RJC

Thanks. I feel sick

FJPM

Do not worry: it happens only at past 65000 km (40000 miles).

I suspect that it started after a very cool period (-5 ° C) when the car was parked outside.

Then I noticed that downshifting becomes to be "sensible" not realy harsh.

Then once running in the parking lot of a supermarket very slowly: the car the transmission was jerking. Once the car started again the symtom desapeared.

Then several months later (maybe 2), the real symtoms began: vibrations under accelerations.

regarding the radiator: I am pretty sure it was a Behr because I was surprised that such a high quality brand could fail (Valeo would have not surprised me).

But maybe MB in France made a wrong diagnosis (the oil was not analysed but looks a little contaminated) and it was the other cause mentioned in the thread (control unit), but when I took the car back I noticed again once angain some light jerking in first gear whe driving slowly and some harsh behaviour.

This time fade up: I asked MB to take the car back and to make me a good deal on a CLS. They never replied. I sold the car one year ago. It was under MB waranty. No new since that.

516mbtek

LOL.
Anyway, the vehicles affected are only 211, 209, 203's up to production date of 9/2003, so if your vehicle was manufactured after that date then ur o.k.
I have replaced more than a dozen Valeo radiators and transmissions. I have seen and tested atf with coolant contamination using Valeo radiators. I have not had any with a Behr radiator. They will likley fail before vehicle is out of fact. warrenty, so dont worry. The MB technical bullitin identifys Valeo as the faulty product. If you want to believe guess-work and myths you can. But I give the facts...in which are documented clearly. The transmissions in general are good. It is the same one MB has been using for almost 10 years. The new transmission came in '05. The 7 speed.

FJPM

The problem is that the whole MB quality policy is a myth. The W211 is the result. As far as I am concern never again.

taz

Grrr...

Any info on odds of being impacted? I'm suspecting I may have this issue but am not positive...

RJC

Mine was manufactured 7/03, one of the first 04's

1) What % of cars made up till 9/03 are being effected so far; would you venture to guess?

2) Will MB do anything on a preventative basis rather than just wait for total transmission failure and a very expensive bill; not to mention more dissatisfied MB consumers?

Wouldn't it make sense (not implying car manufactures are sensible) to replace radiators in the cars produced within this limited VIN range before the trans self destructs?

HELL ONA HARLEY

Just to set the record straight, 04 was the first year of the 7 speed...

RJC

I think he may have meant for the CLK.

paulv

Is there a method that an owner can use to test for glycol in ATF? Does MB have a test kit available for this? Thanks.

Regards,
Paul....

dpaulyn

just for the record - my 2003 E500 had 45,000 Kilometres on it when I took it in for the slightly rough down shifting - new transmission new radiator - who would have thought.

516mbtek

It was the first year...but the 5 speed (722.6) trans was still being used...no?

mr.louie

Just left my E500 at local dealer. Was given a loaner E320. As I pulled away, I was shocked by the quick acceleration and power the loaner had as compared to mine!! I returned to dealer and asked, and was told maybe mine was set on "C". I confirmed it was set on "S" setting which puts it in first gear upon starting. After reading this thread, I am worried that I may, too have the dreaded radiator problem, since from the time I got the car, it's been jerking and bucking at very low speeds if I take my foot off the accelelerator. However, each time I mentioned it dealer could not confirm problem. Is the jerking an early sign of radiator leakage? My car is a late 03 replacement car with a build date of July03.

516mbtek

[QUOTE=mr.louie]Just left my E500 at local dealer. Was given a loaner E320. As I pulled away, I was shocked by the quick acceleration and power the loaner had as compared to mine!! I returned to dealer and asked, and was told maybe mine was set on "C". I confirmed it was set on "S" setting which puts it in first gear upon starting. After reading this thread, I am worried that I may, too have the dreaded radiator problem, since from the time I got the car, it's been jerking and bucking at very low speeds if I take my foot off the accelelerator. However, each time I mentioned it dealer could not confirm problem. Is the jerking an early sign of radiator leakage? My car is a late 03 replacement car with a build date of July03. [/

I know what you are talking about with the jerking...no, I dont think the rad. leakage is the prob. And I really dont know the fix either for that. I had another problem with a trans on a e500 211--(slippage) and also, he was concerned about the jerking as you described... I put in all new clutch discs and thicker snap-rings to minimize the clutch free play in for the "slip"...as it turns out the jerking never reoccured...so ???? Nobody really can tell when the Valeo radiators will fail...and cause damage..it may never. A minor leak from the trans can cause all sorts of shifting problems so dont assume the worst. As far as the "power" increase you felt in the loaner---How do people normally drive loaner cars?? They dog the **** out of them. The transmission and fuel mixture has most likley adapted to this driving style.

516mbtek

But the Valeo Radiators are mfg in Poland....

516mbtek

No, not unless you are a chemist. The test kit is enormous and likley very expensive...it consists of beakers, chemicals, eyedropper, syringe, all kinds of b.s. If the atf is contaminated YOU WILL KNOW IT. Or at least you will suspect something is wrong. Trust me. You dont need a tester kit. We dont either...its documentation for warrenty purposes only. You will hear a buzzing noise during shifting....mabe intermittantly. Then you will have harsh shifts (up or down) especially when cold. The trans will also "bang" into gear when shifting from park.

516mbtek

1) No, I only see the ones that fail.
2) I doubt it...everyone knows how slow mb is to react....look at the harmonic balancers. But if they dont do anything....I would guess mb will goodwill transmissions and rads for the affected vehicles for an extended period.
3) Definatly. They must not be having that many (per capita) fail...or ???
I think alot of people are dissatisfied, not only with 211's but all mb's. But basically your car is a computer on wheels times 36, with pnumatics, hydraulics, fiber-optics, CAN, etc...you ever look at the steering wheel control switches...3 wires. 3 little wires for all the features you can command from your steering wheel. Lexus will copy this in 4 years or so...thats why they have fewer problems...they wait to copy---then perfect. How many times does your computer lock-up in a year? Oh yea...I forgot..we are talking about a simple ol' radiator...WHY!!MB, WHY!!!

RJC

Mine said France

RJC

Thanks for the feeback. Let me ask #1 in a different way. Out of all the 2003 E's and 2003 CLK's you see what percentage has come in for the radiator/trans issue?


Thanks

mr.louie

I just want to thank you for your quick replys to all of our questions. They are extremely helpful to me, and I am sure to the rest of us on this site. I am a little more hopeful that what I'm experiencing is not necessarily anything as serious as the radiator leakage, and hope that those who were unlucky will have the problem resolved by MB. Thanks again for your help, 516mbtek.

516mbtek

interesting....the last one I did was Poland...positivly....hmmmmm...possibly the bad Valeo's were from the Polish factory? dunno

516mbtek

your welcome

516mbtek

Overall a very small percentile...4-5% est. But early 211's,203's,209's brought to us with transmission related concerns, w/ no leaks detected, will have about a 75% chance it will need the new parts. These numbers may increase or decline as time goes on...we'll just have to wait and see.

RJC

Thanks 516 mbtek for all the above info. I checked my radiator again and it's a Valeo and made in France. I went to Valeo's web site,and they have plants all over Europe. I'm hoping the French produced radiators are OK but my Vin falls right into the effected range.

Here's a link to Valeo in this page and you can see where specific items are made; they make lots of things for cars.http://www.valeo.com/automotive-supplier/Jahia/pid/12

B1GSV

Hi dyn,
I am experiencing similar problem, late 2002 CLK with 16000 miles only. humming noise from rear and jumping gears, judder in uphill climbs. Early December MB could not find any fault whatsoever with the car, then just after chritmas MB mobile mechanic thought it was the diff, but yesterday my MB local dealership says transmission damage caused by leaking coolant - new gear box and coolant system required costing mega bucks for what I still consider to be a brand new vehicle. Major problems like this should not occur these days.
I have managed to agree that MB (Germany) will pay for the replacement parts, however I am left with the very large labour bill for 20% of the repair. I AM NO LONGER A HAPPY MB OWNER.

rob940

Yep been there too, had a new gearbox and torque convertor about a month ago- there is a technical document about it as a recognised fault. I was told it was a design fault.