Topshelf

Yes, I agree completely. They SHOULD be taking care of the repair, and it SHOULD have been addressed a long time ago. With the age of that TSB and the level of contamination I had, I don't know how this wasn't addressed under warranty when I brought it in and mentioned the transmission acting strange over a year ago. You know what, I do know why it wasn't addressed. Last time I mentioned it I wasn't armed with information. I swear these dealers will only truly fix a problem if you know exactly what it is, and have the proof that it's an issue. Either way though, they are "fixing" it. And I say that because like you mentioned, who knows how much damage has already happened. I am not sure if they are replacing the torque converter, if so, then I think there will be little to worry about. If not, then I'll drive this until I find my new ride. The fact that I don't have to order up parts, tear the car apart and get covered in transmission fluid though is worth todays free fix until I find something else. The real shame is that we bought this car new and babied it for 5 years, now I have to unload it because of a faulty $200 radiator. That fact sickens me. Good thing though is I can now get back to focusing on the BMW.

C230 Sport Coup

How did they know you intended to do attempt the work yourself?
Did they read the forum?

On a seperate note, I finally got my box with me liquid gold in it, errr red that is.
Seems 2 of the bottles have the seals broken and one wasn't tighted down, and it leaked in the box.
UPS had it out for delivery last Friday, but then on Monday updated the
traking with the statement "missing or damaged shipping label",
Which make no sense, as how could they update the record if it the label is damaged? They have to know the tracking # to do that, and in doing so would know the address to deliver to.
After several ph calls to UPS, and being told it would be delivered,
I went to the warehouse last night, and the guy found my box,
label intact, but the box soaked in tranny fluid,
hence it was put in the dark recesses of the UPS warehouse, in the "damaged" area, and on top of that since it was "oil" they put it in the damaged AND hazardous area.

I'm going to contact Autobahn try to get them to ship 2 new UNOPENED
bottles. I don't need some $10 an hour jerkoff at the dealer, emptying my bottles of liquid gold and filling them with Dextron or some other similarly red substance.
You're lucky to not have to deal with this crap.
And VERY lucky the dealer is paying for your rad and fluid flush.
Indeed.

If they made the coupe to reel in new customers for the future, it's the fear of the tranny failing, and lack of support of their f'ups that would keep me away in the future.

Then again, BMW had all kinds of issues in the past,
plastic water pump impellers comes to mind that disintegrated and clogged the radiator, causing overheating and massive repair bills at < 50K miles on the 90's 528's.
Or the plastic rads that failed at less than 50K...

splinter

I have several unopened bottles stashed away in the garage. If you’re going to pursue yet another mechanical adventure this weekend, just let me know and they’ll go out next-day.

C230 Sport Coup

The offer is appreciated.
I've sent email to Autobahn, es-splaining that I feel it reasonable to expect
sealed bottles, and am more than happy to return the leaky, unsealed ones at their expense..and of course requesting to have them send 2 sealed ones.

I'm not in that big of a hurry to get it done, in fact PDT is coming around early this year, in like 2 weeks I think?
A longer day would be preferable.

Also, when I replace the leaky exhaust gasket,
I'm considering pulling the SC and alt, and sending both out for rebuild.
As neither has failed to date...maybe just get new brushes for the alt.
But it seems they tend to fail right around this time...
Looks like there's a place in Oregon that does the SC rebuild for 300.

I'm not masochistic enough to go back to dealing with FIAT's again, but considering getting a used Miata for 2 or 3 grand, to drive while the Mercedes is up on blocks, and general top down, small car thrashing.

Topshelf

Umm, because I had a long talk with both the shop foreman and my sa.

splinter

What are you trying to say?!

photo credit Frank W