Transmission Issue 2006 E350
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Joined: Jul 2011
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2003 CLK 430 Cabrio
Transmission Issue 2006 E350
Need guidance. My mother is 71. She bought a used 2006 E350 in 2008 with 34k miles. Regular service and maintenance. Now has 88k on it.
Experienced hard shifting. Took to dealer who now says new transmission needed because of shavings in pan. Called second dealer who says need to look at the shavings because it could be something electrical and that such mechanical failures are rare.
Any help appreciated as I understand this transmission is MB's version of the Lucas problems which took the British auto industry down in the early 80's.
Seriously, hard to imagine mechanical failure in a care with less than 12k a year driven by an older woman to pick up her grand kids from school.
Is there any class action or recall? Regular 7 speed. Not 4 matic.
Experienced hard shifting. Took to dealer who now says new transmission needed because of shavings in pan. Called second dealer who says need to look at the shavings because it could be something electrical and that such mechanical failures are rare.
Any help appreciated as I understand this transmission is MB's version of the Lucas problems which took the British auto industry down in the early 80's.
Seriously, hard to imagine mechanical failure in a care with less than 12k a year driven by an older woman to pick up her grand kids from school.
Is there any class action or recall? Regular 7 speed. Not 4 matic.
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 211
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'97 E200, '06 E350 & '23 E350
Hello,
Do you have any information if the Transmission fluid has been changed @40k ?
No class actions or recall to my knowledge.
The 7G-Tronic isn't this disastrously unreliable but it's not great either. The Valve Body has a bad habbit of acting up and requires replacement, it's a 1k+ job.
Can you get what sort of error codes are stored?
IS the check engine light on?
Do you have any information if the Transmission fluid has been changed @40k ?
No class actions or recall to my knowledge.
The 7G-Tronic isn't this disastrously unreliable but it's not great either. The Valve Body has a bad habbit of acting up and requires replacement, it's a 1k+ job.
Can you get what sort of error codes are stored?
IS the check engine light on?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
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2003 CLK 430 Cabrio
Do not believe the fluid was changed even though she regularly had serviced (as in no one told her it needed to be done or asked her to if she would like such service performed-not sure how a 71 yr old would know to have that done).
A bunch of codes, all related to communication errors between TCM and the transmission. Dealer service rep told me that shavings clogged the valve body and replacement of the electronics would only be temporary as the mechanical failure would take over.
A bunch of codes, all related to communication errors between TCM and the transmission. Dealer service rep told me that shavings clogged the valve body and replacement of the electronics would only be temporary as the mechanical failure would take over.
Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 211
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'97 E200, '06 E350 & '23 E350
Even if it wasn't changed the damage is done now.
Is the transmission stuck in 1st gear or is it shifting but roughly?
I can't comment on what your dealer said about this. But he might be correct if shavings have been found.
Is the transmission stuck in 1st gear or is it shifting but roughly?
I can't comment on what your dealer said about this. But he might be correct if shavings have been found.
Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 216
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From: Bristol, CT
06 S211 E500 4Matic
Ask to see if there is oil in TCM. Could be the leaky connector resulting in electrical plate going bad. I don't know about 7-speed, but 5-speed had this issue and is not expensive to fix.
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
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2003 CLK 430 Cabrio
All I know from this diagnosis was gleaned in one phone call with the service rep 25 miles away on Saturday. The call ended when it became obvious nothing would occur between then and Monday am. Hope that the fluid and shavings were all saved as this appears to evidence the difference between the TCM causing the codes and a mechanical failure requiring a new transmission. Hard to imagine a well engineered and manufactured product would suffer unexplained mechanical failure. (If one didn't change the oil for twice the interval would the engine really fail at 20k miles?). No further explanation needed though if it was just an expensive shoddy product.
Either way, the two dealers quote a greatly varying prices on the transmission replacement. Go figure.
Either way, the two dealers quote a greatly varying prices on the transmission replacement. Go figure.
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Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 216
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From: Bristol, CT
06 S211 E500 4Matic
Scratch what I said about the electrical plate being inexpensive. On 7-speed transmissions they are VIN coded and have to be ordered through a MB dealer. 5-speed do not have this issue.
