ncmudbug

After some prodding, I got my wife to take her auto tranny '06 C230 with 50K miles to an indy for a "full tranny flush". She was really scared about it because the cousin of a friend of ours had to have his tranny replaced when he had his flushed (don't have many details but was supposedly low miles.

I made it clear to the indy that I wanted a "full flush", but when I checked the receipt, it looks like they only did a "tranny service" because they only charged me for 5 quarts of fluid.

So now I have a car that had a partial flush and I need advice on what to do next. Her next service (A) is in 9K miles. Should I get the stealership to do a "full flush" then (her's is a CPO)? Get a regular service then and again in another 10K miles? Wait and do a full flush at, say, 90K miles?

I didn't mind paying to have it done right, but I'm not excited about paying to have it done again (unless I really should).

I saw C230 Sport Coup's DIY for a one man flush and I can handle that if that makes sense, but on another thread, it was said it was required to have an infrared thermometer and Star machine and I have neither.

So what do I do now? All advice will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

phister

Id call the indy shop and said you told them to do a full flush and they only did a half flush. But if you're worried about the tranny issue like your cousin's friend, then I would go to the stealership and have them do it just so you know that if it does need to be replaced after it was flushed they should cover it since it was done at the dealership and they certify their work for a certain amount of time.

LILBENZ230

Was the car that had the failed transmission after a flush a Honda product? I used to hear that all the time when I had my Acura TL.

TemjinX2

you don't need a flush at 50k. Your ok with a transmission fluid change.

buffyclk500

i do mine on my clk around 12000 (so every 4 oil changes) sine my car hit 60,000
it is not hard but with just me no comp i can only get around 8qt out and there sold b 9qt

also if u can get them 2 use the new ATF the benz it is alot better but cost alottttt more

Glyn M Ruck

This is a 722.9 7 speed - yes? If so no flushing is required because it has a TC drain.

At the next service just change the oil again & drain the TC as well this time. No filter change.

If it is a 722.6 5 speed - just drop the oil - no filter change & refill again. That will get the fluid mostly changed. No TC drain.

Flush is only really needed for neglected transmissions where oil condition sucks.

C230 Sport Coup

No 5 speeds after 2005 I think.
My writeup is for the 5 speed.
See Johnand's write up for flushing the 7 speed.
If anyone had to have a tranny replaced after flushing it would have to
be because they did not use MB approved fluid.

Thats why I did it myself.
I did take it to a dealer, and requested a "flush" at 80K miles,
and like you they only replaced 4 quarts.
The only time the WIS calls out a complete flush is in the event of a
tranny cooler failure, glycol in the tranny.

At 120K I was getting some odd shifts and clunking in the tranny that a
full flush fixed.

Other non-dealers claimed a full flush could be done for 200 bucks.
I felt certain they would be using the wrong fluid, since 13 quarts, filter and
gasket costs that much alone at discount.

Glyn are you sure 722.9 has a TC plug?

Glyn M Ruck

TC drain was removed from 722.6 in 1999. reintroduced to 722.9 about a year into production. 722.9 was fitted to other models prior to C Class. I have never seen a 722.9 on a W203 without TC drain.

https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...-converter.pdf

New 722.6 transmissions still in use have a TC drain. If you ever change a TC you can fit a new one with drain.

LILBENZ230

So on my car they removed 5 quarts of ATF, dropped the pan, changed the gasket, changed the filter, and replaced fluid with Fuchs Titan 4134. This is sufficient? No transmission anomalies with my car, ever.

C230 Sport Coup

Full flush is better. Once done, one might go for a pan drop, 5 quart and filter every 40K or so vs. waiting and doing the full flush. In any case, that's only about 1/2 the old fluid.

ncmudbug

Phister - The first problem is getting my wife on board with this. She's still waiting for the tranny to blow up! I'm not so worried about it (though I've never flushed any of the autotrannys I've had so there was a little spec of doubt hiding in a dark corner of my mind!). I think the next time I do get it done will be at the stealership. Their loaners are a lot better than the 190K mile old Bimmer the indy lent my wife!
Matt - I think it was a Toyota. Luckily, the guy knew or was a lawyer and got the shop to replace the tranny!

I'm not sure which tranny my wife has. I think it's a 7 speed (I was just looking in the owner's manual and I don't see anything definitive. It has the C/S button if that helps. I don't remember if they told us when we bought it. Does anybody know how to tell which one I have?

I'll do that, C230.

I think I'll just have the stealership do the flush at the next service.

Thanks all for your input!

Carsy

Hello Glyn,

I have a 722.64 5 speed auto trans. Do you happen to know whether it has a drain on the TC. I will look to see whether I have a drain plug when next doing a service.

Thank you, John C

Glyn M Ruck

Hi John - Your car is in the no man's land where you would have to check the VIN with MB or take a look yourself. My 722.6 TC has no drain but place on the TC for drain that was never drilled - damn bean counters. I can find no record of when it was reintroduced to the 722.6 but have a friend with a Sprinter that has a drain. I know of no W203 5 speeds with drains. W204 seems it was reintroduced during production at some time??? On my car I have just done the 60,000Km tranny service with 4/5 litre changeout with filter & all. At the 75,000 service I intend another change of 4/5 litres oil only without disturbing the pan & new filter. Belt & bracers approach. My transmission is beautifully smooth with no quirks at all and I think that as long as you stick to the ROW 60,000 Km/38,000 mile change regime all will be well. American cars typically did not have their oil changed & some had crap Valeo radiators fitted that leaked coolant into the transmission cooler. No SA built cars had Valeo radiators as we have the Behr radiator plant right here in country. All replacement Behr radiators to the US come from here. I carry a spare $8 electrohydraulic bush at all times & check for leaks at every service as this was a known weakness & the O rings were made of different materials on numerous occasions due to leakage. I don't want fluid wicking up the harness into my expensive TCU.

Carsy

Glyn,

Thank you for the good advice.

I followed the same partial change method in my daughters 505 ZF transmission & it always behaved . The trouble is the MB transmission fluid is a lot more expensive than the 20 litre drums of Dextron 3 !!

JC