Just completed fluid and filter change on transmission at 61K miles. Most of time is spent removing belly pans and removing and reinstalling pan. Fluid transfer was easy. I used instructions I found on another site, were very good. Only thing different was the crank bolt was 32mm. The instructions said to leave car in neutral, you cant do that in a CLS550, but the crank still turns in park. I lucked out and only had to turn the crank an inch to expose the drain plug on the torque convertor. I slid a piece of a plastic bag on the end of the 5mm long allen to insure the little drain plug stayed on the end of the tool. Also did oil while down there.

PS title should say 722.9 opps...

 

Here goes my question again lol this turns into a debate. I hear the trany oil is a "lifetime" oil and we don't have to change it? The people I meet in person say we don't have to, most of the ppl on these forums say we have to. Even online...I can't get a clear answer lol
Plus, I don't see a trans oil dipstick on the 550s. My old W211 did and never changed it on that either. Drove it for like 80k miles...from 106k to 187k miles.

 

It’s in the manual to change every 40k miles

 

Tim, That's for the AMG models, CLS550 is 70K miles. Look at the box under the 40K AMG trans. Marv

 

The box under that is for the rear diff on the AMG models. Transmission fluid is for all models

 

MY book clearly says 278 engines are 70K. Your car, your choice. Marv

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sa7hv1iyez...2983.JPG?raw=1

That’s from the manual on the mbusa website (https://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/Digital...ce-Booklet.pdf)

It also says to do it again at 80k

 

I can't explain it, but to change it at 40K, for synthetic trans fluid, is way overkill. I don't know why there are different specs from MB either. Maybe you should call your dealer on Monday. Marv

 

Since I have the tune, I want to make sure I'm changing everything on time. And @TNTim That manual link is outdated. That manual section was printed in 2009. But maybe they kept the same changing intervals or changed it? No idea. But that pdf mentions to change it every 40k. I will try to look for my manual lol idk where is it.

 

From AP00.20-U-1208TI SERVICE SHEET for Mercedes-Benz Maintenance System (USA)

157 AMG engines 40K or 4 years

278 engines 70K or 7 years

I tried cut/paste function from it and just gave me gibberish. Marv

I found the link https://www.benzworld.org/forums/att...-cls-maint.pdf

Make sure you read at least down to post #8.

 

Marv is right, it's either 7 years, or 70k miles. For the 7gtronic, it's 39000 miles, however the 7gtronic plus that's in the M278 cars is 7 years or 70k.

 

Interesting, that’s the same manual as what is in my car. I guess they changed it. Do all of these cars have the same transmission or are some the 7Gtronic and some the plus? I’m happy to be wrong, it’ll save me a chunk of change