suzuki squid

I just called a local import mechanic and asked about getting four new bosch spark plugs, i made him check the model #'s of the plugs to match the thread i read about changing the plugs, they matched. He gave me a price of 15 bucks a peice! Anyways, while i was on the phone i asked him about doing a transmission flush, since my car has 71,xxx miles on it, and he went on to describe the whole process. He was telling me how mercedes says its a lifetime oil in the tranny b/c when its get to 100,000 miles and the transmission starts to fail they can make you buy a new tranny. He said he highly believes in flushing them. He says he uses 15 qts of the "mercedes" special fluid and detergents to clean out the tranny really good. And b/c the fluid is so expensive and what not it usually runs around 400 bucks!!!

What do you guys think about these two quotes for the price of the spark plugs and especially tranny flush?

PtownMatt

I just had the tranny flush done through the dealership on my 02 c320 with 73,000 on my odo. It was $250 to have done so for $400 maybe the guy is more thorough in cleaning it out and not just flush and fill like the dealership may have done with mine. As far as the spark plugs go that sounds really cheap to me because i think the dealership quoted me $400 to have my spark plugs changed.

dnlow

The plugs can be purchased for about $8 on-line.. At the dealer they will be about $15. I recently called a local dealer and they said they charge $350 for the transmission flush, I am sure some dealers charge even more. I have heard of this "special fluid" so make sure that it is used. I would assume that the wrong fluid could cause serious problems.

dnlow

I am pretty sure the V6 has 12 spark plugs. $15 x 12 = $180. Not a complete rip off. But DIY would be $8 x 12 = $96. I have heard that a couple of the plugs are pretty hard to get at though. Could be how the dealer sells the high labor cost.

suzuki squid

Any pay around 400 bucks for a non-dealership import shop to do a flush??

He also said to NOT have places that do all types of cars ie: a quick lube place, which prices their flushes around 120 bucks to flush my car , b/c its supposedly special.. for import (german) made cars? True/False?

C230 Sport Coup

I'd be the 1st guy to tell you if you were being ripped off, but thats about right on the pricing. He's being truthful about needing 15 quarts. Thats whats specified by MB to do the job right. Search my username for the thread everything on tranny's or something like that. Well actually I think that only specify 14 quarts, and it took me 12 quarts before seeing the new fluid coming out, and not black. Another quart or 2 wouldn't have hurt. The fluid is $15-20 a quart! Or is it in liters?

I diy'd it. It cost about $200 for the materials, and total start to finish, around 2 hours at least, not a fun job and honestly, if I knew the guy was using the correct stuff,
and fully flushing and not just dropping the pan, and draining the 4 quarts, and leaving the other 5, I'd consider $400 to be a good price. It's a miserable job.

It's not a fun job. If I could afford to pay the $200 in labor, this is one job I'd gladly pay for.
And yes, if you go to some dickwad oil changer joint, that doesn't use the correct stuff, you WILL be sorry. A new transmission can cost more than the car is worth.
The plugs from Mercedes ARE 15 each. You can substitute NGK's that sell for about
8, and/or Bosch platinums.
He sounds like he's being honest. I'd watch him do the tranny flush though to make sure that they do it, do it right, and use the right fluid.
Thats just me, I don't trust most mechanics.

If they're only charging $250 to do the flush, they're just draining the pan and putting in 4 quarts.
The only time Mercedes specifies a full flush is when the radiator contaminates the fluid, ie the Valeo radiator. Check the sticky in this forum on mercedes technical bulletins
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...lletins-3.html


But we all know, a full flush makes for a happy tranny and extends the life considerably.
I wish I'd done mine at 71K instead of waiting for it to start clunking at 120K.
The flush seemed to fix it.

I'd probably be looking at a longer life.
My local mechanic says it's a good idea to do it every 40K miles or so.

suzuki squid

Thanks, sport coupe. I'll probably do this toward the end of the summer, im looking to get my stock rims powder coated (150 bucks for all 4) and lower it with some new coil springs first

ROLLNNN

Hey Guys,
I need to do this transmission flush. Anyone have any recommendations of shops in the LA or OC area. how much did you pay for this service? Ill try and call the dealer tomorrow and see what they're charging... thanks in advance for your help...

BlackLiquorish8

that is real cheap to powder coat... local shop here wants 145 a piece each...

includes mounting tires/balancing etc/painting/fixing dents,scuffs,etc

i changed my tranny fluid at 50k i have 98k now so i want to do it soon is it true that if you never done it before and do it at 100k your car will leak??? b/c the fluid acts like a glue???

glad i did it at 50k though my car was much smoother after

seagel1000

x2!!! Im going at 71,700 in about a week. Feels like the tranny is beginning to lag on the shift. Figured a tranny complete flush will do about now.

LILBENZ230

At RBM Mercedes in Atlanta, the transmission service is $275. Spark plug change for the M271 four-cylinder is $165. Seem like good prices for a dealer.

I'm at 60,600 miles right now and the transmission shift quality is perfect but I'm probably going to have the service done soon anyway.

krisv420

Lol 15 dollars a plug is crazy.. i don't understand why people don't do the job themselves??? I'm 21 and i did it with no automotive knowledge.. was way less then 150... also 400 for a flush is crazy... the fluid is pricey but not that crazy.. I hate when people try to rip off c class owners... Why can't they just hit up the S class and CL SL So on! from now on..

XenonBenz

If you are going to pay for $400 for a transmission flush...

I would recommend getting it done at a reputable MB dealership rather than an independent. The dealership is more experienced, will use equipment specifically designed to flush your MB transmission and will use the correct tranny synthetic (overly expensive) fluid.

It does require about 15 quarts in order to remove all of the dirty fluid in your tranny. Most people report paying about $300-450 for a full transmission flush at the dealership. It is not worth doing a drain and fill, which will only replace about 1/3 of the fluid. I paid $310 when I did this service 2.5 years ago. I am getting it done again next week, and my local dealership charges $340 now.

skittles

ok. i did this at 70k miles as recommended by the dealer. or somewhere at that mileage. anyway everytime i check out an independent shop i cant help but ask them how much they would charge for a tranny flush. every single one i mean everyone said why would you wanna do that? that fluid is suppose to be lifetime. and i ask them before that how they have knowledge working on MBZ vehicles. most say they came from the dealer. so it just got me thinking who's telling the truth? MB or MBtech's??? lol.

LILBENZ230

Some on here have had their transmission fluid analyzed and discovered that, despite the lifetime fill thing, it had broken down and was no longer good.

MB has revised the policy in recent years. Why would you take such a gamble? A flush is gonna cost a lot less than a rebuild.

C230 Sport Coup

A full flush takes about 2 hours of labor + materials.
Shop rate of 100 an hour x 2 + 200 materials= $400. No rip off.
The rip off is when they charge you for a full flush, and.
a. put in the wrong fluid.
b. Don't do the work at all or
c. Just drain the pan, replace the filter and put in 4 quarts and call it a flush.

I would watch them do it so you get what you pay for.
I'm one of the people who had my fluid analyzed and yes, it was completely gone.

krisv420

Theres a lot more then 4 quarts up in there

samaritrey

lol he knows that. he was talking about a partial change when they drop the pan and change the filter and put the pan back on and fill it back up. so you change about 1/2 the oil.

C230 Sport Coup

I would gladly pay 300-400 to not have to do it again.
Messy job, got a freakin' ATF shower laying on my back...
hard to get the car up in the air enough on jack stands...
no fun laying on your back with a pan with 4 quarts of fluid sloshing around and trying not to spill any.
Yes, as stated previously it took 12 quarts before I saw new fluid being pushed through.
MB states 15 are needed.

100-200 for labor is about right for this hateful thankless job.
I got a "flush" in Sac previously, but upon reading the invoice only 4 quarts were used,
and it "only" cost $250.
If you get a low quote, they can't be flushing it, the materials are 200 alone.