kingcity

I have a 2011 GL350 with 43K miles. My dealer recommends that I have a tranmission service which involves flushing and new fluid. Is this normal and approx how much should I expect this service to cost? Thanks

aggst1

I believe the manufacturer calls for that transmission service at39K miles. The cost is around $600. Yes, it is necessary.

FastMoneyPlaya

Sounds like highway robbery to me. I'm getting tired of the Mercedes dealer throwing in all these added services that don't seem necessary on any other car I've owned over the past 30 years.

Mr Snappy

In general, I agree with you....their insane and pricey "recommendation" of a complete brake fluid flush at service "B" is border-line theft.

However, the 40K transmission service in inline with other vehicles I have. I would NOT take it to Mercedes dealer for it though, find another place that has experience with them and do it there....should save you about half if not more.

vntgspd

Yes, definitely have it done around 40K miles.

I paid $350 at the dealer so it may pay to shop around.

Also, look up MercedesManiac7 on the forums as he was selling oil, seals, and filter for great prices. I paid about $75 shipped for my E55 for all materials needed.

FastMoneyPlaya

Yes, the brake fluid flush at 20K miles was another recommendation that came to mind when I was referring to highway robbery.

The $300 AdBlue service every ~10K miles is another example of overpriced service (owners of Bluetec diesels should know). It cost about $25 for 5 gallons of AdBlue, and about 10 minutes to open up the trunk and pour it in. For that, the dealer charges $300, which makes you wonder how much work is actually required for the $600 transmission fluid service or the brake fluid flush?

kingcity

for the transmission flush, I ended up paying: $125 for labor, $242 for fluid @ $22 x qty 11, gasket @ $20.46, gear oil $32.50, washer ring $1.50 and screw plug $6.50. Total $427.06.

Mr Snappy

You were screwed...HARD.

$125 labor....actually the only part of this not insane.
$242 Fluid ????? Castrol TF runs $7.00 a quart...so they basically trippled you.
$32.50 Gear Oil ???? What the hell is that? Straight theft.
$8.00 for a new plug and o-ring? What was wrong with the old one?

So, this should have cost this.
$125 Labor
$ 80 Tran fluid

$205 + Tax

alx

Actually the bill breakdown is reasonable.

Gear oil is for the two diffs which are a good idea to be serviced at that point. And yes, the 7g tranny is required to be one time flushed at 40k miles.

Mr Snappy

yeah, after I posted I realized what the "gear oil" must have been. That does make the service more reasonable...but the fluid was still rape.

I did the same service on my Corvette (only one Diff obviously) and it came in around $225. Dealers try to screw Corvette owners as bad as they do Benz owners

alx

The 7g tranny flush in the benz is not really an average DIY job.

Most dealers will quote lower price for the atf but two hours of labor at $150 or more for most auth Benz dealers.

chsu74

I agree and had mine done in Dec. The feel of the tranny is much smoother with its upshifts when fluids are cold.