mcleantmw

I can email you the MB Service Campaign which is several pages that "konigstiger" sent to me if you want to PM your email address to me. But these postings about the radiator/transmission problems apply to the Chassis 211 vehicles which were manufactured starting with the 2003 EClass vehicles. I don't believe it's applicable to your 210 Class vehicle (2002 E430).

Figuero

Thanks... I didn't realize I stumbled into the w211 forum. I did find Behr stamped into the radiator. When someone said on this thread that it was not there I was concerned that I was looking at the wrong part of the radiator.
I guess on the 210s it's different.
thanks again, Mike

mcleantmw

During the A Service this week at my MB Dealer, I asked them to verify that the radiator they installed in April 2007 had the modified "crimping" method and it was even though it's the Valeo model. I was concerned that if they had installed the old style crimping radiator that it could leak again. But, interestingly, when did a test drive, they found some slight transmission jerking and the diagnostics indicated that the transmission Electronic Control Unit (ECU) was defective. So, they had to order the ECU from Germany which will be "coded" for my specific vehicle.......two weeks order time. My CPO Extended Warranty will cover the ECU repair but the warranty does not cover the leaking transmission pan and frozen drain plug.......I had to pay for the $100 for a new cover replacement but the warranty covered the labor. I figured the $100 isn't a big deal considering they worked on my car for two days doing two Service Campaign items (SBC and AIRMATIC noises) and replacing the ball joints under the warranty and checking out the transmission.......all on MBUSA's nickel.

gisham

how many of you with 2003 models have proactively replaced your radiators? My car has 43000 miles on it and has the defective Valeo part- At what point does one assume they got a non-defective unit? Or are all of the units considered defective and its not a question of if it will fail, rather when it will fail-

mike82y

my S211 E320 CDI from 09/2003 and has a Behr Radiator. you can actuelly see the sticker when you open the hood.

my car was suffering jerking issues early this year... after searching around the net, I have had the transmission flushed using this http://www.automatikoelwechselsystem.de/ method. now the car runs normal again. don't forget to change the filter, connector and the seal rubber.

mike

mcleantmw

It appears it's a matter of "when" the old "crimping" method Valeo radiator will fail. MB has replaced the radiator in their parts catalog with a new part no. that's either a Valeo or Behr model which both have the new crimping method. I've read on this Forum some owners whose vehicle has the old style radiator have paid from their own funds to have the new replacement radiator installed as a preventive maintenance strategy to protect their transmission systems. I'm still amazed that MBUSA hasn't done a Recall on the vehicles that have the original Valeo radiators and installed the replacement version. Maybe there haven't been enough of them to fail yet to force MBUSA to do that but they certainly are having to cover the costs for the repairs when they fail, sometimes the entire transmission replacement. I've been contacted by a group of MB owners, not just W211 E Series owners but other model owners, who are filing law suits against MBUSA for their radiators' failing and damaging their transmissions.......they want reimbursement for their repair costs due to out of warranty status.

MercFiveHundred

My car has 109k on it and no transmission problem - just the occasional jerk between 5~8 mph which seems to be normal. Konigstiger sent me the TSB, but i didnt see the old crimping method. I also dont see the Valeo sticker either. My build date is 5/02. Could it be that the previous owner might have changed it - considering that almost all the tranny problems fall at around the 40-50k mark? How could i check the service records? I am the second owner and i dont know where the original lessor (i purchased a off lease CPO) serviced the car. Are all MB dealers able to see all service records no matter where it was serviced?

delija

This transmission problem, is it common to specific production year or model?
Thinking of buying w211, so would not like to get into more trouble as i don't think transmission is cheap!

mcleantmw

I think "konigstiger" needs to answer the more technical questions about which production versions of the 2003 E500s have the Valeo radiators with the old crimping method. I don't know whether it's all of the production models or not. I couldn't determine whether the replacement radiator my MB Dealer installed in April 2007 was the old style crimping method or not even after reviewing the MB Tech Bulletin that konigstiger sent me. So, when I had my vehicle in for the A Service last week, I gave them a copy of the Bulletin and asked them to verify it's the latest version and it is.......the radiator part # in the MB parts catalog shows the old part nr. being replaced by a new part nr. which is the corrected version (either Valeo or Behr). So, I'm now relieved that I don't have the old version installed. You can ask a MB Dealer or an independent MB Repair Shop to check out the vehicle you're thinking of buying to determine whether it has the updated radiator or not using the MB Service Campaign Bulletin. I'd be happy to send you the Bulletin if you PM me with your email address.

delija

Thanks, i have sent you PM...

Also i am from Australia, not shore if those cars got the same issue here?

delija

i am trying to understand what is this problem actually about. So we have engine radiator with coolant, and transmission fluid is also going trough this radiator to cool the oil, so this section of radiator where oil is cooled starts to leak and mixes with coolant and enters transmission, am i right? or does transmission has its own oil cooling radiator?

mcleantmw

Yes, it's an "integrated" radiator for cooling both the engine and transmission.

Someone asked whether it applies to all production models of the 2003 E500. I just reviewed the MB Service Campaign Bulletin for diagnosis and repair when the radiator fails and it states it applies to production date up through 9/2003 and to the following MB models:
Model 203.040/061/064/065/081/084/261/264/281/284/740/747/764
Model 209.365/375/376/465/475
Model 211.065/070/076/083/265/283
Up to Production Date 09/2003
Harsh Engagement Possibly Followed by Droning/Buzzing Noises During Light Acceleration Between Engine Speed of 1200 – 2500 RPM

If anyone wants a copy of the MB Bulletin, PM me with your email and I'll be happy to forward it to you.......konigstiger sent it to me.

kz__

my car has 66K miles and started to fail on me. It does not shift out of low gear and unless I stop, turn it off and back on, it stays in the same gear. When I try to put it in Park and then back to Drive, it jerks.....It did it twice already over this weekend. Please help

E5DoubleAught

Honestly, man, if you have given that car any considerable drive time after its started acting funny then you could have major problems. A close family friend of mine owns a Benz auto shop and has worked on them for 30+ years and he was adamant about how vital it was to have the transmission looked at IMMEDIATELY if it ever acted funny.

MB4Lif3

I bought it at a used car lot and the dealer saw the 5Yr 100K warranty. Thanks to the board I was educated about the evil glycol contam. I think you are right about not paying the $130 bucks for the test. I'll take that into consideration on future repairs with that dealer.I figured the charge was $10 for the test and $120 for the labor? Maybe he bought a six pack with it. Whatever. They replaced the tranny, ECU and radiator. Now it has more pep. Thanks again board!

DeanzE500

This is what I imediately thought of when I read this thread, why not just simply seperate the two, VERY cheap alternative. Wow, I'm actually deppresed that MB isn't implimenting this fix.
FYI mines is a 2004 E500 not sure I need to worry but guess I better check the part numbers. Glad to hear this place exists, I'll be stopping my MUCH more often.

alishaikh

i think my problem is somewhat related ,
i have a 2003 model e240 w211 and the problem is its transmision is stuck in first gear and the interior cluster doesnt show which gear ur in as in "D" or N or P it shows only the km done.
2- Some times it starts working and sometimes it doesnt
3- I tried changing its battery,but didnt help.
4- my observation is whenever the gear is visible in the instruction cluster like P or N or D the car works properly as soon as i take it for a drive it dissappears after say 1/2 a km ,sometime when u strt it goes in in 5 to 6 sec even!!
ne1 sum help!!
and i tried checking my radiator bit of a squeeze lol its of BOSCH is it ok or not!

alishaikh

umm ne1

jcpca356

i have an 04 e500 4matic and went to the dealer this morning to find out if they'd do the glycol test for free....the answer was no, it'd cost $130 and if there was anything wrong with it, it wouldn't be covered...and that the 100k mile powertrain warranty would have to be purchased separately...well i asked them to just check if the radiator was that valeo model made with the crimping method and figure that if i have another radiator, i won't have a problem. i'm out of warranty but the service advisor said that he's never seen the glycol leak problem in the 04's.....

also looked into buying an extended warranty and was quoted the following: 24month/75k mile with $100 deductible...$3,923....uggh. 36 month/85k mile with $100 deduc....$5,081...a third party program called TOTAL CARE....doesn't sound like it's worth it...any thoughts?

vettdvr

?? Bought mine at 9000 miles on it as CPO and 6 months old. So I don't know if it has been changed. 80,000 miles and warranty good until 100000 and 2010.

kz__

I took my car and had transmission valve body replaced--$1100
They did tests to see if the leak problem applies to my car (04 e500) and it was negative. They are aware of this problem and had a car with that problem 2 months before mine.
I am thinking about buying extended warranty 36 mos-$4800+tax (for the top coverage) with Fidelity--this is the company my dealership works with and if I cancel insurance I will get pro-rated refund.

jcpca356

KZ, did you do it for prevention or did the dealer find something?

DeanzE500

They told me 1800$ for my 04 e500 transmission valve body.. man what a RIPOFFF Mercedes Benz is. Can't even make a transmission that last over hundred thousand miles without a huge bill to repair it, what a joke. Our old 94 nissan altima has well over two hundred thousand on it's engine and trans. Oil changes and the usual belts, plugs, hoses maint, thats it! I doubt I'll ever by another benz. Way over hyped. And they brag about enginering advancement while they place a cpu in transmission fluid and expect it to last forever?

perishatmyhands

just got home from the dealership. same problem. 03 E500....SDS didnt show anything, but glycol contamination test turned up some troubles. theyre calling for a new radiator, torque converter, a tranny fluid flush and some gaskets and seal rings. parts and labor=$4400.
my aftermarket warranty should cover the torque converter, but not the radiator....im seriously considering just doing the torque converter and the fluid flush. the next step would be hauling this bucket of bolts somewhere to trade it in...
in 10 months of owning this car, which now has only 54000 miles, this would make for $6k in service and repairs. if i were made of money, i would have bought a brand new E550.

gisham

i just thew up in my mouth a bit...sorry to hear it-