W211 E320 (2003) - Gearbox is shot!

[k086956]

Just been told the repair bill will be in excess of 1.5k. Thats first quote i recieved.

The Auto transmission is not changing gears and cant seem to be finding the clutch and is slipping.

The car is out of warranty, and only covered 75k miles.

In the current economic climate, i might just salvage the damn thing.

I am going to try and get some quotes on repairing the car if possible. Gutted..

Anyone have any advice on what gear the auto should be in when it is being towed? i assume "D"?

 

[The Boss]

"n"

 

[st4]

Just been told the repair bill will be in excess of 1.5k. Thats first quote i recieved.

The Auto transmission is not changing gears and cant seem to be finding the clutch and is slipping.

The car is out of warranty, and only covered 75k miles.

In the current economic climate, i might just salvage the damn thing.

I am going to try and get some quotes on repairing the car if possible. Gutted..

Anyone have any advice on what gear the auto should be in when it is being towed? i assume "D"?

Try and get MBUK to give a goodwill payment. Autoboxes failures were common on cars with valeo radiators leaking coolant into the box. This is a known fault and MB have been known to give financial assistance.

 

[BTB 500]

Re. towing, check the handbook. With autos there's usually a speed / distance restriction unless the drive wheels are raised off the road.

 

[timskemp]

A working gearbox should be towed in N. A faulty one should not be towed.

 

[k086956]

A working gearbox should be towed in N. A faulty one should not be towed.

Right. So i'll have to tell the AA to get the car on a flatbed truck then i assume.

 

[MBManInKen]

Right. So i'll have to tell the AA to get the car on a flatbed truck then i assume.

Yes, don't tow it, move it on a flatbed.

 

[jeremytaylor]

Just been told the repair bill will be in excess of 1.5k. Thats first quote i recieved.

The car is out of warranty, and only covered 75k miles.

In the current economic climate, i might just salvage the damn thing.

I appreciate that £1,500 may not be easy to find out of the blue, but surely salvaging would lose you more money? The car's only done 75k.

 

[Smiley]

not to be a doom monger but £1500 sounds too cheap if the gearbox needs replacing.

 

[Ratz]

I am just in the midst of trying to sort out a valeo related gearbox failure and I am being quoted £2918 for a new gearbox (from MB dealer). They are already asking for a contribution from MB on my behalf.

According to HonestJohn (Telegraph columnist), there has been an 'epidemic' of gearbox failures on W211's this year.

 

[k086956]

I am just in the midst of trying to sort out a valeo related gearbox failure and I am being quoted £2918 for a new gearbox (from MB dealer). They are already asking for a contribution from MB on my behalf.

According to HonestJohn (Telegraph columnist), there has been an 'epidemic' of gearbox failures on W211's this year.

I dont know. I am now worried that a repair/new gearbox will suffer the same fate?

Quotes i have recieved are ranging from anywhere from 1700-2600 pounds.



Should have bought the S-line A6 instead!!!

 

[Satch]

I am just in the midst of trying to sort out a valeo related gearbox failure and I am being quoted £2918 for a new gearbox (from MB dealer). They are already asking for a contribution from MB on my behalf.

According to HonestJohn (Telegraph columnist), there has been an 'epidemic' of gearbox failures on W211's this year.

Now you know one of the reasons why a "sealed for life" gearbox switches to a mandated full fluid/filter chage at 60,000km/37,000 miles.

 

[k086956]

Update:

Taking the car via AA to a guy who works on mercs. 1250 plus 11 months warranty. Thats the max he will charge..

He has worked on my uncles mercs for 15 years.

I have the Behr radiator. The independent seems to think that the rad must have leaked into the gearbox.

He has told me in the past three years it is the most common fault on the W211 in his experience.

So much for "Behr" confidence

 

[jeremytaylor]

Please keep us informed on the cause and outcome in due course.

 

[Druk]

I'm sorely tempted to re-route the cooler oil pipes through an air/oil cooler and away from this Valeo nightmare of a thing. The rad was changed under warranty in 2003 but who can tell how long it will last. A stitch in time?

 

[Ratz]

I'm sorely tempted to re-route the cooler oil pipes through an air/oil cooler and away from this Valeo nightmare of a thing. The rad was changed under warranty in 2003 but who can tell how long it will last. A stitch in time?

Seems 5-6 years, I think your foresight may prove very wise!!

I notice you're a Saab fan, my dad tells me that this was a common fault with Saabs in the 80's.... So much for progress.