MB2008c

We bought a certified MB C300 2008 4 matic with 5124 miles. The cart now has 21382 miles and we are having transmission issues. We took it to dealer and told them we were hearing these sounds. They informed us that the car will require a new transmission. We only had the car for 16 months and my wife only uses the car to drive back and forth to work and is Garage kept.

Any thoughts or suggestions

CGSColin

I would assume the Star Certified CPO warranty should cover the transmission? If so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

It's not uncommon for the bearings to fail in the transfer case of the type of transmission used in the 4matic w204 c-class. I'm getting mine replaced under warranty this week and I'm actually happy that I'll be getting a remanufactured transmission which won't have this problem.

xzotik1

More pre mature transmission issues on a car we are calling " reliable"

MB2008c

Unfortunately not. We are 6 months out of the warranty. It looks like when they certified the car they never changed the transmission fluid. Still cannot understand how 20K mile car could have a transmission issue. MB customer service is also not the most friendly bunch

CGSColin

That's really unfortunate

The transmission fluid isn't supposed to be changed until 48,000 miles I believe and wouldn't have been covered as part of the certification process.

That said with such low mileage and it being out of warranty for not very long I would try and see if the dealer can extend a "good will" discount on the labor and/or the price of the replacement transmission.

galperj

I've been on this site since we purchased a 2010 C300 4matic with 23k two years ago. The car has been good to us since with current 35,000. This was my first Mercedes and possibly will be the last one. I have two other cars, a Lexus IS350 and Infiniti G37 the latter one with 140,000 trouble free miles. Coming from Japanese cars I was (and still am) horrified reading repetitive complains about transmission, ignition module, door handles, and (the list is going on) other failures, something unheard in my previous and current car universe. "The transmission fluid must be changed exactly at 39,000 (or 39,500) miles" Really? if so, it's poorly designed (that's what it is). From the performance prospective my C300 is just laughable with its power and torque comparing to my other two cars. Fit and finish? Comparable but not much better. Reliability? Maintenance cost? Don't even want to go there approaching my B2 service (will do some items myself to cut cost). In general, it's a good, solid car, with decent road manners. But so all my cars I've ever had with one exception: me and my wife drive a lot and get to 100k miles (and over) in a few years with very high reliability and very low maintenance cost (and it's not Camry so dreaded on this website). I just can't have all this fun in my C300 feeling I'm driving a ticking bomb that will mandatory fail one way or another with extremely costly consequences. Sorry for such a negativity.

codeblue5007

I just can't have all this fun in my C300 feeling I'm driving a ticking bomb that will mandatory fail one way or another with extremely costly consequences. Sorry for such a negativity.[/QUOTE]

I agree with you - it's difficult to enjoy the car when you can get hit at any time with an 8k repair bill to replace the transmission. I rarely drive my 2008 C300 4Matic outside the city limits and every time I drive it I'm thinking I should sell it before disaster strikes. I've already spent about $4k on repairs in the past year for a rear main seal leak, the EIS/ESL problem, SRS malfunction, and new belt tensioner, pulleys and belts (2) and the car only has 66k miles.

xzotik1

I agree with you - it's difficult to enjoy the car when you can get hit at any time with an 8k repair bill to replace the transmission. I rarely drive my 2008 C300 4Matic outside the city limits and every time I drive it I'm thinking I should sell it before disaster strikes. I've already spent about $4k on repairs in the past year for a rear main seal leak, the EIS/ESL problem, SRS malfunction, and new belt tensioner, pulleys and belts (2) and the car only has 66k miles.[/QUOTE]


OMG...I thought I was alone, it appears that we have this in common.

galperj

OMG...I thought I was alone, it appears that we have this in common.[/QUOTE]

You're not alone! But I don't know if that's good or bad news. As I said above, I've been on this site since we purchased a 2010 C300 4matic two years ago. The car has been good to us since (but it has only 35,000 miles). I came to Mercedes from Japanese universe (Lexus, Infiniti). Always trouble-free for 100,000+ miles. I consider myself a car enthusiast. But while the other forums talk about fun stuff, the Mercedes forums are all about doom and gloom sharing stories about the same failures: transmissions, ignition modules, door handles, etc., the list is going on. I remember frequent repairs were common on very old (20+ years ago) american cars that have improved dramatically since. I'm new to Mercedes brand but such high and costly failure rate definitely spoils the party...
I just don't know if it's worth it: the car is solid and have good road manners (and pleasantly different from Japanese products) but breaks like cars 25 years ago and cost and arm and a leg to fix. And performance is just average at best (I don't have the AMG) with very modest power and torque comparing to my IS350 and G37.

ilumunus

I don't know what you guys do to your cars, or where you buy them from... This has been a very reliable car for me and tens of thousands of others. I've had 4 of them. An 08 C300 (from new, sold with 50k), an 09 C63 (had 38k, sold with 55), a 2013 C63 (from new, has 25k), and a 2010 C300 (bought with 49k, has 53k). I've put maybe 100,000 trouble free miles on these cars, except a head bolt issue on the older C63, which is expected.

Check your cars better before you buy them? Or don't abuse them (which I still don't understand, because I drive the crap out of them)? Idk what to say.

But to the OP, our dealer is very friendly with us, and negotiates down repair costs with us. It might be because we've bought 20 cars from them, but I remember them being friendly from the start. They might be able to give you a discount because the warranty just ended, or something of the sort. Just ask them nicely, and don't forget the word please. They might just do you a favor.

codeblue5007

I notice you don't keep your cars very long. Sold the 08 C300 just as the warranty expired at 50k miles. I think the solution is simple: Mercedes should warranty the drivetrain for 100,000 miles and own up to problems like the faulty EIS/ESL.

nelson g

I am a member of True Delta which is a service that collects data on cars. Repairs are broken down by each system and by year. Under the reliability section C300 for 2008 - 2010 have a higher repair frequency then 2011-2013.

If everyone with a transmission problem posted what happen to the site it could help in the future with getting MB to recognize the transmission problem.

Just a thought.

galperj

Just read this forum, the majority of posts are about reporting various problems, many at relatively low miles, something unheard with other brands. I don't want to beg a dealer to give me a price break to replace, let say a transmission or another high priced item. It's shame they fail at this rate and at such low miles. No matter how well you take care of the car.

dodgern

You guys are correct. I have a 2008 C300 bought from the dealer as a CPO, with 44k miles on it. i have had replace the Electronic Steering Lock, which was about $3000, the A/C Compressor, Front Driver Side Head rest, driver side seat belt lock, the CD Play suddenly stopped working, the front passenger head rest went bad, the right bank oxygen sensor, the transmission makes a hard jerk sometimes when slowing down or coming to a stop. Now the Right SAM Module is intermittent. I only drive the car from work to home which is only about 3 miles. Car now has about 55k miles. This is just too much issue with such an expensive car steeped in automotive history. Not sure i will be getting another Benz

xzotik1

This is my 1st and last Benz. After visiting 4 dealers My 2010 4matic is only worth 13k, so I'm 3k in the hole. It appears that the resale value is poor. I'm currently considering a Lexus 2007 SC430 with 44k on the odometer. A 21k car with award winning reliability.