Oil in my coolant!

[carsandkites at gmail.com (Kervin)]

Back in 99 or so, I got a MK2 Scirocco really cheap because the oil
cooler/warmer thing started to leak for the PO.  When I looked in the
expansion tank, it was filled with that Carmel colored gunk we all
know and love.  It cost me about $100 for oil, coolant, heat exchanger
and a big bottle of purple power and the car was on the road.  I sold
the car about a little over a year ago and got a baby benz coupe.  It
cost about 35 times as much as the Scirocco did (both used).  Last
week the head Mercedes Tech at work told me to check my vin to see if
it falls in a "problem" area for my slush box.  Well it did.  I could
feel a slight roughness under a light load, so I put it in the shop.
There is a transmission cooler line that had a leak.  The oil pressure
forced oil into the coolant so my ole' Carmel colored friend was
hanging out in my expansion tank again.  The car is under warranty so
it's not costing me anything, but I saw the shop bill today - it's
going to 100 times more than it was for my Scirocco!  That right, over
$10,000.  the two big things were a new torque converter ($1600) and a
new transmission ($8400).  I starting to wonder if the joys of having
a really nice car are a good trade off for what I'd have to pay if
something breaks when the warranty is over.