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JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,586
985
126
Just found a quote on a '99 E320 transmission on another forum:

Just informed by my dealership that my 1999 E320 4matic wagon with 104,000 miles (of course now out of warranty), regularly brought to the dealership for service, needs a new transmission, transfer case and torque tube. It will cost $6000 to repair. OUCH!!!
The last time the car was in October 2004 my service advisor felt I just needed an oil change and not a service.
I purchased this car preowned at 40k miles and it had at 39.700 miles the transfer case, oxygen sensor, hydraulic engine mount, the planetary gearshift, and transmission control replaced. I thought when I bought it great, this problem was resolved before I bought the car, but now in hind sight (20,20) it was a red flag. I loved this car and thought I would drive it till it died--I did not expect the death to come so soon.
Does this series have a history of transmission problems?
I would appreciate any advice on how to deal with this before I sit down with the dealership and talk.
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Could be the Jeep tranny is very similar to the Benz tranny. Heck, 80's Volvos used Toyota manual trannys.

Cherokee transmissions are the same as Supra transmissions ;)
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Just found a quote on a '99 E320 transmission on another forum:

Just informed by my dealership that my 1999 E320 4matic wagon with 104,000 miles (of course now out of warranty), regularly brought to the dealership for service, needs a new transmission, transfer case and torque tube. It will cost $6000 to repair. OUCH!!!
The last time the car was in October 2004 my service advisor felt I just needed an oil change and not a service.
I purchased this car preowned at 40k miles and it had at 39.700 miles the transfer case, oxygen sensor, hydraulic engine mount, the planetary gearshift, and transmission control replaced. I thought when I bought it great, this problem was resolved before I bought the car, but now in hind sight (20,20) it was a red flag. I loved this car and thought I would drive it till it died--I did not expect the death to come so soon.
Does this series have a history of transmission problems?
I would appreciate any advice on how to deal with this before I sit down with the dealership and talk.

1. Its a dealer price
2. It's AWD
3. That price included a Transfer case
4. The previous info. leads me to believe it was beaten on AND it was not cared for.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

The best years of that car's life have come and gone. Trust me on this. I've owned a couple pre-owned BMWs and they both sucked up thousands of dollars each year in repairs. One was owned by my Father-In-Law and was always maintained at the dealership according to their recommendation including $5,000 for a new transmission at 90k miles.

You couldn't pay me to buy that car.

Are you saying that a new transmission at 90k was regularly scheduled maintenance, or just that the dealer recommended it?
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Yep, found it: http://www.adsitco.com/category.asp?CID=1654

That's great and who's going to install it? Mom and Dad? Add another $800-1000 in labor assuming you don't need any other parts replaced at that time. :roll:

$1000?!? :laugh:

I don't know many shops that would take 10 hours to remove it, assuming dealer prices of $95/hr, or more like 15 hours, if you use the common price of $65/hr.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,586
985
126
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Yep, found it: http://www.adsitco.com/category.asp?CID=1654

That's great and who's going to install it? Mom and Dad? Add another $800-1000 in labor assuming you don't need any other parts replaced at that time. :roll:

$1000?!? :laugh:

I don't know many shops that would take 10 hours to remove it, assuming dealer prices of $95/hr, or more like 15 hours, if you use the common price of $65/hr.

Okay, go ahead and buy the car. If his parents want to spend $15k Canadian on a 10 year old German car with 135k miles on it, so be it. I don't give a rat's ass.

Yeah, that's real good advice you're dishing out. That car will be a money pit and will cost thousands of dollars a year in repairs. Unless you're a mechanic and only pay for parts, mark my words, it will cost you thousands.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,586
985
126
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

The best years of that car's life have come and gone. Trust me on this. I've owned a couple pre-owned BMWs and they both sucked up thousands of dollars each year in repairs. One was owned by my Father-In-Law and was always maintained at the dealership according to their recommendation including $5,000 for a new transmission at 90k miles.

You couldn't pay me to buy that car.

Are you saying that a new transmission at 90k was regularly scheduled maintenance, or just that the dealer recommended it?

I'm saying the car left my Father-In-Law's current wife stranded on the side of the road and had to be towed to the dealer at 90k miles at which point they replaced the transmission. My wife was gifted the car about a year later with over 90k miles and we put thousands into it over the next couple years including $2600 to replace the cylinder head (parts & labor). It had 140k miles on it when we got rid of it...of course we bought a newer pre-owned German money pit to replace it and spent thousands of dollars keeping that car on the road over the next 3-4 years. That one had 120k on it when we sold it.