Originally Posted by Patrick LowKey

Penske West Covina. 249.99 + Tax + Discount Coupon!

Originally Posted by johnand

I haven't quite figured out if you are lucky or not, that Karo has moved his attention and jokes to you from Patrick

Originally Posted by johnand

I haven't quite figured out if you are lucky or not, that Karo has moved his attention and jokes to you from Patrick

Originally Posted by Karo

Patrick was too easy. I need a little bit more of a challenge. With Patrick it was like "Hey I have candy in my car" but with Mike it's a little tougher. The challenge makes it more rewarding in the end. Phil on the other hand is one smart bull. I tried every trick in the book to lure him into my bat cave or bait cave at that and it didn't work.


Thanks for the link John and the DIY. When you coming to SoCal?

Originally Posted by johnand

Sorry, but the 7G is not as "special" as the dealer's want you to think it is. The 7G was designed in a way to make it difficult for DIY fluid and filter changes so they could charge $400-500 per service. But, a COMPETENT AND skilled DIY'er can easily properly service the 7G and save themselves a LOT of money. With that said, yes the 7G, is not a typical Honda transmission and you need to pay attention to what you are doing, because it is much easier to screw up the 7G vs. a Honda transmission and MUCH more expensive to repair if you do screw it up.

I did have my 7G serviced at the dealer at ~36K on my car, but did help my buddy change the fluid in his 7G. You need the following tools: http://www.asttool.com/detail_page.p...&manf=Mercedes and a high quality infrared thermometer like: http://us.fluke.com/usen/Products/Fluke+62.htm The Assenmacher 722.9 adapter is $38 direct, and the Fluke 62 can be had for around ~$85. The Fluke has many other uses as well, so it is a good tool to have.

In a few months when my 7G transmission is due for another service I will do a FULL write-up on how to properly service it. Here is a quick rundown, but is NOT intended to be used a how-to guide. Either get the service manual, or wait until I do the write-up. The car must be level!!! 1st, the "drain plug" is also the fill plug. When you take out the drain plug, little to no fluid will come out. You have to use a drift punch to knock the standoff pipe into the pan. Then the fluid will start to drain. Then drop the pan, change the filter, install a new standpipe, and new gasket. Then rebolt the pan on with NEW OEM bolts. The bolts are aluminum and 1 time use. The transmission housing is magnesium. Again, YOU MUST REPLACE ALL THE PAN BOLTS. Then you thread the Assenmacher tool into the pan. Pump fluid into the transmission until it is overflowing. Unscrew the tool. Start the car, run the shifter through all the gear position. With the car running in Park, take the thermometer and read the temperature of the fluid that is now overflowing the standpipe, and out the transmission pan drain plug. Once that fluid is at 40C, stop the engine and immediately put the drain plug in. That is the proper level. As you can see this is different that the typical change, but not really difficult, you just absolutely have to do it correctly.

As far as how often to service the 7G? NA MB service interval in 38K miles, then no other services listed in the service guide. But in the rest of the world, as Glyn pointed out earlier in this thread, MB recommends 7G service ever 60K miles, which is ~37K miles. So, if you intend to keep your 7G running as long as possible, I would stick to that interval.

Originally Posted by gild

John,

I had to come over to the W203 forum to find some DIYer's. You'll get flamed in some forums for mentioning that you can change your own fluid/filter in a 7G tranny.

Thanks for the link to the adaptor tool and I'm looking forward to your complete writeup.

Originally Posted by johnand

Really?!?! Who would be doing the flaming, service techs from the dealer?

I got sidetracked last weekend, but plan on doing the transmission service this weekend.

Originally Posted by gild

I've generally found service techs to be all about helping a guy DIY when away from the job. They generally enjoy mechanical things.

The flamers seem to be insecure know-it-all snobs who revel in you knowing they have enough money to drive a Mercedes but don't know how to check the air pressure in their tires.

Anyway, I think I can make one of those ATF adaptors shown at the AST site. Did you use one of their pumps with the adaptor?

Originally Posted by johnand

I hear you about the snobs. I have been working on my own cars for over 20 years, and most of the time really enjoy it. Though, it is getting harder and harder to DIY, as manufacturers keep trying to save their service departments livelyhood, by designing the cars to be harder to service for the typical shadetree mechanic. I can't hardly blame them though But, I will continue to try and service my cars myself, until the tools required get too expensive. The $600 I have into my STAR clone system is almost my threshold.

You could easily make one of the adapters, it is just a hunk of steel with 12mm x 1.5mm threads and a hole through the middle. I almost made one myself, but for less than $40, it wasn't worth my time. The Assenmacher tool is of very high quality. I didn't buy their overpriced pump though. Just attached a simple automotive bottle pump hose to the tool. Works great, and is inexpensive.

Originally Posted by gild

The older I get, the more I enjoy it. 20 years ago I worked on cars because of economic necessity. Staying up until midnight working on your car in freezing weather so you could drive it to work the next morning isn't exactly fun. Now I choose to work on them because it is fun now and the time isn't pressing (and not to mention that I think I will do a more thorough job than a paid mechanic). I do have to admit that some of the new electronic stuff is intimidating but once you spend some time thinking about it there seems to be a way around most of it.

If I could find the Assenmacher tool locally I would probably grab one. I thought I'd just drill a hole with the lathe on a 12x1.5 bolt and attach a hose like you've done.

Originally Posted by lkfoster

That looks similar to the adapter that I had to buy to change the oil in the American wife's Audi TT with the DSG transmission. I don't know why everybody seems to be eliminating the fill plug, it can't cost that much.

Originally Posted by lkfoster

While I agree that it's best to not be sucking in contamination, the transmission needs a vent somewhere. As temperatures change the air space inside the transmission needs to be vented to atmosphere as the fluid and air expands and contracts. Lip seals leak if not vented.

The fill tube on my C55 transmission has an o-ring seal which means there has to be a vent somewhere else in the transmission housing. I'd look for it on my STAR service manual if I could ever figure out how to get it to work on 64-bit machine.

Originally Posted by londonbenzkid

Hi guys, my car has around 155k KM on it right now, and has never had a transmission service.... should i get this done with a total flush or just the regular service.
Or should I just leave it.... The dealer told me to not service it since it is a lifetime sealed transmission.
I am confused :S

Originally Posted by johnand

Lifetime fill is BS,

Originally Posted by johnand

Yep, I have those same memories too of working on the car until early morning, outside in the weather, just getting finished in time to go to work. Now I have a decent conditioned garage, and more than 1 vehicle to drive, so I am not under that pressure, and it is more enjoyable now.

I am VERY particular about everything I own, and one of the biggest reasons I work on my own car is I can never get things done how I want by someone else. Same goes for my house. That is why if I am not working on the car, I am working on the house

Yeah, drilling a hole in a bolt would work too, and is super cheap. I bought mine online here: http://www.toolsource.com/mercedes-7...-p-105640.html

Originally Posted by gild

OK, took your advice and bought the tool. Now I'm just waiting on your pictorial