Apollo90

Hi there, new very happy CLS55 owner here.

just bought the car and took it to dealer for its first service since I’ve purchased the car.

in addition to the routine fluid swaps, the techs suggest I replace my rear main seal and engine and trans mounts. For mounts and seal, they’re charging $3000.

is that a fair price?
also, I have all dealer service records and this is the second or third time in the vehicles life (80k miles) that these parts have been replaced. Is this common?

thanks!

nemiro

First off, are there any apparent problems that you are noticing? Lots of vibration? Oil leaks?

Apollo90

there is supposedly oil pooling in the bell housing

C_Note

I’m not sure about the rear main seal, but the engine and trans mounts shouldn’t add that much to your total!!

cls55omg2020

do you see oil drips on the ground? if not leave the seal alone. You can replace the trans mount yourself, quick and easy, it probably takes you more time to jack up the car than replacing the trans mount. For motor mounts, when I did mines it was about $700 including parts and labor (in 2018) on my w211.

Apollo90

no oil on the ground at all which is what surprised me. And thanks for your input!!

nemiro

There's your answer. The rear main seal is probably the most significant cost driver in that estimate. The seal is fairly in expensive, but would require transmission removal to service. Motor mounts are a straightforward job, but if you don't have all the tools, then may be best left to someone else. I agree with the previous poster, the trans mount is a piece of cake with hand tools and a floor jack.

WesttxJR

It's not uncommon for these cars to eat up engine mounts. They are a DITY project, though not easy. I think $3k sounds high, but since it includes the seal, it could be fair. Probably everyone on this board has dealt with a leaky main seal at some point or another. It's a known issue on these. I've heard mounts (engine and tranny) run in the sub $1k range. The parts alone are about $150. Good luck and enjoy your car.

Apollo90

thank you (and everyone else in the thread).
I did go ahead and authorize the repairs.

For anyone wondering, I changed differential and engine oil, trans fluid, rear main seal, replaced engine and trans mounts, and they adjusted and lubed front wheel bearings. All for $3600. Not a bad deal at all IMO.

Have been enjoying driving around with more confidence

insame1

find yourself a good local mechanic without the overhead of the dealer. You will get a much better labor rate.

E63007

Of course there’s always more that one could’ve had done after the fact. But replacing the rubber disc’s at each side of the drive shaft, with new bolts that come with them, would have been a good thing to replace since the drive shaft has to be removed for the Rear Main Seal. Also the mid-bearing and rubber booty is a rather easy thing to do if your removing the drive shaft. With the tranny out is a good time to renew any shifter bushings as mine were toast when I did mine. Of course the techs will rarely renew anything on their own if they aren’t directed to do so or given the OK beforehand, but it’s worth mentioning. This is why I do most things myself because I always find things to be renewed once I’m “in there”.

insame1

"Since I am in here" are some of the most expensive words I have ever uttered.