Several years ago when I was in college (and before I turned my own wrenches), my '78 300CD's tranny dropped and since I was about 1-month from graduating and moving back home. I opted to take my car to AAMCO to have the tranny rebuilt, and I had them warrant it for life.

Now, about a year after the rebuild, the tranny started leaking. I called them and they looked at it and told me not to worry, it wasn't a major leak. Now recently it finally blead out enough that it wasn't shifting properly and needed to be fixed. I took it back to them and they told me they changed some seals, and I can tell they did something around the shifter since it is much firmer now, however, I had a pool of red fluid under my car when I went to work this morning and it was about 7" in diameter. I called the shop and they told me to let it go for a week or so and see if the rate decreases and that nearly all of the MB Trannys they've seen leak.

I call BS since my transmission never leaked before, and the 300D's preferred fluid of choice for marking territorry is motor oil (and mine doesn't leak oil!)

Am I wrong, or do I need to take my car back and stand on someone's desk? As a Mechanical Engineer, I'm well aware that these issues do not solve themselves.

Thanks in advance!


Scott

'78 300CD 230,000mi
'88 560SEL 71,000mi
'89 560SL On Wishlist

I think someone is blowing smoke up your arse. They should not leak BUT how many years has it been since they rebuilt it?

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Jim

Tranny guys rate down there with used car salesman in my book. I hate automatics because I can't rebuild them. I would think if the tranny is right, it would not leak a drop. Do you think it leaked when it was new? They made their money and why want ot avoid doing anything else. There are plenty of new people to rip off.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

MB trannies rarely leak. Check the cooler hoses though, they could've cut one of them. Pinpoint exactly where the leak is coming from.

A drop on the floor once a month maybe, 7" puddel overnight NO.

John Roncallo

I concur!

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2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

Maybe it was overfilled and when it got warmed up it leaked out. Check the fluid level with the motor hot.

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82 Rabbit diesel (first d), 84 Jetta turbo d (300k when sold), 83 240d (305k when sold), 84 F250 6.9d w/Banks turbo(parts truck), 86 F250 6 cyl.gasser(waiting for 6.9d), 84 300d ( 347k Sold 8/04), Y2k New Bettle TDI (185k miles), 95 740IL (wifes), 87 300TD (206k Sold 7/05), 05 Passat TDI Wagon

My parking spot was dry when I left the office today, so I guess we'll see... I dunno... I'll spot them a week and if the leak comes back then I'll make it their problem, or stand on their corporate offices...

Oh, the transmission was rebuilt origionally in spring 2001, and the messed it up and had to redo it fall 2001. That was it until now.

...and people wonder why I take care of my own Benzes. Just like most things in life, if you want something done right... do it yourself!


Thanks guys!


Scott

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/aamco.htm

Good luck getting anything made right at AAMCO. The WEB is full of stories like the ones seen in the URL above.

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'91 300-SEL

CzarFC,

I would want to offer false hope with AMMCO. But, you should determine where the leak is comming from FIRST!! Your car is quite old, maybe the oil cooler metal lines have been known to wear and leak where they are supported by the p-clamps.

If it's comming out of the transmission belhousing area- then it's probably the front seal/pump o-ring. By the size that would be my guess.

It's a scary thought to think of the precision of an MB transmission being serviced by regular transmission ppl. These were really precision stuff- kinda like comparing an old clock to a new swiss watch.

Just out of curriousity-what did they charge you? Historically, you can buy a Mercedes rebuild transmission and have a local automotive shop install it. Comes with a 2 year warrentee. That or maybe a handful of aftermarket shops .

Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

Scott and all:

I owned and operated an AAMCO for 12 years.

I assure you if you have a Lifetime warranty that transmission is their responsibility for the life of the vehicle as long as "you" own it.

I never told anyone a transmission "suppose to leak" and any transmission should not.

AAMCO is as good as you can find as their techs are the best and best trained in the field.

AAMCO's warranty is also the best.


If you still have a problem call the customer service in PA.

John1

John1-

Thanks for your message! I'm going to give it a week and if I'm still not happy then I'll do as you sugget. I really appreciate getting an opinion from someone whose been on the other side of the counter!

It is frustrating though when you take a car in becuase the transmission leaks and it comes back leaking worse. Aslo, ownership of the car has not and will not change since the warantee was purchased.


Thanks again for the reality check!


Scott


'78 300CD
'88 560SEL

samiam4-

The carged me a total of ~$2,500 for the tranny and the lifetime warantee. I would have gone with my local indy, however as I said, I was about to move and his warantee was only good at his shop (and since I was moving out of town, that wouldn't have worked out well for me). I could have had my indy fix it for about $1,500 however it was worth the piece of mind to be able to take it to any of the AAMCO shops once I left college. Needless to say, I doubt AAMCO will ever touch the tranny on my 560. We shall see, I'm not folding my hand yet.


Scott

'78 300CD
'88 560SEL

I've gernerally heard bad things about the AMCCO's


I would suggest to ppl generally to purchase a MB rebuilt transmission and pay a local indy to install it.
I'd be suprised if AMMCO truely replaced everything internal that is required. The company warrentee always goes back to the franchise unless you are XX miles away or they are no longer around.
Personally, if it goes 500 miles perfectly- it will most likely last years. Yes, be nice and firm about them fixing the leak.

Did you determine the location of the leak?

Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

Aamco and Just Brakes have VERY poor names around my area. I'm more scared of brake work than I am of trans internals. I build valve bodies for vehicles all the time, swap servo assy's, etc. If it didn't cost me $2500-3000 in TOOLS to rebuild a unit, I would do it myself.

My suggestion is to call and ask around locally to see who's had labor done and what they suggest. Independent shops can be hit or miss but if you get a good one they're usually a ton better than chain shops as more often they want to replace the entire unit as opposed to fixing the problem.

Even when I've called asking to install stall converters in my trucks I've had places ask "why do you need a 10.5" 3000rpm stall in a 5500lbs truck?" I instantly hang up without another word spoken. Don't question what I want done.

Just observations...

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

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