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

juribe2 · #1 07-29-2007, 11:09 PM

I wish I could just sell this car and forget about fixing something different every month. I just love this car and because of that I have been fixing things and spending big $$$ for the last 2 years.

But now, things look really bad. Car was running perfectly for the last month and yesterday it just started to shift really harsh from 1 to 2, specially when cold. And yesterday night it just lost power in Reverse (slips?). It drives in reverse but only on a flat road. I just couldn't drive the car in reverse into the garage because there is a small ramp to access the garage. It didn't happend like something progressive but it just happend sudenly from one day to another.

The car has now 50k miles. I had the transmission oil and filter replaced at the stealership when the car was 43k miles. The neutral safety sw was replaced about 2 months ago. Reverse lights are not working since then.
Oil level and color look good.

1995 E320 sedan. European version with 722.503 transmission.

I'm not planning to fix this by myself. I don't have the time, neither the tools and the knowledge. I do want to know what to expect because I don't trust the local dealership shop and want to learn some stuff before they diagnose the problem. Also I will probably buy parts online for this.

Am I going into something really bad (expensive, risky to get a good fix)?? Is there any hope on having only a small and inexpensive issue since the tranny has only 50k miles?

Any help will be really appreciate. I really need your advice on this.

I don't know if I'll keep this car

, but I know I do have to get this fixed anyway.

Man, I really feel so bad about this.......

Thank you very much.

juribe2 · #2 07-30-2007, 10:38 AM

.....? Why is everybody so quiet? Is it really that bad???

G-Benz · #3 07-30-2007, 11:08 AM

Can't say...but the tranny experts probably haven't woken up yet...

...my .02 cents...since I'm not a notable tranny expert, it could be anything from a b1 or b2 piston, clutch plates, k1 valve, or a vacuum modulator adjustment.

What does all of that mean? Anywhere from the range of $0 to $1500 and upwards from there if you opt for a remanufactured or total rebuild.

Unfortunately, a low mileage older car does not guarantee reliability...rubber parts, hoses, wires and seals fall under the laws of entropy as time passes, so you can be faced with the same mundane repairs as an E320 with 150K miles.

benzick · #4 07-30-2007, 11:17 AM

i have a 420 sel from 88, im prity sure this problem acured when i hit 200k for me, if you put it into reverse and rev it up to about 3rpm it will move, i have been doing this for several months now, my technician who i trust very much told me there is no point in fixing it, just buy a new one since it will cost almost the same, if you would like to do it yourself, he says the R gear got grinded up, i cant offord to replace it, and dont want to spend 2k fixing it when i can get a new trany for 3k. so my advise keep the car, and save up some money.

emerydc8 · #5 07-30-2007, 07:10 PM

I just had the same problem with my 722.3. I got the only tech at the dealer who knew what he was doing on these units to rebuild it ($3,400). Don't know if the 722.5 is the same, but the clutches on my reverse pack were worn out and there was also a tear in one of the seals that made the "slow to engage in reverse" problem a "does not reverse at all on a slope" problem. He said that this was exactly what he expected to see when he tore it down--no surprises. The forward clutches were fine. Check out S-Class's post if you intend to fix it yourself. 722.3 Tranny. Cover me guys - I'm going in!
Good luck.

juribe2 · #6 07-30-2007, 07:39 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 · #7 07-30-2007, 08:06 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 · #8 07-30-2007, 11:09 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 · #9 07-31-2007, 04:19 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 · #10 07-31-2007, 04:33 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 · #11 07-31-2007, 07:07 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 · #12 07-31-2007, 11:23 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.

juribe2 · #13 08-01-2007, 07:54 PM

I just talke to the mechanic on the phone. He told me we are going to need the overhaul kit, the B3 clutch and some fix in the torque converter. Does it sound reasonable to you?

I've been doing some serches for parts online. I can't find anything for the 722.503 transmission (european car) but there are lots of parts for the 722.508. Do you know if those are compatible?

I'll go to the shop tomorrow morning to take a look inside the transmission.

Regards.