When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Front and Rear Differential Oil Change Needed at 62k?
I recently purchased a 2019 C43 Estate, with 62k miles on the clock. I was wondering whether it was worth getting the differential oils changed? It’s not on the service schedule and I have read many people stating that when they did change the oil at their own cost, they often found the oil was clean.
im not planning on keeping the car for more than 2-3 years, in which time I will do about 6-7k miles per year. Its also under a 2 year amg approved used warranty.
i can get both front and rear changed for £250 but wondering if it’s worth it or if it will be a waste of money?
Remove the differential fill plugs and see what the oil looks like, then decide from there. Not sure how difficult the front diff is to access for this purpose {if it's a 4Matic), but the rear should be relatively easy to check.
The WIS service sheet for my '19 G550 specs differential fluid changes at 50K miles / 5 years. I'm at 25K / 6 years, so I' doing both next month when I DIY my scheduled B service. My diffs have both fill and drain plugs (servicing is easy), and the 4 qts. of 75W-85 gear oil costs $50, so it's not even worth debating.
The appearance of differential oil is not a reliable indicator of oil condition. My understanding is that the shear stresses of hypoid gears and clutch packs break down the oil over time, reducing its efficacy despite no change in color.
Last edited by streborx; Aug 19, 2025 at 08:40 AM.
Thank you both, that’s interesting to know about the colour - maybe worth getting it done but then I figure I have a 2 year warranty and am not sure I will keep it much beyond that…hard one to figure out. Knowing myself, I might end up getting it done for peace of mind.
Just to be complete, differential fluid that appears amber/clear should still be changed at the recommended service interval. Fluid that is dark/opaque is usually an indication of heat stress, possibly from towing, and should be changed sooner. MB recommends a higher weight fluid -- 75W-140 instead of 75W-85 or -90 -- for some vehicles that are used regularly for towing.
Hello good sirs, so does anyone happen to know the appropriate differential / transfer case service interval for our W205 C43s? (:
This MY17 Mercedes service booklet I found online seemed to indicate that only the rear axle fluid for the cars with “self locking rear axle differential (code 467 or 471)” need changing…
Hello good sirs, so does anyone happen to know the appropriate differential / transfer case service interval for our W205 C43s? (:
This MY17 Mercedes service booklet I found online seemed to indicate that only the rear axle fluid for the cars with “self locking rear axle differential (code 467 or 471)” need changing…
I recommend doing it when you did your transmission fluid, that is when I did that, although I only did rear diff I should do front diff as well. That said, some say don't do it too often, we were talking about that yesterday. Don't forget about the transfer case as well. The thread is high mileage expectation you can't miss it : )
Hello good sirs, so does anyone happen to know the appropriate differential / transfer case service interval for our W205 C43s? (:
This MY17 Mercedes service booklet I found online seemed to indicate that only the rear axle fluid for the cars with “self locking rear axle differential (code 467 or 471)” need changing…
transfer case oil is shared with the transmission, so doesn’t need a separate change. There is not a specified requirement to change the front/rear differential oil. I have decided not to change mine for now as can’t find anything that states it’s absolutely necessary and i will probably change my car before the used warranty expires (at 63k miles, likely will sell before I reach 75k).
if you plan to keep your car a long time or take it to high miles, might be worth a preventative change, it’s not exceedingly expensive (£250 for front and rear at well known indie specialist where I am in UK)
transfer case oil is shared with the transmission, so doesn’t need a separate change. There is not a specified requirement to change the front/rear differential oil. I have decided not to change mine for now as can’t find anything that states it’s absolutely necessary and i will probably change my car before the used warranty expires (at 63k miles, likely will sell before I reach 75k).
if you plan to keep your car a long time or take it to high miles, might be worth a preventative change, it’s not exceedingly expensive (£250 for front and rear at well known indie specialist where I am in UK)
I wish it stayed that way but sadly starting with the 9G, it is seperate.
I wish it stayed that way but sadly starting with the 9G, it is seperate.
are you sure? All my research suggests it is still shared. When I requested a quote for transfer case oil change from a well reputed merc specialist, they also told me it was covered by the transmission oil change.
I then managed to get it changed at main dealer at their cost upon purchase, the work was listed as “perform oil change in automatic transmission and transfer case on veh. with transmission 725.0”
seems to indicate it is still shared but keen to know if that’s not the case? Maybe it still separate but changed at same time as standard operating procedure by the dealer?
9226349[/url]]I recommend doing it when you did your transmission fluid, that is when I did that, although I only did rear diff I should do front diff as well. That said, some say don't do it too often, we were talking about that yesterday. Don't forget about the transfer case as well. The thread is high mileage expectation you can't miss it : )
Ah, there’s my hero W205C43PFL once again haha. Yes we were just having that discussion yesterday, was hoping for, again, some knowledge on a time element to it for servicing these particular fluids too. I have a ways to go but I think I might hit the number of years before the requisite mileage.
Although, doing it together with the transmission is a great suggestion, thank you!
Originally Posted by Midlife Driver;[url=tel:9226375
9226375[/url]]are you sure? All my research suggests it is still shared. When I requested a quote for transfer case oil change from a well reputed merc specialist, they also told me it was covered by the transmission oil change.
I then managed to get it changed at main dealer at their cost upon purchase, the work was listed as “perform oil change in automatic transmission and transfer case on veh. with transmission 725.0”
seems to indicate it is still shared but keen to know if that’s not the case? Maybe it still separate but changed at same time as standard operating procedure by the dealer?
Hey Midlife, thanks for sharing your experience! She’s definitely a keeper for me, hence my keen-ness on maintenance related knowledge.
I think it might be the case that it’s likely separate as what W205C43PFL mentioned, but they service it at the same time like you guessed. Would you mind sharing your research in any case please, so we could all level up, while I try and do some too in the meantime? (:
In this thread here, which W205C43PFL has also had inputs in, it seems to point that those of us with the 9G transmission (725.0) actually require different fluid for the transfer case versus the transmission. I would say that this points to the two being separate. But then again this is only a single data point, will update here if I happen to find something that states otherwise (:
The 725 transfer case is separate and does not share fluid with the transmission. When viewing the transmission it does look similar to the 722.9 on the outside on some, the ones on suvs like the GL look different.
Apologies, it does appear that they are separate. That’s my bad for giving out wrong information!
It’s interesting that both the main dealer and an indie merc specialist include transfer case oil change when changing transmission oil - that’s what led me to conclude it was still shared, but clearly I was wrong to assume this!
Apologies, it does appear that they are separate. That’s my bad for giving out wrong information!
It’s interesting that both the main dealer and an indie merc specialist include transfer case oil change when changing transmission oil - that’s what led me to conclude it was still shared, but clearly I was wrong to assume this!
Good for them to have it done at the same time actually seperate or shared, as long as it is done, you are golden : )
The 725 transfer case is separate and does not share fluid with the transmission. When viewing the transmission it does look similar to the 722.9 on the outside on some, the ones on suvs like the GL look different.
In this thread here, which W205C43PFL has also had inputs in, it seems to point that those of us with the 9G transmission (725.0) actually require different fluid for the transfer case versus the transmission. I would say that this points to the two being separate. But then again this is only a single data point, will update here if I happen to find something that states otherwise (:
Thanks!
Thanks for linking the thread, that is where I learned about the transfer case being seperate actually : )
I also checled WIS a few months back to confirm it is seperate : )
Last edited by W205C43PFL; Oct 22, 2025 at 11:02 AM.
Hey Midlife, thanks for sharing your experience! She’s definitely a keeper for me, hence my keen-ness on maintenance related knowledge.
I think it might be the case that it’s likely separate as what W205C43PFL mentioned, but they service it at the same time like you guessed. Would you mind sharing your research in any case please, so we could all level up, while I try and do some too in the meantime? (:
Thanks again!
Hopefully they didn't charge extra for the transfer case since it is so simple once on the lift but it is nice the dealership includes it in the service. I mean here in Canada, they keep on insisting it is a lifetime fluid, um... no...
Last edited by W205C43PFL; Oct 22, 2025 at 11:02 AM.
Ah, there’s my hero W205C43PFL once again haha. Yes we were just having that discussion yesterday, was hoping for, again, some knowledge on a time element to it for servicing these particular fluids too. I have a ways to go but I think I might hit the number of years before the requisite mileage.
Although, doing it together with the transmission is a great suggestion, thank you!
Just trying to help : ) and so we can all enjoy these fine machines. To be honest, lots of forum members are way more knowledgeable than me, I do appreciate the kind words.
The 725 transfer case is separate and does not share fluid with the transmission. When viewing the transmission it does look similar to the 722.9 on the outside on some, the ones on suvs like the GL look different.
Originally Posted by Midlife Driver;[url=tel:9226387
9226387[/url]]Apologies, it does appear that they are separate. That’s my bad for giving out wrong information!
It’s interesting that both the main dealer and an indie merc specialist include transfer case oil change when changing transmission oil - that’s what led me to conclude it was still shared, but clearly I was wrong to assume this!
No problem at all, at least now you have provided us with good data points: multiple specialists have recommended us to get both those fluids done together. Thanks for sharing (:
9226399[/url]]Just trying to help : ) and so we can all enjoy these fine machines. To be honest, lots of forum members are way more knowledgeable than me, I do appreciate the kind words.
Don’t mention it at all, good sir
I am far from getting mine done, the car is 3 years old and only 39000km, but definitely agree it’s not a lifetime fluid! Enjoying the drive in the meantime
I cant imagine needing to touch the steering rack to get at the front diff. I looked up the parts diagrams for W204 C43 and see 4 different #'s for the diff so not sure which one you have. Looks like one has a fill plug on the side which is great then the other just has the drain plug on the bottom.
On the differentials without a side fill plug MB says to remove the passenger axle in order to add fluid which is alot of work. When I did my W204 I just pumped in the new fluid from the drain hole. I measured the amount of fluid that came out which matched with how much should be in there. Added that amount plus a tiny bit extra just to compensate for drips when re-installing the drain plug. Dont forget to use a new gasket part# 007603012102.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
haha. Yes we were just having that discussion yesterday, was hoping for, again, some knowledge on a time element to it for servicing these particular fluids too. I have a ways to go but I think I might hit the number of years before the requisite mileage.
