C280...Bad Transmissions?
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Joined: Feb 2006
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C280...Bad Transmissions?
Hello all, I've been lurking around here and I've seen many posts about the 5spd trannys having issues. Is it not safe to get a 98 C280 without having transmission failure? I really want this car but wouldn't have enough money to repair the tranny in the even that it would fail.
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From: San Antonio, Texas
2016 BMW Z4 sDrive35i M Sport
I, personally, hate the 722.6 tranny (the electronic 5 speed). I've had two things done on it so far (the tranny computer was replaced and a valve in it) and it seems to be fine, but then again, my car is still under Starmark warranty so I didn't pay for the repairs. I would NEVER buy a Benz (or any other German car for that matter) w/o a warranty PERIOD. That's just me. I LOVE my w202, but it will be gone after August because I don't love it enough to pay for the payments AND repairs on it after the warranty expires.
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From: Irvine CA
c43
i have a 97 with almost 100k and had the fluid changed very late, no real problems with it, I kind of wish there was something more we could do besides fluid change, and get some good stuff in there too, I like redline....
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From: Toronto, Canada
540 6spd
The problem is most commonly found on '97 C280's. I've heard very little about people having problems with the '98 + C280's. IMO the '98s were ok since the problem was adressed on the update. The '97 was the first year of that transmission and the only year it was mated to the I-6 engines.
I had leased a '97 C280 years ago and had to replace the tranny at about 135,000km. IMO I would still buy a '97 and only a '97 because the I-6 with that tranny was a beaut to put it simply. Ask anyone who owns one and they'll probably agree.
I had leased a '97 C280 years ago and had to replace the tranny at about 135,000km. IMO I would still buy a '97 and only a '97 because the I-6 with that tranny was a beaut to put it simply. Ask anyone who owns one and they'll probably agree.
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From: Irvine CA
c43
I have to agree its one hell of an engine, I have not had a real problem with it since i bought it, and i have put about 40k on it within 2 years, was the c36 tranny any different than the c280? I wanna say it'll be ok if you get your fluid changed often, I mean my tranny has learned to always shift at redline, and I mash it all the time on the freeway, and it has always taken it like a champ, so I hope it will last another 100k....
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Originally Posted by TangoRed
Thanks guys! I think I'm going to stick with a 98!
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lets just put it this way.....if your thinking of getting a european car? just make sure you have the money to fix it up or to play around with it. all european cars are like this. NICE!!! but f**king expensive to fix. I had my 95 c280 and an 95 c220. both of my car cost me at least 9000.00 to fix. but when you get the results, its amazing!!! 
Member
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: San Diego, CA
2001 E55 AMG
Had to replace my '98 C280 Transmission
I bought a 1998 C280 Sport with 88,000 miles on it in Feb. 2003. Site unseen, I was taking a risk (bought it in Texas via eBay motors). I had to replace the transmission at just over 100k miles ($4,800 or so if I recall) and it was an unpleasant pain my a$$. However, I still have the car, it has 156,800 miles on it, and I love it. I blue booked the private party value of it -- about $7,700 in my zip code -- that makes me smile. See, to me it feels like a $35,000 European driving machine.
I'm on the market for a 2003 or newer E55 AMG, but will keep the C280 for guests that visit, etc.
Good luck on your purchase.
T
I'm on the market for a 2003 or newer E55 AMG, but will keep the C280 for guests that visit, etc.
Good luck on your purchase.
T
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From: So Cal.
2019 GT3 RS, 2017 M3 30 Jahre
wow, I didn't realize there were known problems with the 97's. I had my 1997 C280 Sport for around 7 years (I was the original owner) and at around 35k miles they replaced the transmission. I kept complaining that I felt something like a really bad lag when I stepped on the gas. They first replaced the ECU, but that didn't really help so they replaced the ENTIRE tranny (under warranty). I really don't think that that was the problem, but House of Imports decided to do it...
I would say that the car was pretty good though up until I traded it in with 70k miles...
I would say that the car was pretty good though up until I traded it in with 70k miles...
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: NJ
Originally Posted by T-Roll
I blue booked the private party value of it -- about $7,700 in my zip code -- that makes me smile.
Anyway, my transmission is decent. Your problems will be more noticable (e.g. harsh shifts) in colder weather (less than 30 degrees for more than a week) if you have any problems to begin with.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2006
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Bad Tranny
I love the 98 C230. It has been a blast to drive (well, when wife allows).
Everything was running fine until the car just shut down (hot day, sitting in a school pick up line, turned car off and it sat for 5 min or so) then would not restart for several times. Finally restarted. After getting home, then tried it again and same thing.
Dealer said the problem is in the tranny valve body. Also said, this problem is covered by limited extended warranty, however, the computer control module which tells it what to do is not covered - Add $1200. While asking simple questions about the whole situation, he backed up and said, well... this might be one of the new valve bodies and the control module might not have to be updated.
It all made me very uncomfortable, so I started researching the issue.
Too, now the key has some funky actions & they want $150 for a new key.
Is this the beginning of something bad (any experiences will be greatly appreciated.
PBaker
Everything was running fine until the car just shut down (hot day, sitting in a school pick up line, turned car off and it sat for 5 min or so) then would not restart for several times. Finally restarted. After getting home, then tried it again and same thing.
Dealer said the problem is in the tranny valve body. Also said, this problem is covered by limited extended warranty, however, the computer control module which tells it what to do is not covered - Add $1200. While asking simple questions about the whole situation, he backed up and said, well... this might be one of the new valve bodies and the control module might not have to be updated.
It all made me very uncomfortable, so I started researching the issue.
Too, now the key has some funky actions & they want $150 for a new key.
Is this the beginning of something bad (any experiences will be greatly appreciated.
PBaker
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From: Russia
Elegance
Originally Posted by davis449
I, personally, hate the 722.6 tranny (the electronic 5 speed). I've had two things done on it so far (the tranny computer was replaced and a valve in it) and it seems to be fine, but then again, my car is still under Starmark warranty so I didn't pay for the repairs. I would NEVER buy a Benz (or any other German car for that matter) w/o a warranty PERIOD. That's just me. I LOVE my w202, but it will be gone after August because I don't love it enough to pay for the payments AND repairs on it after the warranty expires.
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From: San Antonio, Texas
2016 BMW Z4 sDrive35i M Sport
The shift quality is crap, it doesn't down shift as you brake very efficiently (hence I have to pound the throttle after a rolling left turn), I had to have it worked on twice at 72K miles (rediculous), it's not responsive for ****, you want me to keep going?
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From: Russia
Elegance
Originally Posted by davis449
The shift quality is crap, it doesn't down shift as you brake very efficiently (hence I have to pound the throttle after a rolling left turn), I had to have it worked on twice at 72K miles (rediculous), it's not responsive for ****, you want me to keep going?
Almost a Member!
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From: Russia
Elegance
Originally Posted by davis449
The shift quality is crap, it doesn't down shift as you brake very efficiently (hence I have to pound the throttle after a rolling left turn), I had to have it worked on twice at 72K miles (rediculous), it's not responsive for ****, you want me to keep going?
davis449 What for to you CarPC?
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I have a '99 C230 Kompressor. I bought the Mercedes CD ROM disc Mercedes sells. It covers the earlier 202s. I recall that the CD covers some warranty items. I specifically remember the 98 C230 transmission was bad and there was a warranty on it. I did not look to see what the terms of the warranty were since I don't have that car.
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From: Russia
Elegance
Originally Posted by Educaid
I have a '99 C230 Kompressor. I bought the Mercedes CD ROM disc Mercedes sells. It covers the earlier 202s. I recall that the CD covers some warranty items. I specifically remember the 98 C230 transmission was bad and there was a warranty on it. I did not look to see what the terms of the warranty were since I don't have that car.
Everyone speak, but precisely the reason name nobody can.
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From: San Antonio, Texas
2016 BMW Z4 sDrive35i M Sport
Originally Posted by RoninAG
I have tried to understand all that that you have written, but has not understood why you hate 722.6?
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Originally Posted by davis449
What is there to not understand? Maybe you need to take a reading comprehension class.
it doesn't down shift as you brake very efficiently" mean? That it doesn't downshift, or it doesn't brake very efficiently? Nice sentence structure. Did you have it worked on "twice" in 72K miles or did you have it worked on two times separately when it reached 72k miles? Spell check is easy to use as well. I hope your career choice doesn't require you to communicate with people.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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From: San Antonio, Texas
2016 BMW Z4 sDrive35i M Sport
Originally Posted by mleskovar
And maybe you need to take a class in using proper English instead of ghetto speak and colloquialisms when communicating with people who's primary language is not English. This is an international forum. What does "
it doesn't down shift as you brake very efficiently" mean? That it doesn't downshift, or it doesn't brake very efficiently? Nice sentence structure. Did you have it worked on "twice" in 72K miles or did you have it worked on two times separately when it reached 72k miles? Spell check is easy to use as well. I hope your career choice doesn't require you to communicate with people.
it doesn't down shift as you brake very efficiently" mean? That it doesn't downshift, or it doesn't brake very efficiently? Nice sentence structure. Did you have it worked on "twice" in 72K miles or did you have it worked on two times separately when it reached 72k miles? Spell check is easy to use as well. I hope your career choice doesn't require you to communicate with people.
Sorry for jumping your **** RoninAG.
Last edited by davis449; Apr 26, 2006 at 02:26 PM.
