Hi Everyone,

I had my C300 transmission service done at the mercedes dealer today (39000 miles). According to owner's manual, the capacity of transmission fluid is more than 9 quarts. How come the invoice showed only 6 quarts was replaced? Is that normal?

Did the dealer skip some procedures, such as not draining the torque converter?

Thanks in advance.

royruan

Bingo. You usually need to remind them to stop being so lazy and do their job right.

Typical - They did not drain the TC. Now they have contaminated the whole new fluid charge.

Now rather concerned regarding mine as it appears the item quantity used was 5. The line reads like so

5 001-989-68-03-13

MMMmm.

I have just got off the phone with the dealership and was told in detail, that at 39k miles a transmission service is required and NOT a flush. That is only performed if there are problems shifting. Does this sound accurate?

As soon as I can I shall go to the car and check what the manual says.

Cheers,

I

No - It is lazy BS. Tell them to consult the WIS. A service includes draining the TC. They will give you a load of BS on access - It's easy. You pull a rubber plug out of the bell housing ~ rotate the engine until the TC drain plug lines up ~ remove it & drain. Replace the plug with a new one microencapsulated with sealer.

We have had a number of US members on the W203 forum take their cars back & have the job done properly. US dealers always want to do the minimum work for the maximum price. If SA dealers can do it properly then so can US ones. In SA Benz is paying under Motorplan & they still do it properly.

TC drains were removed in 1999 from the 722.6 5 speed transmission - dumb move that required a 14 quart flush.

On 722.9 7 speed the TC drain plug was reintroduced so that you could service the transmission properly.

722.9 transmissions should have a fluid & filter change EVERY 39K miles - even Vietnam gets it right.

MBUSA & their dealer network are largely to blame for your high rate of 722.9 failures with their filled for life ~ change once ~ then do a half job attitude.

Mixing oxidised fluid with new fluid catalyses oxidation in the new fluid shortening it's service life.

Thank you Glen, wonderful detail.

The WIS?

I shall update you on the progress that I make.

Cheers

On 722.9 7 speed the TC drain plug was reintroduced so that you could service the transmission properly.

722.9 transmissions should have a fluid & filter change EVERY 39K miles - even Vietnam gets it right.

MBUSA & their dealer network are largely to blame for your high rate of 722.9 failures with their filled for life ~ change once ~ then do a half job attitude.

Mixing oxidised fluid with new fluid catalyses oxidation in the new fluid shortening it's service life.[/QUOTE]

WIS = Workshop Information System.

Here is the WIS 722.9 Service document & method. Very early 722.9 transmissions had no TC drain - Does not apply to W204.

We will be launching the MB World Wiki shortly with all this info.

Even though I have a manual trans, it is great to see so much good info to help protect forum members from shoddy, lazy service centers!

All hail Glyn! unless of course you want to use Amsoil....

Yes ~ indeed. Use only 236.14 Approved Fluid (If you have a 722.9 Plus transmission then use only Blue 236.15 Approved Fluid - Not reverse compatible.)

I really wish there was a way to get this information out to all owners with the 722.9 transmission - I read all the threads on this forum regarding the issue with the half *** service and printed all WIS docs to review with my dealer in advance of getting it done - the results were complete service at a fair price - this should be the norm, you should not have to prove the tech you know what needs to be done to have it done correctly...Kudos to Glyn as well.

I posted this after my service.....


****** SUCCESS ******

Transmission Service completed as requested...Knowledge is Power.

I will not be able to explain how the cost is lower than initially estimated, as I paid the invoice and left in a very good mood (imagine leaving a dealer after service in a good mood?) I was charged for 1.5 hours total of service, initial conversation included 2.0 for base service and .5 for the "extra" torque converter drain/clean up. Is it possible they valued the information provided to them and cut me slack? Cannot think what else it could be? I was there 3 hours btw from the time I drove in, walked through process/paperwork again, and then waited for car to be finished.

Initial quote for the "base" transmission service was $359.

Invoice description:
722.9 transmission service, client request to have torque converter drained as well as pan bolts to be replaced per LI 27-02 Transmission service.

29 CP 1.5....................187.50
1 Gasket.......................15.00
1 Oil Filter.....................32.00
6 Screw @ 1.40...............8.40
1 Ring, general.................1.40
8 Mobile ATF 13 @ 7.75....62.00
1 CLN/Sol........................4.75
1 Screw plug...................3.90
1 CLN/Solv......................4.75

Labor............................187.50
Parts............................132.20
Sales Tax........................22.38
Total.............................342.08

Thanks again to all who helped educate me on this - I feel very good about how this was performed. The Service Manager also re-informed me that my initial warranty runs out February 24th and to look the car over real good for anything that may be covered, any ideas on anything that is common? CPO warranty is good through 2/2013 and is now extendable for an additional 2 years/36k miles..hmmm.

I do realize the cleaner/solvent is on the invoice twice, not sure if they used 2 or not - did not really care based on everything else.

My mechanic who recently did my 722.9 service was telling me when he used to work at a Benz dealer, he went to do the transmission service and began pulling down the pan and whatever else to change the filters (and probably drain the TC), another mechanic came over and stopped him and told him to just drain it out and fill it up, "the filter takes too much time." Unbelievable to hear stuff like that happening at an official Benz dealer. I had mine done properly by him with all 9 quarts for $300

So im about to reach 39000 miles and I've been consulting different dealerships, 1 in NY and another in CT and they both told me that they don't drain the torque converter so WTH should I do and both of them are charging me $495+tax. How is it that the SA dealerships do the work but the ones in NY and CT don't wanna do it???

Sounds like it's time to visit your local independant shops.

O.K., I'm lost.

Does the early production 2008 C300 with automatic transmissions in north america have a drain plug and needs the fluid replaced when the transmission fluid is replaced.

Yes, it does have a drain plug for the TC.

Does not apply to the W204. Early 722.9 transmissions fitted to the S Class had no TC drain. W204 was only launched 2007. 7 speed transmission was launched in 2004.

And who is the customer here??

Do dealers tell you what they are going to do or do they do as their customers want? Something wrong with the relationshp

Actually 6qts is an odd amount. Draining the pan on my CLK550 only gave me about 3qts. I got about 5-6qts from the TQ.

The TC is supposed to hold 4 quarts. Don't know what the cooler circuit holds. But these dealers admit they are not draining the TC. The TC is also somewhat effected if the transmission was in high cool mode at shutdown.

Does this also apply to a early 2007 5 speed auto
In my c220 thanks

No - your 5 speed requires a full 14 queart flush to do properly as it has no TC drain. All covered in detail on the W203 forum.

It's a w204 c220 Glyn

It has a 722.6 transmission as fitted to gasoline W203's up to the end of 2005.

I had my transmission fluid changed on Friday 5/4/12 and when I dropped off my car the SA confirmed with me that they will drain the torque converter. Saturday I went to pick up my car and noticed that there was only 5 QTs of oil used and then I questioned them. The SA was called to explain to me and he said he checked with his manager and was told that they no longer drain the torque converter per a memo they received 2 months ago. I also brought the printout of the transmission fluid change document that is posted on one of the forums just in case they told me that they do not drain the torque converter. I gave my SA the document when I dropped off my car and also left a copy of it in my car on the dash. After I left the dealership unsatisfied and confused I called a few more MB dealerships and some quoted me that they do require to drain the torque converter and others said they do not drain the torque converter. My next question is what steps do you recommend to take to get the full service completed which includes draining the torque converter. When the survey comes out I will definitely add my unsatisfactory comments, but it still makes no sense that they add new transmission fluid and also mix with the old from the torque converter since it was not drained. When I questioned my SA per our discussion that I had prior to getting the service done he did say they drain the torque converter, but he said he was misinformed after the work was completed. The SA would not have even said anything if I didn't notice that they used only 5 qts of fluids. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.