So, my local dealer diagnosed the problem as another bad conductor plate after reading another #109 code for a faulty speed sensor. They replaced the plate that the Indianapolis dealer installed, under warranty at no cost to me (yah freaking hoo). My dealer tells me that it's as good as new and off I drive. I scoot the 40 or so miles home and it runs great - kicked ass like at always has.

Later THAT SAME DAMN NIGHT, the car once again locks in gear and eventually goes into Limp mode. It is now back at the dealer, and they're saying that it's looking like the entire transmission needs replacing. This is based on some test that they're performing that is supposed to return a value of something like 620 and my car is reading 8000. They'll do some more tests to confirm that it needs replacing, and my Assistant Service Manager has promised me that he'll go to bat for me with MBUSA to try to get some "goodwill" that his dealership can use to offset the estimated $4500 cost for a new transmission, if that is in fact the remedy for my troubles.

Can anybody tell me why a Mercedes-Benz that's nine years old with about 115k miles on it should be needing its third transmission?

Best Regards,
Rob

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Robert Fini

'12 ML350 BlueTec, 100k
'06 E320CDI (x2)
'05 T1N Sprinter 2500/Pleasure-Way Plateau TS, 70k
'97 C36AMG, 319k (son's)
'94 E320T, 249k
'93 190E Sportline LE, 168k (daughter's)
'84 190E-2.3/5spd (Stage Rally Racer)
'66 230 W110 Sedan (Barn Find, Vintage Racer build in progress)