SL/R230: Burning transmission smell
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7
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SL500
Burning transmission smell
Hi,
I have been reading some of the other threads on the forum regarding this but wanted to see if this is normal behavior on these cars. When I am driving pretty hard (redlining) I get this foul smell from the bottom car (I think its the bottom anyway). It doesn't smell like burnt oil but more like burnt transmission.
I have had the car for about 4 years but only put around 10,000KM on it and haven't changed the transmission fluid. The car has 72,000KM on it and its a 2003.
Is this smell normal when driving hard? I think that I will change my tranny fluid just to be safe. Is that recommended on these vehicles?
Thanks!
I have been reading some of the other threads on the forum regarding this but wanted to see if this is normal behavior on these cars. When I am driving pretty hard (redlining) I get this foul smell from the bottom car (I think its the bottom anyway). It doesn't smell like burnt oil but more like burnt transmission.
I have had the car for about 4 years but only put around 10,000KM on it and haven't changed the transmission fluid. The car has 72,000KM on it and its a 2003.
Is this smell normal when driving hard? I think that I will change my tranny fluid just to be safe. Is that recommended on these vehicles?
Thanks!
Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 230
Likes: 87
From: Northwich
R230 350SL
Has the car ever had a transmission fluid change? If not or you can’t say for definite, I’d say it’s overdue anyway so just change it. Mercedes say “sealed for life” but we all know that’s garbage. The guy I use says 40,000 miles till change.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2018
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SL500
No I haven't done it, and I am thinking I will get that done just as a precaution
Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 102
Likes: 64
2009 SL550
Hi,
I have been reading some of the other threads on the forum regarding this but wanted to see if this is normal behavior on these cars. When I am driving pretty hard (redlining) I get this foul smell from the bottom car (I think its the bottom anyway). It doesn't smell like burnt oil but more like burnt transmission.
I have had the car for about 4 years but only put around 10,000KM on it and haven't changed the transmission fluid. The car has 72,000KM on it and its a 2003.
Is this smell normal when driving hard? I think that I will change my tranny fluid just to be safe. Is that recommended on these vehicles?
Thanks!
I have been reading some of the other threads on the forum regarding this but wanted to see if this is normal behavior on these cars. When I am driving pretty hard (redlining) I get this foul smell from the bottom car (I think its the bottom anyway). It doesn't smell like burnt oil but more like burnt transmission.
I have had the car for about 4 years but only put around 10,000KM on it and haven't changed the transmission fluid. The car has 72,000KM on it and its a 2003.
Is this smell normal when driving hard? I think that I will change my tranny fluid just to be safe. Is that recommended on these vehicles?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
SL500
I had similar issues on my 07 SL550. When I bought the car, it had 89k miles. After 500 miles and a few fast drives, I got error code for wrong gear ratio. When opened transmission we saw a lot of metal shaving from gears and the oil was so old and burnt. Apparently no one did the oil changes on it. Transmission had to be rebuilt in my case and there are not so many shops that know what they are doing. So fo transmission service asap and don’t rev up until the service is done.
Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 102
Likes: 64
2009 SL550
At that time I did not have experience dealing with repair shops and was ripped off. I went to independent shop and they fixed the transmission for $5k. It was my big mistake; they overcharged me and did a crappy job. It would be much better and cheaper to go to transmission shop working on MB transmissions only and I would pay $3.5K for a complete rebuilt.
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 324
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From: Wichita
Plays With Cars
While I totally agree with those saying to change the oil in the transmission, a burning smell isn't typically indicative of internal issues. A burning smell is typically a leak in either the engine or transmission finding its way to the exhaust, where it burns off. You said your oil was recently changed? I wonder if your mechanic didn't get a little sloppy with the drain and fill process.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: PNW Wa State
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
Hi,
I have been reading some of the other threads on the forum regarding this but wanted to see if this is normal behavior on these cars. When I am driving pretty hard (redlining) I get this foul smell from the bottom car (I think its the bottom anyway). It doesn't smell like burnt oil but more like burnt transmission.
I have had the car for about 4 years but only put around 10,000KM on it and haven't changed the transmission fluid. The car has 72,000KM on it and its a 2003.
Is this smell normal when driving hard? I think that I will change my tranny fluid just to be safe. Is that recommended on these vehicles?
Thanks!
I have been reading some of the other threads on the forum regarding this but wanted to see if this is normal behavior on these cars. When I am driving pretty hard (redlining) I get this foul smell from the bottom car (I think its the bottom anyway). It doesn't smell like burnt oil but more like burnt transmission.
I have had the car for about 4 years but only put around 10,000KM on it and haven't changed the transmission fluid. The car has 72,000KM on it and its a 2003.
Is this smell normal when driving hard? I think that I will change my tranny fluid just to be safe. Is that recommended on these vehicles?
Thanks!
Driving a 17 yr old Benz with fairly low Km’s and romping on it brings sedentary issues to the surface. Like a burning smell caused by dirty aged ATF being glazed onto the clutches that have been rotating in old, badly degraded fluids.
Elephant in the trunk is; having left that soup stewing till present now you have to play by German car rulebook. Changing fluids only likely will almost guarantee a blockage caused by that sludge buildup finally freed and block the pump frying the clutches and valve body.
If you want to keep the car, have the valve body reworked (the plastic on the servos and the PC connections break with age) change the clutches and have fluids completely flushed. You’ll actually save yourself almost the same it costs to do the repairs rfn instead of have it fail/tow bills repeatedly and then paying to have it all done anyways
Good luck
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