ARFNSX

I am in the market for a C43. I have owned several MBZ over the past 15 years and I currently have a ML350.

I am really concerned about the transmission issues with the C43. I have been looking for a while and the ones I come across either do not have any paperwork regarding the transmission or they dont have something else I am looking for (color, two tone interior)

My question is:

1. Is it likey that ALL C43 will have transmission issues at one point or
another.

2. Is the transmission the inthe C43 the same transmission from the 1998-1998 E430?

I was thinking about getting a CL W215 but without a warranty, I will not touch it.

This will be for my daily driver (at least 3-4 times a week)

Many thanks

503C43 ////AMG

It is a fact that most C43's have tranny problems. No the C43 tranny and the E430 tranny are not the same. You should wait until you find the car you want, don't just jump into something you are not sure of. I looked for 3 months at 20 or 30 cars before I bought my C43 (most of them E36 M3's ).

PJmak

Buy a 2000 model and you are good to go

ARFNSX

I have been looking for months and I do not think I have found 1 of the 25 ever made.

Still looking,

Black, 2 tone interior, all stock (expect if suspension was modded correctly, thats ok)

Clean

will make me happy.

BTW, did the 2000 not have transmission issues?

When exactly did the transmissions change?

MarcusF

2000 was the model year that Mercedes-Benz replaced a brass bushing that was known to be quite problematic with a roller bearing in 722.6 transmissions.

KJWHIT

i love my c43 im only 24 and not rich just blew my c43 at 141000 miles and every1 in the world is telling me to sell it ....I WILL NEVER aha but it cost me $3600 to change every single piece in my trans and btw its a 98 and yea 2000 are better as far as trans then 99 or 98...hope this helps

ARFNSX

Can this roller bearing be replaced as a preventative servicing or would you totally have to rebuild the tranny?

MarcusF

Having never rebuilt or disassembled a 722.6, I couldn't tell you.

Sun Valley has been rebuilding MB transmissions for decades. You can give them a call and confirm they perform all the upgrades (I'd be surprised if they didn't - they don't want to see you again any more than you want to see them). A rebuilt C43 trans from Sun Valley is $2500. At that price, a trans shouldn't be the deciding factor.

ARFNSX

You are correct, I am sure here in Atlanta I could also find a trusted place for a fair price.

Thank you all for all of your help

One more question, I know this one might be silly but when you transmission starts to go, what happens exactly (so when I test drive vehicles, I know what to look out for)

503C43 ////AMG

There is a thread some guy just posted about his tranny going.... Said something like he came to a stop and it wouldn't go, he had to rev it up and then it popped into gear. Check it out......

The 2000 model also had a software upgrade that helped the tranny not self destruct, good luck finding one though. Oh yeah it had tip-tronic as well

Ausmbtech

To upgrade to the roller bearing isn't a worthwhile job. Basicily it involves a complete disassembly and replacement of the input and output shafts as the shafts are different to accomodate the different bearing.

Really, it's not a problem that would stop me from buying a C43, if I was in a position of a complete failure (and I wasn't a Tech) then I would be buying a exchange unit. They are readily availble in most areas.

FLYNAVY

Not ALL C43's have had trans problems. Mine had 135k on the clock when it was recently totalled in an accident, and it never once even so much as gave me a hickup. I'd think it probably has something to do with the way the car has been driven, and I only very rarely drove mine hard. I also normally used W mode in every day driving as I found the 2nd gear start to be more comfortable when I wasn't trying to be "fast" off the line. I will note that immediately after my accident, when I came home, I found a little puddle of trans fluid that hadn't been there before (car had been sitting for a couple weeks while I was out of town). Probably just a leaky seal that I had not yet noticed, but hard to be sure since I never got the chance to look it over after the insurance company took it.

KJWHIT

as far as knowing when its going i didnt to be completely honest the day before it was acting fine i dont really get on it as much as i used to so maybe if i did then i would have noticed something wrong but also the thread 503c43 is talking about is the one that i posted about 3 weeks ago just do a search on me

LawRens

Our C43 722.631 Transmissions hiccup only hours before they die. Trust me on this one.