7G tranny service
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Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Seattle, WA
2007 w203 c280
7G tranny service
Took my car into Mercedes for the 7G transmission service. They say they don't drain the torque converter, which is not what I thought This is per Mercedes spec they say, and I thought I'd ask here if that is normal.
I got a 2010 W204 C300 as a loaner, and was surprised at how different it feels. The steering wheel felt plasticy, and seemed to be missing some of that "Mercedes" feel to me. Did they go to electric power steering? It felt oddly slower than my car, even though it has the same drive train. The transmission on it was way smoother though, and it seems like a nice car overall.
I got a 2010 W204 C300 as a loaner, and was surprised at how different it feels. The steering wheel felt plasticy, and seemed to be missing some of that "Mercedes" feel to me. Did they go to electric power steering? It felt oddly slower than my car, even though it has the same drive train. The transmission on it was way smoother though, and it seems like a nice car overall.
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W203 C280 4Matic.. IIRC, no 7G in that one. Only the 722.6 5AT.
Edit: I was unaware they made a C280 with RWD in the W203 line. That would have the 7G.
Edit: I was unaware they made a C280 with RWD in the W203 line. That would have the 7G.
Last edited by LILBENZ230; Dec 2, 2011 at 01:23 PM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Thread Starter
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From: Seattle, WA
2007 w203 c280
will asj them to redo then
Darn - looks like they lied then.
The told me there was no plug on the torque converter, and that it wasn't part of the tranny service. Can anyone confirm there is a drain plug in a w203 7G torque converter? The document, AP27.00-P-2702W, says to drain the converter if there is a plug. The service adviser told me that draining it required a pressure flush, which double the price.
It's pathetic one has to double check up that a dealer is doing a routine maintenance correctly. I'm going to ask them to redo it correctly or refund my money.
The told me there was no plug on the torque converter, and that it wasn't part of the tranny service. Can anyone confirm there is a drain plug in a w203 7G torque converter? The document, AP27.00-P-2702W, says to drain the converter if there is a plug. The service adviser told me that draining it required a pressure flush, which double the price.
It's pathetic one has to double check up that a dealer is doing a routine maintenance correctly. I'm going to ask them to redo it correctly or refund my money.
Thread Starter
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From: Seattle, WA
2007 w203 c280
aded details
I added a few more details about my car and location.
I drive a 2007 c280 Elegance package 2WD. From the russian VIN decoder site I get what is I think is the tranny id number:
722999 00 812136
I can post the VIN if interested.
I drive a 2007 c280 Elegance package 2WD. From the russian VIN decoder site I get what is I think is the tranny id number:
722999 00 812136
I can post the VIN if interested.
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From: chicago
2005 c230 kompressor 2003 s500 94 wrangler
then call another dealership on speakerphone and record it
man if i had every mechanic recorded i would be a rich rich man
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The TC drain was deleted in 1999 from the 722.6 transmission & only very early 722.9's had no TC drain. I have never seen a W203 722.9 without one.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
BTW: Print out the WIS document provided by Johnand & tell them to do the job properly to the book.
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From: Seattle, WA
2007 w203 c280
Dealer will look at it again
Update
The dealer said they would look at it again, and drain the torque converter if possible. They said the torque converter drain, which they now acknowledge exists, may be impossible to access. Johnand was able to figure it out, so I hope a Mercedes tech can too.
I would like to express my gratitude for the help and resources provided in this forum.
The dealer said they would look at it again, and drain the torque converter if possible. They said the torque converter drain, which they now acknowledge exists, may be impossible to access. Johnand was able to figure it out, so I hope a Mercedes tech can too.
I would like to express my gratitude for the help and resources provided in this forum.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
What BS - There is a cutaway in the bell housing to access it. Hope they know they are supposed to fit a new microencapsulated plug - i.e. has sealant on it.
Dealers!!!
Dealers!!!
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From: Seattle, WA
2007 w203 c280
a bit worried about letting them work on it
To be honest I'm apprehensive about letting them work on it again. I've already paid them and the job needs to be done right though.
I'm going to document everything in an e-mail and send it to them to make sure they are careful about doing the job right. I should post it as a template to for others to use when dealing with the 7G service at dealers.
I'm going to document everything in an e-mail and send it to them to make sure they are careful about doing the job right. I should post it as a template to for others to use when dealing with the 7G service at dealers.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The trouble is that they have gone and poluted the new oil with dirty oil by not draining the converter. This is not the end of the world but not ideal either.
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From: chicago
2005 c230 kompressor 2003 s500 94 wrangler
the service department is just a rip and is their to ruin your car so u have to buy another one sooner
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
That's why I supervise services on my car & otherwise keep my cars well clear of dealers. Less time spent at dealers = less trouble with car!
And I have a good dealer owned by MBSA.
And I have a good dealer owned by MBSA.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
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From: Seattle, WA
2007 w203 c280
I wrongly assumed quality
Part of the reason I went to the dealer was to avoid a situation like this. I'm servicing the tranny as a form of cheap insurance, and I assumed factory trained technicians with factory tools would do the job correctly per specifications. I didn't want to have to worry about it, and I thought the small premium over a good independent was worth it.
In fact what I have found out is that they will try to cheat you, and that you have to supervise them like insolent children. I thought MB had more integrity than that, and find it depressing they don't have better quality control.
I will never have my car serviced by another dealer after this. Mercedes are you listening? Get control of your dealers!
In fact what I have found out is that they will try to cheat you, and that you have to supervise them like insolent children. I thought MB had more integrity than that, and find it depressing they don't have better quality control.
I will never have my car serviced by another dealer after this. Mercedes are you listening? Get control of your dealers!
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From: chicago
2005 c230 kompressor 2003 s500 94 wrangler
Part of the reason I went to the dealer was to avoid a situation like this. I'm servicing the tranny as a form of cheap insurance, and I assumed factory trained technicians with factory tools would do the job correctly per specifications. I didn't want to have to worry about it, and I thought the small premium over a good independent was worth it.
In fact what I have found out is that they will try to cheat you, and that you have to supervise them like insolent children. I thought MB had more integrity than that, and find it depressing they don't have better quality control.
I will never have my car serviced by another dealer after this. Mercedes are you listening? Get control of your dealers!
In fact what I have found out is that they will try to cheat you, and that you have to supervise them like insolent children. I thought MB had more integrity than that, and find it depressing they don't have better quality control.
I will never have my car serviced by another dealer after this. Mercedes are you listening? Get control of your dealers!
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Sorry I missed all this. My car is a 2007 and it has the torque converter drain plug. I have been told by the lead tech at my local dealership that all W203's with the 722.9 have the drain plug.
What is more disturbing is that the techs think it might be difficult to access the drain plug?!?!? It couldn't possibly be easier. There is a rubber plug covering the access hole. Just pull the plug and rotate the crankshaft until you see the plug.
I just can't get over how many stories we see here on a regular basis of sheer incompetence of MB dealers. It seems to be getting a lot worse lately. Honestly, I have found from past experience that it is the same for most other makes of cars. It is one of the biggest reasons I work on my own cars. It is also why I am a huge proponent of indy shops for people that don'e want to work on their cars. To the OP, I recommend just taking it to an indy next service.
What is more disturbing is that the techs think it might be difficult to access the drain plug?!?!? It couldn't possibly be easier. There is a rubber plug covering the access hole. Just pull the plug and rotate the crankshaft until you see the plug.
I just can't get over how many stories we see here on a regular basis of sheer incompetence of MB dealers. It seems to be getting a lot worse lately. Honestly, I have found from past experience that it is the same for most other makes of cars. It is one of the biggest reasons I work on my own cars. It is also why I am a huge proponent of indy shops for people that don'e want to work on their cars. To the OP, I recommend just taking it to an indy next service.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Sorry John - a blind moment - Don't know why I thought your car was 2006. You have said 100 times it was one of the last produced & it's on your profile 
Maybe we need to instruct these useless dealer techs on how to rotate a crankshaft!
Maybe we need to instruct these useless dealer techs on how to rotate a crankshaft!
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Dec 7, 2011 at 07:56 AM.
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From: Northeast PA-Poconos
2014 E350, 2006 C350 Sport(made it to 280k, loved it!), 1990 300E
Ok, guys. I have been reading this thread off and on. Scaring the bejesus out of me. I need to do this tranny service like yesterday with over 80k miles. Never been done. This is my tranny code: transmission 722906 00 374293
Guess I am in the same boat as the OP. Run!! Don't walk!! Run away from the stealership!!
Guess I am in the same boat as the OP. Run!! Don't walk!! Run away from the stealership!!
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
It should have been serviced at 39K. Another reason to run 
As it has never seen a fluid change you really have to make sure they drain the converter. Also make sure they leave things open for as long as reasonably possible to drain all the old fluid out & drain warm.
As it has never seen a fluid change you really have to make sure they drain the converter. Also make sure they leave things open for as long as reasonably possible to drain all the old fluid out & drain warm.
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From: Northeast PA-Poconos
2014 E350, 2006 C350 Sport(made it to 280k, loved it!), 1990 300E
It should have been serviced at 39K. Another reason to run
As it has never seen a fluid change you really have to make sure they drain the converter. Also make sure they leave things open for as long as reasonably possible to drain all the old fluid out & drain warm.
As it has never seen a fluid change you really have to make sure they drain the converter. Also make sure they leave things open for as long as reasonably possible to drain all the old fluid out & drain warm.
How many quarts should I provide for the fluid change?
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
See here for identification of pan & spill tube & relevant capacities.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...nsmission.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...nsmission.html
