Error 0894; CVT replacement part?

[Lollingsgrad]

So my 2006 B180 CDi staggered and went into limp mode on Sunday, had it in a garage on Monday which came back with error 0894 off the diagnostics. It's not clear what exactly needs to be done but I've heard CVT belt replacement off Mercedes for £300, valve body replacement off someone else for £800-2000, gearbox "reconditioning" for £2000-3000 or full replacement for £5000.

The range of possible costs is worrying and I'm tempted to just avoid the potential spiralling costs and try to get a second hand replacement gearbox and pay someone to fit it. I seem to be able to do this for about £1750 which sucks but importantly is a fixed price.

The catch is that the part numbers don't exactly match; mine is (according to Mercedes) A1693702800, the part I've found is A1693702300. Mercedes won't say whether this will or won't fit and don't have anyone who can tell me because they say they always fit like-for-like. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Any advice for other solutions also greatly appreciated.

 

[Lollingsgrad]

I've just been told by Mercedes that the control boxes in these gearboxes are bound to the specific car via firmware so dropping in a whole new gearbox, electrics and all, might be impossible. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

[alexanderfoti]

The gearbox ECU needs to be SCN coded to the car after it is installed.

If the electroplate+ECU(all the same unit) has failed, its likely to be much cheaper and easy to get it to an independent Mercedes specialist. They can replace the ecu and get you on your way for less than £1750.

Saying that, before you spend any money, get it to a specialist, get them to look at the codes and decide what has failed in the box.

 

[Lollingsgrad]

Saying that, before you spend any money, get it to a specialist, get them to look at the codes and decide what has failed in the box.

Thanks very much for the reply; I was thinking of taking it to the local Mercedes dealership to get the problem properly diagnosed. £128 to run diagnostics is a bit absurd but compared to the sums for the repair job, probably worth throwing down.

If the electroplate+ECU(all the same unit) has failed, its likely to be much cheaper and easy to get it to an independent Mercedes specialist. They can replace the ecu and get you on your way for less than £1750.

In the event it comes to this do you know an independent Mercedes specialist that also works with automatic transmissions? I'm in Cambridge and it seems the ones I've contacted outsource to non-specialist transmission workshops.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Don't take it to a dealership, find a local Mercedes specialist. There is a finder on this site.

 

[Lollingsgrad]

Don't take it to a dealership, find a local Mercedes specialist. There is a finder on this site.

Managed to get hold of Hertfordshire Merx through the site, bit out of the way but seemed reassuringly knowledgeable on Merc automatic transmission and were quoting much less terrifying numbers. Thanks very much for the tip.

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

If the TCU plate is the issue, you can have them repaired for about £250+VAT

 

[Lollingsgrad]

So it turned out that the transmission belt wasn't slipping and it was the speed sensor on the ECU at fault. Whilst still expensive it's a heck of a lot cheaper than replacing/repairing the gearbox. Thanks a lot for the help!