Arrrghhhhh bad news
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
Arrrghhhhh bad news
Ok so the mechanic changed the transmission oil and found out something really bad. He said the oil was black and smelt burnt like the transmission internals were damaged. He said this transmission was badly designed and a new, upgraded one would cost a ton...especially since you can't buy a transmission alone; MB demands you also get a new control module and throttle position sensor. He suggests to just sell the car. The thing is, it drives perfectly fine! Mash it down all the way, it'll go, and it'll shift correctly. I dunno I guess I just don't wanna sell it haha. My first car and some other firsts attached with it too 
Plus I just put pretty xenons in less than a month ago.
Is it just me, or does MB suck at making transmissions? My sister's 1998 ML320 got a broken tranny around 100k miles...AND the transmission in our 1992 500SEL also broke around 150k miles. This sucks.
lol, the mechanic says that of the three cars, if we wanted to fix one, it would be best to fix the '92 since it's not worth **** to begin with. so selling it would be pointless since no one would pay much.
Plus I just put pretty xenons in less than a month ago.Is it just me, or does MB suck at making transmissions? My sister's 1998 ML320 got a broken tranny around 100k miles...AND the transmission in our 1992 500SEL also broke around 150k miles. This sucks.
lol, the mechanic says that of the three cars, if we wanted to fix one, it would be best to fix the '92 since it's not worth **** to begin with. so selling it would be pointless since no one would pay much.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 268
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From: NY/CT
CLK 320
I don't think MB makes crappy transmissions... I think that they misjudged the maintenance and now a ton of people are seeing the results. They figured tranny maintenance at 100k miles would be good, and it's absurd when you think about it...
My guess is that it's just like everything else... preventive maintenance -- and screw FSS -- goes a long way towards making sure the car runs for a long, long time. The whole business of oil changes at 10k miles and "lifetime" tranny and spark plugs... that's a stretch, and it's asking for trouble.
Best of luck with your car though...
My guess is that it's just like everything else... preventive maintenance -- and screw FSS -- goes a long way towards making sure the car runs for a long, long time. The whole business of oil changes at 10k miles and "lifetime" tranny and spark plugs... that's a stretch, and it's asking for trouble.
Best of luck with your car though...
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Orlando
E550 Coupe
I dunno, I had it since 80k and it hasn't been replaced since I got it. He seems to think that it's not the fluid and it's too much friction between the plates causing them to break down...I dunno if that's just an excuse for not suggesting that I replace the fluid or not. I mean I was the one who brought up the topic of transmission fluid this Friday.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Treasure Coast
2018 Mclaren 720s, 2021 Aston Martin DBX
Originally Posted by midget fidger
Ok so the mechanic changed the transmission oil and found out something really bad. He said the oil was black and smelt burnt like the transmission internals were damaged.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 291
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From: Portland, OR
2001 CLK320
Originally Posted by midget fidger
Ok so the mechanic changed the transmission oil and found out something really bad. He said the oil was black and smelt burnt like the transmission internals were damaged.
He suggests to just sell the car. The thing is, it drives perfectly fine! Mash it down all the way, it'll go, and it'll shift correctly. I dunno I guess I just don't wanna sell it haha.
He suggests to just sell the car. The thing is, it drives perfectly fine! Mash it down all the way, it'll go, and it'll shift correctly. I dunno I guess I just don't wanna sell it haha.
The friction material is graphite in the 722.6 transmission clutches. It is normal to find the fluid turn dark and find graphite "sludge" in the pan.
Just have the tranny & torque converter completely flushed, new filter and MB synthetic fluid.
The problem is if metallic particles were in the pan, then that's a problem due to the hard metal parts or bearings wearing. Apparently, MB has put a more reddish color dye in the fluid in more recent years as service persons weren't accustomed to the darker color of the original MB fluid.
As you stated, yours operates fine, so its probably okay, just do the service. With 100k on the clock, it was good to change the fluid & filter.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Portland, OR
2001 CLK320
With that many miles and you're in a hot climate such as Florida, probably will happen.
I'd go with service and use that tranny until it fails. You've already spent the labor doing the fluid change / service. Who knows it might go another 100k just fine.
I'd recommend changing the fluid between 35-50k the next go around, especially in the climate you're in. Modern cars run pretty hot, so the lubricants might not hold up as long vs. a cooler region.
I'd go with service and use that tranny until it fails. You've already spent the labor doing the fluid change / service. Who knows it might go another 100k just fine.
I'd recommend changing the fluid between 35-50k the next go around, especially in the climate you're in. Modern cars run pretty hot, so the lubricants might not hold up as long vs. a cooler region.
