Not a common occurrence....you just got unlucky. Then again, ANY 2003 car is too tech based in my opinion. My inlaws had the whole transmission blow up on their 2002 low miles Toyota....it can happen to anyone.

As for me, I've driven about 80,000 miles in a MB/6 years so far, and plan to keep on doing that.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)