Recommendation required please - I need a Mercedes expert in Yorkshire

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Aidan Goodall

New Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Messages
6
Location
Leeds
Car
Mercedes E320cdi Estate Avantgarde Auto
Hello everyone,

I've just signed up to the forum to hopefully get some expert advice.

I'll try make a long story short...

Around 6 months ago I inherited my dads old Eclass 320cdi estate Auto its on an 06 plate. The car has been exceptionally well maintained and is in pristine condition. As he has owned it from new and I knew the cars history I made the decision to keep the car.

Unfortunately soon after getting the car I started having issues with the gearbox until finally it gave up completely. I took the car to an independent gearbox specialist, they completed a full gearbox rebuild for £1100. I was also give a full 2 year warranty

I had a few teething issues after the work had been completed so the car went back and forth to the garage, eventually we got to a point where the car was in a good working order and the transmission seemed sorted.

Around 3 months and 3000 miles later I have started having issues with the car. The gear changes seem to late, i.e revving up to over 2000 rpm before changing down gears. I tried to live with it for as long as possible but it became a real pain. This wasn't the only issue I experience, I was driving along the motorway and the car just decided to go into neutral at 70mph and it wouldn't re-engage into gear until I pulled up in the hard shoulder and set off from a starting point again.

This was the final straw really, I have decided to Sorn the car until I can get a diagnosis from a Mercedes specialist. Once I have that I will either decide to repair though the specialist or take it back under the gearbox rebuild warranty.

I'm therefore asking if anyone could kindly recommend an Mercedes specialist in the Yorkshire area.

Thanks for reading and hopefully someone can help.

Aidan
 
Aidan

Somebody will give you a recommendation shortly. FYI: It is worth getting the car and box "re-synced" on STAR by an Independent as the gearbox adaptions may need re-setting. I had (what sounds like very similar) issues, with my wife's W203 after some gearbox work was carried out. A 5 minute re-set on STAR and the car never looked back. Also (as always) check that fluids are correct and at the right level? Merc boxes are very critical for fluids levels. As above a decent Independent will dip it for you or, you can buy a dip stick on ebay.

Engine on/running and hot.
Car in Neutral - Having first cycled through all the gears.
Dip it for level and quality. NIce cherry red and no burnt smell or blackness in the fluids.
 
Where abouts in Yorkshire? It's a big old county!
I take my Mercs to Paul at autoklasse in Thornaby teesside, just over the Yorkshire border.
He'll give you an honest appraisal and won't rip you off, and his work is exemplary.
 
Thanks for your responses Bruce and Mat.

I'm far from a car expert, I'm finding a fair few independent garages I've spoken to don't really want to touch it as they don't have the expertise.

I'm based in North Leeds, I'm however happy to travel to ensure I get the correct diagnosis. I really don't want to be taking it back to the guys that originally repaired the gearbox unless its totally necessary.

Thanks guys
 
Did you find anywhere decent?

I'm in south Leeds and although my car has been fine so far (touch wood) it'd be good to get a recommendation for somewhere local.

I'm aware of German Autocare in Pudsey but only have experience of nearly buying a car from them. No idea about the service side of things.

May also be worth looking up Leeds transmission services. They've quoted me £170 for a fluid change on my s212.
 
Did you find anywhere decent?

I'm in south Leeds and although my car has been fine so far (touch wood) it'd be good to get a recommendation for somewhere local.

I'm aware of German Autocare in Pudsey but only have experience of nearly buying a car from them. No idea about the service side of things.

May also be worth looking up Leeds transmission services. They've quoted me £170 for a fluid change on my s212.

I’m also in Leeds and have previously used Scotts Autotech who were very good albeit a bit pricey for an indi.

(Last service quote on my C350 cdi was only 5 quid cheaper than the dealer)

Sadly it looks like they no longer exist.

Heard mixed reviews about German auto care.
 
Certainly a gap in the market by the look of it then.

Somewhere in Castleford/Wakefield would be handy for me too if anyone knows anywhere?
 
Well I think the only place in Leeds/cas/wakefield with star is German Autocare. Which is a bit crap.

I think I'm just going to DIY my disc and pad change, use a trusted local place for oil, brake fluid and coolant
My car 61 plate e350cdi has an indy service hx from new anyway and at 80k miles I'm not sure starting with Merc or specialist service stamps will add anything.
 
Merc Specialists in Skipton are excellent. Have used them for years and always very impressed. Loan cars available and always call you to discuss any unexpected issues.
 
Thanks for the tip. An hour away from me which might be doable, just. If any work could be done while I had a nosey round Skipton.
 
Hi guys thanks for the recommendations,

The car is with Steve at Merc Spec in Skipton, awaiting a full diagnosis. Hoping to get it sorted, losing a bit of faith with it but will see what they come back with.

Cheers Aidan
 
Hello all, thought I’d check in with an update.

Car has been with Merc Spec in Skipton for 3 weeks now. They have tried various things on the Car, new air mass sensor, new EGR valve and also completed a smoke test to see if there are any leaks. Unfortunately they have been unable to diagnose the fault.

The gearbox codes that are coming up are 2783 and 0894. Now that the potential engine issues have been ruled out it leads me to believe that it’s a transmission problem.

I feel I’m being the run around by the garage that originally did the rebuild in may/June.

Not really sure what the next move is, do I take the car elsewhere or give up and sell it as faulty. Would be a shame as we have had the car from new and it’s in pristine condition.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Aidan
 
Try Graham (or his partner Jason) at Prestige on Canal Road in Bradford.

Straight talking Yorkshiremen but know their MB cars.
 
The gearbox codes that are coming up are 2783 and 0894.......

Isn't that a TC and slip problem?

I think I'd have got it back to the transmission expert and asked them to fix it or give me my money back.
 
That’s right the codes relate to the torque converter and a slipping issue.

I took the car back to the guys that did the box and they told me it’s an engine fault that is causing the slipping. Not too sure I believe that. Difficulty is it seems it’s my word against theirs, secondly I have little confidence in them repairing it as the car has been back 3 times.

What you you think about getting an independent report which I can use as evidence to take back to them.
 
I'd ask the specialist it is at now for their report on it.

Give the information (codes) to the specialist that did the gearbox repair.
You don't have to mention that it has been to another garage, just tell them you have had it diagnosed, these are the codes, they relate to the box and you would like it fixed.

If they can't/wont repair than at that point your next course of action is probably a small claims court armed with what you have.
 
Thanks for your help on this. I will do exactly that. Ultimately I’m paying the specialist for four hours labour, they haven’t been able to diagnose the problem and havent repaired anything.

I will request a diagnostic report and an invoice which details all the work they have done.

Hopefully I will get to the bottom of it. All a bit frustrating.

If I were to go down the legal route can I go ahead and instruct another garage to conduct the repair? Assuming I have given the original gearbox guys the chance to repair.

Cheers Aidan
 
I never understand this. You take it to a specialist to diagnose a problem. They fail to diagnose the problem and expect to be paid for it?
 
I’m also in Leeds and have previously used Scotts Autotech who were very good albeit a bit pricey for an indi.
I had a similar experience with a Jag indie before Christmas - charged me the same as the main dealer for diagnostics.

Won’t be going there again...
 

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