MB500

My 2003 E500 is getting close to the 60,000 mile (100,000km) mark on its odometer. I’ve looked though my car’s service booklet but couldn’t find any mention of needing transmission fluid change at any point in time. Also, I remember reading on this forum that w211 transmissions are filled with a “lifetime’ fluid that should not be changed. However, many people on this forum claim that the transmission fluid should be changed at 40,000 miles (or 60,000 km). Could anyone educate me on where this information is coming from? This is not the question whether I should spend the money on changing the fluid but rather if the change is truly needed.

Thank you,
Alex

konigstiger

Check item 20. Current requirements recommend an ATF & filter change every 39000 miles: https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost....1&postcount=45

MB500

Yes, but this is recommended on 2007 year model. But what about from 2003 to 2006? My service book doesn't say anything about it.

BudC

It's not going to be in your service book. Mercedes came out with a service bulletin regarding transmissions. PW nr.44/05 NFZ Nr. 20/05 dated 3/24/2005. It took MBUSA a while to also distribute this bulletin to U.S. dealers. I think they wanted to avoid having to pay for it under the free maintenance plan.

Mercedes now recommend that the transmission fluid be changed at the first 40,000 kilometers (25K miles) to clean out the debris and then every 60,000 kilometers after that.

Mercedes recommend a new transmission fluid for the 7 speed transmission (ATF3353 (AO019894503)) and continue to recommend the same fluid for the 5 speed transmission FUCHS ATF 28 (A0019894603).

If you have 60K on your transmission, you should have it serviced.

GDawgC220

Before they realized that transmissions were crapping out at an early age, they said don't change the transmission fluid, its a "lifetime" fill.