This is my sad story, After having dinner with my family in Sacramento I returned to my car with my 9 year old daugther, got in and started it. I heard a strange bumping noise like a pipe was hitting the underside of the car. I immediately stopped. My daugther looked at me
with her cute face asking "What in the world was that daddy? Is your car okay?" I opened the hood and did not see anything out of the ordinary. I then checked under the car no leaks.
I decided i was just going to leave it in the parking garage for the night and have it towed the next morning. Thankfully my wife drove her A6 and we were able to ride home with her.
The next day I had it towed to the mechanic's shop. Then the bad news came. The transmission is gone...
$4500.00 dollars to replace it with a rebuilt transmission. No prior symptoms; no warnings; no opportunity to correct the problem.

I have had a Nissan truck with 272,000 miles, a Volvo station wagon with 204,000 miles, a Volvo 850 with 143,000 miles and even
a 1978 Monte Carlo with 170,000 miles and never have I had problems with a transmission.

The mechanic said that this is Mercedes' fault for recommending that the transmission oil not be changed until 120,000 miles.
He said he recomends changing the transmition oil every
30,000 miles. I said i had my changed around 87,000 at an authorized Mercedes Service Center and should not have any problems.
He said by that time the damage was done.

Well I am so dissapointed with Mercedes Benz. It doens't seem right to pay that much for that car and have all this problems.
Starter, oxygen sensor, front engine pulley, and a low front bumper that catching on concrete stops while backing up.

I dont really know what to do. I am so disappointed at Mercedes for the poor quality, but I love the car.
I am debating wheather I should fix it and keep it or just sell it.
My wife said I guess is like having a girlfriend that broke your heart
you love her, and you want her back, but you know if you take her back she is only going to break your heart again.

I have not fixed the car. I just had it towed back to my home. Two days ago I started it and I didn't hear anything
and drove around the block without any trouble, But I am afraid to
drive it.

99 CK430 Red 95,000 miles.

Any suggestions?

 

I doubt you need a brand new tranny if you can drive it around the block with no probs. I have had similar problems. Find a knowledgeable benz mechanic and ask him to take a look at it. He might need to replace some solenoids and maybe even the transmission control module but repair wont be $4500 and it will give you peace of mind while you decide if you want to keep it and pray or try and get rid of it.

 

If i were you , i would go to another mechanic and check the car again in another MB shop! it might be a littile problem .Do not trust what you heared ! Just duble check it somewhere els.

 

Did it feel like you had a flat tire? Same thing happened to me and I did need a new trans. I know for a fact I needed a new trans because I had the trans opened up and everything was damaged (planetary gears, etc). Like you said, no prior symptoms. Just driving to school and felt a slight bump as if I had a flat tire or bent rim. I pulled over and checked all 4 wheels, no flat. Drove to school took my final, then drove to the dealership where I was told I would need a new trans (~$4500). On the way home it gave out completely. Towed the car to a tech who has over 40 years experience working on transmissions (Once head tech of ferrari, jaguar, mercedes, etc.). To make matters worse, I had just had my trans fluid replaced about a month beforehand AT THE DEALER. But hopefully i get my car back tomorrow. Finding a used trans for that car is very difficult, I ordered one from MA and they sent me the wrong one and I ended up getting one from Florida (NOT ALL CLK430's SHARE THE SAME TRANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). If the hard parts are not damaged inside your trans I recommend getting a rebuilt trans. Good luck with whatever you decide to do and if you do decide to replace it contact me and i'll point you in the right direction cuz I just went through the same thing.

 

Well after a couple of weeks of thinking what to do with my car I decided to
take it to another Mechanic.
He has worked on my car before and I needed a second opinion.
He called me and said that yes, it was the transmission, and he thinks he
has found the cause of the problem with Mercedes transmissions.
The problem is the bearings that come apart tearing down gears.
Here are some pictures of his findings that I took today.
Also I have some pictures of the damage.
He also mentioned that the new bearings have been redesigned.
I will take pictures of the new ones as soon as he gets the parts.
Does anybody know if there is a class action suit over Mercedes
transmissions?
I am just dissapointed that they would use crappy bearings in this expensive
car.

 

New bearings like the 2001/2002 430 transmissions, or new bearings like the W209?

 

These are the replacement parts for the 208's

 

Do you know if the design change was made while the 208 was still in production, or was this a post production upgrade (after 209 production had begun)? Thanks.

 

If there is a class action law suite let me know cuz I would want to take part.

 

SO were you able to fix your transmission without replacing it?

 

MarcusF,
I don't really know when , but I will ask my mechanic next week.
J Lucas
My car should be ready next week, I will keep you posted.

 

This subject is my speciality....I am going through the same problem. As a matter of fact if you look at the manual, it clear states that this is a life time oil, then it says change it at 120K. My car barely has 65K in miles before the same thing you felt and heard. I too am out about $4500 bucks. The fact that the car had no warrning or the fact that you guys did get your oil changes done on time tells me that this is a manufacturers issue and should be sued. I am equally as bummed out. I think we may have enough just here in this forum that have either had or are having this issue. If anyone has a suggestion on how to sue MB, help us out..after all it could happen to you. Have you guys seen the recall list for the clk? I once went to the dealer and he showed me the list of stuff the car was recalled for, minor stuff at best. But nothing saying one day you might get in your car and it might not move....and oh ya, you might (actually you will) be out of about $4700.

I also asked my mechanic to see how much a new tranny from MB would cost...guess what. After he got off of da phone with MB Germany they told him no way dude..we no longer make that transmission or a replacement for that car so you will need to get a remanu'd one from an authorized MB parts dealer. What a load of crap, even if I had the cash they dont make a replacement. Goodnews is my mechanic actually knows the place my tranny is coming from and he went down there to actually watch the tranny I am buying being built. That is his assurance for his customers that need tranny work. A bit of piece of mind if you ask me.

Update....
As of now my tranny came into the shop and the car is going thru surgery.....

oh ya, if your electronic shifter cpu is out, then the car will simply not shift right or at all. If your tranny is FUBAR then you will hear all kinds of thumping, clanking, grinding noises...you can bet at that point you are about to pony up some cash.

One more thing...this girlfriend his being sold with in the next year. Even though she will have an updated tranny with the issues fixed so it doesnt happen, but I will have that feeling in the back of my mind everytime I go to turn it on. Sad...Sad...indeed.

 

I agree with benzinoben

 

Hey Guys ... I'll be in tomorrow to change my tranny fluid ... I've got 45,000 miles ... and was given the bull**** not to change it from my dealer as well ...

My car is a 02 55 AMG ... is the tranny any different? ... are there any other preventative maint. I should do with the tranny? ...

I've got a 4Runner w/ 250,-000 miles on it ... I've been really spoiled ... thank god for this forum ...

 

The 55 transmission is different.

 

Different...but everything I have found out about my beloved car company is really disturbing. Make sure you get that extend warranty and sell your ride before it expires..

 

My car is in the shop having tranny fluid replaced - I asked the tech to let me know the condition of the old fluid - will let you guys know....

 

Just got mine back after $4700 in damage and a rebuilt tranny. My mechanic told me that I should have the tranny checked every 30K to help prevent any future damage even though this is a tranny with new internals....

Lowphat...what did the tech tell you about your tranny oil.