So I was at the recent Mercedes March Madness event and spoke to a long-time owner of a 99 C43. He mentioned that 99s were (more?) prone to transmission failure than 98s. Then I researched some old threads on here and sure enough found similar statements...something about bad bearings in the 99 trannies?

So what's the real scoop? Why would MB have changed (esp for the worse) the tranny in the C43 from one year to the next? Doesn't quality normally improve with each model year?

mb needed to plug all ratholes in Chrysler company!
no I don't know why they differ between years, that's strange if 98 is better?
mine is built 98 as a 99 and I'm not happy with my car's over all quality

Mine is an April 99 production model and I have NO complaints apart from some rust in the usual places for a W202. My 98' C240 has NO rust whatsoever but that is because I cherish and wash the underside regularly (8 years ownership now)

Great, so now that I've heard from our two Europe-based forum members, any local guys got any feedback?~

I doubt that is true.

I never had any trans problems with my '99, but then again, when I got home to my house right after it was totalled in an accident (and shortly after having been out of town for 3 weeks with the car parked in my garage), I noticed an ominous pool (no exaggeration) of trans fluid where the car had been. No idea how much longer things would have lasted with that kind of a leak, but I'm guessing it was a seal vice a true mechanical problem with the trans itself.

I've got a 99' and the first time I put it in the shop because I thought I had a transmission problem at 15,000 miles the MB service manager laughed at me and said it was my rear tires were bald. I told him I didn't have many miles on them and he told me these continentals are very soft and wear quickly. The second time I took it in was because of the MAF sensor, which this one scared me but it only cost me $8oo some odd dollars. Other than this my transmission is great, but I keep it in the garage and waiting for my wife to learn to drive so she will have a safe car to drive.

I call

They're the same exact transmission, 722.6.

that's what I thought...

Well, I found at least one statement from a veteran forum member here, who also happens to be a Mercedes tech, who said that the 99s had bad bearings?

722.631 to be more precise...

Your kidding.........right ?

thread is full of lol

It is the same transmission.....

I wish I was, I picked up a MAF sensor at Autozone and and put it in myself and 29 days later it was throwing 3 codes including the same MAF sensor code. I then took it to the dealership and they told me it was the MAF so I had them install a new one and took the POS that Autozone sold me and got my money back. I know it was expensive but I just wanted the thing fixed.

Autozone MAF was it Bosch original, maybe you got a lemon version.

I'm an MB tech too...

+1

we could always ask ???? (forgot username), he was there when our cars were built

after doing some research, the guy i am talking about is lolle76....
used to work for amg!

Yes thats the guy, but he seems to have fallen off the screen these days. Same as our "Texas Ranger" Austinholloman. What happened to him ? He was on practically every thread....

lol, yeah I was wondering myself where he disappeared to suddenly. He did say he was moving back to So Cal the early part of this year...so maybe he's still busy unpacking?

Yeah I posted a while ago it seemed Mr. Holloman was MIA...

Hello

No problem with my 98!
Drain fluid every 60 000kms for transmission

my car has 200 000kms!

Bye