gnma

If I remember correctly, anything with a build date after 9/03 used the improved radiators.

To further verify, there is a way to look carefully at the radiator, to find the brand name on it - but you have to search the forum for that technique.

Also search for the crimping method of the radiator end tanks - that's a giveaway too. There's a distinction bet. the older rads that leaked, and the improved ones. HTH!

prodigymb

[QUOTE=gnma;3741342]If I remember correctly, anything with a build date after 9/03 used the improved radiators.

To further verify, there is a way to look carefully at the radiator, to find the brand name on it - but you have to search the forum for that technique.

QUOTE]

VALEO rads are the crappy ones.

soundeffects

My 03 had this problem and one of the previous owners put a new transmission in it at his own cost around 45K miles and then put the new radiator and a separate front mount transmission cooler.

The cause, radiator leaked into the transmission somehow...crazy stuff but definitely happened.

gnma

IF I remember correctly, Valeo did correct their design flaw. So NOT ALL Valeo's are bad.

prodigymb

from what i read ... MB went to a different brand rad for this car after valeo.

anerbe

MB went from Valeo to Behr radiators.

It is regarding the crimp design, where Behr's design reduces stress points

bigswin

Any E55 produced before September, 2003 can have this issue. Mercedes is aware of it of course.

anerbe

Darn straight they are aware of it - TSB is an admission of a known part problem/failure!

I wouldn't be too upset about it if I had to replace the radiator at 60K miles. It's past warranty. However, I had to replace the radiator right past 50K for a few thousand out of pocket, and the trans as a result of this failure is also gone, which the dealer didn't investigate after replacing the radiator. I'm sure the radiator was already leaking prior to the 50K - with potential damage to the transmission, as the issue was rough shifting, coupling/decoupling of the torque converter. Although the radiator was replaced, the damage was already done to the trans and it gradually got worse to now.

Contact customer service at MBUSA, and after they discussed it with the original dealer the vehicle was purchased/is serviced from. MBUSA called back a few weeks later deciding they can't and won't do anything about it. No charge split. Nothing.

Just a very dissapointing result to a vehicle I thought was my start to a long future with MB's AMG vehicles and was seriously contemplating an upgrade to the new SL63. The M3 and two X5's in my family are still going strong - never any issues with service. Had multiple good-will repairs from BMW due to being just past warranty.

Customer service goes a long way...I guess in my case it never moved in the first place. I should have read the writing on the wall when I was never offered a new supercharger clutch due to rough engagement after complaining numerous times through the life of the warranty - always deemed normal.

anerbe

update: contact MBUSA, and they called the dealership.

Supposedly, MBUSA itself does not help with any type of good-will repairs / customer relations support after the warranty. They leave it up to the dealership. MBUSA contacted the dealer, and the dealer called back MBUSA and declined any help on the vehicle.

MBUSA called me back and said perhaps if I build better relations with the dealership in the future, they may help out.

Why would such a large corporation such as MBUSA leave customer relations issues at the discretion of a dealership? So it depends if the dealership is customer service based or if it's a high volume / strictly numbers dealership? I'm afraid mine falls within the second category.

I am very disappointed that the dealership we purchased the vehicle new at for MSRP couldn't care less what happens after 50K miles. MB of Bloomfield Hills. Always had issues with their service. Being in a wealthy area, I find they only care about the turn-over of vehicles. With my contacts in the local area who are also avid car/MB fans, this dealership will be losing some business.

Also disappointed in MBUSA for 1. not caring enough for the customer to escalate an issue past a dealer/customer relationship and 2. having a historically failing part and turning their backs on doing what is right by providing support/assistance. A broken part that has no effects on other parts is one thing. Having a failing part that also affects an otherwise separate vital system such as a transmission is another thing. I feel like I'm driving a ticking time bomb now. So what if I pay to get the torque converter replaced. What's next? The rest of the transmission? Who knows if it's going to go? It's great to worry if the transmission will give up when merging onto an expressway, or the vehicle decides to lock up the rear on the road.

I've been a long time member here, and have always shown excitement for this vehicle. It truely is a sad day when you fall out of love with a car and a company.

Sorry guys, just venting.

03RSTT

My build date is 7/03

How do I check to see which rad I have?

65k miles

pearlpower

Whether Mercedes covers anything or not, this is exactly why I always research before buying. I knew about this issue long before purchasing my late 04. Anyone contemplating purchasing an 03-early 04 needs to verify right away this issue was addressed.

shardul

iTrader: (1)

check the part number on the radiator to see if it matches the new valeo part number (sorry i dont have the update part number) also some people say if you have white dot on the radiator then it is the updated one.

kjlindgr

Where would this white dot be?

shardul

iTrader: (1)

i have tired searching for it a couple of time but have had no luck, so i guess i still have the old valeo design radiator. according to the WIS it should be on the top left or right of the radiator

£ C43 £ AMG £

Dont bother replacing the rad.

just install a separate oil cooler inline for the gearbox and plug the rad.

did it anyway as a precaution

shardul

iTrader: (1)

exactly what i am thinking to do it is on my to do list. where did you mount your trans cooler?

03RSTT

I like the idea of adding the aux trans cooler but I would like to know if I have the old version Valeo rad.

Does anyone have a copy of the service bulletin procedure?

shardul

iTrader: (1)

if my WIS was working i would send you the doc

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...r-upgrade.html

£ C43 £ AMG £

exactly like the link in shardul's post.

stmort

Mercedes purposely has never informed any owners of Valeo Radiator problems. Mercedes knew by 2006 (maybe earlier) that the Radiator was prone to failure and therefore prone to causing damage to the transmission and torque converter.

I am an attorney who bought one of the affected vehicles for my wife seven years ago. I just had a radiator failure and the Valeo radiator crimping issue was JUST revealed to me after a VERY expensive repair.

I am looking for people who have also experienced this failure as I think there may be something to be done regarding deceptive practices and breach of duties.

You can contact me directly as I have TSB from 2006 when ALL affected cars were still under the time warranty - mine included.

stmort

Date:

March 24, 2006

Order No.:

P-B-27.55/50f

Supersedes:

P-B-27.55/50e dated March 6, 2006

Group:

27

Date

Purpose

f

3/24/06

"Perform Repair Based on Test Result" – Procedure Updated / Warranty Info. Updated

e

3/6/06

"Perform Repair Based on Test Result" – Procedure Updated

d

8/29/05

Warranty Information Updated

c

8/18/05

"Perform Repair Based on Test Result" – Step 2 Revised / Warranty Info. Updated

b

4/6/05

Addition of Note After Step 3 Pertaining to AMG Model Vehicles

a

2/17/05

Additional Applicable Models, Parts and Warranty Information Updated

-

01/27/05

Initial issue

Note:

Note:

a. the vehicle was produced before 09/2003,
b. the radiator is manufactured by "Valeo", refer to Figure 1 for identification,
c. old crimping method used to assemble the radiator end tanks resembles Figure 2.

Figure 1 P-B-27.55/50

03RSTT

If you like the rad coverup....you will get a bang out of the gas tank.

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...all-bombs.html

I also have the 03 Valeo with 7/03 build date. My lucky day.

Count me in on the fun.

MB2003E55

My 2003 E55 was diagnosed with the same condition at my local Mercedes dealer at almost exactly the same mileage, BUT...

my warranty company wouldn't let the dealer perform the repair. They sent it to an independent transmission shop and the tech (who ows an SL-55 and is a member of the AMG club) said the diagnosis was wrong and the transmission problem was likely related to an earlier transmission module failure. There was no coolant in the transmission.

My transmission control module failed at 33,000 miles (the car did shift a little hard sometimes after I purchased it at 31,000 miles in March, 2009) and the car went into "limp" mode. It took seven days to get a new module air-freighted from Germany.

The point is that your diagnosis may or may not be correct. It cost my insurance company $5,000 to rebuild my transmission after speding $1,500 on the control module failure a few months earlier. I love my E-55, but I have had almost $10,000 in repairs due to component failures in the past eighteen months (bad alternator, bad a/c compressor, bad door handle, two door switch failures, bad cd palyer and door, and, yes, the cup holder failure). I love my car, but if I wanted to have it spend so much time in the shop, I would have bought another brand.

You're right, a $90,000 car should have both superb engineering and quality. The Mercedes-Benz brand used to stand for both. I'm not so sure any more...

03RSTT

So your car still has the early 03 Valeo radiator?

MB2003E55

Sorry for the late response. I am working away from home.

I hit a deer on I-79 just South of Washington, PA last September while on the way back to one of my consulting engagements (I had to leave town - G-20 meeting with the Prez.). The radiator was replaced at that time. That was about two months after the transmission had been rebuilt.