Should I put a re-built transmission in my Mercedes?

lbourbeau
Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:17:28 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

I’m looking for your advice on what to do with my car. I have had the radiator replaced and the transmission flushed twice on my 2003 Mercedes CLK320 and it looks as if I need a new (rebuilt) transmission. Also, do you know if Mercedes has replaced transmissions free of charge relative to the problem I have had? A Mercedes shop diagnosed my problem, but I had the car towed to an independent mechanic when Mercedes told me that to remedy the situation would be $9,500 (replace radiator and install re-built transmission). I have spent $1,500 with the independent to have a new radiator installed and the transmission flushed twice.

I drive 8 miles to work on the freeway. When I return home I drive these 8 miles on a canyon road instead of the freeway. On a Tuesday I noticed the car “clunking” when I came to a stop on the way home. There are 10 stops signs on my route. Wednesday - no problem in the morning on the way to work, but the same problem on the way home. This repeated on Thursday. Friday on the way home I had the same problem PLUS shifting between first and second gear was rough. That evening I made arrangements to drop the car Saturday morning to the Mercedes dealer (6 miles from my home). On the way to the dealer I had the same shifting problem. On Monday the dealer told me that the radiator had cracked and coolant flowed into the transmission.

I called an independent mechanic for a second opinion and had the work I mentioned above performed on the car.

Now - what should I do? The car has 65,000 miles on it and I feel Mercedes has let me down. I have no warranty remaining on the vehicle.

7 posts - 6 participants