Sorry to hear about your car and problems; if it's any consolation, I bought my car on 29/09/05 same as yours but estate and they are still doing tests as requested by MB UK; it has had a problem from day one and that problem is still there;, meanwhile I have a hire car E220CDi which sounds like a tractor, which I got after having to live with a Volve XC70 D5!!
As of tonight, they still cannot sure the problem (starting) and it's just doing my head in; I've had fob off after fob off; tomorrow is D day as far as I am concerned.

Sorry to hear about problems..

Extra ..read all about it!!!

Got the car back today, they have replaced a unit beneath the transmission, which I gather was quite a tricky job and one the service dept. said are not accustomed to. (new 7G boxes and all that) they also had to download a new software patch from the MB technical support. Fingers crossed it will behave itself!!!!

OUCH! Don't tell CE750 about that!

Over all no trans problems here:

So far our 2003 e500 has had no problems with the trans or radiators with 46k on the odometer.

The only problems have been the sunroof that thinks theres an obstacle during auto close and the oil level sensor being replaced twice. It keeps finding 2 much oil. Also, the power steering return hose had a small leak and was replaced.

This car was a starmark lease return bought w/ 15k mi. We are totally happy with it.

My 2002 c240 has had the sunroof rails changed twice, and the moleskin strip changed once, might need it again. car has 56k miles. Bought new.
Again no transmission/engine problems.

We had a 1982 240TD that ran like a tank, had trans/engine problems execept when an shop rag was dropped into the oil fill by a mechanic and routed its way through the engine stopping at the metal filtered oil pick up from the oil pump. It was driven 10 mi with low-zero oil pressure. I removed all the bits of rag myself and it ran fine. only other problems were the window switches and the vacuum operated door locks. We put approx 50k on it.

If it was up to me you'd be but then again you should be kept just as a point of reference that everything posted here is relative to one's own experience

Sorry to hear of your trans issues, never any fun and cetainly does not enhance the driving/ownership experience. My 04 CLK 500 has had squealing brake issues, a loud buzzing AC compressor and other electrical and non electrical issues since day one, that MB just can't seem to fix properly. There are several issues affecting both the 5 speed and 7 speed transmissions and MB is well aware of the problem and generally will replace the entire gearbox especially when it's due to the coolant contamination issue. MB quality has declined over the last 10 years hitting an all time low just this past year, mostly due to the inferior parts from suppliers, as Scrempp insisted on obtaining cheaper lower quality parts from them. Now that Schrempp is gone, I hope the quality rebounds quickly, as the styling, comfort and driving experience is great.

That's why you're not a moderator. You can't simply ban people who don't share view with you, unless it's your forum (but then again, with that in mind, no one would join your forum).

He's not trashing anyone, or use any indecent term & pix. What, we can't joke a bit at one another ?

You should join the roadfly BMW forum. There's a kid there who ask moderator to bann anyone who post anything negative about BMW !!!.

First guys, this thread is hysterically funny. We need Sam to get a posse together and deputize all of us and go after the bad guys!!! Anyway, my tranny has been okay. In the old tranny's they wanted you to change the fluid about every 30,000 miles, but with the new fluid, they don't specify that anymore. However, that new fluid does get wear and tear. If you saw what the fluid looked like at 60,000 miles, you'd change it. And that brings me to the fluid change topic. I haven't even investigated the 05 transmission, but as of about the year 2000, the torque converter drain plug was eliminated, so you couldn't drain the fluid out.( Unless you disconnected the lines at the cooler, and tweaked the tranny to pump it out). So I settled for just draining the fluid that was left in the transmission pan, which was about 3-4 quarts. I did it in my 2002 S Class at 30,000. I figure that if I do it about every 30,000 miles, I'll have a reasonably clean fluid in there. With my 05 E Class, I will stick a small oil evacuator hose down the transmission fill tube and pull out as much oil as I can, measure it, and then re-add the new MB Spec fluid.

And yes, the electronic tranny's have a few quirks at different speed ranges as it does " try to figure out what you want". They can't write software for every possible combination of speed, acceleration and throttle position. Like your computer at home, if you have a real problem on the road, stop, turn the engine off and re-start. It should solve the problem. If it doesn't, then you might have a tranny that has a glitch. Bring it back to MB until it is right.

yeah screw these 100,000 mile transmission services.. I got mine scheduled in the day I hit 24,000..

Preventative maintenance is my best bud.

I'M FURIOUS!!!

Further to my post below...I have had the car back a week now and it has just started to give me the same problem with the transmission not changing up from time to time.This happens mainly in city traffic. I stop and pull away, the revs are hitting 3000rpm and I'm still in first!! it's carzy and annoying. The car is just over a month old!!..The service engineer at the dealer said when I picked it up, if the fix doesn't solve the problem, it may need a new box!
I am seriously thinking of rejecting the car. What's your view?

When this symptom happened on my GMC Denali, the dealer could not figure it out; kept the car for a couple of days, and drove the car hard. Basically fixed itself but never really figured it out. I suspect some sort of blockage in those tiny orifices in the tranny. I'm sure the tranny will go when the warranty's out...but then again, it's a GMC. I wouldn't expect it in a MB. So, if they offer it, take the new box!

Sounds like they don't have a clue what is causing the problem. I would definately demand a new transmission. If that doesn't fix it, I would ask for a new car. There is simply no good reason for that in a one month-old car. Mercedes has GOT to improve the quality of their automobiles...it's stories like these (and there are way too many of them) that will continue to destroy their reputation.

The dealer "reprogrammed" the transmission control module software and scn code. Worked fine for another three days and then did the same thing twice. Only has done it on the freeway. The service manager is now going to the second stage repair which is the replacement of a trnasmission valve. Not sure what it is but it better do the trick. Less than 3000 miles and two trips for this problem.......

member Latent got his two week old car replace for a similar issue and two visits...

(1) TSB P-27-60-53 MAR05 Harsh downshift on acceleration was issued for the 7-speed auto transmission for the e500. This may apply and it may worth your while to mention it while the car is in service.

(2) If the second repair visit does not correct it you do have a shot through CA lemon law as follows:

- You have taken your vehicle to an authorized dealer four or more times about the same problem OR your vehicle has been out of service for 30 days or more because of any number of problems. (The 30 days do not have to be consecutive.)
- If the defect is likely to cause death or serious injury to you or your passengers if you drive the car, you can ask for a refund or replacement after only two unsuccessful repair attempts.
- As of January 2000, the four repair attempts or 30 days out of service have occurred within the first 18 months that you own your car or the first 18,000 miles, whichever happens first.
- The problems are covered by the warranty and substantially impair the use, value or safety of the vehicle.

In your situation the second stipulation specifically applies if the second repair visit is unsuccessful because you were traveling 75 mph on the freeway when the problem initially happened.

Check your PM.