2001 ML270 CDI Autobox Overhaul

Cosworth

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I was told by a friend that a brand new exchange gearbox from the dealers supplied a £2200 plus vat excluding fitting and torque convertor.
 
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Dunvale

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01 ML 270cdi (w163), 94 E200 (w124)
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Just had a look on ebay 2005 X5 fully loaded 141k miles sold for £13500
2004 ML 270 fully loaded 64k miles sold for £8500,
£5000 that’s a lot of difference.
Kevin, I certainly respect your views and I understand that you have had good service from your ML. I had Pajeros for years and loved em, never any trouble but others cursed them.
I bought my ML for a resonable €6,500 but since then €4,000 extra has been spent between gearboxes and injector plugs. Not to mention the added stress, hardship, time wasting, car swapping etc etc. For the same money I could have bought myself a clean Landcruiser or a Kia Sorento up the years.
Its a wonderful thing if one can carry out their own repairs but not everyone can, I used to do all my own work on the Pajeros but there is just too much electrics and tolerances to be messed with on an ML plus I am now at a stage where I need reliability and I am shocked at the MLs lack of it. I actually dont feel confident driving it any more, I'm just waiting for the next problem. I was going to sell it but then I figured Its prctically rebuilt between everything! Its my own fault for not doing more research into this model but I have had good experiences with merc before.

I was told by a friend that a brand new exchange gearbox from the dealers supplied a £2200 plus vat excluding fitting and torque convertor.
He's probably right, but stick a torque convertor on that (which you will have to) along with other little bits an bobs that they will find along the way and then slap the crazy labour rates the dealerships charge on top of that and you would get some shock at the price then! Remember I'm dealing in Euro your talking pounds.
 

kebo57

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Hi Dunvale
I wasn't having a go at you,
I think that one of the problems is that they drive like a car but there is a lot more weight which = stress in everything including the auto box, you can mess anything up if you drive it hard enough, so some problems might relate to the person that had the vehicle before, I might have been lucky in that respect I've only had mine for 3 yrs and back then there wasn't much information available regarding maintance but I have learn't a lot from this forum
maybe €4,000 extra might put me of
€10,500 = £9,702, I can see from where your coming from here

Kevin
 

donithediver

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hi,
This site is V interesting....I have learnt more about my ML in 24 hours that I have since Ive had it. ....... Anyway this sounds similar to what is uo with mine. 2001 112K miles came home few weeks ago and could see a small pool of oil on the drive felt like it would not pull in gear. since then it was fine untill it started going into safe mode and only clears when engine is switched off then on. I will ask someone to change my gearbox oil tomorrow see if it works.
 
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Dunvale

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01 ML 270cdi (w163), 94 E200 (w124)
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hi,
This site is V interesting....I have learnt more about my ML in 24 hours that I have since Ive had it. ....... Anyway this sounds similar to what is uo with mine. 2001 112K miles came home few weeks ago and could see a small pool of oil on the drive felt like it would not pull in gear. since then it was fine untill it started going into safe mode and only clears when engine is switched off then on. I will ask someone to change my gearbox oil tomorrow see if it works.
Glad you are finding the site helpful, I must say its a great facility to have, very helpful bunch on here.
I hope my friend that you do not have the same troubles as me. Sounds like a mild bit of slippage occured resulting in the lack of pull and oil leakage which is as a result of the oil heating up and blowing out the breather. The fact that its going ok now is good I suppose apart from the safe mode thing.
This might be the electrical loom on the side of the gearbox. If oil gets in there it can send false readings back to the computer causing her to go safe. And when the oil comes out the breather, thats the first place it will go.
My advice:
1. Put it on diagnostics and check the codes, this is important as the codes do tell allot, it will show up if a slippage occured. At least then you will have that info.
2. Defo get oil changed asap. And put in new filter. Filter is inexpensive. Get a hold of old one and break it open and have a good look inside.
Get your mechanic to inspect the oil and look for any particals in the pan.
Better still, be there with the bugger! these guys will just do what they're told unless you tell them what you think might be wrong.
3. Get a sample of the old oil as it comes out of the box. A small jar full is lots. Take this to a MERC dealer and get it tested for glycol contamination!
The mercedes test is the best one and most accurate, will cost about £30 but well worth it. They do plenty of these tests all the time I'd say! People will tell you "that this does'nt happen in the ML's", but trust me IT DOES.
4. If safe mode is still coming on after changing the oil, perhaps get wiring loom changed, its a cheap part from the stealership and easy enough to fit I think.
I'm not an expert on these things but I'm just telling you what I did before I resorted to a rebuild which I hope you dont have to do. I know the above might seem like allot to do but trust me, Its a process of elimination and with the info you get from all the evidence built up along the way, It puts you in a stronger more confident position should you have to resort to dealing with a specialist.
I wasn't having a go at you,
I think that one of the problems is that they drive like a car but there is a lot more weight which = stress in everything including the auto box
Kevin, I wasn't taking you up the wrong way at all! I'm just a bit negative about the ML's these days especially after the experiences I've had within a month of owning one. Actually the specialist who I took it too said the same thing as you, "Its a cars running gear mated with a 4x4 and that is not the most ideal situation!" But listen thanks for your information on the heat exchanger, that saved me allot of hassel actually cause I nearly went off and bought a new rad. Even the gearbox guy forgot that some ML's had their gearbox cooling system routed through those!
 
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Dunvale

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01 ML 270cdi (w163), 94 E200 (w124)
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Can you believe this guys, I'm driving home from work yesterday and the ML's gears decide to go freaky on me, It felt like it was looking for the correct gear. One min I'm crusing in overdrive and then it shoots into second gear. It was at this on and off for a few seconds. Then I pulled in and turned it off for a few seconds. When I pulled off again it locked in what felt like second gear. And did'nt change out of that till I got home which was only a few hundred yards away at the time. Tiptronic did'nt work either. So I presume it locked in second gear safe mode.
This is only less than two months after a full gearbox rebuild, and new heat exchanger.
When I got home I turned it off, banged my head off a wall for a few mins, had my dinner and went out to give it a go again. This time it was fine. I drove it out the road fairly lively and in around town. It performed fine. Drove the 30mins to work this morning and it was fine also.
I am still disgusted that this could still happen. There must still be an issue. Its under warranty from the guy who rebuilt the gearbox. So I'll give him a ring and inform him of the incident. I'll monitor the situation. But if this happens again, its going back to gearbox man.
Honestly, these ML's are the biggest pile of s**t excuse for a 4x4 ever made.:mad:
 

kebo57

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Hi something like youv'e stated must leave codes around in the ecu's. wondering now if the ELECTRICS KIT was replaced, if that's the problem it will come back again, check oil level.

Kevin
 

OlafMaxwell

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I have to say that reading the posts on the site would suggerst the ML can be a troublesome beast. However if the transmission is sorted then hopefully you should not have a lot of problems. The second problem you mention with not shifting up affects the 722.6 autobox, I had a similar problem cost me about €300 at Tom Murphy in Waterford. Whatever you do if you are in Ireland dont touch the MSL owned garages, they are a disaster. Tom Murphys are not MB owned and they also service a lot of older MB cars.

The injector seals are a weak point on the cdi engines, probably worth doing them all. I got one replaced on a service last Monday, dealer reckons about 4 hours to do the remaining 5 which having read posts on the site probably is not too bad. I was under a bit of time pressure and the job was not done in an MB dealership but a Saab/chrysler dealership across the street from me [Chrysler also use MB engines] as they have the tools for doing injectors. Given that I lose no work time I will probably do this.
 
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Dunvale

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Hey Kevin the saga continues!
I was told that the Electrics kit was replaced. I'll have to get a dip stick to check the oil. As a matter of interest. When i start the ML in the morning and I'm driving, there is a whine from what sounds like the gearbox until things warm up. Then it goes. Is that Normal?
I rang the gearbox guy. He said to bring it in and he will put it on diagnostics and look at codes. He thinks its an electric issue. Possibly Air flow mass meter. Worst case, tiptronic problem. Although, I never use tiptronic.
Baffled.
 
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Dunvale

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Olaf,
Thanks for your input. I had to get all my injectors done a couple of months ago, just before I had my gearbox REBUILT. Got my gearbox done by a man in Dublin in the shadow of Croke park. He has a Private Business but in the merc scene for years.
I had all the 5 seals replaced with newly designed seals, also had to get two injectors rebuilt. Good job was done though by Bosch specialist. Years warranty from Bosch included.
To say that the ML's are a bit of a troublesome beast would be an understatment! These days I'm an avid Anti ML owner, but I'm stuck with it for now.
 

psmart

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Dunnvale, a very interesting, if not frustrating and saddening read.

Must point out though that the Dealer tests arent accurate! My first box went, replaced with a 25K warranted box, at the time I told them to perform the Glycol test ( I think some on here laugh at this possibility on an ML ), they said all was ok, 6-8K later box blew up, it was full of water and I noted on this forum just after the 2nd box that it wasnt right and started regularly reading codes, but didnt help.

On gearboxes alone, its cost circa EUR5000 + GBP2000 plus numerous other items, so I know where your coming from, they just arent what you would expect from Mercedes, but they are very nice cars when all is fine and I had the best part of 5 years mainly trouble free until things started going wrong! Apart from going at high speed on motorways, the car wasnt thrashed and driven with respect. The faults though, such as skewed exhaust manifold, twisting turbo, bracket etc, 2 gearboxes can't be put down to user-error, its all poor manufacture!

Like most things though, some got mainly reliable machines, so its just the luck of the draw, but with this marque of car, luck should not come into it.
 

kebo57

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Hey Kevin the saga continues!
When i start the ML in the morning and I'm driving, there is a whine from what sounds like the gearbox until things warm up. Then it goes. Is that Normal?
Mine is coming up to 217000 miles with no whine
put it on diagnostics and look at codes. He thinks its an electric issue. Possibly Air flow mass meter. Worst case, tiptronic problem. Although.
I had diagnostic check when my box went into limp mode, that many times that it was stuck in 2nd all the time.
The guy that did it (reputable guy) never the less couldn't actually make contact with the box ecu.
So what do you do then.
Well that's when I got the phone number of Sean he found the fault code on a friday on a bog standard diagnostic unit our none star related unit,
I got the car back at 1600hrs the Sunday, never had a problem sinse apart from once when I did a rolling start,
I pulled of main road in to side street looking parking rolling coasting slowing down to about 5mph (no parking) so I pulled away a few more rev,s needed that usualy wham limp mode (B@@@@@d):(
next start up OK till this day

Kevin
 
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Dunvale

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psmart, thanks for your input. Yes I totally agree with your sentaments.
I see on the homepage of this site, there is an article relating to the 1millionth M class built. I wander how much development they have put into quality control since no.1!?

Kevin, what did Seans friend do to rectafy your problem. Sounds like you have been one of the few lucky ones with your ML.
 

kebo57

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Kevin, what did Seans friend do to rectafy your problem. Sounds like you have been one of the few lucky ones with your ML.
Hi
Sean is the MB technician, had the box problem nailed down over the phone he took the motor run the test said it was the electro plate in the box £300.00 would fix it new plate, oil, oil filter, pan seal & electric plug seal.

It would seem quite obvious now with all the information on the forum relating to the limp mode, but you still need someone that you can trust 100%

Kevin
 

Mercmick

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WHAT HAVE I DONE !!!
Convinced the wife we needed a 03 plate Merc 270 and now realised its not a 4x4 its a moneybox.

Following last months disaters costing 1200 pound ( i wont go into deatails to long and complicated )

This week.....
car starting well, when reversing car out of drive way a real need to rev engine to get car rolling.....told wife it was cold and normal.....now car seems to be stuck in one gear when in drive, possibly 3rd I can not change gear by knocking the gearstick across it just stays in drive mode.

last month following 4 days in Mercedes garage they alerted me to a oil leak in the gear box.....never had one before it went in as drive way is clean without oil.....in the last 4 weeks i have a oil patch 400mm x 400mm on drive way

i bought this car 8 weeks ago and feel really disapointed

please let me know what you guys think
thank mick
 


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