DreamnZ

So while driving in the stop and go traffic of Los Angeles, my 2006 C230 starts acting weird. It wasn't shifting properly. Later it goes into limp mode. I pull to the side, turn off the car, wait a few minutes and turn it back on. Everything works fine and I drive her back to the OC. Being that the car has 120K on it and it's my wife's car, I take to my INDY shop to find out what happened.


It turns out I have a bad transmission sensor. Crap! and it's the transmission plate. We contact the dealer to get the part. After a week we follow up with the dealership. They say, they have the part, but it's a dealer install only part. What the heck? We ask how much to have it installed, they say $1800. We ask why? when it only takes 3 hours to take out and install. They response "click" call disconnected.


Well, had to find another way to order the part which looks like the car will need to go to the dealer to have the part matched to the car. What an over engineered piece. But, it is what it is. So far, my bill is around $800 for the parts and labor. Dealer cost to program the part...likely $300. Still, not too bad a bill overall.


However, the Benz is proving to be more costly to maintain than my BMW e46 convertible.... All in all, its a pay to play type of car. Had I wanted less maintenance I would have gone with a Honda or Toyota.

evannguyen

Is it the 5 speed or 7 speed transmission? I just replaced the conductor plate in my 05 C230 and I paid $150 for the OEM plate. It was almost a full day of work, but I could have done it faster.

DreamnZ

it's a 7 speed transmission. Couldn't find it anywhere because I have a 7 speed.

evannguyen

That makes sense. I think the 7 speed is much more involved.

RedGray

??
It that an American C230K?
My 2005 C230K with a 4-cylinder M271 supercharged engine, has an 722.6 automatic transmission.

I was pretty sure that the 722.6 conductor plate had to be programmed by a dealer or someone with a MB STAR login web professional account.
Some places in China will do a pay per use team-viewer session for ~$50 to $100/time - if you bought a STAR clone system from them.

I'm almost positive that an automatic tranny replacement in an W203 C230 must be programmed by the dealer or STAR professional user.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

evannguyen

Yes American. I'm in Southern California. I think you're referring to the 7 speed which needs to be programmed. The 5 speed does not.

Evan

RedGray

Wow, that's great to know.
THANKS!
That's very good news!

I looked and looked and looked. I couldn't find anything definitive on someone replacing an automatic transmission on an American W203 C230K with a gas 4-cylinder engine and a 722.6 transmission.
My Google fu-shui failed me on that search.

In the long run (another 75K to 100K miles ), looking at an ~$4,000 to $5,000 rebuilt transmission is bad enough. But, then having to pay for the dealer to do the programming would really suck. Besides having to get it towed there, the Dealer could refuse, since they didn't do the install.


Thanks again!

evannguyen

It was by far the most involved job I've ever done on a car, but it wasn't difficult. I'm very glad I got it done and out of the way. I should never have to worry about it again other than fluid/filter change.

DreamnZ

I'm sooooo pissed! we replaced the damn torque converter and it still goes into limp mode even after MB dealership reprogramed the part! Now I'm being told I need to replace my 7 speed transmission! I have a fricking paper weight sitting in my garage taking up space!