performance1st

hey guys, i got about 40k mi on my C55 and im wanting to do a transmission fluid/filter change. I know some of the trannys are sealed but im not sure about C55's. My question is can i do tranny flush myself or is it recommended i go to the dealership. I think they last quoted me at 270 + tax which isnt that bad but if i can do it myself i rather save a hundred or so on labor. I tried searching but got nothing pertaining to C55's specifically. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

viper501

My dealer recommended that the tranny be done at 39k miles. Supposedly a 390 dollar job so you may be getting a 'deal'. I'd hesitate to DIY simply due to the need to completely flush the torque converter and make sure its refilled.

performance1st

thanks for the info...just dont wanna pay the dealership if i can do it myself.

hooleyboy

Bumping a thread from the dead. At least I'm searching.... My car needs a transmission fluid change bad. I got a bunch of racing time and dyno pulls on my stock fluid not to mention I just smoked my motor oil but thats bound to happen with all my dyno pulls and tuning that has taken place over the past month.

Here is a question:
My car when it shifts from gear to gear is havening a delay and not shifting smooth, Part of me thinks with 43000 miles its time for some new fluid in the trans. Do any of you think this could of will improve shifting from gear to gear.

Aslo note its kind of hard to get a feel for the hard shift on the street for me. if I'm at 40mph and hit the kick down I get wheel spin and it almost feels like my car has no idea what to do. or if I slowly go to WOT i run out of road. making it hard to go through the gears.

In any event do you guys think that doing a trans flush and fuild change could yeild any benefit?

viper501

Given the heat abuse that your fluid has been taking, I'd say that you'll definitely find an improvement. Whether it helps your tranny figure out WTF when you stomp on it, I don't know. That sounds more like a software issue. Didn't you do a TCU upgrade?

hooleyboy

I did, Im back to stock right now. Our guess is my clutch packs might be slipping a bit or bad fluid. I know this car is much faster than my past runs if only i can get the trans to keep up.

If you watch the video vs the viper you can hear the shifts and they are a bit delayed. Part of me also thinks I might be to close to redline when it shifts??

here is the video again try a listen to the shifts. You can kind of hear the delay I'm speaking of from the exhaust note.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc2J9xwLEb4

320 dreamer

if you have the 722 tranny its an easy job. theres a drain plug in the pan. drain it. then refill with approx 3 qts fluid. disconnect the output line and put it in a jug. with the rear wheels off the ground start the car and put it in gear. go through the gears with 3 secs in each gear . shut off car. you should have close to a gallon of fluid in the jug from the converter. refill with new fluid reconnect line start car and bring up to temp. short drive go through the gears then recheck fluid level. install red tab in cap and your done!

8 qts fluid tranny filter and new gasket red locking tab tranny fluid level tool total approx 200$
you can save afew bucks by using crossfire/sprinter fluid from the chrysler dealer

hooleyboy

I just got it done at the dealer I have friends that take care of me so I get hooked up.
I will let you guys know if it gets any better later today.

rockjock

had mine done at the dealer-cost me $290-def noticed a change in the gears and shifting-fluid was still pink, but the dealer was glad to see me at 42k (MBZ suggests brake and tranny fluid every 20k miles.....wow!)

viper501

Hooley, listened to the video. Shifts don't sound instant but they really don't sound too bad. Given my understanding of the bullet proof nature of the 722, I'd be kinda surprised if you're slipping, though you are in new and uncharted territory. Let us know how the shifts are now that you've got the fluid changed.

hooleyboy

Honest opinion, tranny fluid change made it better for sure not 100% better but better than it was. I got on the highway on ramp chasing down a vette the car broke loose at 50mhp so i backed off. All I was looking for was good spot to go though the gears, but wheel spin at that speed will make you back off. Got a chance to hammer it on a frontage road along the highway out here and it shifted much better.

My take is with all this wheel spin its causing the trans to not know what to do. But the fluid did help.

viper501

Good to hear. I can sympathize with the TCU software. I mean, can you imagine what its thinking? You know there is a little guy in there with a Scottish accent going "She can't take much more of this cap'ain"...

hooleyboy

I think of it as more along the lines of a pissed off employee saying F this! I quit!

rockjock

Hooley-you have a rear LSD, right? ESP off when making runs I assume-in sport mode-breaking at 50 at WOT will glaze a flywheel/clutch pack after a while (insert-50 drags, or a summer of hard driving)-did you replace with stock MB fluid-maybe try the Motul-or a fluid that doesn/wont foam and has a higher viscosity might help-

viper501

ROFLMAO...

AMG Sleeper

i just got this done on saturday, in addition to a brake flush - i dont track run my car, but i've already noticed a big improvement in responsiveness and throttle. i do, however, need to mount on my new front tires, which i'm sure will have my car back to feelin like its brand new...... gotta love fresh tread

MRAMG1

You are OUT of your MIND to drain an automatic transmission by using its pump/TC

Not only will you shorten the lifespan of the transmission significantly, but the TC will run dry and OUCH.

Who in their right mind EVER told you about such a SILLY thing

Please tell me this was a joke.

WOOAA!!

viper501

I think what he was talking about was flushing the old fluid out of the TC rather than draining it. I'm with you though on the potential hazard posed by this procedure. I think that it would probably be alright if you had a large reservoir go guarantee that it wouldn't / couldn't run dry but otherwise I'd be scared to do that myself.

walee112

so is it possible to change the tranny fluid/filter on our c55?

hmmmm im planning to have my tranny fluid done. but 300 dollars is a little steep for me at this time... but i wanna get it done asap

spr

Is 290 right? I just had the dealer quote me that it was 815 bucks for just the fluid as it takes 14 quarts and they drain it all including the torque converter?????

91RS

Since this thread has been bumped up, I will post my findings here. The 5 speed transmission in the C55 is NOT a DIY job. The C55 does NOT have a transnission dipstick tube, thus you have no way to add fluid! The C55 has the same fill procedure as the newer 7G transmission where they hook a machine up to the "drain plug" and pump fluid into the transmission. The 5 speed transmission is cheaper to service because the fluid is much cheaper. I can't remember what my service advisor told me, but around $300 sounds right. They told me it would be about $400 with my old C230 with the 7G. I'm not sure if the C55's 5 speed trans has a drain on the torque converter like the "regular" cars do, but I do know the 7G does not have a converter drain. Oh, and AllData says the C55 transmission only holds 9.3 qts of fluid.

splinter

Total W203 722.6x gearbox and ancillary plumbing/cooler capacity is approximately 10 liters.
MB’s specified flushing procedure necessitates about 14 liters...there’s no converter drain plug on ours.
All '55s on which I've wrenched have a fill tube. :nix:

5 speed ATF part number is 001 989 21 03 10.
The 722.9x 7-speed’s (more typically stocked) 001 989 45 03 10 is backwards compatible.

They’re refined by Shell & Fuchs for repackaging in MB containers.
Trade price for either is ~$10 a liter.

91RS

The tube at the back of the engine with the red plug is for engine oil. I'm 100% positive the C55 has no transmission dipstick tube, I've looked on mine when I had the car up in the air as well.

Dingleberry

look better, it's there.

spr

What a moron did you out oil in the tranny???? I was old that the new wynhetic fluid is bank like 17/ liter??