2000 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Avantgarde from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

I have a W-reg A140 and I think it is absolutely fantastic!

Best car I have ever had, bought it from new and have not had one single problem, apart from a flat battery... but that was my fault because I left the lights on.

Some friends have just bought the new A-class and also rave about how fantastic it is..

Well recommended!

My A160 Mercedes, registration number CFM18463, year 2002, has had problems when pulling away since we bought it.

She was slow to engage into 1st gear when the vehicle came to a stop. Almost as if the 1st gear would not engage in time. At pull away she would be very sluggish. This would not be the case every time. If you stopped on an incline, the gearbox would make a crack noise when she engaged, and then she would kick in and the wheels would spin.

The car has done 90,000km, and Mercedes Benz replaced every unit and every sensor on the vehicle with no luck. The only unit which was not replaced was the gearbox control unit.

Last month upon returning from a trip, the BAS light came on, and to cut a long story short we were told the gearbox electrohydraulic control unit packed up.

We wrote letters highlighting the initial problem to the dealer, and when the unit packed up this was forwarded to Mercedes Benz SA. They came back stating they cannot stand good for the faulty unit.

I am utterly convinced that the problem that manifested itself right from the onset was the forerunner of the defective gearbox electrohydraulic control unit.

I request that you give me an answer on this,

Regards

Pieter Kruger.