MB Gearbox issues
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Cape Town
2005 C280 W115 220 W115 220 W115 230.4 W115 240D/A W123 230 W123 300D/A W123 300D
MB Gearbox issues
Just had a gearbox fail on C280 2005 model with less than a 100,000km on the odo. Had to use 1.4 Polo for a long distance essential business trip but taking wife + kid along as away from home a lot for work and don't see them much.
Merc relialbility?
Repair work is taking about a month now and still not fixed.
Merc relialbility?
Repair work is taking about a month now and still not fixed.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Cape Town
2005 C280 W115 220 W115 220 W115 230.4 W115 240D/A W123 230 W123 300D/A W123 300D
Gears either won't shift at all, or shift erratically into either the wrong ratio or with a loud thump and a jerk. There is also a whining noise.
It has been with the technical guys, who towed it in, for more than two weeks and then just as long with MB dealership. It is frustrating and something that makes me worry.
I had previous failures on Merc auto 'boxes and I am no thinking to buy another brand altogether. Having a Merc and then needing to borrow or rent a cheapie has happened once too often. The cheapies get me to where I need to be at.
A client recently went to hospital, was taken there in an emergency. It took three fairly new Mercedes to get her there, due to break-downs along the way.
It has been with the technical guys, who towed it in, for more than two weeks and then just as long with MB dealership. It is frustrating and something that makes me worry.
I had previous failures on Merc auto 'boxes and I am no thinking to buy another brand altogether. Having a Merc and then needing to borrow or rent a cheapie has happened once too often. The cheapies get me to where I need to be at.
A client recently went to hospital, was taken there in an emergency. It took three fairly new Mercedes to get her there, due to break-downs along the way.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Cape Town
2005 C280 W115 220 W115 220 W115 230.4 W115 240D/A W123 230 W123 300D/A W123 300D
Serviced religiously, driven sensibly, taking off slowly when still cold, never "foot shifted" with the accelerator, etc. We know that "foot shifting" will cause up-shifts at too low engine revs, causing pulses from the crankshaft to be communicated to the gearbox, shortening its life. On Diesels more acute than petrol engined vehicles.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 191
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The early 722.9 transmissions had a few problems I'm afraid. Valve bodies, Conductor plates & a few TC failures. The Siemens conductor plate was the biggest problem but further issues were caused in markets like the US where MBUSA unwisely suggested that the transmission was filled for life = short life.
Where are you. You are calling it a C280 so you can't be in the US.
Where are you. You are calling it a C280 so you can't be in the US.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Cape Town
2005 C280 W115 220 W115 220 W115 230.4 W115 240D/A W123 230 W123 300D/A W123 300D
Europe? Nope, we get all the excess junk from there. South Africa, that is. The horrid Golf 1 was even sold here until not too long ago. US called them Rabbit back then.
C280 is a 3-litre V6 with 150kW instead of 170, something like that. Awesome car with a terrible gearbox. Many used car dealers dread that 7G thing. Give me manual shift any day!
The little Polo did well and dutifully delivered the tribe without any mishap, after having done just short of a thousand miles since very early this morning. Some faces are still sour because of the inconvenience but they are home safely, at least!
C280 is a 3-litre V6 with 150kW instead of 170, something like that. Awesome car with a terrible gearbox. Many used car dealers dread that 7G thing. Give me manual shift any day!
The little Polo did well and dutifully delivered the tribe without any mishap, after having done just short of a thousand miles since very early this morning. Some faces are still sour because of the inconvenience but they are home safely, at least!
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes Teases Updated EQS With Steer-By-Wire and a Yoke
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Cape Town
2005 C280 W115 220 W115 220 W115 230.4 W115 240D/A W123 230 W123 300D/A W123 300D
I have done hundreds of thousands of trouble-free kilometres in my older ones, I so wish one could still have that solid build quality and mechanical simplicity.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
Likes: 11
From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Sadly, those days seem to be over. That's why I keep repairing my 1990 Honda CRX; nothing new like it.
Sorry about the bad guess. Since you're both in SA, just drive the car over to Glyn, and he'll diagnose it free of charge.
Sorry about the bad guess. Since you're both in SA, just drive the car over to Glyn, and he'll diagnose it free of charge.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Cape Town
2005 C280 W115 220 W115 220 W115 230.4 W115 240D/A W123 230 W123 300D/A W123 300D
The car is with MB and it cannot be driven at all. Glyn will need to take a rain cheque for now, but thanks anyway. There is a very reliable Civic in my life, my second Honda. By sheer coincidence, also neighbours driving them. Honda is a slow seller here but they are better engineered, better built and much more reliable than most. Only the more informed or even sophisticated people here drive them. Oh, in a part of Cape Town, there is a street racing culture and those guys soon discovered how high Honda engines can rev and how long they last.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 191
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Glyn's on his way to JHB to play with his Jag.
That street racing part of Cape Town seems to love little Honda's to mod & drop & a thing called a Polo Playa here Tommy. The Playa is a VW based SEAT from Spain that VW badge engineered here.
Xian ~ try & get MB to fit a newer 722.9 to your car or bring it up to latest spec. 2008 onward they were totally sorted.
That street racing part of Cape Town seems to love little Honda's to mod & drop & a thing called a Polo Playa here Tommy. The Playa is a VW based SEAT from Spain that VW badge engineered here.
Xian ~ try & get MB to fit a newer 722.9 to your car or bring it up to latest spec. 2008 onward they were totally sorted.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,067
Likes: 11
From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
VW really does screw with badging and re-naming cars way too much. I had a Seat Ibiza (I think that was it) that I ran from Munich down to Venice & back in a week. Competent if fairly boring car.
I grew up with a first-gen Rabbit 4-speed that loved to not start. Had a lot of fun with it when my parents would let me borrow it to go to the bank - how it took me 2-4 hours to go to a bank a mile away, I'll never know.
I grew up with a first-gen Rabbit 4-speed that loved to not start. Had a lot of fun with it when my parents would let me borrow it to go to the bank - how it took me 2-4 hours to go to a bank a mile away, I'll never know.
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,295
Likes: 22
From: VA
THE C350
VW really does screw with badging and re-naming cars way too much. I had a Seat Ibiza (I think that was it) that I ran from Munich down to Venice & back in a week. Competent if fairly boring car.
I grew up with a first-gen Rabbit 4-speed that loved to not start. Had a lot of fun with it when my parents would let me borrow it to go to the bank - how it took me 2-4 hours to go to a bank a mile away, I'll never know.
I grew up with a first-gen Rabbit 4-speed that loved to not start. Had a lot of fun with it when my parents would let me borrow it to go to the bank - how it took me 2-4 hours to go to a bank a mile away, I'll never know.
what a great childhood I had 
