Hello,

Thanks a lot to everyone for reading this long post.

I have a dilemma on which I would like to have some outside input, realizing that this is a Lexus forum but still hoping to get an unbiased opinion.

A little bit on our situation:
We got a 2012 RX350 (currently has 90K miles) and 2018 MB GLC300 (45K miles).

The 2012 RX350 we bought new and used mostly for work. I had to make 8-10 short trips per day, each trip could be from 0.5 to 3-4 miles, often in a stop-and-go traffic (we live in NYC but not in Manhattan).

We did not have any major problems with the RX. I had transmission fluid drained-refilled twice (which replaced just above 2 qts. of fluid).
Then it had a full transmission service- they removed the pan, replaced the filter and about 5-6 qts. of the fluid. The mechanic/tech who did the service said the magnet inside the transmission fluid pan was covered by metal shavings. He said that while it is normal to have some shavings on that magnet, the one from our RX had more than normal amount. The tech said that the transmission was not in good shape and recommended not to do any more fluid changes.

The 2018 GLC300 was bought as a certified vehicle from a dealer, when at was 3.5 y.o., with about 30K miles on ODO.
It's has a 4-cyl. turbo engine, with roughly the same output as the Lexus' 6-cyl. non-turbo.
The original owner lived in NJ, and I think the GLC was driven mostly on local roads and not in stop-and-go traffic (although I cannot be sure of it), before we got it.
So far, we have not had any problems with the GLC. My wife is using it for work- she makes 7-8-9 short trips per day, with frequent stops at stop signs and traffic lights, often sits in the vehicle with engine idling, for 15-20 min.

While I have not had any experience with MB, my past experience with Audi Q5 was not good after it hit 7-8 years. Our Q5 literally just started to fall apart: there were multiple problems with suspension, engine leaking oil, rear electric gate quit working, leaking water pump/thermostat.
I eventually got rid of the Q5 when it was 12 y.old, and really regret I did not do it earlier…

Therefore, this is the dilemma I am facing: both vehicles need replacing.
Which one do I replace first?

I am thinking of replacing one of them next summer.

Again, thanks a lot for reading my post and your input.

 

I think your mechanic is not a very good one. If your trans is going bad, more fluid changes would be better. Think about it like this, the fluid sloshes around and suspends all those little metal particles, essentially sand paper material. If you stop changing fluid it gets more and more sand paper material is suspended making the fluid even harsher on the internal components.

I would keep the lexus, it will have fewer issues than the MB. Short stop and go trips destroy turbos.

 

Came whisker-close a few years ago to grabbing a gorgeous and rocket-fast one-owner 2014 MB CLS 550 that had been serviced at the local MB dealership all of its life. I really wanted that car but after doing copious research, I decided not to grab it due to MB's quality control not being anywhere close to what it was 20 to 25 years ago. Plus, I would have had to purchase at least a thousand dollars' worth of specialized tools just to maintain that one car. A couple of years later, my wife found and wanted a nice-looking one-owner 2016 E-Class convertible that had also been serviced at the dealership all of its life. I talked her out of it for the same reasons I had passed on the gorgeous CLS 550.

MB sells some stunning-looking vehicles, no question about it. But I am not willing to roll the dice regarding having to deal with insane maintenance and repair costs even though I do the majority of that work myself.

 

If you aren't currently having transmission issues with the RX, then keep it all day long. Please continue to have the transmission serviced at regular intervals. I'd recommend a certified tech next time. Hope it works out!

 

smknkeyz,
Thanks- is there a way to look up certified Toyota techs?

I have been relying on independent mechanics, except rare occasions when I needed to go to dealers.
I know one or two shops that claim they specialize in German cars, but no one who specialized in Toyota/Lexus.

 

ATF drain-and-fills on these Aisin transmission units are easy to do yourself. There are multiple threads on this forum that explain exactly how to do them.

 

A replacement transmission in that Lexus will be less than 3 months of the "maintenance" bills that MB is getting ready to hand you. There is no comparison.
If you hold onto a knife, it will probably eventually cut you. If you hold onto a grenade, it will blow half of your torso away.

 

This is my standard recommendation when folks want help finding a great local mechanic. The link is to that database of 30,000 shops rated by listeners of the old car repair radio show, Car Talk. You can enter your city and state, or dive deeper and enter the car manufacturer. Once you have hopefully found a a few likely shops, you should cross check them on Google or Yelp for additional reviews as some of the Car Talk reviews are more than a few years old. I would look for a Toyota specialist shop but being independent they may not be Toyota certified, but having repaired hundreds or thousands of vehicles have developed an expertise and specialized knowledge of Toyotas. https://www.cartalk.com/mechanics-files

Also some independent transmission shops are very familiar with our 6 speed automatic as it has been used for over 15 years on millions of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in many different models.

 

Thanks a lot to everyone who replied to my post.

To Clutchless:
The shop I went last couple of times came up using the link you posted.
I will ask them to drain and fill the transmission and send the fluid to Blackstone labs for analysis.

Thanks for you input.