maverik259

Hey all...been awhile i know but been riding my 07 R1 that I just bought a few months back mostly especially since my alignment was so jacked up that I had to go and dropped $450 on an alignment to add the stupid camber bolts that wize MB decided not to install on our cars at the shop!

anyway now that that's done with...its time for my fluid changes...did the oil last month, did the transmission today ($200 to simply drain and refill, $72 for fluid and $100 in labor for 40 min job) woulda dont myself if i had the time or could find the fluid...

Then I asked about the differential fluid and he laughably quoted me another $200 for that...I was like dude its half the size...then he said well it takes 2 bottles of $65 a piece bottles plus labor...so I decided to not let them touch my car for something I can do myself... but he refused to tell me (aka claimed he didn't know what its called) what kind of fluid it is etc....so my ever faithful ever trusting benzmen, what fluid goes in there and where can i get it? I've searched hi/low on this site and no luck! not to mention noone apparently has ever changed the fluid on a 6mt since i searched all over for that as well! haha

all help is appreciated!

capt_paul

If you do a simple search, you will find the differential fluid recommendations as well as a DIY proceedure on the forums as well.

maverik259

well unfortunately nothing came up under w203 - differential fluid...didn't think it could get much simpler but thanks for the input....

now if your referring to the coupe thread on a differential "LEAK" and are considering that as to what I am looking for you could be right...hence the post to begin with...mostly since its a thread about a 2003 coupe and never mentions if its the same as an 05 sedan kompressor...last thing i want to do is jack up my differential since I know its an expensive fix!

and the pdf he has for "approved gear oils" is nothing less that absolutely unhelpful...so again i would simply like to hear from possibly anyone who has changed theres or specifically knows if any basic 75w90 gear oil fluid will work...i've found mobil1, redline, valvoline, and royal purple on amazon all for about the same price ~$15 a quart. (we need 1.5 quarts correct?)

thanks in advanced

phister

You can use the recommended mb gear oil or you can buy redline 75w90 or royal purple Max gear 75w90. There's been a couple of threads lately on the topic. If you scroll through the previous threads there's a discussion on it. As for the amount it should be 1.5 but your owners manual will tell you for your specific model.

maverik259

ya but i specifically remember someone saying DO NOT put in redline into it its not MB approved...and i want nothing to do with MB gear oil at $65 a bottle! haha

so basically anything 75w90 is good to go?

Javvy

i had gotten this info from Glyn the oil guru in one of the most recent threads on this topic, the correct differential oil to be used is mercedes Gear Oil type 235.7 spec or Mobilube FE 75W-85 by exxon mobil......hope this helps.... :thumbup:

you said the qty was 1.5 but what oz/ltrs/gallons ???? any one or just buy 2 bottles and fill it till it overflows.....

javvy

maverik259

i thought it was 1.5quarts

maverik259

correction make that 1.5L and i can't find that mobil stuff anywhere...all i could find is the mb approved stuff for $35 per liter on ebay...any suggestions? I'd love to not spend $65 on gear oil when I can spend like $30 total on something w/o the MB stamp... lol

Glyn M Ruck

Posted it here.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...questions.html

johnand

There are only 3 approved gear oils for the W203. They are Spec sheet 235.7 oils here: http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/235.7_en.html

They are NOT a 75W-90, they are a 75W-85. This a special fuel efficient formula. The only one of those 3 I could readily find is the genuine MB fluid at $38.40/L at parts.com

Glyn M Ruck

MW_ATL

Interesting about the price of the gear oil, as my preferred dealership does the differential oil change for $55.00 (advertised price!) -- and will put me in a loaner while they do it. I'm damned lucky to have a pretty decent dealer and SA.

maverik259

ya my dealership at home where my parents live only wanted 80...here in pensacola where i live they want 200...its a travesty!

maverik259

just budged and bought 2 L from ebay of MB fluid...FML, thanks for all the help guys!

Javvy

hey maverik, can you send a link to the ebay page where you bought the oil..........I am trying high and low but cannot find the 75w-85 type oil the only titan avalibale is in the UK

maverik259

Mercedes Gear Oil, Hypoid SAE 85W-90, Spec 235.7

thats the title so try searching that...

KalC240

MB sheet 235.8 is a longer list including Mobile synthetic 75-W90, MobileLube and Castrol.
How to determine which sheet applies to the C- class?

http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/235.8_en.html

Glyn M Ruck

Page 235.8 only applies to commercial vehicles & vans. See page 231.2

johnand

Something doesn't fit that statement. If it is sheet 235.7, it is 75W-85

gatonls

I used Moble 1 from Autozone....

KalC240

Glenn,
I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but if somthing is good enough for a commercial vehicle, should it not be OK for a standard differential? I am sure you'le educate me, an I will have to replace what I put in with the real stuff.

JUAN CASAUS

+1 Many people have including me and it works great!

Glyn M Ruck

Truck differentials are large, strong & comparatively crude & no one cares if they are slightly noisy. MB car differentials are compact, run low friction bearings & have far finer tooth finish of crown wheel, pinion & planetary set. There are also yellow metals in bushings & thrusts. They require to be absolutely silent.

The 3 approved oils are designed to look after the specifics of the car diff with particular reference to the low friction bearings. Low friction bearings have superior surface finish which is more easily damaged than conventional bearings as used in truck diffs. If the pinion bearings wear they loose preload which would lead to inaccurate mesh with the crown wheel resulting in noise/whine on either positive or trailing throttle - or both. Sulphur compounds are also carefully controlled to protect yellow metals.

KalC240

Glyn,
very informative. Thank you.

Javvy

the titan 75w-85 or that matter 75w-85 gear oil is not available in the US the only place closets that I found was a guy in England that is willing to sell a case of 12 with $85 just for shipping............any idea where in the US can I find some 75w-85 gear oil..............

or can I use 75w-90 valvoline gear oil.........this is the closest i got ...........I say no where is the 75w-85 gear oil available in the US.............

Any help will be much appreciated.

javvy