HELP !! Where do I stand - new gearbox needed ?

On my July 2004 Mercedes CLK 55AMG. which has only done 32k miles.

Advised that some sort of radiator failure has caused radiator fluid to get into the transmission oil coolant that runs through the radiator - and from there into the gearbox

Obviously oil and water don't mix and new geardox is required.

Does this seem like a design fault to you guys ??

Mercedes have offered a 'goodwill' contribution to the costs which from my Merc main dealer are just over £5,000

But I shall still be left with a bill of over £3k

Wondered what anybodies experience is with dealing with similar claim ?

First post in a while on here guys - but hopefully some of you remember me from the good old days and can help out.

 

Thanks Simon - nice to here from you - how's fatherhood treating you now ?

Found this thanks to same question elsewhere

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...2/mrjon122.xml

As with gladness...

I own a Mercedes CLK C270 CDi, which I purchased new from a main dealer in June 2003. I have been extremely proud of the car, which long represented a personal aspiration. I had enjoyed 73,000 trouble-free miles of comfortable motoring, so imagine my distress when the gearbox failed in late September. The car was taken to Mercedes-Benz of Newbury for examination. The technical report read as follows: "Loss of drive, autobox removed, oil burnt, metal swarf and initial signs of coolant in oil." This accompanied an estimate of £5,750, including VAT and labour, for remedial work. The garage contacted Mercedes-Benz to ascertain whether there would be any assistance with the cost of repairs and was told that nothing would be forthcoming. I simply cannot believe that a quality vehicle costing more than £40,000 could suffer this type of mechanical failure at such an early stage. I was astonished to read in Telegraph Motoring (October 6) that exactly the same had happened to another C-class.
K.S., Easton Royal


This is a common fault on Mercedes CLK, C- and E-class models built from 2000-2003 and fitted with Valeo radiators. As with many other makes, the automatic transmission fluid is kept to the same temperature as the engine by running it through pipes in the engine's coolant header tank. Unfortunately the joints in this pipework can fail and admit coolant to the transmission, which wrecks the transmission. (After I emailed MB, the company looked into this case and came to a satisfactory financial arrangement.)

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Looks more and more like a design fault to me - will defo email Honest John and find out what the 'satisfactory financial arrangement' was !

 

Thanks Chris that would be good - hopefully you still have email address.

Honest John replied to my email very quickly and said bearing in mind the low mileage that I may be able to push MB a little further - although he didn't say exactly what he got for the other guy.

So as my old Gran used to say 'If you don't ask - you don't get'.

 

Thanks Rob - I have also been recommended to speak to King Automatics in Epsom, who apparently rebuilt an A class gearbox for just over £1k when the person had been quoted £6k for replacemnet by their MB garage.

 

Cheers Ian - phoning now !!

Just seen your edit - so I'll phone after 9.30.

 

Had thought about asking dealer to buy car as is Hud - but ideally will keep - its Lindas daily car.

 

Thanks Steve - I think Hindsights a marvellous thing.

As a complete layman this whole dual purpose radiator sounds like a complete joke - when a £190 radiator can cause over £5k of damage to a gearbox if it goes wrong

 

All options gratefully received and considered - thanks Neil

 

Sorry as I haven't subscribed it would take too long to empty PM box.