Hi guys
New here but so glad to find this forum because I really need some good advice from experts like you all.

I’ve had a 2009 C300 Luxury with 122k miles for about 10 yrs. I’ve had an annoying vibration for a while now that is hard to notice unless you drive the car a certain way so even a couple mechanics haven’t been able to identify it. It happens only when I subtly accelerate the car at low RPM’s (between 1500 - 3000) at any speed. I can feel the vibration kinda like in the dashboard. Gonna try to upload a video with it.

When I pump the gas hard you can’t feel it. That’s why I just decided to drive it recently on manual / tiptronic mode to keep RPM’s high.

A mechanic thought it was the engine mounts that needed replacement. Did that and nothing. Finally a transmission expert assured me I need to replace the converter to fix it. A bit of metal / copper got inside the transmission so the vibration comes from this metal.

The guys is positive that this is the problem. Said this is common in this car. Gave me 2 options to fix it:

> Option #1 -

replace converter: $899 converter. Labor $1,1k. $400 service transmission. Total: $2,5k plus tax

> Option #2

Drop transmission, replace converter, etc. Total: $4,5k

Apparently, this car’s transmission is good for about 150k miles before doing the whole drop.

Have any of you had the same problem and was it the converter too or something else? Does this sound legit?

I’m debating whether I should invest in the car and keep it long-term or if this is a 1st of more serious issues and I should upgrade to a newer model. Tbh, I would prefer keeping it since it would break my heart to sell it so cheap since most of the depreciation has hit already. If this vibration thing finally disappears, I will probably refresh the car with some 18” wheels, spoiler, diffuser and exhaust to give it an AMG look and keep it for as long as possible.

Apologies for the long post. New here and really needing your advice.

 

There is metal in the trans? How do you know this, during a fluid/filter change?

 

Took the car to a shop that only does transmission recommended by my mechanic who I trust. They did the whole inspection and noticed this issue apparently. I'm don't really know much about mechanics so I'm just repeating verbatim what they told me my bud.

 

Well, that ain't good enuff if they can't (or won't) tell you how they know this. Did they drain the fluid, remove the transmission pan?

$2500 isn't bad for what they say they will do, but not sure how metal in the fluid is going to cause the torque converter to need replacing and not the whole transmission. And what do you mean, "drop the transmission"?

Have YOU scanned for codes using a Mercedes-specific scanner, such as the LAUNCH Creader Elite 2.0 BENZ? (Search for it on Amazon.)

 

Thnx so much bud for your reply. It does suck when these things happen and when I don’t know really much about mechanics and what else to ask. Two previous mechanics apparently checked codes and nothing showed up.

I’m attaching a video that shows vibration in case it brings some extra clarity.

 

Holy cow! That sounds like my ice maker crushing ice!

Does the car feel like it's bogging at the low rpm? How long has this been happening? When was the transmission last serviced?

 

I would take it to a Mercedes specialist for a second opinion. Throwing parts at the car is not the best approach. Use this site to find one near you.

https://www.benzshops.com/

 

Totally, ice machine man. Sucks. It does not bog down and only happens if you accelerate really slow. If I pump the gas on drive or go manual then I can’t feel it. Has been going for months now. I purchased the car with 50k miles, did an overall maintenance and have put another 70k miles on it and haven’t serviced transmission.

Will take it to one of the MB mechanics you suggested to get another look.

PS: If this issue can be fixed at a decent price, less than $2.5k, do you think is worth keeping this car for the long run or get a newer generation C300 year 2015-16 for around $15k with approx 70k miles?

 

Well, if you have the earlier transmission and haven't serviced it every 40k miles, then that is your problem. If it's been over 70k miles and the previous owner did not service the tranny, I doubt servicing it now will help.

If you can afford to get a newer car with a solid maintenance history, low mileage, and in good shape for $15k, you may want to seriously consider that. That said, if you can solve all your problems for even $4500 and you like the car, that's less than $15k.

 

Yep, that was my mistake. I was told to service transmission every 70k miles so waited too long.

Keeping the car vs upgrading is a tough call man. Let’s say that everything goes well and the car vibration gets fixed and transmission maintained for approx $3k. Then, in order for me to keep the car, I wanna freshen it up and that’s gonna be another $5k approx (wheels, tires, CarPlay, headlights, exhaust, paint touch ups, spoiler, diffuser). And then, apparently the w204 transmission is good for about 140-150k miles so another possible pricey work needed in 2-3 yrs.

Maybe I mourn my 10 yr companion and sell the 204 for around $7k and, instead of doing all the upgrades, I put that and a few more grand for a W205 with half the mileage?

What do you think?

Any recommendation of what could be the best Benz upgrade options for less than $20k, any trim, sedan or coupe?

 

I like the W204. With the W205, the V6 goes away unless you go with AMG. I have a 2014 C350 Sport which has all the stuff I want: Sport suspension, M276 NA engine with 302hp, rear trunk spoiler, AMG wheels, etc. Definitely want to try to fine a Sport trim. Right now, it has a little under 130k miles and has been great. Change the engine oil and filter every 3000-5000 miles. Service the tranny around 50k-60k miles.

With the later 7G+ tranny, you can go with 60k-70k service intervals, but I still do mine more often than that. What is your VIN? We can tell which tranny you have.

 

You can get reman'd torque converter from autozone for like 300.

It's a simple drop and replace. It's not difficult to do at home if you have tools, just a little time consuming. For a shop, it should be easy, but mechanics are stupid, so there's always that.

Confused with the pricing because it has to get dropped either way.

 

Your car sounds like a keeper man. I would like to know If mine is worth keeping it with upgrades or if more surprises are gonna keep showing up. That "pseudo peace of mind" of having a car 6-8 yrs younger and 50k less miles is nice too. My Vin: WDDGF54X59R042602

 

That would be so nice my bud if (1) I had the proper tools and would be a more proficient in mechanics and (2) I live in a building so can't do any repairs either way there. The piece is not that expensive, Mercedes converter is $900 but labor kills me: $1,1k plus $400 for service transmission. And hopefully that is the actual and only problem to solve the vibration and keep the car for the long run

 

For about $1k can buy a whole used transmission. Listing says it has a 6 month warranty. Warranty doesnt mean much if you have to have it removed and ship it back, but i think its good since the seller most likely doesnt sell junk.

 

Looks like you have the earlier transmission that uses red fluid and requires servicing at 40k miles (actually, it's at 39k miles).

https://www.lastvin.com/vin/r1M9Wdwajx02qgNvD

It also shows you have a flexfuel car, meaning you can use E85. Do you run E85 or regular premium fuel?

 

^ I like that eBay store. Bought my last 2 seat bottoms from them. Accurate descriptions as far as I could tell. And when one of them had a missing part, they comp'd me.

 

That's the right transmission.

 

Dude, this is so helpful. Thank you so much. Will bring it up to the mechanic and see if ice go this way instead!

 

Oh dude, 40k miles and I waited 70k...no wonder the vibration issue. Regarding the gas, I have used the cheap gas all these years tbh. I recently started using the top premium one couple months ago.
PS: I wonder why the VIN check up states C280 instead of 300?

 

^ C280 and C300, same car in different markets.

 

By cheap, do you mean 87 octane? You should NEVER use cheap gas in these cars. You may want to find some E85 and try that for a couple of tank fulls. Your car is US-spec; are you in the US?

 

Did this problem show up when you started to use the correct gas?

 

Yes, located in the US my bud. And no, the vibration problem started way before. I just switched to the most expensive / highest octane gas a couple months ago. Have been using the least expensive / octane gas ever since I bought the car.

 

Apologies in advance for my ignorance. If I purchase this transmission, does it include the converter too or is that a separate piece?