eugene22n

oh and my cars been doing this for about 17k now ...

spadre59c3z

Interesting point about a number of 07's having the transmission problems.... But correct me if I am wrong but the 7G trans. was introduced in 2003 and is used and has made it's way across much of mercedes lineup. I had to have the valve body changed on my 07. It was not an early 07. Production number was 147,256 (last 6 of vin). What's funny is the service advisor at the dealership said it was a "first".... he had never seen this issue before with a transmission.

Em Bee Lover

I had untenable tranny tremor when coming to a halt. SA's and mechs @ dlr. were worthless. This forum had a thread suggesting motor mounts. Sure enough, bad mounts. Indy replaced and vibration/tremor/shudder et al went away. Sad we have to play "20 questions" with a vehicle of this stature. I have been in MB since 1989 E320; Audi prior 11. This is the spookiest platform I have experienced. Sad as heck. Expensive as heck. Good luck.

eugene22n

My car was 80,539 off the line so it's a very early car.

I'm my case its not the motor mounts. The vibration is very weird. I've been around cars where the tranny was bad and its always been at the shift points where you really feel it or the car delivers power improperly. This is just vibration/shutter. More so when the car has been driver for a over 45 minutes.

Very un-S-Class like. I'll go to Fletcher for this but I'd like to gather the opinons on the forums first just so I don't get scewed by the stealership.

Chucky300

Seems that the Trans Valve Body busted........ should be covered under my extended warranty.

Will keep you posted!

bibbleton

This is very unfortunate. 2 days ago I was sriving my father's 08 s550 with 54,000 miles and the same thing happened, just started freely revving. Pulled over to the side, and it would not engage R or D at all. Dealership says the transmission is gone wants 6,000 dollars for the repair. Is there anything that can be done about this? Will MB pay the bill? Isn't this considered premature failure?

famous550

Damn sorry to hear that bro. 6k wow

spadre59c3z

So you pulled over and put the car in park and then it would no longer shift out of park? Most of the people who have had issues with the transmission were still able to get the vehicle in drive and get to the dealer in a limp mode. Has the dealer actually run diagnostics? It's possible it could be the valve body although this still runs over a grand.

bibbleton

No, it would go in R or D, but only free rev (like I was in neutral)
dealer said that all the gears and the torque converter were burned, mind that it was a service rep (not the actual tech)
They are still determining the actual cost..

Chucky300

Mine was the tranny valve body as everyone elses. Covered by my extended warranty (except they only pay $85 labor and tried to tell MB Manhattan how much time they can take to fix. Rubbish but whatever - still had to have a bit of out of pocket expenses for it - but nothing like paying for the entire bill.

MB really messed it up here I think. Way too many people losing trannys between 55k and 65k miles.

Thats a serious mess up.

spadre59c3z

Sorry to hear that (you should not have to deal with problems like that at 55,000 miles). I had the transmission valve body fail but my transmission went in to a limp mode (stayed in second gear I believe). It was different then what you are experiencing. Keep us updated.

Lenn777

Wouldn't think a car of this status could have tranny issues. Are the other models having the same problems. I purchased my S550 under warranty, if my tranny went, would it be covered?

brownbomber

I have been telling everyone that I meet, that My Transmission went out at 51,567. Five months out of the three year warranty and a few thousand miles outside of the mileage warranty. It cost me over $6,000 to replace my transmission with no extended warranty and I have been at a loss for words since.

I really hope that my story can help someone else.

Em Bee Lover

I have asked this twice before on this thread w/in the past three-four weeks.

But, does anyone know if changing/updating the valve body preempts or prevents the entire transmission from blowing up?

If it does, it would be relatively inexpensive insurance against a $6000+ replacement. Particularly if, as I, am out of warranty, have no extended warr. and plan to keep it for a while.

If no one knows whether the valve body is the culprit and replacing solves things, can anyone think of how we can find out? I surely am not the only reader/owner scared to take a deep breath, as it were, due to the transmission.

This is obviously a real issue. Anyone help?

konigstiger

After initial change @ 39000 miles, change ATF every 30000-40000 miles thereafter. MB requires ATF change once @ 39000 however, as of MY09 changed requirement to every 40000 miles. Furthermore have current ATF analyzed and with each change to a certain extent, this will give an indication of what may be going on (i.e.: particulate level, etc.) http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ (no affiliation).

eugene22n

I would like to know as well. I will be investigating my vibration issue and asking the question as I talk to the mechanics.

K-A

Wow, weird, I didn't know that the 7G was having so many failures.

I don't hear about many (or really any) failures of it on W211's, so I'm wondering if maybe the V8 and/or weight of the W221 are a bit over-stretched for the tranny's capabilities?

mmereos

I had my transmission replaced at 15K I didn't understand it. This is my 3rd Merc and am surprised that it needed a new Tranny at that low mileage. By the way it's an '07 S550.
I still have it but recently it developed a thumping sound when stopped while in drive. Dealer said its the ABC pump when it's warming up and it's normal and not something that can be fixed. Doesn't make sense to me.

mateointexas

LOL.. Just got my SL65 AMG 2008 and have the thumping sound when stopped in park and barely audible but there in drive.. Took it in and its the ABC pump... They are covering it and YES, IT IS SOMETHING that can be fixed.. don't fall for that.. They are covering and paying for it cause i have warranty and I just bought the car 3 days ago.. but didn't notice in the test drive..

eugene22n

So what was the dealer’s explanation for why you needed a new transmission? Lack of maintenance seems to be the favorite lol.

benz_addict

Happened to my friends car same problem turned out to be a bad solenoid on the valve body. Valve body was replaced and the TCM was recoded with the new software and reset. Problem is gone and has been for the last 6k. Also recommend changing the trans fluid and filter while your in there...

eugene22n

He had vibration as well during stops?

Becks Imports

I know everyone assumes I am biased as I sell extended warranties, and I probably am. But I buy a LOT of AMG and 600-series cars for my clients on a custom-order basis. At this point, I won't take on a retained search unless my client agrees up front to buy an extended warranty. I don't even care if they get it from me or not, as long as they get one.

I just know that I can triple inspect the car including one inspection at an MB dealer, pull the VMI to make sure it's been cared for since new, and STILL after 6 months they can incur some huge unforseen problem (and blame me for it!). Life is too short to have people hate me for things that are not my fault.

These cars are just not reliable in the long-term, and hideously expensive to repair out of warranty. Yet because the pool of cars overall is large (C-class, E-class, etc) they do not get rated too badly by warranty companies unless starting miles are very high. So you can get a good warranty for a reasonable price.

If anyone would like a quote (not with pre-existing condition please!), shoot me an email with your car's VIN# and current odometer reading to brucem105@comcast.net.

Bruce

lingnoi

Here in Germany there is a guy named Tim Eckart who developed a machine to completely flush the MB automatic transmission system since the regular dealer fluid change only changes out a little over 50% of fluid.

Apparently a lot of transmission suffer from glycol contamination and by completely flushing the system all the bad stuff gets removed. There is great testimony from taxi drivers and others on the dramatic improvements after just one flush.

Regards, L

AHall

That is frightening. Spend a $100K+ and you do not get long-term reliability??? Why is this car worth $100K again???