A Class A140 SERIOUS PROBLEMS

[sazzy13]

Hi

I have a Mercedes A-CLass A140 Classic SE automatic first registered in 2004 and purchased by me in 2005 at just under £10K

Recently the car started having some problems and just today I took it to Mercedes for diagnostics. They told me it needs a new gear box at a cost of £4,000. shock:

My question is, is it right that a Mercedes of only 5 years old and just over 40,000 miles should need a new gearbox so soon? Does anyone know if there have been any reported faults on this gear box?

Any help or advice given would be gratefully received. I have NO INTENTION of spending that kind of money when I only bought the car such a short time ago.

Thank you.

 

[lulu]

What gearbox do you have, manual, automatic?

 

[hawk20]

What gearbox do you have, manual, automatic?

Ummm in the first line of his posting it gives a big clue!

 

[psmart]

Mine was an A140 Classic with Manual box and it went at ~40K, along with steering rack and numerous other components.

 

[sazzy13]

That's TERRIBLE! Mine is automatic but is there really NOTHING I can do? I can't believe any car, let alone a Mercedes can develop such a major problem in such a short space of time. It's shameful on Mercedes.

 

[discoking]

Unfortunately since the car is 5+yrs old now and you've owned it for 4yrs then there is only you who can pick up the tab.

One thing to note tho,there are many very good independant gearbox specialists who will fix/recon your gearbox and would probably charge a quater of what MB have quoted.

If your up the north east way then these guys are second to none,used them many times and it's a quick turn around normally.

http://www.teessidegarageservices.co.uk/select-a-gear.htm


(just checking but you have got a proper automatic and not the clutchless manual/auto box?)

 

[psmart]

That's TERRIBLE! Mine is automatic but is there really NOTHING I can do? I can't believe any car, let alone a Mercedes can develop such a major problem in such a short space of time. It's shameful on Mercedes.

I had the foresight (through information on this forum) of taking out the Service Plus contract which paid for it all, but after 1.5 years (even though I had a 3 year contract), I sold the car on. There are many people with reliable A-Classes, Id just picked up a dog!

 

[Micman]

There are many people with reliable A-Classes, Id just picked up a dog!

Yes, but they are just the ones who haven't had anything break so far! :lol::lol:

Sorry but I've been there - I had an A-class...... never again.

Surely there can't be many A140's out there with an auto gearbox?? How on earth does it have the power to move???

 

[Rory]

I'm sure A (and B) Class are nice cars to buy new and run for 3 years. But buy a used one and you're asking for trouble - the packaging of these cars is such that if almost anything goes wrong then the bill will be enormous.

Interestingly there's a post on the HonestJohn foum about Honda replacing, without any fuss or drama, the autobox on a 7 year old car. Perhaps Mercedes would help out? OK, I'm joking, of course they won't.

 

[jhbg14572]

I have bought a 'Classic 140' two weeks ago, along with it I purchased a three year warranty package for £350, I do think it is worth it for the peace of mind.

 

[rhud]

Getting nervous again with all these A Class horror stories flying about. I am consoling myself with the thought that post 2005 all is well...or at least better.

 

[s and k autos]

where is the car what area

 

[J400uk]

Getting nervous again with all these A Class horror stories flying about. I am consoling myself with the thought that post 2005 all is well...or at least better.

The 2005 onwards (W169) A-Class and the B-Class (W245) are proving to be pretty reliable, with no serious problems. They certainly do very well in the consumer surveys compared to the previous A-Class (W168), which is what the OP has.

 

[Hertfordshire Merx]

It is very true that the new A Class (169) is a massive improvement all round on its predecessor in terms of build quality, drive train, suspension to say the least.

An A140 may be slightly underpowered with an auto box installed but a lot of owners of them fail to buy them for what they are truly intended for. I.E they were built as a 'Mums taxi', designed and ideas spawned from Women and what they wanted out of a small MPV. I have seen A's with tow bars pulling 14ft caravans and listened to customers concerns and faults of them battling up and down the A1(M), M1 and around the M25 struggling to keep at 90mph in lane 3 because they are being flashed from behind and wanting to go faster! Basically they are not C or E Classes etc!

I guess Mercedes learned the hard way with the 168, but to give them full credit they have built the latest A Class with 1000% increase in quality. The two vehicles in my opinion, cannot be compared. Mercedes had the same fundamental issues with the old and new ML's, they too cannot be compared. It does show the company is comitted to innovation and product improvement.

With regard to automatic gearbox problems on the 168 A Class, the vast majority of problems were caused by faulty valve bodies (electrohydraulic control units). This is the component that contains the valves, speed sensors, FTC control unit etc etc.

There are some fault codes that generate an instant change of the above component and there are others that can lead you up the garden path to change the hydraulic unit as part of a test procedure then once replaced, Star condemns the gearbox! Maybe this has been the case that this diagnosis route has arisen, and maybe the garage has covered its bum by suggesting this.

A fault code(s) if you can get them, or at least some symptoms of the problem would be helpful....

 

[hawk20]

I'm sure A (and B) Class are nice cars to buy new and run for 3 years. But buy a used one and you're asking for trouble - the packaging of these cars is such that if almost anything goes wrong then the bill will be enormous.

Interestingly there's a post on the HonestJohn foum about Honda replacing, without any fuss or drama, the autobox on a 7 year old car. Perhaps Mercedes would help out? OK, I'm joking, of course they won't.

Oh dear. The number of times you've told that tale. I could recount loads of cases where MB have done 'goodwill' payments long after the guarantee has run out. And plenty where Honda have refused. Samples of one tell us nothing, however often they are repeated.

 

[jibcl500]

reasonably easy fix on the full automatics, replace all the ***** and ******* valves, replace with new updated **** and ******* replace box ***, new filter and oil, time on star £1700.

jib

 

[A180 Dream]

reasonably easy fix on the full automatics, replace all the ***** and ******* valves, replace with new updated **** and ******* replace box ***, new filter and oil, time on star £1700.

jib

That post did not tell me much

Could you rephrase it?

 

[jibcl500]

That post did not tell me much

Could you rephrase it?

Yes you need a who load of new parts and some time on star.

I could tell you more but then all the hard work ive put into finding out whats wronf with the A class gearbox and how to fix it would come to nothing, basically if theres an electrical component inside the box then change it for new and that includes the ECU.

jib