M-Class (W164) Produced 2006-2011: ML280CDI, ML320CDI, ML420CDI, ML350, ML500, ML550

Damn!! Tranny Isuues

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Old Jun 13, 2005 | 10:25 PM
  #1  
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2015 S212
Damn!! Tranny Isuues

Has anyone else had any transmission issues? The car has 400 miles on it and the tranny has my wife so bugged out that she won't go near it. WOW!! What the heck do i do? I hope to Gosh it's a software issue and not mechanical. It just jerks all around and holds a gear at times. No grinding, yet. We'll see what the dealer says. Just when I was gonna say i liked the stalk.
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Old Jun 14, 2005 | 12:14 AM
  #2  
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04 E500 4MATIC, 07 GL450, 89 300E
Thumbs up None here

We are at about 1500 miles on ours.
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Old Jun 14, 2005 | 12:24 AM
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we have 4,446 miles on the engine and have no problems with the tranny,
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Old Jun 14, 2005 | 11:16 AM
  #4  
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Sounds like a software issue. I've had that before where it takes forever to shift up in a lot of models. Take it to the dealer, they should bendover backwards if you just got the car.
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Old Jun 14, 2005 | 01:01 PM
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I'm hoping it's a softeware thing,too. I dropped it off this am, so we'll see.
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Old Jun 14, 2005 | 04:22 PM
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We bought ours on Tuesday June 7th and have had some very weird and scary things happen with the ML500. I have been sitting at a light when the car will rev and try to leap forward. The people next to me think I want to race. Also, while stopping the car will shudder to a stop and it is not warped rotors...its like I'm fighting the car to a stop. Lastly, and most annoying, the car died on me while sitting in traffic...twice this morning. I brought it into the service dept this morning and was able to get a loaner and leave by noon. I haven't heard anything yet but I will post when I do. PLease let me know if you figure yours out.
Zack
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Old Jun 14, 2005 | 06:54 PM
  #7  
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Just got through to he service rep and he said they do not know what it is. They are working with MBUSA on it and may try a valve? Anyhow, i am sort of upset at being used this way. If the car has issues (which it does), then MBUSA needs to buy it back and do their testing to figure out what it is.
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Old Jun 14, 2005 | 07:41 PM
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May I add a bad bearing in the transfer box to the misery? I've already made a post about this issue, and hearing all these other things is making me worry. Will these problems continue? We will find out...
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 12:29 AM
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From: long island
'03 E39 530I
are we talking about 163 here? oh wait a sec...
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 12:37 AM
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W164 issues

I hope we don't start getting a common theme going here, because these kind of issues (tranny, transfer case bearings, etc.) make the W163 look like a Lexus. My '98 had some niggleing issues (turn signal stalk, feul guage, door seals, door locks), but they are all what I consider non-life-threatening, and were well-handled by the dealer.
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 02:40 AM
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2005 ML 350
do you mean the W164
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 09:29 AM
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Re: W164 issues

Originally Posted by ml350
do you mean the W164
If you are replying to my post, I mean these initial W164 issues are more troubling than the minor glitches that plagued the W163.
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 08:33 PM
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I'm actually getting nervous. My ML500 should be built at the end of this month? Should I cancel my order? I'd rather do that and go with the Cayenne S than have all of these problems. Thoughts?
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 08:47 PM
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ML500 1100 miles and no problems. The Cayenne has it's share of problems too.
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Old Jun 15, 2005 | 11:18 PM
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Cancel order?

Originally Posted by Sparky
I'm actually getting nervous. My ML500 should be built at the end of this month? Should I cancel my order? I'd rather do that and go with the Cayenne S than have all of these problems. Thoughts?
Don't get freaked out. The '98 had lots of initial little issues, but overall, in my 7+ years of ownership it's been great. Every line has it's issues (yes, many Cayenne ones). Lexus may be slightly more reliable, but they have no soul, IMO.

Stay the course! The only reason I would wait on the 500 is to get a 2007 460 or 550 with more power and better efficiency, if that's an option for you.
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Old Jun 16, 2005 | 12:56 AM
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Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon
Don't get freaked out. The '98 had lots of initial little issues, but overall, in my 7+ years of ownership it's been great. Every line has it's issues (yes, many Cayenne ones). Lexus may be slightly more reliable, but they have no soul, IMO.

Stay the course! The only reason I would wait on the 500 is to get a 2007 460 or 550 with more power and better efficiency, if that's an option for you.
The ML is the worst rated luxury SUV ever not only in the USA but in Europe.
http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...urvey_2004/06/
http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...urvey_2003/04/

The RX is the exact opposite, its the most reliable in class every year.
This is found in Consumer Reports, JD Power and in Europe, Top Gears satisfaction survey.
Those are facts. As for soul, I guess the Benz goes to "heaven" in a crash?
Your results were different but the vast majority are not.

Last edited by 1SICKLEX; Jun 16, 2005 at 01:00 AM.
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Old Jun 16, 2005 | 10:39 AM
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SUV reliability

Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
The ML is the worst rated luxury SUV ever not only in the USA but in Europe.

The RX is the exact opposite, its the most reliable in class every year.
This is found in Consumer Reports, JD Power and in Europe, Top Gears satisfaction survey.
Those are facts. As for soul, I guess the Benz goes to "heaven" in a crash?
Your results were different but the vast majority are not.
Results may vary (2005 model):

ADAC Breakdown Statistics for 2004: Mercedes Models Demonstrate Their Reliability
Stuttgart, Apr 28, 2005

"Mercedes-Benz is one of the winners in this year’s compilation of breakdown statistics by the German motorists’ association ADAC. The brand’s passenger cars received top marks in three automotive categories.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class was the winner in the “Lower Mid-Range” category, making it the most reliable compact car on Germany’s roads, according to the breakdown statistics compiled by ADAC. The average breakdown rate for the 2004 models of the A-Class was only 2.3 per thousand.

Equally impressive was the performance of the M-Class, which won top honours in the “Off-Roader” category. The average breakdown rate for the 2004 models of the M-Class was only 2.5 per thousand.

The experts at ADAC were especially pleased by the models of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the S-Class, whose extremely low breakdown rates won them top spots in the “Upper Mid-Range/Luxury Class” category."
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 01:20 AM
  #18  
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UPDATE!!

I guess the tranny is coming out and going to MB. A new one is being shipped over from Germany. the car only has 400 miles on it. They are prepping it now for a "modified" hanger, so perhaps there has been a design tweak??
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 05:47 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by newml500
We bought ours on Tuesday June 7th and have had some very weird and scary things happen with the ML500. I have been sitting at a light when the car will rev and try to leap forward. The people next to me think I want to race. Also, while stopping the car will shudder to a stop and it is not warped rotors...its like I'm fighting the car to a stop. Lastly, and most annoying, the car died on me while sitting in traffic...twice this morning.
Zack
That sounded more like a Ford problem than MB problem, fords had a lot of cars/truck with curise control defects that causes the car to surge forward without the driver even applying the gas paddle...sorry I couldn't offer any help but I feel your pain.
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 11:51 AM
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You shouldn't look at forums to decide whether to buy a car. Any forum, usually discusses problems. People with problems come to forums asking for help. So don't get too freaked out.

As for me I'm having some wierd engine problems. My car is revving all on it's own.
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 12:51 PM
  #21  
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08 E320 Bluetec
I never buy a new redesign the first year out. It just seems to take a year to get the kinks out. It's too bad that MB can't test these cars before they release them. The new E-class's came out in 03 and there were a lot of problems with those also. I'll wait for the problems to clear up for I wouldn't even think of the ML being in my garage after reading all this. Although I have no doubt that they will be great in the long run.
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 02:37 PM
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they found out after several days of driving with no problems that it was the crank sensor that was causing my problems. Hopefully, that's it.
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 10:44 PM
  #23  
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We'll see. I guess MBUSA decided to change out the tranny. the car will be in the shop for a total of nearly a month from a three year lease! Jeeeesh!!! I'm really dissapointed at MB. i asked for a simple extended warranty to assure me of the car. again, it only has 400 miles on it. And I was told NO.


OK MB. Let's play!
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Old Jun 17, 2005 | 10:46 PM
  #24  
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From: San Diego
2015 S212
Isn't lemon law 30 days of service lost in the firsat 12 months?




4 visits for the same problem (i.e. gave the dealer enough chance to fix it).

Let's play. The safety of my family won't be forgotten.

COME ON MB!!!! LET"S PLAY!!!
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Old Jun 18, 2005 | 07:46 AM
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I'm almost positive that they have to give you a new car if you press the issue. It might be worth your while to check it out. I certainly wouldn't want a new car that has been taken apart at such an early stage.

I will say that you have made me a nervous wreck over actually getting a high quality and reliable ML500.
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