nicgentile

I know that this has been addressed before, but I just needed a thread to call my own and ask the "greats of the board" here to chime in.

I have a 2000 clk-430 cab. Had it for almost 2 years. Bought it with 54,000 miles and just crossed over 94,000 miles now.

I have spoke to multiple MB dealerships about wether or not to do something with the tran fluid. Literally I spent a day calling MB dealerships in a 200 mile radius just to speak with them.

Some told me the trans fluid never needs to be touched, not checked, filled or changed.

Some told me it should have been done at 50 or 60k (which is while I owned it)
I'm sure it has never been done. I spoke with a trust local indy mech and he said that there are 2 very decided schools of thought on this very subject.
#1 do it. Do it now!!
#2 careful and choose wisely as a trans fluid change can cause the tranny to slip.

I am totally scared to death of a trans change. There is no way I could afford a new trans should it need to be replaced after a fluid change = slippage. I am also scared to death of loving my 430 with 94k and original trans fluid in it.

I'm really just looking for people who actually own these cars (as opposed to dealerships and indy mechs) to vet their opinion on this matter and help me start sleeping at night again!

dlbehrns

Contrary to the idea of a lifetime fluid it should be changed. Valvoline makes a fluid that meets the specs for our trans and you can look it up on their website. It is sold, believe it or not, at Walmart for around $4 a quart. Do a search on this forum and you will find plenty of discussion on the topic. You are over reacting. I don't know where you go info that the trans will slip after changing the fluid. Don't freak out. Do your homework and read the discussions and if you want to do it yourself go for it, if not find a good MB indy who knows what they are doing and ask them what they charge to do it and why fluid they would provide or, can you provide the fluid. Can't hurt to ask.

slobodan

I bought a 99 320 with 50k on the clock and changed every fluid myself except the transmission fluid. I had the dealer do that because I knew it would be the right stuff. I know what the service manual says about it being life time and all but my experience with many other cars is change every fluid regularly and you should be fine. In other words flushing and replacing the fluid won’t hurt.

jbenz99

I used valvoline max life transmission fluid over 2 years now with no problems !! I got it at walmart for $3.79 a Qt. campare to $25.00 Qt. at mercedes dealer...you do the math..lol