Transmission woes on a new(ish) E500
#1
03-26-2009, 12:11 AM
Transmission woes on a new(ish) E500
The transmission on my low mileage 03 started to shake the car when on load. This is a cherished 31k car, looks like new. I called a contact in an MB dealership in Texas.
It's probably a rad leak causing the fluid in the gearbox/converter to become contaminated. I took the car in the next day. Change the t-converter, perhaps the gearbox. New rad of course. I had purchased bumper to bumper cover with them when the MB cover ran out.
Now I'm left with a dilemma. The insurers wanted the box changed as well, this way they wouldn't be getting another claim later on. Okay, that sounds fine, but that's not normally the way they work. Long story short, I had a loaner for a few days and drove a long way home based on the estimated time that it would take to get an MB rebuild in and do the job. Withing a couple of days of being home, I got a call to say that it was done...but, the insurers had sent a third-party's rebuild.
I was not too happy about this. You might think that $50 for all this work would be a dream come true, but I'm not sure. The statements I have are for the work done, not the cost of the unit. I wonder if the insurers have a recovery department which makes claims against manufactures. Well, I know some do, but I don't know about mine.
It seems reasonable to think that MB should bear some of the cost, because my car was not recalled and the faulty rad took out the gearbox. Surely, that would be unfair for the insurers to have to cough up for that. However, I don't know, and have no way of finding out...as far as I know.
If the insurers supplied a cheap alternative - while being compensated for a new box, I would be the loser, because I had an immaculate car with almost no miles and perfect service records. Now I don't. I have a car that goes, and that's kind of okay, but it just doesn't add up.
I know these companies often bargain for a lesser amount...squirming and giving a bad time to the owner. I've been there before, and came out ahead, but that's another story. This time, not a sound. Should I be pleased...or suspicious?
It's probably a rad leak causing the fluid in the gearbox/converter to become contaminated. I took the car in the next day. Change the t-converter, perhaps the gearbox. New rad of course. I had purchased bumper to bumper cover with them when the MB cover ran out.
Now I'm left with a dilemma. The insurers wanted the box changed as well, this way they wouldn't be getting another claim later on. Okay, that sounds fine, but that's not normally the way they work. Long story short, I had a loaner for a few days and drove a long way home based on the estimated time that it would take to get an MB rebuild in and do the job. Withing a couple of days of being home, I got a call to say that it was done...but, the insurers had sent a third-party's rebuild.
I was not too happy about this. You might think that $50 for all this work would be a dream come true, but I'm not sure. The statements I have are for the work done, not the cost of the unit. I wonder if the insurers have a recovery department which makes claims against manufactures. Well, I know some do, but I don't know about mine.
It seems reasonable to think that MB should bear some of the cost, because my car was not recalled and the faulty rad took out the gearbox. Surely, that would be unfair for the insurers to have to cough up for that. However, I don't know, and have no way of finding out...as far as I know.
If the insurers supplied a cheap alternative - while being compensated for a new box, I would be the loser, because I had an immaculate car with almost no miles and perfect service records. Now I don't. I have a car that goes, and that's kind of okay, but it just doesn't add up.
I know these companies often bargain for a lesser amount...squirming and giving a bad time to the owner. I've been there before, and came out ahead, but that's another story. This time, not a sound. Should I be pleased...or suspicious?
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