BMW and Mercedes-Benz are known for excellent, high-quality design and engineering. Their durability and longevity are some of the main reasons that drivers invest in these vehicles. However, being of top quality is not synonymous with being indestructible; luxury vehicles are made up of multiple parts that experience wear and tear over time. When your vehicle begins to show warning signs of trouble, it may be in need of transmission repair.
Signs Your Car Needs Transmission Repair
Illumination of the Check Engine Light
The transmission and the engine work in harmony together, so if the check engine light appears, it isn’t solely because there’s engine trouble. Your vehicle may have a specific transmission warning light that can detect an issue at the source, but if the problem has spread, it may be affecting the engine as well. These lights are installed to give the driver time to seek a diagnostic procedure, so if they are ignored the problem will persist and can worsen.
Shaking or Vibrating
Perhaps one of the transmission issues that requires the most immediate attention is if your vehicle begins to noticeably vibrate or shake. If your transmission is struggling, it may begin this unfamiliar movement while idling, or at especially slow or fast speeds. This may be due to low transmission fluid, which can cause serious damage to the engine if the shaking is allowed to continue.
Gear Shift Difficulty
Whether your Mercedes-Benz or BMW is manual or automatic, transmission problems can cause difficulty shifting gears. This may manifest in clutch squeaking, gear-shift hesitation, intense jerking when switching gears, or other troubling noises. These issues can cause an undesired amount of time at a high or low RPM, and can even result in the car stalling. In extreme cases, the car may even stop driving completely and need to be towed.
Leaking Transmission Fluid
The first sign of a fluid leak is finding a puddle of liquid forming under your car. Transmission fluid will be a shade of red or brown, and smell either sweet or burnt, depending on if it has been contaminated. Coolant leaks are often a bright neon fluid while oil leaks are very dark brown. A leak of any kind needs to be repaired as soon as possible. Low transmission fluid is the cause of many of the system’s problems.
A Burnt Odor
Transmission fluid that is low and has been leaking can begin to overheat and burn, causing a burning smell. This will most likely be evident after turning off your engine and stepping out of your car. Your fluid should be flushed and replaced immediately.
Due to the importance of the transmission to the overall functioning of your vehicle, it is imperative to be able to recognize the warning signs that signal it needs maintenance or repair. Waiting to respond to these symptoms can cause the damage to become more extensive. Call or come into Smith Imports today to let us give your Mercedes-Benz or BMW a full workup to make sure any small transmission problem is addressed before it compromises your engine.
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