auto) pretty much all the time.

2 gearbox "specialists" locally (Chester/Liverpool) say it's a full rebuild or replacement box needed (£2K - £3K), but one thinks it's something just catching on the propshaft (going to check this out at local garage later).

I'm told that these boxes are pretty bulletproof and as the car has only done 144K, is it likely that it is the gearbox? Has anyone else has a similar thing happen and if so, what was it?

Any advice gratefully received and if anyone is good at diagnosing this stuff and is fairly local, I'm happy to pay for that diagnosis properly.

Kind regards,

Simon

 

[W1ghty]

Welcome buddy , I would say you need an MB specialist with Star diagnostics firstly .
It’s a bit worrying that you are being quoted for a gearbox rebuild OR a rubbing propshaft .
Star diagnostics may well be able to pin down any fault , but more importantly specialist’s know MB’s .
The gearbox service schedule on these is every 40k miles for atf and filter change , when was the last one ?

 

[W1ghty]

@SmartAmg , do you know a specialist up that way ?

 

[Baddiley]

Welcome buddy , I would say you need an MB specialist with Star diagnostics firstly .
It’s a bit worrying that you are being quoted for a gearbox rebuild OR a rubbing propshaft .
Star diagnostics may well be able to pin down any fault , but more importantly specialist’s know MB’s .
The gearbox service schedule on these is every 40k miles for atf and filter change , when was the last one ?

Thanks W1ghty,

Yes, it is very worrying, so thought it best to ask on here. I've had the car about 10 months and bought it without SH, so unsure when it last had a gearbox service. It's on my list to get done too, but just needed to get over Christmas first.

There is a MB specialist (MB Motors) in Chester, so may have to just book it in with them asap I guess & let them diagnose it.

 

[W1ghty]

Thanks W1ghty,

Yes, it is very worrying, so thought it best to ask on here. I've had the car about 10 months and bought it without SH, so unsure when it last had a gearbox service. It's on my list to get done too, but just needed to get over Christmas first.

There is a MB specialist (MB Motors) in Chester, so may have to just book it in with them asap I guess & let them diagnose it.

An icarsoft mb2 can scan for faults (eBay around £100? ) and is worth having for these cars if you like a bit of diy . As far as gearbox you are going to need a service , but the specialist will check the car/gearbox for faults first .

 

[Baddiley]

An icarsoft mb2 can scan for faults (eBay around £100? ) and is worth having for these cars if you like a bit of diy . As far as gearbox you are going to need a service , but the specialist will check the car/gearbox for faults first .

Thanks for the tip; I'll look at that, as I do like to know how things work!

 

[SmartAmg]

@SmartAmg , do you know a specialist up that way ?

My local indie is SDC in St Helens, then there's MB Tech in Warrington, might be worth a phone call to either or both.

 

[Baddiley]

My local indie is SDC in St Helens, then there's MB Tech in Warrington, might be worth a phone call to either or both.

Thanks @SmartAmg.. I'll make a call.

 

[Baddiley]

Just wanted to update the group that I took the car into my local Indie garage, MB Motors in Chester. They diagnosed the fault as the main propshaft bearings and fixed it within a couple of days, plus they did my MOT (& it passed!). The car drives great again - although since I picked it up this morning, I am now getting the "Service Brake Visit Workshop" Error on the dash, albeit in White, which I gather from other posts means it's probably something like the switch which operates the brake lights??

Thanks for the suggestions, etc.

 

[W1ghty]

Just wanted to update the group that I took the car into my local Indie garage, MB Motors in Chester. They diagnosed the fault as the main propshaft bearings and fixed it within a couple of days, plus they did my MOT (& it passed!). The car drives great again - although since I picked it up this morning, I am now getting the "Service Brake Visit Workshop" Error on the dash, albeit in White, which I gather from other posts means it's probably something like the switch which operates the brake lights??

Thanks for the suggestions, etc.

What did that cost compared to your £ 2-3k initial quote buddy ? Can’t help with the service brake but I’m sure it’s something simple that’s been disturbed by the propshaft work being done ?
I think rather than the group , we could be “the collective “ (sorry , dweeby comment from Star Trek and the Borg )

 

[davymead]

Just wanted to update the group that I took the car into my local Indie garage, MB Motors in Chester. They diagnosed the fault as the main propshaft bearings and fixed it within a couple of days, plus they did my MOT (& it passed!). The car drives great again - although since I picked it up this morning, I am now getting the "Service Brake Visit Workshop" Error on the dash, albeit in White, which I gather from other posts means it's probably something like the switch which operates the brake lights??

Thanks for the suggestions, etc.

Wants nipping back to MB Motors.

 

[W1ghty]

Wants nipping back to MB Motors.

Yep , and don’t park on a slope

 

[davymead]

Yep , and don’t park on a slope

Without a chock.

 

[Baddiley]

What did that cost compared to your £ 2-3k initial quote buddy ? Can’t help with the service brake but I’m sure it’s something simple that’s been disturbed by the propshaft work being done ?
I think rather than the group , we could be “the collective “ (sorry , dweeby comment from Star Trek and the Borg )

It was £300 + VAT (plus the MOT fee), so one hell of a lot better than the quotes from the gearbox "specialists". Just goes to show you need your wits about you when dealing with cars..

If you'd prefer collective then that's fine ; I got the reference!!

 

[MancRick101]

Very interesting reading and I’m pleased you got the issue sorted for 10-15% of what you were quoted by the gearbox ‘specialists’.

Well done to MB Motors of Chester!

 

[Baddiley]

Wants nipping back to MB Motors.

Booked in for Tues morning.