Automatic Transmission Fluid and Pilot Bushing

[sajjadahmed99]

Hi

I own an E270 cdi (year of manaufacture 2005). I gave it in to one of the MB dealers to change the Automatic Transmission Fluid. I was quoted £220 (inclusive of VAT) When they took my car in, I received a call that Pilot Bushing is leaking and hence requires replacement and it will cost an additional £127 (inclusive of VAT). As I had no choice and know littel about the cars, I said if you feel that it requires changing, then change it.

Later on my wife went to pick the car up and paid the invoice and all I see on the invoice that against Pilot Bushing on the Electrohydraulic Control there is sign A (means merely the labout charge) I am unable to see the part code for Pilot Bushing on the invoice. Moreover, I read today that when you are changing the ATF, you are required to unscrew the Pilot Bushing and hence there can be some leakage of the oil. I feel that I have been fleeced in hard times by this dealer. It is worth noting that my car is hardly driven as has only been driven 42K miles since we bought it.

Moreover, I was asked to replace all the discs and disc pads together with the brake fluid which is also strange as car mileage is low and use is light. The over all cost for this job has been quoted by MB after special discount is £921. Honestly speaking, I am going crazy

Can someone assist please.



Regards

 

[rpe2]

Welcome to the forum.

You don't have to touch the pilot bush to change the ATF, but they do leak.

Re the brakes, walk away.

They may (or may not) need changing, but I think I'd expect a bag with £500 in the boot if I was paying that. Where are you located, I'm sure we can suggest a good independent specialist who will:

a. tell you what is genuinely required;

b. give you a sensible cost and;

c. impress you so much that you never return to a main dealer.

 

[Cole@MBS]

You do not need to undo the pilot bush to do a ATF change.

Thats a new one!

 

[rpe2]

Many 'new ones' coming up now. Certainly wide and varied.

"Yes sir, unfortunately we couldn't get the sump plug out of your car, so we have fitted a new engine..".

 

[SQ_W211]

LOL, That is in fact the true story about MB dealers.

You should go to MBS instead and get it all done in one go. Thats what I have always done

 

[star]

dealers never fail to find more work.

 

[television]

Welcome sajjadahmed99 I think that the others have answered well.

What they are doing with the brakes is, say the new thickness of the disc is 30mm, and the max wear limit is 27.5mm,,they tell you that you need new ones at 29mm so that you will not be inconvenienced by having to make a special journey. The fact that the other 1.5mm may take another 10 to 15k miles does not come into the equation

 

[sajjadahmed99]

ATF and Pilot Bushing

Many thanks for your prompt response. I am based in Bromley.

Issue is that I was informed that Pilot Bushing requires to be changed. However, on the face of the invoice, I do not see the part but do see the labour charge. I feel that I was misrepresented by the dealer staff. Moreover, I was informed to drain the breaks, would cost £193 after special discount. However, the dealer in Beckenham is asking for £139 inclusive.

On the breaks, I have ordered Bramboo Breaks and it cost including the sensors is £253. I am currently using Bramboo breaks in my C Class and they are functioning perfectly fine. There will be a labour charge to fit them in the E Class. I was also informed by the dealer that there is a special way to change breaks on an E Class and if installed by someone who is not MB specialist could result in computer giving warning on the discs.

Kind regards

Welcome to the forum.

You don't have to touch the pilot bush to change the ATF, but they do leak.

Re the brakes, walk away.

They may (or may not) need changing, but I think I'd expect a bag with £500 in the boot if I was paying that. Where are you located, I'm sure we can suggest a good independent specialist who will:

a. tell you what is genuinely required;

b. give you a sensible cost and;

c. impress you so much that you never return to a main dealer.

 

[television]

On the 211 you just disconnect both batteries if 2 fitted, then you change the disc or pads as a normal motor car

 

[sajjadahmed99]

Hi Malcolm

Thanks for your response. I just received MOT report on the car and it states that Front brake pads look close to limites recommend attention soon. There is no mentioned of wear to discs. I was informed by the MB dealer in Croydon yestrday that the maximum we could drive is 50 miles on these breaks to which I was surprised as normally you get a warning due to the sensors.

In this case, I should only consider changing the break pads as oppose to changing the entire system. What is your view on this?

Kind regards

 

[television]

Cars from around 2001 use a 2 wire system as a wear limit warning. with a 2 wire system, the disc cuts the wires and the warning comes on and stays on until they are replaced.

With the single wire system, when the pads are at their near limits, the disc cuts through the plastic on the sensor pin and the warning lamp will come on, for the duration of that journey,,if you turn off and on again, the lamp will come on again once you touch the brake pedal.

Most get up to around 1000 miles, when replacements become a must.

I have no way of knowing if the sensor wires have been fitted to your cars, but they should have them.

Just by taking off one wheel,you can see the rear of the caliper and the pad, around 3mm of thickness is about the max allowable before replacement

 

[rpe2]

This firm have been reccomended on the 'other' forum.

http://www.yell.com/b/Merctech-Garage+Services-Orpington-BR66BJ-5763741/index.html

 

[sajjadahmed99]

Brake pads and discs

Hi Malcom

Thanks for your kind advise. Does unplugging the battery causes other mechanical and electrical faults for example will the electric windows require resetting?

Kind regards

Cars from around 2001 use a 2 wire system as a wear limit warning. with a 2 wire system, the disc cuts the wires and the warning comes on and stays on until they are replaced.

With the single wire system, when the pads are at their near limits, the disc cuts through the plastic on the sensor pin and the warning lamp will come on, for the duration of that journey,,if you turn off and on again, the lamp will come on again once you touch the brake pedal.

Most get up to around 1000 miles, when replacements become a must.

I have no way of knowing if the sensor wires have been fitted to your cars, but they should have them.

Just by taking off one wheel,you can see the rear of the caliper and the pad, around 3mm of thickness is about the max allowable before replacement

 

[television]

Not at all,,you can do it all when driving,,just turn the steering from lock to lock to put out the ESP lamp,,hold each window switch in the closed up position for a few seconds,the same with the roof,,of do it when stopped in key 2

 

[turbopete]

i wouldnt rely on the wear warning wires too much! im sure the later system is better than my earlier system, but i never once had a warning up on the dash and was lucky not to lose the brakes last friday! discs badly worn and pitted, pads had a smearing of friction material about as thick as a sheet of paper left on them when i changed them, and what was left fell off the backings when i removed them!

 

[Miffy]

Many thanks for your prompt response. I am based in Bromley.

sorry no input from me, but had to say HI seeing as your just up the road

 

[5pares]

If you only had 50 miles left on the pads they should have failed the mot,the minimum is 1.5mm,so they must be just above that to get an advisory therefor you have atleast 1000 miles left.The inner pad on the front of 211's wears quicker than the outer and can catch people out,the sensor is fitted to the outer pad.

 

[Uncle Benz]

If I remember correctly when I changed my pilot bushing connector, the actual cost of the part was about £3.75 so the balance is labour cost which is criminal.

Part number 203 540 02 53, a little dearer than that!! £14.43 +VAT retail, £11.55 +VAT trade.

I bought four of them today!!

 

[Uncle Benz]

Price has certainly jumped in the 18 months since I bought mine.

Did you buy 4 because you are in the trade and will use them, or as an investment for the future ?

The way MB parts are increasing in price, sounds better than property snakes and ladders on TV !

Fitted 2 today, got a couple for stock. I tend to keep the faster moving stuff on the shelf. Auto box filters and sump gaskets, steering dampers, starter line mod, as well as usual filters and brake pads.

You are right about the prices too!! MB have recently "rationalised" the handset cups for Bluetooth - they are nearly double the money now!!!

 

[ALFIEBEARD]

You are right about the prices too!! MB have recently "rationalised" the handset cups for Bluetooth - they are nearly double the money now!!![/QUOTE]

Probably because of all the repair contributions they have had to pay out recently snigger

sorry had to say it.

Alfie B