I have an interesting situation that without a doubt the most worthy reason for giving a 6 star review.
Skip to the last paragraph if you just want to results without the honest details.
I have an ML63 that had a check engine light which I scanned to find out it had lost communication with transmission control module.
I took it to Mercedes to confirm this was the only problem, knowing I would be replacing it myself.
MB told me if I did not have them do the job, it would cost me way more money if they found a problem, because they claimed that the dealership was the only place that could re program the computer...... Very intimidating. I did not have the $3,000 they were asking to do the job.
I removed and replaced the part, loaded it onto a flatbed and had it transported to MB to get the TCM re programmed which I was quoted $165hr x 2 hours. I get a phone call and they say there is a problem (it is hard shifting 1st gear into 2nd). When I get there, they are unable to replicate the issue but tell me the transmissiopn needs to be torn down to find the problem.
I trust they are telling me the truth, but when they take it apart, they say they found some bolts in the oil pan and a ball bearing they claim came from the valve body (which is impossible) and later I found out that the ball bearing they claimed came out of the valve body actually had no use and was for compression tessting at the MB factory before car went sent to be sold by dealships.
Long story short, the $330.00 quote turned into a $3600 amount that dealer claimed they had spent on the vehicle. This turned into the dealership telling me I also needed to replace the valve body = $2,000+.
I was forced to buy 2 different valve bodies according to MB and was told that it was actually the transmission and I needed to replace the entire transmission for upwards of $7,000 on top of the $3600 and other costs for valve bodies and labor that MB charged me.
MB kept my ML63 for over 6 weeks and gave the car back to me in worse condition than after it had been dropped off.
Car drove perfecty before taking it into dealer and after removing and replacing TCM, the car drove onto the flatbed without a problem. The TCM just needed re programming.
So now the car is stuck in 1st gear in sport mode and in comfort mode, the clutch slips and car goes nowhere. MB says its my problem because I replaced the TCM myself and obviously destroyed the transmission. I knew 100% I did a perfect replacement because I documented, photographed and video recorded the entire event!!!!
I approach Gary at AAA1 and explain my situation and tell him exactly what is going on.
I had my ML63 transported to his shop in West Hempstead, NY and he inspected it. He removed the valvebody to confirm that there was no problem with any missing ballbearings and it was in perfect order after doing tests on solenoids and so on.
Gary then connected it to his computer and found that the Mercedes Benz Deaalership had failed to initialize the transmission control module.
Gary initialized the computer which took all of 10 minutes and took the car for a test drive.
The transmission was 100% in perfect working order.
Gary could have easily taken advantage of the situation and he could have told me I needed a new transmission just like MB had done. That would have been several thousand dollars in his pocket.
He was instead honest and I would have had no idea at all if he had have mislead me into believing I needed to spend money on a new transmission.
I can't even explain how rare this kind of honesty is in the world today.
The total bill from Gary was a few hundred dollars.
If you have any problems, I can say that Gary and his team at AAA-1 are the best place to trust with your vehicle and I am so grateful for his genuine and honest ways that he took care of my situation.
Thank you Gary,
JT read more
