I just purchased this 2013 E350 and am in the process of changing all the fluids. Oil and transmission service was fairly straight forward, but now I need to do the coolant and rear differential.
The dealer says my vehicle should use the blue 325.0 coolant but the vehicle has a faint yellow coolant in it (Zerex G05?). I believe this is factory fill but am not certain given the vehicle has 75K miles on it.

For the rear differential, Mercedes says a 85W-90 Hypoid gear oil. I'm a bit apprehensive of paying the $40/ltr the dealer wants and looking for compatible options.

I appreciate any guidance from you experienced MB owners!

 

Coolant replacement on those cars also requires replacing chem pack, who is part of reservoir.
Over the years I had lot of experience confirming that MB coolant is superior. Used it even in my Ford trucks.
The older MB coolant was pee-colored and maybe your 2013 had it originally?
Anyway, mixing blue with yellow might make green, what is not the color you want to see in MB.
My advise is to buy few gallons of Distillate Water and do at least 2 flushes of whole system before putting blue coolant in.
Differential oil change? Usually owners don;t go there till 20 years or 200k miles.

 

I have a 2010 E550 and it came with the yellowish color coolant. MB sold me blue one and said it is what they use for all vehicles now.

For the drain plug read the below link especially how not to break the plug and if that happens how to get a new one from Chrysler/Dodge for pocket money compared to the MB option.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...your-w212.html

For differential I would not bother before 100 000 miles. I had mine changed at 150 000 miles. If you change it use the MB oil so it will for sure last as long as they designed it to last, i.e. the life of the car.

 

Ok, I'll flush the system with distilled water to get the yellow coolant out and then replace it with the blue MB 325.0 coolant.
I have not seen any info for the (silicate?) chem pack. Do you know what the part # is?
Are there any engine drain plugs that can be removed to get out more of the old coolant?

 

Since the coolant replacement is not due for 15 years /150k miles, the info about chem pack is not highly publicized, but call your local part person , or your friendly SA and check. Some report say that aftermarket reservoirs come with no chem pack.
There are engine drain plugs, but hardly accessible. That is why I think spending $4 on DW and do the flush is much easier and efficient. Just be careful with plastic radiator drain.

 

Coolant MB part # BQ1030004

 

So it appears to be that the water pump drain screw allows the engine block to drain? If so, this should help with more removal of the old coolant which will allow for the ideal 50/50 mixture during refill.
This all new to me and I appreciate the advice!

I have used the bevo MB site to look up the approved fluids for motor oil and transmission fluid. I will use the MB coolant due to your recommendation and since it is reasonable in cost. Since I'm a firm believer in routine maintenance and its easy enough to do, I would still like to change the differential oil. Doing all this service also allows me to go through the whole vehicle and see if there are any underlying issues. All I get from MBUSA is that my vehicle uses SAE 85W90 Hypoid gear oil. I can't get any other spec. out of them. Is there a spec. sheet on bevo MB that I've overlooked which shows a list of approved gear oils?

 

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...50-4matic.html

 

With the help of this thread and a lot of mouse clicking it leads me to believe that spec 235.7 is the correct rear diff. oil for my vehicle. Bouncing around in BevoMB also brings me to this page:
https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/231.1_en.html

I think I just have the rear axle-standard differential which also points me to 235.7. I have a W212 with the 276 3.5l engine.

Then I come across this gear oil that meets the spec and am real happy since its half the price of the MB oil:
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_In...6&KeepHeader=Y

Its great that MB has these lists of approved fluids, but it certainly is tricky to navigate. Please check behind me to see if this is correct.

 

Ask yourself how many forum replies you are willing to make to save $18 on aftermarket oil.
In case like that, I simply go to dealer and buy the stuff over the counter, unless, what happens more often I plan bigger jobs and have big shopping list for internet order.
Anyway, when MB doesn't manufacture oil, but there are better and worse suppliers. IMHO Motul is better in oils and much cheaper than Febi https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/TL-001989330312

 

kajtek1, I will purchase from the dealer if there are no suitable replacements, but spending $80 for two liters of gear oil does not sit well with me. In addition, I am asking and posting on this forum with the hope that it might help someone else which is the purpose of a forum.

I did see the Motul that you mentioned but do not see the 235.7 approval for it. I have seen recommendations for Mobil1 75W-90 as well, which is a great product and might be fine, but also does not have MB approval. So its off the list.

 

G-48, or VAG G-12++
I used G-05, same difference.

 

I thought about using the Zerex G05 since that's what the coolant in the reservoir appears to be. But then after seeing this post it makes me wonder if the blue MB coolant fades to yellow over time.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...placement.html

 

I use Dexcool in my VAG engines, it's the same thing as G-12 and $30 Porsche coolant.



G-05 and G-48 might only differ in color.

All are "compatible" except old high silicate green "HD" coolant.

Speaking of green, Maxlife is excellent w/a proprietary formula.

 

VAG G-12++ is the same as G-40 and could be found cheap.

 

I use the pink G12+ in my VW GTI. Good to know that Zerex makes a substitute. I also like that it has the VW 774 approvals.

According to the chart you posted my 2013 E350 is right in between the switchover years and should use the G48 which shows the 32.0 approval. I think I'll stick with the MB blue coolant, its quite reasonable at $21/gal.

 

I just slow flushed my A4 Avant with a jug of generic NAPA Dexcool my tenant left behind. Not really concerned....it's recommended and 100% compatible, since it's the same thing.

https://www.motor.com/magazine-summa...-or-orange-or/

My older MBs got G-05 for a full flush.