What is Glycol contamination?? - Benzworld.org

debbibaron · 07-01-2008, 08:26 PM

Hey guys I was just reading over in the General MB thread about some poor guy who flew to California to pick up a 2003 CLK and now he found his transmission is rusted out due to a Glycol issue that MB is well aware of? I never even heard of this until now. He even took it to a MB dealer in California and his car passed the inspection and a short time later he has this issue. First they thought it was a flood car but found out it is the so called dreaded Glycol problem that has plauged these cars. Why would MB not recall the cars if they knew about the issue? I guess he has a internal letter from MB addressing this and now no one will help him because he isn't the original owner. I don't even think the car has very many miles on it. This is scary stuff! Can someone fill me in on this one?

Oh and today some poor guy in a brand new (paper plates still on his car) was in a new C350 sport and his car just died in the middle of the street. He didn't run out of gas he said all the lights flashed and it died! I stopped to see if he needed help and let him use my cell phone because he had left his phone at his office and didn't realize until he broke down.

Makes me wonder if the quality on the newer cars is really up to par or if there are bugs to work out. I was actually considering buying one but now not so sure about it.

ohlord · 07-01-2008, 08:37 PM

the glycol issue was a certain radiator installed in some modes that had an internal defect in the seperation of the cooling area for trans fluid and the area for engine cooling.Never the two should be mixed.Valeo was the culprit,and not a concern on the w210,unless you have a fondness for pouring anti freze into your 722.6 trans.

ohlord

the new owner had a dead battery common with cars sitting ever longer in this piss poor Bush economy.Blame him for this one,not Mercedes

debbibaron · 07-01-2008, 08:56 PM

Thanks for the answer Master OhLord! Glad to hear my baby doesn't have the Valeo tranny! I sure hope MB puts better tranny's in the newer cars. Speaking of tranny's I had my serviced at 77k miles and now I have 93k miles. When I need to have it serviced again?

**Matt L** · 07-01-2008, 09:28 PM

That would be Valeo radiator rather than transmission.

ohlord · 07-01-2008, 09:28 PM

And that should be at least a few weeks.

Did you see my reply to the poor guy?What purpose does a ppi have at the dealer if they say we completed a through check of the car you would like to purchase and have found no issues.Then when the transmission falls apart from rot a month later they say sorry it could have happened since the inspection.
It was their job to inform him that the car was subject to the radiator problem it
had that faulty make of radiator installed and either don't get the car or make make a better deal and have it replaced before sale.Weasels

I told him a nicely worded level headed letter to Montvale might help.

**Musikmann** · 07-02-2008, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debbibaron

....Speaking of tranny's I had my serviced at 77k miles and now I have 93k miles. When I need to have it serviced again?

FWIW, I had mine serviced at 58k and sent the old fluid to Blackstone for analysis. I posted those results on the long-winded "Email from MBUSA about transmission service" thread. The guy told me to do it again after 30k, so at 88k on the odometer.

**Musikmann** · 07-02-2008, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohlord

Did you see my reply to the poor guy?What purpose does a ppi have at the dealer if they say we completed a through check of the car you would like to purchase and have found no issues.Then when the transmission falls apart from rot a month later they say sorry it could have happened since the inspection.It was their job to inform him that the car was subject to the radiator problem it had that faulty make of radiator installed and either don't get the car or make make a better deal and have it replaced before sale.Weasels

I told him a nicely worded level headed letter to Montvale might help.

IIRC, that was a private party sale but the guy took it to a dealer near where the car was for a PPI. He started 3 threads that I know of and that comment (private party) was on at least one of them.

I am not making excuses for that dealer, just pointing out that in his case they were not selling the car.

ohlord · 07-02-2008, 04:32 PM

it was a private party sale however the mb dealer did the ppi for him.They should be held at fault for not informing him of the issue and in their so called mercedes professional inspection they either should have located a problem or told he he could have a problem and get it replaced by the seller.
They have no excuse even if they had your excuse.Otherwise why have professional inspections?
ohlord

**Musikmann** · 07-02-2008, 06:09 PM

ohlord,

I just read your post again and I obviously mis-understood what you meant. I agree that there "should" be some way to hold that dealer liable, but as someone else stated, the best he can expect is to get his ~$200 back. Small potatoes compared to another transmission. Some people take the elevator, and others get the shaft

debbibaron · 07-02-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt L

That would be Valeo radiator rather than transmission.

Ok I had a blond moment. The radiator fluid leaked into his tranny and rusted it out! Kind of confusing at first when I read his post. Our cars don't have those radiators do they? I sure hope MB started using better ones!