ML320 2001 Gearbox issues, I think?!? Please please help!

A poor professor

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ML320 2001 with Prinz LPG conversion
Hello everyone. This is my first post here! I have a ML320 (2001).
Very simply, I seemed to have come to a dead-end, as far as solutions are concerned!
Car initially went into 'limp' mode intermittently and wouldn't come out of 1st gear.
Local Merc specialists' diagnostics couldn't figure out problem.
Took it to Main Dealer who suggested (with 99% confidence) that it was 'valve body' issue.
So I gave go-ahead to change (@ cost of £1100), only to find that 1 week later, same problem re-occurred!
More diagnostics at main dealer revealed that now the 'torque converter' needs replacing at a cost of £1350!!
(Apparently new valve body will have been corrupted now, if TC is faulty - so that was a waste of money!!)
Took it to a great guy who runs a specialist auto gearbox outfit in Beckenham, but who, alas, also cannot pinpoint the problem. Could be a mechanical issue or an electrical one! But apparently no way of knowing until recon gearbox is fitted and tested!
I now don't mind (too much!!) spending the extra £1450 for a recon gearbox, if thats the problem, but I don't want to do that only to find that it was just an ECU or some other electrical issue.
And I can't bring myself to 'dumping' a car I paid £14k for 4 years ago!!!
I don't really understand that technicalities of some of this stuff, and desperately looking for someone who knows what they're talking about, can maybe take the thing apart and tell me exactly whats wrong with it and hence registered myself with this forum earlier today!
I sincerely hope that someone maybe able to help?!?!?
Thank you, in advance, and a Very Happy New Year to all of you...
 

AdamG

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S320CDI (2003)
I'm not sure where you are based but you mentioned Beckenham.

Andy at WrightTechUK is in Sidcup 020 8308 9175. He is a very good independent Mercedes Specialist and well worth getting his opinion.

Adam
 
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A

A poor professor

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Thanks Adam.
Actually I'd taken it to Paul (Wavertree Auto) 020 8776 9996,
But thanks for the tip re wrighttechuk.
 
A

andy@pcd-ltd

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It may also be worth getting the battery checked as low battery voltage can cause problems with the transmission as well

So might be something as simple as that
 

jibcl500

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Might be worth checking the pilot bush isnt full of oil this can put the car into limp mode. £10 part it thats the problem.

If you fancy a drive to CB6 3UL I will put star on the ML no charge.

jib
 

jibcl500

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Item in the picture 115 is the pilot bush, white cream coloured collar rotate it and the plug pulls from of the pilot bush if the plug is dripping wet with oil them this will be your problem.
Pilot bush is on the drivers side front corner of the gearbox.
jib
 

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andy@pcd-ltd

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Might be worth checking the pilot bush isnt full of oil this can put the car into limp mode. £10 part it thats the problem.

If you fancy a drive to CB6 3UL I will put star on the ML no charge.

jib

I was thinking along the lines of pilot bush as well but i would like to think that when they replaced the valve body they would of also replaced the pilot bush, as we all know how prone these are to leaking.
 

jibcl500

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I was thinking along the lines of pilot bush as well but i would like to think that when they replaced the valve body they would of also replaced the pilot bush, as we all know how prone these are to leaking.

Had the same fault recently after much money spent on the gearbox the customer gave the car to me, pilot bush externally was very damp removed the plug and 1/4 of a pint of oil followed, replaced the bush and cleaned the plug ran star and all was well. £12 item was all that was needed.

jib
 

tony jr

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GL320 X164 2007
You could try giving these guys a ring They gave me alot of advise over the phone and then solved my problem for me.

Technical Automatic Services Ltd.

TELEPHONE: +44 (0) 1206 386303
MOBILE: +44 (0) 7715 011601
FAX: +44 (0) 386307

Automatic Transmissions Centre, Unit 22,
Waldegraves Business Park
West Mersea
Mersea Island
Colchester, Essex.
CO5 8SE
Email: info@auto-transmissions.co.uk
 
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A poor professor

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ML320 2001 with Prinz LPG conversion
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Hello everyone...
thank you so much for the help, suggestions you have give so far.
Will certainly followup your leads.
Lots of work to do now!!!!
Thanks once again and have a great weekend.
 

cozmo1589

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2002 ML 270 CDI in Black
Hi may i ask what was the mileage of the ML when the problem started?
 
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A poor professor

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Hi

Yes the mileage was around 113k.

There seems to be a few MLs from between 1998-2002 that I've come across recently with gearbox issues!!
 

aimeecou

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Mercedes ML 270
Don't bother wasting anymore money..

Hi,

I bought a ML270 2002, 3 years ago and within about 2-3 weeks maybe, I was on the motorway and all of a sudden I could not get higher then 30mph and the revs were really high, I was terrified it was going to blow up and slowly got off at the next juction after plenty of evil looks, now for some reason everytime it goes into limp mode I can switch the engine off and start the engine back up and its fine (Hence why my husband never believed me for about a year as it only ever happened to me :rolleyes:)
Anyway I have spent loads of money on all sorts and it always came back including a new gearbox and the problem seemed to go away after that for about one month and now does not happened as much but still once a month or so and then all is fine again. My turbo going up hills will not work anymore and just does not have that ommph anymore but turbo still works pulling away at traffic lights as such. So if I was you either live with it like me or sell it. Sorry can't be of more help :rolleyes::confused::mrgreen::cool:
 

MrA

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nigeria
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ML320/1999/V6
hi everyone, i drive the 1999 ML320, recently i noticed when i put the gear in drive it moves and changes to gear 1 but when it about to change to gear 2 or 3, it revs and gets stuck like the gear is in neutral then it suddenly changes and goes on, someone suggested the valve body had a fault so i would like to hear opinions please.

thanks all.
 

Dougieloh

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Ml320 2001
Hello everyone...
thank you so much for the help, suggestions you have give so far.
Will certainly followup your leads.
Lots of work to do now!!!!
Thanks once again and have a great weekend.
Hi I am having the same problem with my 2001ml320 also were you able to find the problem please any info would be greatly appreciated
Douglas
 

Dougieloh

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Ml320 2001
I'm not sure where you are based but you mentioned Beckenham.

Andy at WrightTechUK is in Sidcup 020 8308 9175. He is a very good independent Mercedes Specialist and well worth getting his opinion.
Hi I was wondering if you ever figured out what problem was I am currently having same problem and out of things to try please any info would be appreciated thanks Douglas
Adam
 

Wighty

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W211/E320cdi/2009 and CLK200k 2009
Hi I am having the same problem with my 2001ml320 also were you able to find the problem please any info would be greatly appreciated
Douglas
The original poster hasn’t been on the forum since 2011 buddy
 

Dougieloh

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Messages
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Your Mercedes
Ml320 2001
Hello everyone. This is my first post here! I have a ML320 (2001).
Very simply, I seemed to have come to a dead-end, as far as solutions are concerned!
Car initially went into 'limp' mode intermittently and wouldn't come out of 1st gear.
Local Merc specialists' diagnostics couldn't figure out problem.
Took it to Main Dealer who suggested (with 99% confidence) that it was 'valve body' issue.
So I gave go-ahead to change (@ cost of £1100), only to find that 1 week later, same problem re-occurred!
More diagnostics at main dealer revealed that now the 'torque converter' needs replacing at a cost of £1350!!
(Apparently new valve body will have been corrupted now, if TC is faulty - so that was a waste of money!!)
Took it to a great guy who runs a specialist auto gearbox outfit in Beckenham, but who, alas, also cannot pinpoint the problem. Could be a mechanical issue or an electrical one! But apparently no way of knowing until recon gearbox is fitted and tested!
I now don't mind (too much!!) spending the extra £1450 for a recon gearbox, if thats the problem, but I don't want to do that only to find that it was just an ECU or some other electrical issue.
And I can't bring myself to 'dumping' a car I paid £14k for 4 years ago!!!
I don't really understand that technicalities of some of this stuff, and desperately looking for someone who knows what they're talking about, can maybe take the thing apart and tell me exactly whats wrong with it and hence registered myself with this forum earlier today!
I sincerely hope that someone maybe able to help?!?!?
Thank you, in advance, and a Very Happy New Year to all of you...
 

Dougieloh

Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
10
Reaction score
1
Your Mercedes
Ml320 2001
Hello everyone. This is my first post here! I have a ML320 (2001).
Very simply, I seemed to have come to a dead-end, as far as solutions are concerned!
Car initially went into 'limp' mode intermittently and wouldn't come out of 1st gear.
Local Merc specialists' diagnostics couldn't figure out problem.
Took it to Main Dealer who suggested (with 99% confidence) that it was 'valve body' issue.
So I gave go-ahead to change (@ cost of £1100), only to find that 1 week later, same problem re-occurred!
More diagnostics at main dealer revealed that now the 'torque converter' needs replacing at a cost of £1350!!
(Apparently new valve body will have been corrupted now, if TC is faulty - so that was a waste of money!!)
Took it to a great guy who runs a specialist auto gearbox outfit in Beckenham, but who, alas, also cannot pinpoint the problem. Could be a mechanical issue or an electrical one! But apparently no way of knowing until recon gearbox is fitted and tested!
I now don't mind (too much!!) spending the extra £1450 for a recon gearbox, if thats the problem, but I don't want to do that only to find that it was just an ECU or some other electrical issue.
And I can't bring myself to 'dumping' a car I paid £14k for 4 years ago!!!
I don't really understand that technicalities of some of this stuff, and desperately looking for someone who knows what they're talking about, can maybe take the thing apart and tell me exactly whats wrong with it and hence registered myself with this forum earlier today!
I sincerely hope that someone maybe able to help?!?!?
Thank you, in advance, and a Very Happy New Year to all of you...
I am having same problem did you ever resolve this please anything would be appreciated
 


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