cientortas

I'm about to have my 45,000 mile service. As I was looking through my records, I noticed that a tranny fluid change was not done at my 30K service. I had the 30K done at a dealer. Isn't a tranny service part of the MB's 30K required service? I'll have a word with my dealer if it is. Anyway, any ideas on how my much I should expect to pay for a transmission fluid + filter change at an MB dealer. Thanks for the help. (I assume that this model does NOT have the lifetime fluid)

DMOODY

I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM!! THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT ALL 97'S HAD THE LIFETIME FLIUD, WHICH SHOULD BE CHECKED BETWEEN 75,000 TO 100,000 MILES. I JUST TOOK MY 97 E300D IN FOR TRANNY CHECK AT 86,000 MILES. THE TECH SAID HE SAW NO METAL OR RUBBER IN THE FUILD, HE SAID A FUILD CHANGE WAS NOT REQUIRED!!! IN FACT HE SAID IF WE DID CHANGE THE FUILD IT WOULD PROBALLY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD!!! THEY QOUTED ME $175 TO CHANGE IT BEFORE I BROUGHT IT IN, BUT I GOT ESTIMATES OF OVER $300... SO LONG STORY SHORT YOUR TRANNY IS PROBALLY FINE......

E320

Dmoody,
How in the hell your mb tech knows if there's a metal or rubber in the fluid if he's not gonna flush it

DMOODY

E320,
I DONT KNOW? WHY DONT YOU CALL AND ASK HIM???
HIS NAME IS GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ @ MERCEDES NORTH, HOUSTON TEXAS 281-885-6000
I WOULD IMAGINE HE WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COLOR WHICH HE SAID WAS FINE. IF THE COLOR IS GOOD, IT DOES'NT SMELL BURNED, AND THERE ARE NO TINY PARTICALS OF METAL OR RUBBER ON THE STICK WHEN YOU HOLD IT TO THE LIGHT. THEN THAT IS A VERY GOOD SIGN THAT ALL IS WELL!!! IF THERE WAS METAL OR RUBBER IN THE FLUID IT WOULD BE DISCOLORED!!! BUT WHAT THE HELL DO I KNOW, I'M ONLY AN MECH. ENGINEER.....

:p :p :p

E320

As far as I know there' s no transmission dip stick for 97-up transmission.Maybe somebody will clarify this.

DMOODY

E320,
YES IT DOES HAVE A DIP STICK. IT IS LOCATED NEAR THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FIREWALL. IT HAS A RED CAP ON IT WHICH READS SOMETHING LIKE "MB SERVICE ONLY" OR "MB SHOP ONLY". I THINK IT REQUIRES A SPECIAL TOOL TO REMOVE, NOT SURE.

E320

Oh ok cool.

MAE

The 97 and up cars with the 722.6 electronic 5 speed transmission does not have a dip stick that comes with the car. It is something you can buy through the dealer or Mercedesshop. The reason is because the checking of the fluid level on these cars requires the car to be at a specific temperature, therefore MB did not want people to get wrong readings.

The red cap you see is just what it is...a cap.

gabbypig

The "lifetime fill" has been deemed junk science from many reputable techs. It is otherwise known as "lifetime of the lease fill". Do a search at MercedesShop.com, many discussions on the topic.

45K miles is probably too soon to change and the general consensus is around 60K miles. I had mine changed at 60K and the cost was about $200 becuase of the high cost of the syn. fluid used. There was a perceptable difference in my tranny after change. Quiter, firmer shifts.

There is no dipstick on these trannys because of the earlier mentioned mis-reads when not at proper temp.


P.S. DMOODY, ALL CAPS = SHOUTING! We hear you loud and clear.

Aloha.

cientortas

Thanks for the help. I'll probably have the ATF changed at 60K miles as well. Gabbypig, what kind of syn ATF did you use?

E320

ON 722.6 you need to use the factory dealer synthetic oil.

gabbypig

*

Lightman

Folks, when doing this transmission fluid change, there are also a few parts you should buy and bring with you, that are supposed to be, but are not usually installed from the factory. They are usually NOT in stock at the dealership, and probably nobody but the techs will know what the hell you're even talking about. They are all really cheap parts as well. Most online shops won't recognize the part numbers, they are pretty obscure.It might cost you a half hour more labor to check if they're there or install them tho.

There are a few caps that cover valves in the transmission to protect it from 'swarf' which is loose metal particles etc in the fluid. Also MB wants a special magnet installed as well to attract metal particles.

And now, what you've all been waiting for......lol


The part numbers are:
small cap 140-271-08-82 ($3.03)
large cap 140-271-07-82 ($3.03)
magnetic pad 220-271-00-98 ($3.85)

Be sure these are there or installed if you do the trans fluid change.

Benzmac on the mercedeshop forms has a '96 E300 diesel with 280K+ and the original trans fluid....

Steve 90TTZ

What are the large and small caps for and where do they go?

Steve

gstigler

My independent, who I would trust with my children, told me not to worry about the trans flush until 100k. The magnetic pad will pick up the most damaging metal particles.

MARK CUMMINS

I Would change the trans fluid at 60k ..The Lifetime fluid is a joke!
When I Worked for Mercedes I saw SEVERAL Late Elect trans Puke just out warranty ..with NO Help from Mercedes!
Also the Fluid was burned on them.
Mercedes no longer repairs or rebuilds them under it is exchanged
with a rebuilt unit...
The Late trans have had several updates..control units and valve bodies..

Also when you change the fluid..please drain the torque converter

Pay a Little Now @60k

or

Pay a Lot when it pukes

GDawgC220

I wonder how many cases there are of failed transmissions because of the "lifetime" transmission fluid.

I'm guessing if you have had a tranny go or do in the future and still on the original fluid, i'm sure that you could argue with MB because they probably know the lifetime fluid did infact kill the tranny and not driver error but of course won't admit to it. Get enough people on a class action....

geniushanbiao

I think you have to understand about the "warranty". This is a trick that the dealer says fluid doesn't need to be changed but their only obligation is to keep the car running good in the warranty period. This is like the product has 5 years warranty but in fact it can have more than 10 years life time. If fluid not changed it would last 6-8 years while if changed it would last more than 10 years. This doesn't affect the 5 years warranty but out of the warranty dealer has no obligation on it any more.

Lightman

Bottom line - don't be cheap, you didn't buy a friggin yugo here...change the fluid every 50k..

nsolot

+1

But I do it every 30K or 3 years now, same on our BMW X5 which also comes with "lifetime" tranny fluid.

MASTERBENZ

Change and flush your Transmission fluid (16 quarts), and replace the filter as well with a FLUSH Machine...trust me, it's an EXCELLENT investment and will save you money in the long run!

nsolot

What's a "flush machine"? Can you post a link?

TIA