W221 Engine light, clunky gearbox after 100miles

[IanS320]

I don't think the ink was dry on my 'I'm excited I've got a new car" intro thread here before the problems have started.

It's a s320cdi 07 55k miles fmsh from the main dealer, serviced last month.

Very much liked the dealership and passing the car to them for problem solving but I'd really like to know what I'm dealing with and make sure if they reoccur or develop later I can argue it was like that when bought.

After 100miles

Engine light permanently on, car in limp mode.

Massive vibration 60-70mph. Brand New tyres t the back - balancing issue?

When you slow to a halt at the lights there's often a gearbox thunk as the car
comes to a halt.

25mpg in town, 38 at steady 70. Does this seem about right?

I'm hoping that's it for now. I'm really grateful for any thoughts or advice before I return to the dealer.

 

[PXW]

Vibration - yes, definitely sounds like balancing. Could be something as simple as one of the stick on weights has come off. I'd pop the car into your local independent tyre place and get them to rebalance the wheels - cheap and should fix it.

What was the limp mode about - did the dealer tell you? Could be related to the gearbox thunk...but this needs investigation.

Your mpg doesn't sound far off to me, though there will doubtless be a 221 driver along shortly who gets about 75mpg!

 

[jpwilliams]

If you bought it from a Dealer, then take it back immediately and do not involve any 3rd party.

Regards

 

[grober]

GEARBOX ISSUE? Back to the supplying dealer immediately together with a letter detailing the fault to the dealer principal. ASAP. Can you get the transmission fluid level checked independently?

 

[IanS320]

Thanks everyone

I hadn't read too much into the gearbox thunk, I thought perhaps 'they all do that'. It's a jolt in C setting as the car comes close to a halt as you slowly approach the stop point. Happens 1 in 4 times normally, can be brought on by creeping.

I think I read once of a first to second issue in the early 320s. Is this not the case?

Thanks again, this sort of advice is invaluable befor facing the dealer again.

 

[PXW]

Gearbox issue might need no more than a software update, or it could be mechanical. The box should come to a stop smoothly though so definitely worth getting it looked at.

 

[IanS320]

The car went in to MB - light was due to a stuck EGR valve and the gearbox issue was potentially related to the engine issue - needed to clear one to determine if there was another.

30 miles later:

The engine light is still off but the car seems to be in another limp mode - no kickdown, no apparent turbo, really difficult to get past 40mph. Is it possible to be limping without the light or a notification?

The gearbox clunk is still there. Its very specifically the shift from 2 to 1 as you come to a standstill (in S, C and watched the change in M). It ranges from very noticeable to cringe.

I'm going back to MB again as soon as possible, I've found every part of their customer service outstanding but it doesn't help me if my social life is spent in their foyer..

I really love the car and I'm really hoping there is a specific thing broken and that I haven't bought into a sequence of problems.

MB would tell me if a newly purchased used car needed a really expensive part under warranty, wouldn't they?.......

 

[HumberMart]

Sounds very similar to the fault that caused me to reject a 2010 W221 after 2 weeks just a couple of months ago.

The first problem for me was EGR related then I had the same issue of no turbo etc combined with no warning lights. They failed to rectify after 3 attempts and fortunately it happened whilst I insisted they accompany me on a test drive after they assured me it was fully fixed.

I didn't have the gearbox problem but a mate has the same problem with his CLS320. The dealer says its normal and won't do anything for him under the approved used warranty.

 

[IanS320]

Thanks for letting me know that. Did you reject under the sale of goods act?

I'm really enthusiastic to get the car sorted but I shouldn't have what is essentially a breakdown 30 miles after a repair at MB. As I walked back to the car last time I remember thinking 'that seems a very quick and trivial repair for such a variety of symptoms'..

Sadly I guess I have to blow the dust off my exit strategies. God help them if that happens, the car I traded in was a gem.

 

[HumberMart]

Yes SOG act. Shame cos I really loved it with the AMG pack and cream leather.

I think it's all down to the crap and patronising service from many of the dealer service depts. the sales guys can be great but the service bods useless.

If mine hadn't repeated the fault on the joint test I'd have been snookered. They just seem to keep the car for a week. Clean a few sensors. Use it for one of them to commute and go for the Sarnies etc. valet it and tell you it's fixed.

And after all this I'm still a huge MB fan and ended up buying a new CLS to replace the S!

 

[IanS320]

I'm wincing chronically that its likely I'm in the same position.

Interestingly I haven't seen this much 'check engine' action since my 92 Lotus Esprit SE. Odd company for an S Class to keep.

 

[IanS320]

The great customer service from the dealer goes on.

Seems there were a lot of coked up bits associated with the EGR. Apparently all fixed now, car driving beautifully and fair enough the gearbox is smooth as silk. Shame we didn't catch this the first time around...

Mindful of the 'gypsies warning' above but fingers crossed car is sorted now. If so I'm glad, I drive in a much more mature and considerate way in the 320 than I ever did in it's predecessors.

Thanks to everyone above, check engine lights on a merc are a dark place to be, great forum. The last forum I used was dominated by a core of chav bullies. If you weren't in their track day group , god help you if you posted.