I feel really bad. W124 E320 722.5 Transmission problem. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

juribe2 · #1 07-30-2007, 06:39 PM

Since I don't trust the local stealership shop, I taked to an independent MB/BMW mechanic today who has fixed my car for the last 2 years. He's charging $300 for labor and he thinks total cost could be between $1500 and $2000. The car is running really bad. I guess I don't have any options since I'm sure I can't do this by miself.

I'm taking the car to this shop this week and pray for a good result. I have invested so much money in this car that I can't make a decission about selling it. I feel like I'll loose so much money if I sale it now and the new owner will probably enjoy every $ I have invested. During the last 2 years I have done: wiring harness, new ECU, buterfly valve, 2 coils, radiator, water pump, all cooling system hoses, thermostat, coolant expansion tank + cap, motor mounts, neutral safety switch, oil pressure sender, head gasket, valve cover gaskets (sparks), oil cooler and 4 tires. And now the transmission!! Remember this car has only 50k miles!! This is just unfair....

What else can go wrong now? I think I already made all the expensive fixes and that's why I'm considering keeping the car. What do you think?. I LOVE this car but I can't afford this HUUUGE maintenence cost. This is my first MB and I feel very happy when driving it but very disapointed with all this failures. Do you think I could now expect a "normal" maintenance cost and just enjoy this car for some 100 or 150k miles more? If I sell this MB, I can't buy another MB and will have to buy something cheapper.

Anyway, I'll let you know about the transmission repair when it gets finished.

Thank you all for you interest and recomendations.

nissanzx1 · #2 07-30-2007, 07:06 PM

Juan, I'd say you kinda HAVE to keep it forever now. You have a lot of money in it now, but remember you have a lot less in it then the person who bought it new!!

Enjoy it and try to see the big picture... Years of enjoyment with a car you love. It's a beautiful thing

You're right, why sell it now and let someone reap the benefits of all you've invested?

As stated earlier, always be leery of low mileage cars. They tend to have been sitting and that is hard on cars...

-Grant

juribe2 · #3 07-30-2007, 10:09 PM

Hi,

I decided to read fault codes and I got code 40 on pin 8: "Transmission overload protection switch - open/short to ground or B+ or open or closed or implausible"

Does this mean something to you ??? Does it have something to do with my transmission working so bad or is it a consecuence of the transmission failure?

Thanks again.

spit64 · #4 07-31-2007, 03:19 AM

I had the same problem on the same transmission slip in reverse but the oil seems fine red color and no smell so figured it has to be internal leek so I put some Omega oil that will make the sealings soft and the problem was gone after a few hour and the transmission works even now after 2 years but don't drive so you wear the clutch plates.
I get back when a find the product name.

spit64 · #5 07-31-2007, 03:33 AM

The oil treatment is Omega 917 the harsh 1-2 shift can be a easy fix but the reverse is internal leak or clutches wear.
The forward gears can maybe be a vaccum hoses or the fault code that you got worth looking in to it because the overload switch should improve shift quality in 2-3 gear at full throttle and your car start in second gear so I guess it is that you mean.

ksing44 · #6 07-31-2007, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juribe2

During the last 2 years I have done: wiring harness, new ECU, buterfly valve, 2 coils, radiator, water pump, all cooling system hoses, thermostat, coolant expansion tank + cap, motor mounts, neutral safety switch, oil pressure sender, head gasket, valve cover gaskets (sparks), oil cooler and 4 tires. And now the transmission!! Remember this car has only 50k miles!! This is just unfair....

What else can go wrong now?

There are more things that can go wrong and unfortunately I think you are guaranteed to have AC troubles in your future. Hopefully it won't be the evaporator, but even compressors can get expensive. The common bigger ticket items are head gasket, wiring harness, AC problems, and transmissions, but there are all kinds of other things like blower motors, window regulators, sunroof issues, exhaust replacement, oxygen sensor, ..... These cars cost plenty. You are doing a good job so far fixing the most common problems, however, so only you can say if the cost is worth it for you to drive the W124.

juribe2 · #7 07-31-2007, 10:23 PM

I took the car to the mechanic today to get the transmission fixed. I think I can take a look inside the transmission tomorrow and get a detailed diagnostic.

I hope I get a good fix on this, so that I can enjoy the car for another 12 years without opening the transmission again. I'll try to keep the car and enjoy it, but if it starts asking for lots of maintenence investement I'll have to change my decission.

Thank you all for your imputs. I'll let you knoew the end of the story in a coulple of days.