I prefer the same MANN filter for $18.00. When I changed mine last week I removed three torx bolts.

And it took more than ten minutes.

 

I follow to the recommended schedule for just about every service. Engine air filter, oil change and filter, transmission, differentials, etc. The only things I delay past what is recommended is the cabin air filter and brake fluid flush. This isn't to say that I DON'T do them. Just I do them when I feel I need them. Ususally 3-4 years for brake fluid flush, and 2 years for cabin filter.

 

wow that's awfully expensive. I'm at 40k miles right now and I just did a Service B at Rusnak Mercedes in Arcadia and they only charged me $230 (including taxes). Did a great job, showed me that my brake pads I replaced last May are still in "Good" condition and the fluid flush was included in my Service B. Did you get ripped off or something?

 

Originally the 7G transmission was supposed to be a "never fill". Somewhere along the line MB changed their mind and made it mandatory. the procedure is complicated, required both a filter plus gaskets,,and as there is no formal filler or dip stick, the transmission has to be overfilled, run until it is hot, then open the cover again and let the excess fluid leak out, then quickly close it again.
My V12 with an automatic ZF transmission was the same way, supposed to be a "lifetime fill". Ha! Don´t ask how much I have spent, as the transmission has to be dropped to gain access to the top plate. It's been done twice.
If I find the transmission training manual that has the procedure again, I will post it.

 

Ok. So show me where in the Mercedes C300 manual where it states that you need to change brake fluid, transfer case and diff fluid. Show me where Mercedes recommends this for a C300; also, why you are at it, tell me how synthetic gear oil breaks down? Look in Alldata too, under Mercedes normal maintenace schedule, show me where they are recommended??( Alldata takes the info directly from the manufactuer). Also, explain to me how other manufactuers like Ford send out a memo to it's dealers telling them not to sell flushes to thier customers because they are a rip off??

Mercedes Benz does NOT recommend a brake fluid change, transfer case change or a diff service on a C300, period. Dealers sell it to rip you off.
Mercedes recommends a trans service at 39k, a cabin fiter at 26k, an lof every 13k, air filters every 50k, spark plugs at 91k and a coolant flush at 143k as well as a fuel filter at 143k, the manufactuer has spoken for its product. A transfer case service, brake fluid change and a diff service is not there, and it is not there for a reason, it is useless! Your car will go well over 100,000 miles without these services, car will wear out before a diff or a transfer case. I have checked the manuals, a friend of mine is a servce director for a Mercedes dealer, and I am a service director for a dealership other than mercedes and I was also a Chrysler B tech for five years who is ASE Master certified with L1, I know. As a matter of fact, you can probably skip the trans service as well and still get well over 100,000 miles with no trans issues. The person who posted this is mad at me from another thread where I called his car an antique, which it is; I cant let his ignorance on this matter go unchallenged as I would be doing a disservice to my other fellow MB owners. Do not get ripped off by a dealer, your Benz can get by with just an LOf every 13k miles, and a trans service only once at 39k, thats about it. Change the air filters at 50k, cabin filter every 26k, and the plugs at 91k, about it. If you still have the car, change the coolant and fuel filter at 143k. Dont go for the steering flush either, another BS rip off!!! It is your money, take this sound advice from someone in the business or throw your $$$ in the toilet, it is up to you!




PS- My chevelle is in mint condition, new motor, trans, etc. Stops people in their tracks wherever it goes, I got offered $40k for it, said no. The rear is still original, why??? BECAUSE GEAR OIL DOSNT NEED TO BE CHANGED!!!
(Unless someone abuses the living hell out of the car or it is a 4wd and someone rides in 4lo on the roadway) Still has the original drum brake set up too, no need for a brake fluid change.

 

I thought there were more than three; took me ten minutes, but I was a tech at one time, so I may be quicker, as I am used to working on cars, I remember five or six torx screws, three may be correct, I dont rememer, but is easy compared to paying a MB tech $50 labor to install.

 

I found this online at an authorized Mercedes site. I will stand corrected that Mercedes does in fact recommend a brake fluid change every two years or 20k miles, however, I can not find this recommendation for a C300, so I do not know how current this is or if I just can not find it for a C300. I wil also state that it is highly unlikely that you need to change this fluid, and Mercedes is erring on the side of caution. I know other manufactuers do not recommend it, and in fact are against it. I know also that there are many, many cars on the road with well over 100k miles on them with original brake fluid in them. the amount of moisture contracted from brake fluid is minimal to cause damage until well over 150k miles,(Asuming normal driving) usually affecting ABS pumps. By this time, the car is usually history. I still stand by that it is a profit making center for the dealership, not really necessary, but, to each his own.







How often should the brake fluid in my Mercedes-Benz be changed? Can any mechanic do it?

The brake system of a Mercedes-Benz consists of an interconnected array of components which operate with precision, speed and often extreme force over a wide range of operating temperatures and environmental conditions. From the brake calipers at each wheel, to under hood components such as the master cylinder and pump for Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESP), the brake system contains complex parts that rely on brake fluid to perform their hydraulic tasks. Brake fluid is highly hygroscopic which means it tends to absorb moisture with age. This moisture consequentially creates corrosion within internal brake components and decreases the boiling point of the brake fluid, reducing braking effectiveness.

The recommended interval for replacing brake fluid is every 2 years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first. The procedure used to replace brake fluid must be performed using approved pressure bleeding machines and "DOT 4 plus" brake fluid. The machines that are used by Mercedes-Benz technicians are designed to operate at pressures which ensure proper evacuation of the fluid and won't damage any of the precision braking components. These machines also ensure that new brake fluid entering the brake system is free of moisture.

If non-approved fluids are used or if the brake fluid becomes contaminated with mineral oil, then severe damage to brake components or brake failure can occur. It is essential that only qualified technicians using Mercedes-Benz approved equipment, parts and fluids perform maintenance or repairs on Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

 

@4maticbenz: Your previous post No. 30 asks to show where the change of transmission fluid and transmission fluid filter are required. Remembering seeing it in the Maintenance Log, (Part No. 207 584 3093 Edition 2009/06a), right there on page 15, says at 30,000 miles/3 years, fluid and filter change for the C, E, E coupe and GLK, for the 7G transmission.
Which underlines my point in Post No. 29, that originally MB said the 7G was a "no fill", but they had a change of heart. However the transmission casing itself does not provide conveniently for this fluid/filter change.
On another thread https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ion-issue.html
on which you yourself posted a couple of times just yesterday, I posted a 722.9 transmission training manual, same thread has a video of replacement of the valve body. I forgot to mention that a thermometer is another tool for this fluid and filter change.
The point is that the 7G model 722.9 transmission was never designed to have its fluid changed.
Someday MB's manufacturing and engineering will catch up with their service recommendations, and provide an easy, inexpensive way to change the fluid and filter, so many can DYI and avoid high dealer maintenance changes caused by lengthy and LUDICROUS service procedures necessitated by initial inadequate design and foresight.

 

I didnt say the transmission in post 30, I said the transfer case or differential. The 7 speed trans was originally designed for a no service, but now it is designed to be serviced only once at 39k miles.

 

@4maticbenz: The transfer/diff case DOES get changed on the C63. First time very early if my memory serves me (those two neurons really work hard). Later I will post the reference and the intervals, as it is more than once. (Also for other models).

 

@4maticbenz: MB says change of rear differential fluid at 2000 miles, both C63 and E63. Then another change of the rear diff/trans fluid EVERY 30k miles for the C63 and E63. This from the above mentioned Service manual.

 

My '09 C300 Maintenance Manual clearly documents to replace brake fluid every 20K mi or 2 yr. It is not correct that other manufacturers do not recommend this. I know that VW and BMW do, as I have owned both (although I cannot say for certain about the current model years, if that changed).

 

Some do, some do not. Ford and Chevrolet do not, for example, it seems to be a German car manufactuer recommendation more so than a American one.

 

It may be so for a C63 with the LSD -performance pack, but not the regular C63 or C300 /C350, as it is AMG, and the reason is that they feel the rear diff cant withstand the amount of horsepower and tourque that the car produces without a change of diff fluid; we are talking about a C300 here though, not a C63, two totally different cars drivetrain wise.

 

Also, another reason some manufactuers recommend early fluid changes for things like brake fluid is so they will not have to pay for repairs under warranty for failed parts, if they can convince the consumer to service the vehicle regularly, they will reduce warranty repair costs and instead push it onto you, the consumer, in way of increased maintenance costs. I am not saying that maintenance is a waste, in fact, it is the single most important thing you can do for your car to maintain its longevity. However, there is such a thing as excess and overkill. Hydroscopic brake fluid IS NOT going to cause problems or failures in less than 100,000 miles, not to say that it cant, but you can also win the lottery or get struck by lighting. Even after 100k miles, you most likely will not see any damage caused to your brake system from not changing the brake fluid.

How many of you will even have the car after 100k miles??? Prob. less than 10%, so all this maintenance is a waste of money on a vehicle that has planned obsolescence built into it; all cars are made to fail after a certain amount of time, (gotta keep people buying new ones). Do enough to make the car last for as long as you will own it, but dont kill yourself over every little thing that someone tells you that you need to do, you can do all of it and still have failures. Most important is an LOF, everything else you will not see any issues with til the car is falling apart well after 100k miles anyway.

 

Yes. I was pointing that out to you, since you implied that no other manufacturers recommend brake fluid replacement, when you said:
"I know other manufactuers do not recommend it, and in fact are against it."

 

You posted recently that you are twenty years old. And yet you have talked about all the cars you have owned. And the comment about neglecting the brake fluid for four years sounds like you have been an MB owner since you were fifteen. Please clarify.

 

It's hygroscopic.

And your claim that ignoring brake fluid for 100K miles is OK is complete nonsense. Over time, brake fluid becomes contaminated with moisture which does two things. First, it corrodes the caliper pistons to the point they will become immobile. The same thing will happen to the master cylinder and the clutch slave cylinder, if so equipped.

Further, accumulated moisture in the calipers will turn to steam when the brakes are hot and the pedal will get very soft to the point of brake failure. You have likely never driven on a track but I can tell you that it can and does happen.

Another failure point in old neglected cars is the brake hoses. When they get old, the inner lining can occlude, just like your coronary arteries, and when you release the pedal the brake fluid cannot flow out of the caliper and so the brake remains applied leading to overheating or in extreme cases, fire.

Mercedes has always recommended brake fluid changes each two years which I have followed and have never had a brake repair other than pads.

My Porsche is nearly 27 years old with never a brake problem because I change the fluid.

 

Solid information to heed from RLE.

A cursory search will confirm even minute quantities of moisture dramatically reduces brake fluid’s vaporization (boiling) temperature, to say nothing of contributing to costly premature caliper replacement. Renewing the fluid is always toward the top of my track day preparation checklist. A soft or nonexistent pedal could prove deadly. Never mind that 4maticbenz posts videos of his car going 130-MPH on public highways.

MB furnishes excellent brake hardware as delivered. It’s foolhardy not to maintain the performance and designed-in safety features for which we’ve already paid.

 

We are not talking SCCA, we are talking the street. Also, I stated if you are going to keep the car a long time, services are worth doing; I would change it also if I planned on keeping a car for 27 plus years.(my Chevelle has new brake fliud) I am talking about an average life span vehicle that a normal consumer would buy and use, a brake system isnt going to fail because you didnt change the brake fluid unless the car is really old, and by then, the components most likely will be failing anyway. Are you saying that your Porsche still hat the original calipers, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, etc? It is possible, but somewhat unlikely esp. if you live in a climate with road salt. The road salt alone will rot away your metal brake lines from the outside long before brake fluid will from the inside. I work with cars everyday for a living, have been for years, I rarely see any issues with brake systems failing because of a lack of a brake fluid change, like I said, it is not impossible, bt still a maintenace that isnt really needed for most people. Plenty of cars on the road today with original brake fluid, well over 100k miles, no issues, and that is a fact.

 

Again, we are not talking about a track. See my comment post to RLE.

 

I should have stated that most other manufactuers do not recommend it as part of their maintenance schedule; is their brake fluid any better?? I think not.

 

I'll follow the manufacturer's recommendations, but thanks anyway for sharing your knowledge.

 

Like Noka said, it is best to follow the manufactuers recommendations; I was just debating the issue. I am simply stating my opinions on the subject for food for though. You know what they say about opinions, they are like as*holes, everybody has one!

To each his own , enjoy you Benzes!!!

 

"To each his own" and "It is what is is" two ways civilized people say "F#CK YOU"