Transmission Fluid/ Filter Change
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 7
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2008 GL320 CDI, 2006 Jetta TDI, 1967 Corvette, 2001 AG5B Tiger
Transmission Fluid/ Filter Change
Just bought a 2008 GL320 with 50k miles on it. I have no way of proving that the 40,000 mile transmission fluid and filter change was completed so am planning to do it myself. Anyone have any helpful hints for this task?
Thank you in advance.
Thank you in advance.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 242
From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
DITTO--this is NOT a DIY process.
First thing you should do before you attempt ANY DIY is to purchase the Service DVD. This ain't no Chevy with blacksmith-style procedures.
http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/o...tedDocId=11498
First thing you should do before you attempt ANY DIY is to purchase the Service DVD. This ain't no Chevy with blacksmith-style procedures.
http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/o...tedDocId=11498
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
'10 E550 Coupe, '67 230 SL, '06 E350 4-Matic, '75 911S, '04 Porsche Boxster S, '04 Cayenne Turbo
I have the same model as you and am right in the middle of changing the transmission fluid right now. There is a great post by Johnand in the W203 forum with step by step instructions. It is the same transmission but there are a few variations that you would need to research before doing the project.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ce-thread.html
Yeah, this ain't no Chevy. That's why I'm not letting the blacksmith/dealer touch it. They've already put the wrong fluid in my W211 transfer case (and stripped out two motor mount threads while they were doing it) and I had to fix that myself.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ce-thread.html
Yeah, this ain't no Chevy. That's why I'm not letting the blacksmith/dealer touch it. They've already put the wrong fluid in my W211 transfer case (and stripped out two motor mount threads while they were doing it) and I had to fix that myself.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 7
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2008 GL320 CDI, 2006 Jetta TDI, 1967 Corvette, 2001 AG5B Tiger
Thanks again for the info- I may tackle it next time. I just picked up a new fuel filter and air filters to install this week (I think a blacksmith can handle those just fine!)
Appreciate all the help.
Appreciate all the help.
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Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
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'10 E550 Coupe, '67 230 SL, '06 E350 4-Matic, '75 911S, '04 Porsche Boxster S, '04 Cayenne Turbo
I used a cheap $6 hand pump from Harbor Freight. It actually screwed right on top of the 4 liter bottle of Fuchs transmission fluid. The plastic hose fit perfectly over the adaptor and a hose clamp held it tight. You can see the amount going in through the measured window on the side of the bottle.
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Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 125
Likes: 1
From: Chicago
2007 GL450 2005 C55 2002 C32 sold 2001 ML320 sold
Question about torque converter.
History
I was going to do the full trans pan and torque converter change but...did not have anything to turn the motor to get the torque converter plug in the right position.
So - I did the pan, filter and fluid change using new bolts seals etc per the DiY on the w203 forum for the 722.9 tranny. All went reasonably well (there is a wiring bracket that needs to be loosened to get at all the pan bolts not in the w203 doc).
My question is can i now go back and drain the torque converter only, refill thru the trans pan while shifting thru D and R?
I want to do this to change more of the fluid although it was still a dark red after just the 4.5L chnage so far.
P.S. If anyone else attempts this, get the fluid from Ryder. $50 for 10 liters shipped for Shell AFT134 which is MB236.14 fluid!
History
I was going to do the full trans pan and torque converter change but...did not have anything to turn the motor to get the torque converter plug in the right position.
So - I did the pan, filter and fluid change using new bolts seals etc per the DiY on the w203 forum for the 722.9 tranny. All went reasonably well (there is a wiring bracket that needs to be loosened to get at all the pan bolts not in the w203 doc).
My question is can i now go back and drain the torque converter only, refill thru the trans pan while shifting thru D and R?
I want to do this to change more of the fluid although it was still a dark red after just the 4.5L chnage so far.
P.S. If anyone else attempts this, get the fluid from Ryder. $50 for 10 liters shipped for Shell AFT134 which is MB236.14 fluid!
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
'10 E550 Coupe, '67 230 SL, '06 E350 4-Matic, '75 911S, '04 Porsche Boxster S, '04 Cayenne Turbo
Question about torque converter.
History
I was going to do the full trans pan and torque converter change but...did not have anything to turn the motor to get the torque converter plug in the right position.
So - I did the pan, filter and fluid change using new bolts seals etc per the DiY on the w203 forum for the 722.9 tranny. All went reasonably well (there is a wiring bracket that needs to be loosened to get at all the pan bolts not in the w203 doc).
My question is can i now go back and drain the torque converter only, refill thru the trans pan while shifting thru D and R?
I want to do this to change more of the fluid although it was still a dark red after just the 4.5L chnage so far.
P.S. If anyone else attempts this, get the fluid from Ryder. $50 for 10 liters shipped for Shell AFT134 which is MB236.14 fluid!
History
I was going to do the full trans pan and torque converter change but...did not have anything to turn the motor to get the torque converter plug in the right position.
So - I did the pan, filter and fluid change using new bolts seals etc per the DiY on the w203 forum for the 722.9 tranny. All went reasonably well (there is a wiring bracket that needs to be loosened to get at all the pan bolts not in the w203 doc).
My question is can i now go back and drain the torque converter only, refill thru the trans pan while shifting thru D and R?
I want to do this to change more of the fluid although it was still a dark red after just the 4.5L chnage so far.
P.S. If anyone else attempts this, get the fluid from Ryder. $50 for 10 liters shipped for Shell AFT134 which is MB236.14 fluid!
I think if you are going to the trouble of draining the converter I'd just pull the pan again and do a more complete fluid change.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 242
From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
Official Mercedes procedures call for replacement (never reuse) of these clamps and forbid use of any other type clamp.
http://www.hazet.de/fileadmin/media/...sh_e/r4-3.html
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
'10 E550 Coupe, '67 230 SL, '06 E350 4-Matic, '75 911S, '04 Porsche Boxster S, '04 Cayenne Turbo
No, the blacksmith can't because he won't have the proper tool to remove/reinstall CLIC clamps (for fuel filter).
Official Mercedes procedures call for replacement (never reuse) of these clamps and forbid use of any other type clamp.
http://www.hazet.de/fileadmin/media/...sh_e/r4-3.html
Official Mercedes procedures call for replacement (never reuse) of these clamps and forbid use of any other type clamp.
http://www.hazet.de/fileadmin/media/...sh_e/r4-3.html
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 622
Likes: 202
From: CA
11 ML550, 95 Supra TT, 14 Audi S4
I think I paid ~$400. I generally do just about all my repairs out of warranty/maintenance on cars, but I decided to farm it out to the dealer because of the cost of the consumables, complexity, and potential for problems. Not having to argue with the dealer about warranty coverage when the transmission needed repair recently was a nice bonus. The first thing out of the service adviser's mouth was "hopefully you've had the service done" when I brought it in for repair. I'm guessing a DIY service would have been blamed for the problem whether that was really the cause or not.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
'10 E550 Coupe, '67 230 SL, '06 E350 4-Matic, '75 911S, '04 Porsche Boxster S, '04 Cayenne Turbo
$400 is a great price considering the time involved. I think I spent over $200 just for the Fuchs Titan 4134 ATF fluid. The question for me is whether or not you can trust your dealership to do it correctly. My dealership put the wrong fluid in my E-Class transfer case resulting in severe shuddering. Apparently, they had been putting it in all the transfer cases until I educated them about the correct MB spec fluids. From now on they're only going to do warranty work for my cars.
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Hudson Ohio
2014 slk55 amg, 2011 gl350, lambo gallardo, 800hp supercharged viper
$400 is a great price considering the time involved. I think I spent over $200 just for the Fuchs Titan 4134 ATF fluid. The question for me is whether or not you can trust your dealership to do it correctly. My dealership put the wrong fluid in my E-Class transfer case resulting in severe shuddering. Apparently, they had been putting it in all the transfer cases until I educated them about the correct MB spec fluids. From now on they're only going to do warranty work for my cars.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 711
Likes: 11
From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
I just took mine in to have other work done (Check Engine Light on - apparently some kind of servo motor/flap/door inside the intake manifold) and told the SA I also needed the get the tranny fluid changed. He quoted me $285. I told him to go ahead. We'll see what it really is billed at. I just don't have the equipment to do THAT job right.
