E500 Transmission:Please Help!

[ritchie]

It's a W211 E500 with 36000 miles on a 52-plate and so far it's been fine, fast, smooth and, excepting a duovalve problem previously discussed on this forum, reliable.
As of yesterday it judders, for want of a better description. This is sometimes accompanied by a low-frequency vibration. It feels like the transmission is stuttering, trying to interrupt the power from the engine, as if it's trying to change down but then decides not to. This occurs about 5 times a second, hence the juddering. Engine's turbine-smooth and the car still flies when kicked but gentle acceleration and just maintaining speed at light throttle openings produces this intermittent judder and vibration, whatever the speed.
I've disabled the ESP, raised&lowered the suspension and selected all the different damper settings to no avail. There is "no malfunction" in the dash display. My thoughts are that it's an electronic issue manifesting itself mechanically, but it's only a thought...and it's just out of warranty, too.
Any thoughts/help/advice would be most appreciated before I trouble the dealer...

 

[Dieselman]

Sounds like glycol contamination of the ATF due to faulty Valeo radiator.

You need a Glycol test performed and to see if MB will cough up a goodwill payment.

Good luck.

 

[jaymanek]

see here

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=27124&highlight=valeo

 

[television]

Yes this is another one with the valeo problem, thats for sure

 

[ritchie]

Jaymanek, Dieselman, Television, Thank you...although the thought of an auto box becoming contaminated sounds ruinously expensive!

 

[television]

There is often help at hand with this fault, where MB will help towards the cost.

The car will have to go for a Glycol test, where all will be known, if you look at the end of the link you will see that some help is available, post back after the test and we can advise you if the dealer does not want to help

 

[jaymanek]

i would get it into MB asap, if they dont want to help try another dealer as its a well known problem...

 

[ritchie]

You guys are good! The latest: Glycol test positive. MB Hampstead had to refer it to MBGermany who suggest replacing rad and flushing coolant & transmission. Germany will pay 50%, dealer will pay 20% of Glycol test. I should get the car back Monday minus £820. If it still judders we have another conversation...

 

[Parrot of Doom]

This really isn't good enough tbh. We've seen so many of these (god only knows how many have happened 'away' from the internet), it should be a recall issue.

Watchdog should be informed about this. Yes I know they're hardly civil, but big companies don't like bad press.

 

[television]

You guys are good! The latest: Glycol test positive. MB Hampstead had to refer it to MBGermany who suggest replacing rad and flushing coolant & transmission. Germany will pay 50%, dealer will pay 20% of Glycol test. I should get the car back Monday minus £820. If it still judders we have another conversation...

))

99% are judder free, this is why its having the torque converter replaced

 

[television]

This really isn't good enough tbh. We've seen so many of these (god only knows how many have happened 'away' from the internet), it should be a recall issue.

Watchdog should be informed about this. Yes I know they're hardly civil, but big companies don't like bad press.

I will never understand why a replacement rad was not offered cheap to all cars.

Thats 3 years of 3 models all sitting on a time bomb, as you say P all those not on the net, companies etc all paid up

 

[marcos]

Ritchie

My dad's W211 had exactly the same problem, MB changed the gearbox, torque convertor, rad etc. The car was a good 6 months out of warranty and in the end MB picked up the bill for everything.
Just keep hasseling them and they should give in.

Found the thread http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=27051&highlight=gearbox+marcos

Best of luck

 

[ritchie]

Car's back and seems ok. FYI the replacement rad is invisible from the front, it's the transmission rad they replaced which is the problem, according to the technician, who's road-tested it and says all's fine. We'll see...
Many thanks for all your responses. Reading the threads it never ceases to amaze me how companies can risk their reputation over such a relatively simple and obvious blunder. For God's sake MB built the 1st car but no brand is bullet-proof. The words Gerald and Ratner spring to mind...

 

[glojo]

A very expensive recall, but it is a technical bulletin that has been issued World-Wide. As these cars get older and leave the umbrella of main dealer servicing then this KNOWN problem is going to bite.

The 211 might not have corrosion issues per sea, but this problem is just as bad and how does this leak manifest itself? Is it a reaction between two different materials? A broken or weak joint?

John

 

[television]

A very expensive recall, but it is a technical bulletin that has been issued World-Wide. As these cars get older and leave the umbrella of main dealer servicing then this KNOWN problem is going to bite.

The 211 might not have corrosion issues per sea, but this problem is just as bad and how does this leak manifest itself? Is it a reaction between two different materials? A broken or weak joint?

John

As I understand it John the fault is a welding issue between the two.

I would not be surprised if Valeo did not have to cough up something towards this.

In my own line, the Gun manufacture for Philips CRT.s produced out of spec guns resulting in thousands of claims against them. Philips won their claim.

 

[Adam230K]

It's a W211 E500 with 36000 miles on a 52-plate and so far it's been fine, fast, smooth and, excepting a duovalve problem previously discussed on this forum, reliable.
As of yesterday it judders, for want of a better description. This is sometimes accompanied by a low-frequency vibration. It feels like the transmission is stuttering, trying to interrupt the power from the engine, as if it's trying to change down but then decides not to. This occurs about 5 times a second, hence the juddering. Engine's turbine-smooth and the car still flies when kicked but gentle acceleration and just maintaining speed at light throttle openings produces this intermittent judder and vibration, whatever the speed.
I've disabled the ESP, raised&lowered the suspension and selected all the different damper settings to no avail. There is "no malfunction" in the dash display. My thoughts are that it's an electronic issue manifesting itself mechanically, but it's only a thought...and it's just out of warranty, too.
Any thoughts/help/advice would be most appreciated before I trouble the dealer...

Just out of interest mate what suspensions are you using? MB performance ones? or?

 

[ritchie]

Suspension is standard Airmatic with 3 damper settings and a raise/lower function which comes in handy over those pesky London traffic-calming humps.