W209 CLK Gearbox Control Unit - Help!

[greggster]

Hi all,

I took the CLK to a local specialist who has Star for a few bits and asked them to see if there was a software update for the gearbox as i'd read that this could help with the characteristic harsh downshift into 1st when cold (wasn't a problem, but if it could be improved then all the better).

I received a call saying that they did the software update and it screwed up the control unit leading to no gearbox drive at all, and that the cure was a new control unit (approx £1200 with labour and fluids etc). I approved it as i had no choice and they are now having issues coding the new unit to the car, and are sending it to MB at their own cost.

Now i have no reason to distrust the specialist, but i'm hoping someone can confirm that i'm not paying for someone else's mistake. Below is the email he sent me on request to explain the situation,

When we put the car on the star machine we had a stored fault code with one of the speed sensors in the gearbox(part of the valve chest.) There was a software update so we applied it as you had asked us to. After we ran the software update the control unit did not like it at all. I am trying to speak to MB to find out why. To rectify all issues we have replaced the valve chest(which has the control unit in it.)

 

[BlackC55]

That can happen. It's not happened with me but I have heard of this. They are not ripping you off at all. Its just unfortunate.

 

[greggster]

Thank you Olly, you are a star, that's all I needed to know. I promise one day I'll get off my lazy backside and come down to you for work. You're a top bloke, thanks

 

[Lenny63]

That's really unfortunate

 

[greggster]

Thanks and a bit of a shock. Went in for a windscreen rubber and ended up with an unexpected very large bill. But hey ho, better than it having failed and have to be recovered. Can't wait to get it back and drive it

 

[Lenny63]

Do you like your w209? Good car ?

 

[greggster]

yes its spot on, the 500 is a monster, and i'm still in the honeymoon period and loving the V8 soundtrack

 

[greggster]

The saga continues

Main dealer can't code the new valve chest either so I've had to authorise 5 hours of diagnosis time at main dealer rates! If it turns out to be a hardware or software issue for that specific part then I don't have to pay for the diagnosis. All seems a bit ridiculous!

 

[tanuie]

Bad luck, not good news at all.

 

[KeithJG]

sorry.....

 

[noogieman]

would it be cheaper for you if u find a low mileage replacement tranny

 

[greggster]

Thanks, but I don't think so

 

[BlackC55]

If they have supplied the part and it can't be coded then it's down to them. Don't be fobbed off.

 

[greggster]

Thanks for that much appreciated.

It's been at MB Guildford for 9 days now and they are waiting for head office technical team to come up with a solution to get it coded. I'm not getting stressed by it but it seems a bit ridiculous to me. Surely they've had this issue before, or the part is knackered and they need to replace it at their own cost? Meanwhile I've been doing a lot of walking!

 

[greggster]

Well chaps, MB Guildford have had it for 3 weeks now and still can't code it. Apparently they've removed the part, checked it, confirmed its the correct one and was fitted properly, refitted it and still await head office to sort the software problem.

If anyone has any ideas of what I can do i'd love to hear them. There just seems to be no end to it, I could be in the same boat in another 3 weeks!

It's now really annoying me that I haven't got it to enjoy it

 

[Lit91]

Well chaps, MB Guildford have had it for 3 weeks now and still can't code it. Apparently they've removed the part, checked it, confirmed its the correct one and was fitted properly, refitted it and still await head office to sort the software problem.

If anyone has any ideas of what I can do i'd love to hear them. There just seems to be no end to it, I could be in the same boat in another 3 weeks!

It's now really annoying me that I haven't got it to enjoy it

Must be a fault in the new part, it's either wrong or defective.

 

[greggster]

Well that's what I think but they say not?? I don't have any direct contact with MB, it's all second hand info from my specialist

 

[Codger49]

Came across a couple of documents which may be helpful to you in understanding the processes involved. May give you some insight into some questions to ask your indy and/or MB Guildford.

www.billsden.org/fileadmin/media/mercedes/slk/docs/bulletin_s_b_07_08_43a.pdf


Hints about the 722.9 transmission


I had the 'electroplate' replaced on my 2006 CLK, my indy sourced the plate from Mercedes and the MB main dealer coded the replacement and applied applicable software updates. Its now a very smooth gearbox.

 

[greggster]

Thanks very much, I'll have a read cheers

 

[greggster]

Olly, do you think I should persevere or ask them to return it to me with the old faulty unit put back in and I'll get it transported down to you? I've lost confidence in my Indy and MB now