Help please from mechanics used to dealing with modern shit!

[xtriple]

A very dear friend of mine has a Mercedes A class diesel automatic.  It is a 61 reg and done 16000 miles, It sounds like the cv joints are going and the gearbox has started slipping when she was on the motorway the other day. It would barely get up Telegraph hill but back onto more level roads, it was fine again.

 

It is no use asking if it's displaying an 'F' in the display or anything as Heather is 82 and not mechanically savvy...

 

This has been diagnosed by her friend Pete (the same Pete that buggered about with my Turbo R and I don't like or trust) as the gearbox is fucked and it needs new driveshafts. This seems unlikely to me as even though Mercs are shit etc this level of borkage at this low age and mileage seems... unusual.

 

He has talked her into parting with large sums of money in a few weeks time to exchange it for a nearly new Auris hybrid that he has coming his way...

 

What is going on with this thing, any ideas?

 

I know early a class had gearbox  problems but I thought they'd sorted them?

[purplebargeken]

Have you had a go or looked at the display? I would encourage her to have it looked at by an independent specialist nearby if one exists. This bloke sounds like a chancer 

[Dead_E23]

Is it a CVT?  According to Honest John, the valve bodies are prone to failure (£1750) and they also benefit from a fluid change.

[Cavcraft]

The older ones of these hateful things were renowned for shitting their autoboxes. There was some bizarre 'fix' for them that's actually really simple, but I'm certain the advice then was to sell it asap. 

[Cavcraft]

http://www.aclassinfo.co.uk/mypage.59a.htm

[Bren]

Telegraph hill.

 

The XUD on my fully laden xantia used to work so hard climbing it I had to run the electric fans to keep it cool.

[andrew e]

My mum has one a year older, same sort of miles, auto diesel. I'm guessing this just poodles about? Hers does.

 

Diagnosis: Italian tune up. The thing (and its DPF) clogs to buggery, it will want a good hard half hour on the motorway. Premium diesel and the air filter banged out, won't hurt either.

 

Check it's not left in winter mode as well. But effectively rag the titis off it for an hour.

[andrew e]

I will add, these have become accidently sought after, because existing owners don't want the new shape one because it's too big. So see she's gets a fair trade in. And that's the words from an MB dealer.....

[cort16]

That's only a year out of warranty. Do you know if it's got dealer history if so if you take it back there's a pretty fair chance they'll do it gratis or split the charges. My mate has an Alfa GT 1 year out of warranty and it started knocking. He had full Alfa history and they charged him 150 quid for a full bottom end rebuild.

[Bear]

If it has full MB history they may look favourably on work getting goodwill contribution. I know nothing about the later A-class autoboxes, but the older ones have 3 real weak points.

 

Semi-auto is the one that fails a lot.

 

Autos:

 

Fluid level too high - raises float - forces limp home mode... WAIT...

 

Oh, jeez, I got a thing for you to check! The ABS reluctor ring broke on the W168 here. No ABS = no stability control. Car goes into limp home mode - if it's doing over 30mph it'll get very unhappy, scream into 2nd. Could start out intermittent, we got the clicking too...

 

Fluid level too low - slipping, flaring.

 

Gearbox is not sealed for life, despite what Mercedes say.

 

Isn't there always a "helpful friend" who will diagnose an elderly person's car and sell them something overpriced. I hate people sometimes. Guessing she's not near Leicester, but if so I'll happily check over the W169 for her.

[andrew e]

If it has full MB history, it will have mobilio assistance. Ring 'em up, nothing to lose.

 

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=45278

[michael1703]

Stay away from telegraph hill is the answer, I've been down to 20mph going up that in my vans

[Asimo]

W169 A Class auto is the unusual combination of torque converter and CVT.

 

 

Auris probably a better bet.

[HH-R]

SCRAP IT.

[the judge]

Ha!^^ usual sympathy!!

[xtriple]

No MBSH. First service done there and then this guy has looked after it for her. I'd investigate it all myself for her but she is really good friends with this guys wife (who is really nice) so doesn't want to upset him.

 

I'd say she's fucked.

 

I offered on the phone last night to take it to MB for her and get it looked at but she didn't seem keen. I guess the best thing is to keep out of it and stay friends.

[cort16]

This kind of shit gives me the cold sweats. A new car with a manufacturer warranty or a sub 1000  car that you can walk away from if it blows up.

The 5 series forum (in particular the E60 section) is like the land of broken dreams with folk with 9 grand cars that need 3 grand gearbox or engine rebuilds.

[gordonbennet]

Sometimes you just have to keep out of it despite all your best intentions, aint easy to do mind when the sharks are doing their thing, there might be an easy cheap fix or there might be an eye watering bill approaching, you can do bugger all about it just be a sympathetic ear if its the latter.

[steve_earwig]

 

The 5 series forum (in particular the E60 section) is like the land of broken dreams with folk with 9 grand cars that need 3 grand gearbox or engine rebuilds.

That doesn't seem much of an issue, it's when it's an 8 grand fix on a 9 grand car...

 

Tell her, with the large cost in prospect, she should really take it to MB for a second opinion, just to be sure. And then give up.

[xtriple]

I even offered to take it to the MB dealership (nearest is Exeter) and wait while they check it out. I guess she's just going to buy this Auris which is £8 grand plus her low mileage A class diesel. I don't know values of used A class' but I bet it's worth a few quid so it doesn't seem like a 'cracking' deal.... for her!

[Bear]

16K late W169 auto - does it have pano top? I'd be surprised if it goes on the market under five figures, though I'd expect it to sell around £7500 to £8K, particularly from the sort of "helpful family friend dealer type".

[gordonbennet]

TBH if this Auris hybrid is kosher, she might be just as well to change cars, though it definately isn't a bloody car for the unskilled to be tinkering with...

 

Is it possible this geezer has the deal in mind hence the rough running Merc?, sort of caddish behaviour one would expect from Blofeld?

 

...hmm i see a solution on the horizon..get the geezer you distrust/dislike to investigate problems inside the hybrid battery pack...fizzle bang yeaoooow clump aaahhh, problem geezer not a problem...

 

But seriously though, if you're ageing fiend does get the Auris try to persuade her to let Toyota dealer look after it, they're surprisingly cheap for regular servicing schedules.

[Bear]

Toyota dealers seem to be amongst the best in the country. And in fairness that's probably how they manage to shift so many tepid automobiles.

[xtriple]

The same goes for Honda dealers, I shall post an e-mail I just got from one of their bosses on the smiley thread.

 

This guy (we shall call him, 'Pete' as that is his name) is possibly 'alright' but he tries to bully you into doing what he thinks is right. In this case, I foresee large wads of cash in his back pocket to waste on Brighthouse or in Argos.

 

I am half tempted to ring MB but they'll want the chassis number, which of course, I don't know!

 

I think, my best course of action is to keep well out of it and hope that it all turns out right for her.

[Bear]

They can get the chassis number from the registration

[xtriple]

They can get the chassis number from the registration

Don't know that either! Fuck me, I have enough difficulty remembering my own reg number (why I have a 'private plate') I certain;y can't recall strange old ladies numbers!