Going to the stealership for the 1st time...
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'05 C230 Kompressor Sedan
Going to the stealership for the 1st time...
Well, my girl has 50K on her and it's time to take her to the stealership for the first time for an ATF and filter change. I usually do all the service to my vehicles my self, but the lack of a dip stick and the time of year/lack of time to do it, I'm going to let the dealership have a go at it.
I called around and got estimates from $269 to $369 for this service, and of course I choose the cheapest. The dealership is Phillips in Virginia Beach.
Has anyone used the dealership? Reviews?
Is that the average price for this service?
You think I even need it at 50K?
How much would it cost if I did it myself, and how much does the tranny and oil dip stick run?
I love this car! I can get 34 mpg in her at 60 mph and the only thing I'v done in the past 14K miles I've owned her is change the oil three times.
Thanks for the feedback of your ATF services.
I called around and got estimates from $269 to $369 for this service, and of course I choose the cheapest. The dealership is Phillips in Virginia Beach.
Has anyone used the dealership? Reviews?
Is that the average price for this service?
You think I even need it at 50K?
How much would it cost if I did it myself, and how much does the tranny and oil dip stick run?
I love this car! I can get 34 mpg in her at 60 mph and the only thing I'v done in the past 14K miles I've owned her is change the oil three times.
Thanks for the feedback of your ATF services.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Springfield, MO
2004 C320 Sport
Dipstick for ATF can be had for $20 on fleabay
14 quarts of ATF Fluid @ $10+ a quart
Transmission pan gasket and Filter kit about $20
$180-200 to do it yourself, minus other supplies needed.
14 quarts of ATF Fluid @ $10+ a quart
Transmission pan gasket and Filter kit about $20
$180-200 to do it yourself, minus other supplies needed.
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From: VA
THE C350
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'05 C230 Kompressor Sedan
Yes, full flush.
I'll look for a stick on fleabay. Sucks not being able to keep an eye on it.
Oil was changed when I bought it, then 7K miles later, then 7K after that. I get the oil on sale at Advanced auto for $32 for 5 quarts Mobil 1 0w40 and a filter, and it's worth it to me.
I do the Blackstone lab testing sometimes. I read another guys report for a 6K mile oil change and Blackstone recommended he not take it any farther than that. I'll change it at 7K, just to be on the safe side. Besides, when I change it, the oil looks black as tar and I'm not hurting the car by keeping the oil changed more often than needed. Just hurting the environment and my wallet, ha! And like I said, I can change it for under 40 bucks so it's worth it to me.
Got the car back from the dealership. Under $300 for the whole deal. They did a good job washing the car, and nice surprise, a Christmas wreath attached to the hood emblem. A little tacky, maybe, but I kind of like it and think I'll leave it on, for a few days anyway. Ho Ho Ho!
It's funny though, this is the first time I've taken any of my vehicles to the dealership for over 10 years for something other than warranty work, and over all it was a good one.
Got the car back from the dealership. Under $300 for the whole deal. They did a good job washing the car, and nice surprise, a Christmas wreath attached to the hood emblem. A little tacky, maybe, but I kind of like it and think I'll leave it on, for a few days anyway. Ho Ho Ho!
It's funny though, this is the first time I've taken any of my vehicles to the dealership for over 10 years for something other than warranty work, and over all it was a good one.
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C230
That oil must be liquid gold... Buy the generic stuff in the gallon jugs... ATF is ATF , Mercedes approves most name brands anyways
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From: Springfield, MO
2004 C320 Sport
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C230
And the dipstick is not necessary, as long as you don't have a leak, put the same amount back in that you pulled out... It's a sealed system and typically doesn't get hot enough burn off the oil to where you'd lose a quart
Last edited by rabney72; Dec 6, 2010 at 10:57 PM.
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C230
With what? Mercedes approved ATF brands? Have you seen the document?
Thats fine if you disagree.
There's nothing special about these tranny's , they just want you to think that, and if you believe it, more power to you
Thats fine if you disagree.
There's nothing special about these tranny's , they just want you to think that, and if you believe it, more power to you
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From: centennial, CO
2003 c240
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C230
Great advice, Thanks.
As a mechanical engineer I've done plenty of research myself to lead me to these conclusions. The day my tranny fails because I used amsoil ATF instead of what you do, then I'll talk to a so called oil expert.
Either way, this thread is going the wrong direction, I'll stop here.
As a mechanical engineer I've done plenty of research myself to lead me to these conclusions. The day my tranny fails because I used amsoil ATF instead of what you do, then I'll talk to a so called oil expert.
Either way, this thread is going the wrong direction, I'll stop here.
Last edited by rabney72; Dec 7, 2010 at 09:11 AM.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Oh sweet jesus.. use the Fuchs Titan 4134 transmission fluid. It's easily available and not terribly expensive. All ATFs are not equals.
Glyn M Ruck is our resident oil expert and he can explain in great detail why it is important to use the approved fluids especially in the case of the transmission.
As for oil changes, I've had Blackstone analyze a sample from my car that was ran 13k miles and it was fine. But like you say, it won't hurt it to change it more often - it's just unnecessary. The really stupid thing would be to change the oil 2x as often as needed and throw just any ATF in the transmission.
Glyn M Ruck is our resident oil expert and he can explain in great detail why it is important to use the approved fluids especially in the case of the transmission.
As for oil changes, I've had Blackstone analyze a sample from my car that was ran 13k miles and it was fine. But like you say, it won't hurt it to change it more often - it's just unnecessary. The really stupid thing would be to change the oil 2x as often as needed and throw just any ATF in the transmission.
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From: Boston, MA
'14 ML350, '13 C220 CDI, '07 C280, '98 ML320
I stopped getting all excited when others are readily willing to destroy their cars in the name of saving few dollars. It's their car, their money... they have the right to do whatever they want to do with their car :-)
enjoy the ride.
enjoy the ride.
Last edited by pcy; Dec 7, 2010 at 10:32 AM.
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THE C350
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
In layman's terms. Different Auto box manufacturers use different friction materials in the multi wetplate clutches, TC clutches etc in their transmissions. These friction materials require a fluid with the correct frictional properties, which are achieved by varying dosses of friction modifiers, to slip & then lock up in the desired fashion. That is why there are so many different ATF's on the market these days. GM's fluid requirements, as an example, have always been for fluids that allow a lot of slip before final lock up is achieved. If you put a GM fluid in a Honda gearbox it will allow the clutches to slip too much & burn them out. There is no such thing as a universal ATF. Only Ford & GM have worked together in recent times to try & unify their (traditionally) vastly different requirements.
Mercedes Benz auto boxes are very different to their competition. Mercedes correctly sees the fluid as a component of the gearbox. They have worked at great expense with the oil industry to design the latest MB 236.14 fluid. Only use fluid approved against 236.14. In the US the most easily obtainable fluid other than the genuine fluid from the dealers is Fuchs Titan 4134.
Failure to use the correct fluid will severely compromise the performance of your transmission & likely lead to it's early demise.
See bulletin.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Here is the latest listing of 236.14 approved fluids globally - Very few make the grade.
Fuchs TITAN ATF 4134 Fuchs Petrolub AG, Mannheim/Deutschland
MB 236.14 ATF NAG2VSport A 001 989 68 03 Daimler AG, Stuttgart/Deutschland
Mercedes-Benz Automatik-Getriebeöl Blatt 236.14 Daimler AG, Stuttgart/Deutschland
Mobil ATF 134 Exxon Mobil Corporation, FAIRFAX, Virginia/USA
OMV ATF M plus OMV Refining & Marketing GmbH, VIENNA/Österreich
Shell ATF134 Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
Fuchs TITAN ATF 4134 Fuchs Petrolub AG, Mannheim/Deutschland
MB 236.14 ATF NAG2VSport A 001 989 68 03 Daimler AG, Stuttgart/Deutschland
Mercedes-Benz Automatik-Getriebeöl Blatt 236.14 Daimler AG, Stuttgart/Deutschland
Mobil ATF 134 Exxon Mobil Corporation, FAIRFAX, Virginia/USA
OMV ATF M plus OMV Refining & Marketing GmbH, VIENNA/Österreich
Shell ATF134 Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
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C230
Ahem! Please ignore this ill informed statement.
In layman's terms. Different Auto box manufacturers use different friction materials in the multi wetplate clutches, TC clutches etc in their transmissions. These friction materials require a fluid with the correct frictional properties, which are achieved by varying dosses of friction modifiers, to slip & then lock up in the desired fashion. That is why there are so many different ATF's on the market these days. GM's fluid requirements, as an example, have always been for fluids that allow a lot of slip before final lock up is achieved. If you put a GM fluid in a Honda gearbox it will allow the clutches to slip too much & burn them out. There is no such thing as a universal ATF. Only Ford & GM have worked together in recent times to try & unify their (traditionally) vastly different requirements.
Mercedes Benz auto boxes are very different to their competition. Mercedes correctly sees the fluid as a component of the gearbox. They have worked at great expense with the oil industry to design the latest MB 236.14 fluid. Only use fluid approved against 236.14. In the US the most easily obtainable fluid other than the genuine fluid from the dealers is Fuchs Titan 4134.
Failure to use the correct fluid will severely compromise the performance of your transmission & likely lead to it's early demise.
See bulletin.
In layman's terms. Different Auto box manufacturers use different friction materials in the multi wetplate clutches, TC clutches etc in their transmissions. These friction materials require a fluid with the correct frictional properties, which are achieved by varying dosses of friction modifiers, to slip & then lock up in the desired fashion. That is why there are so many different ATF's on the market these days. GM's fluid requirements, as an example, have always been for fluids that allow a lot of slip before final lock up is achieved. If you put a GM fluid in a Honda gearbox it will allow the clutches to slip too much & burn them out. There is no such thing as a universal ATF. Only Ford & GM have worked together in recent times to try & unify their (traditionally) vastly different requirements.
Mercedes Benz auto boxes are very different to their competition. Mercedes correctly sees the fluid as a component of the gearbox. They have worked at great expense with the oil industry to design the latest MB 236.14 fluid. Only use fluid approved against 236.14. In the US the most easily obtainable fluid other than the genuine fluid from the dealers is Fuchs Titan 4134.
Failure to use the correct fluid will severely compromise the performance of your transmission & likely lead to it's early demise.
See bulletin.
You can blame my ignorance on always owning Ford's and Chevy's and being able to use "universal" (dexron iii/ mercon) ATF.
Apparently I am wrong, but not in too bad of shape. I believe the oil I use meets the Mercedes Spec for my transmission (the 5 speed, with the required spec 236.1.... 236.14 is for the new 7 speed)
http://www.amsoil.com/products/trans...fluid_rec.aspx
Last edited by rabney72; Dec 7, 2010 at 11:44 PM.
