Mileage on auto gearbox

[manpolsabre]

I was speaking to a guy yesterday who owns a local automatic gearbox specialist garage. He's been in existance for at least 20years that I know of so he must know what he's talking about.

He told me that they have lots of trouble with MB auto box's after about the mileage on mine (130K), with some seals going inside. (couldn't understand what he was on about, to complicated for me).

Apparantly it just goes without warning, it will be perfect one minute then bang the next.

They cost about £1000 to fix or £3000 at a main dealer.

The local MB dealer actually send there customers to him for these repairs.

Please tell me that my gearbox isn't about to go bang.

Is there anybody out there with auto gearbox's who have done over 130K miles with no problems to put my mind at rest??

1992 300D

Bob

 

[scotth_uk]

My box has 142k on it, and goes like the day it was new. When I bought the car, none of the paperwork indicated any gearbox work.

Hopefully you and the previous owners (if any) have regularly changed the fluids, etc. I am sure that there are plenty of others here that have boxes that have seen more than mine.

Hmm. That sounded interesting ......

 

[MainMan]

I think the problem relates to the current 5-speed box on which you don't change the oil. I've read about a few problems with this box on the American site. Most people think that never changing the oil is not a good idea.

 

[joe]

My Taxi Friend runs quite a few Mercedes and has obtained fantastic mileages on Auto Transmissions.
The trick is is to change the fluid and filters at prescribed intervals. Example he has a E320 CDi Elegance (xreg) 270k
I think is has been mentioned before anyone unsure how reliable a car is should look around what Taxi Drivers are using these cars get absolutely battered (my next car...a L reg mondeo TD Estate...lol)

Joe

 

[Shude]

Originally posted by manpolsabre
Is there anybody out there with auto gearbox's who have done over 130K miles with no problems to put my mind at rest?

My previous car had done 137,000 miles with the original gearbox, never had the fluid or filters changed (lifetime fill, no service interval), worked perfectly except for a little corrosion on the "cooling pipes".

You can buy a brand new transmission for less than £3k so I don't see how a repair for that much would be worthwhile!

 

[Ian B Walker]

Ive done 168K in mine without any problem so far

 

[Dieselman]

Most people report about 250k before problems with this box. As said in a previous post keep changing the oil.

 

[MainMan]

The thing is Mercedes tell you not to change the oil on the current auto. It's the same on the manual. They tell you never to change the oil. The less servicing they do the better the running costs appear to the leasing companies. If components fail after 3 years then so much the better. Merecedes can charge a fat replacement fee to the (by now) private owner. I had the oil changed on mine after about 5k (at an independent dealer) and he said there was a fair amount of debris around the magnetic drain plug. I also put synthetic oil in, which Mercedes do not do. If you're leaving oil in for life it should at the very least be synthetic and not dino juice.

 

[Ian B Walker]

I also put synthetic oil in, which Mercedes do not do. If you're leaving oil in for life it should at the very least be synthetic and not dino juice.

Good advice, thanks will probably do that come next oil change.

 

[shoee]

Hi

Manpolsabre
Just bought a 220 E class estate , 93 L reg. It has 130,000 miles and full MB service history.
Although I didn't notice it initially, when the car has bee running a while going into drive can be a bit clunky, and the first up change is less smooth than the others.

Also the creep on it seems quite quick, although it is static on a slope. Any ideas how fast the creep should be on the flat ?

I too hope it isn't a new gearbox.....

 

[robert.farmer]

I have a pal with auto box,has done 254.000 and no trouble at all and he's not very gentle when driving either so i don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

[560sec]

I'm just in the process of buying a 300TE with what I think is humungous mileage (244000 ) on it. Its just going to be used as a runaround. The gearbox has never been worked on although the owner did skim the head last year. I hope my gearbox lasts a while longer . Being dropped off on Friday.

 

[mark.t]

atf

98 e300td 5 speed 61000 just changed fluid, 123..00 or near by mb dealer :bannana:
box is not sealed for life, gear change like new

 

[vito113]

Keep changing the oil!

The old ones went to the Moon and back mileagewise as long as you changed the oil! The New Improved 'don't need the oil changing, there Sealed for Life' boxes go bang after 130,000ish miles. Who benefits? Go figure!

Andy

 

[vito113]

It's just run in!

I'm just in the process of buying a 300TE with what I think is humungous mileage (244000 ) on it. Its just going to be used as a runaround. The gearbox has never been worked on although the owner did skim the head last year. I hope my gearbox lasts a while longer . Being dropped off on Friday.

There was a write up in a recent Mercedes Enthusiast of a guy who's clocked up 512,000 miles in a W124 300D!!!!

Andy

 

[Kinky]

I've got 134k on the clock on mine.

I dunno if it's the original gearbox - can only assume it is, and as documented elsewhere - it got a 100% clean bill of health by MB mean dealer last Friday.

K

 

[PJH]

Mine when over 133,000 coming home this morning.

 

[Ian B Walker]

203K on mine, original never been touched, same with the engine according to the service manual. Still faultless and soooooooo smooth.

 

[fuzzer]

9k on mine , still original oil and running smoothly . touch wood

Not that im too bothered what happens to my car on its 3rd birthday , i recon the box should last a lot longer than 130 K ... thats terrible.

I did happen to notice a w220 gearbox in my local parts dep last week

 

[richy]

Interesting thread regarding changing oil to us new MB guys.

When I dropped the sump on a BM's box the magnets in the tray were the size of golf balls and the fluid not nice! When cleaned they were literally about half inch by quarter long so it shows how much rubbish was being picked up.

I ask in the preventative form of changing the auto oil as I really beleive it would be of value.

How easy a DIY job is this on a C class (old 4 spd) as the Haynes mentions the main sump plug then the "converter drain" has anyne done it themselves on a C or can explain the two items ?

Thanks
Rich