Uncle

The plug on the torque converter does face the front (flywheel) but it does not require any special effort to remove it. It is small, and I used an allen wrench to remove it and replace it. If there were a little more room, maybe a ratchet would speed it up by 2 minutes.

Alex.currie44

What is the procedure to refill it?

ALC300

Wow- lots of great information here- I love this forum!
Ok, my 2011 C300 4matic is almost at 39k miles and I will need the transmission flush and the B service, my brake fluid flush had been done a couple of months ago in the process of replacing my booster. I notice a lot of people talk about draining the TC, is this needed also? Does anyone recommend any local shops here in Seattle WA (I just relocated and dunno reputable shops yet). Any idea on cost for the B5 service? Thanks for your help!

wsboxer1

I am with ALC300. I read the whole forum and actually spent a few hours Googling and browsing the other forums and could not find what I was looking for. Sorry for asking if it is simply posted somewhere.

Does anyone have a link to the WIS or relevent documentation I can present my dealer on this? I have a 2013 C300 approaching 28k miles. I think that I will bring it with me to ask about changing out the TC fluid and would like present them with backup.

Any links would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Exhibit13

Here it is, I got it off this thread a few pages back.

Kevin82

Hi Glyn,
I'm about ready to do a tranny flush from the dealer. I have a 2012 c250 from the US. Does my car have 722.9 tranny and can I use this WIS document? I want to be 100% sure before I show them the WIS.

FYI I called 3 dealers in California. 2 said they don't drain the TC with 1 saying they had to drop the entire tranny to drain the TC for about $1500. The 3rd said they do drain the TC for $600 which is a ripoff.

Kevin82

Holy crap quoted from 2 dealers $650 for tranny flush including drain TC. Is this normal price in US? Anyone know cheaper dealers in southern califonia?

wsboxer1

Thanks I saw that too. However is that a screenshot from the manual? It shows the capacity but I am looking for something that says "during this service you need to flush out the TC as well." That way if they do not I can show them the documentation.

ALC300

Any thoughts??

Exhibit13

yea, use the search feature!

ALC300

How do you know if your tranny is 722.9? And how to know how many quarts it needs for the fluid replacement service? I'm getting a range from different sources from 5qts to 9qts.

Please help, thanks!

ALC300

That's not helpful but thanks anyways.

LogicalApex

As always, the service manual should be your guiding force for maintaining your car. Hopefully you didn't pressure the dealer into replacing your transmission oil just yet... According to MB the 276 engine in the 2013+ C300 doesn't need its transmission oil changed until 70K miles or 7 years (whichever comes first, of course).

So you're no where near due for this service...

Source: MB USA Recommended Maintenance Schedule

JimPap

Does the fluid in the torque converter circulate into the transmission and mix with the transmission fluid in there?

mike82212

I have a 2014 C300 and with the maintenance contract I purchased it noted at 39,000 the transmission fluid level needed replace? I thought this has been gone over before here?

Carsy

Yes Sir.

LogicalApex

In my post up there (a few posts back) I linked to the MB Service Manual for the C. Give it a look. Your car has a M276 Engine. The manual states clearly that the 276 is to be done every 70K miles.

The pre-facelift car has the M272 engine which lacks the "ECO Start-Stop" feature.

The 276 engine is in C300 2012+ so for most W204 C300 owners it doesn't apply. As this covers only 3 of the 8 years of the W204 C300 lifespan. For them the 39K rule applies.

mike82212

Im still very confused. I was reader a few pages back where Glyn said the 722.9+ were done at that 39,000 mark.

Just trying to understand

xEryx

Engine didn't change until 2013? So 70k trans service only applies for 2 years?

LogicalApex

It is a short lifespan for such a big change, but my guess is it is driven by fuel economy standards more than anything else. The Engine and Transmission were changed to allow the ECO Start Stop feature that some people love and some hate. The feature was added to boost fuel economy standards to keep up with CAFE.

So it was short lived, but very important to MB because missing CAFE targets gets them hit with a huge fine on every car sold in the US.

xEryx

Are they still chasing those standards since they are doing i4 turbos and DI engines? or is it now 2nd to engine power?

am_fm_radio

Seems Uniformity of dealers are lacking with regard to transmission service.. I suggest we publish those shops that "do it right" to our "customer is always right" specifications. And note those that do not. Mr. Glen M. Ruck seems to be "on top of it". 95% of my life I drove manual transmissions. I say I never learned to drive an automatic. Then had to when I bought the MB... However before my wife passed, she wanted auto trans. and I went one time to a national transmission place (starts AA-something..) and they wanted to not drop the pan of her GM car, but connect a hose at the radiator- I transmission line and back pump fluid. Give me a break... I do 35,000 or more miles per year billed to my company. A manual transmission never failed me.. So this is a concern for me. I do do my own service but lack a hoist. Detroit born.. it's in my blood..

LogicalApex

They definitely are still chasing them as those standards are US Federal Law.

The reason you're seeing stuff like the dropping of the V6 from the 2014 C300 and introduction of the I-4 Turbo on the 2015 C300 is for CAFE reasons. The I-4 Turbo will burn less gas than a V6 in normal driving allowing for a MPG boost to satisfy CAFE. They then add the Turbo to try and keep the power from being reduced when you drive it.

global33

A list of shops who know how to properly service our transmissions would be useful! For Chicagoland peeps: Burdi Motorworks in Schiller Park, IL drained my TC and used the proper (blue) fluid in my NAG2 "plus" transmission. No hassle and very reasonable. $350 for the job.

Trancebolt

Ive watched a few videos on the whole process; It is touchy and tricky. Alot of hard to reach parts, multiple diff torque wrench sizes necessary, special tightness required for each bolt; etc.

Raise up/Get under the car, remove the TC drain plug after breaker barring it to the face-down position for the drain; Replacing new gasket without a single trace of dirt or oil on the edges, etc etc.... running 1 quart through the TC to flush it, omg...

I watched the video one time and thought "hey i can use this and tyr to svc it myself"; couple weeks later, i rewatched it and thought "wow 600 bucks isnt so bad". My time is worth alot to me, and if your a retired auto mechanic or civil engineer with tons of tools; Yeah. This isnt hard.

Ghetto rigging a pump out of tubing and running the oil through the tc, and cycling the gears to make.... etc etc

I mean come on! HOW CHEAP DO YOU WANT THESE POOR MECHS TO WORK FOR! Its fcking hard give them a break. You didnt get your benz being paid "waht the job was worth".

Listen; all you diy'ers, good for you. your pro status and we envy you. Even the indi mechanic will ahve his hands full doing this, unless hes done plenty beforehand.

Im not NEARLLLY confident or brave enough to try this. Sorry but i am in complete disagreement with the cost being extravagent.