2007 GL450 tranny?
04-27-2017, 04:20 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
2007 GL450 tranny?
Do all 2007 GL450s share the same 7-speed tranny?
How do you tell if your tranny has code "A89" reduced friction?
How do you tell if your tranny has code "A89" reduced friction?
Last edited by 1xsculler; 04-27-2017 at 04:55 PM.
04-28-2017, 09:51 AM
#2
Senior Member
I can't say for sure 100%, but I believe all GL450's used the same identical transmission.
Reduced friction just means the new fluid vs. the old one. I believe old was red and new was blue. They aren't compatible with each other, so you need to use the right one.
Either drain the old transmission if it is still installed, and look at the color. Or get the serial # off the transmission and ask a dealer to look it up.
You should be just fine putting another GL450 transmission in your car.
Look at the Mercedes EPC (epc.startekinfo.com) and you can get the datacard for your vehicle. You can then look up the exact part # that was installed in your truck. Look up the VIN of the donor vehicle, and see what part # was installed. If they match, you're fine. You may also see that one is an updated version, that's OK too as long as the older/newer numbers are listed together as being the "same" part
For example if you see 3 transmission part #'s listed:
A1640010101 replaced by A1640010102 replaced by A1640010103
A1640010104
A1640010105
That means if your truck has 01 listed, you can also use 02 or 03
If your truck lists 04, that is the only transmission you can use
Same with 05
The 02 and 03 will be updated versions of the same part and they are compatible. For example, it may have an updated valve body or some other parts.
Dealer can also help you with this if you take in the two VIN #'s.
Reduced friction just means the new fluid vs. the old one. I believe old was red and new was blue. They aren't compatible with each other, so you need to use the right one.
Either drain the old transmission if it is still installed, and look at the color. Or get the serial # off the transmission and ask a dealer to look it up.
You should be just fine putting another GL450 transmission in your car.
Look at the Mercedes EPC (epc.startekinfo.com) and you can get the datacard for your vehicle. You can then look up the exact part # that was installed in your truck. Look up the VIN of the donor vehicle, and see what part # was installed. If they match, you're fine. You may also see that one is an updated version, that's OK too as long as the older/newer numbers are listed together as being the "same" part
For example if you see 3 transmission part #'s listed:
A1640010101 replaced by A1640010102 replaced by A1640010103
A1640010104
A1640010105
That means if your truck has 01 listed, you can also use 02 or 03
If your truck lists 04, that is the only transmission you can use
Same with 05
The 02 and 03 will be updated versions of the same part and they are compatible. For example, it may have an updated valve body or some other parts.
Dealer can also help you with this if you take in the two VIN #'s.
05-01-2017, 05:15 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I appreciate your informative post.
I'm not looking to replace the transmission in my 2007 GL450 as I bought the vehicle about two years ago with 100k miles and the MB dealer had just replaced the tranny for the former owner before I bought it. I now have 30k on it and would like to do the transmission service myself.
You mentioned two kinds of transmission fluid, red and blue. Are the fluids red or blue or is the label on the plastic bottle red or blue?
When I search Ebay I found some good info on one of the ads for a tranny service kit without fluid and they mention the two fluid types plus how to identify the version of my tranny.
The rear surface of the pan on the tranny is sloped so they say that means I have the newer version which I would expect since the unit was factory new two years ago. That leaves the color or type of fluid I need.
Again, searching Ebay, I see two fluid types available.
1. 4134 MZB approved: 236.10
2. 4134 MZB approved: 236.14
Some of the ads refer to red fluid (I haven't seen any reference to blue fluid) and I see red and blue labels on the plastic bottles.
I'm going to start a separate thread on this issue too.
I'm not looking to replace the transmission in my 2007 GL450 as I bought the vehicle about two years ago with 100k miles and the MB dealer had just replaced the tranny for the former owner before I bought it. I now have 30k on it and would like to do the transmission service myself.
You mentioned two kinds of transmission fluid, red and blue. Are the fluids red or blue or is the label on the plastic bottle red or blue?
When I search Ebay I found some good info on one of the ads for a tranny service kit without fluid and they mention the two fluid types plus how to identify the version of my tranny.
The rear surface of the pan on the tranny is sloped so they say that means I have the newer version which I would expect since the unit was factory new two years ago. That leaves the color or type of fluid I need.
Again, searching Ebay, I see two fluid types available.
1. 4134 MZB approved: 236.10
2. 4134 MZB approved: 236.14
Some of the ads refer to red fluid (I haven't seen any reference to blue fluid) and I see red and blue labels on the plastic bottles.
I'm going to start a separate thread on this issue too.
05-01-2017, 06:06 PM
#4
Senior Member
I believe both of the fluids you mention are red. The blue fluid is 236.15
The blue fluid is not backwards compatible.
I think the MB dealer will sell you blue, but my theory is if 236.10 or 14 was good enough when it was built, it's still good enough. And probably cheaper.
One secret if you need 236.10 is go buy a gallon of Valvoline MaxLife at Walmart. It's way way cheaper and actually meets the 236.10 spec.
I replaced all the fluid (including my torque converter) in an SL about 5 years ago with MaxLife (after trying to find the MB fluid cheap) and it has performed perfectly. Knowing it meets 236.10 was good enough for me!
I am referring to the colour of the fluid itself when I say red or blue. I don't think the label colour shows the colour of the fluid... I suspect if it doesn't say "236.15" on the bottle, it is probably red.
There is an old and a new pan. And the standoff (drain) tube matches the type of pan too (there is an old and a new).
MB originally said if you had the old pan/tube, you needed to upgrade when doing a flush. However, I think mine may have the original pan/tube style, my indy shop mentioned it doesn't make a difference enough to be worth buying a new pan. Not sure what the exact difference is, but I'd leave the old pan/tube if you have it, since I have not heard of any problems with one pan type vs the other. It's probably some very minor change MB made along the way. Make sure you order the correct tube for your pan type.
I think RMEuropean or FCPEuro sells a kit.. includes fluid, filter, gasket, even the torque convertor drain plug and gasket! When I priced it out, their kit was cheaper than buying the parts separately, even when I saw the fluid on eBay it wasn't any cheaper than buying the kit. Just get the kit and you're done!
The blue fluid is not backwards compatible.
I think the MB dealer will sell you blue, but my theory is if 236.10 or 14 was good enough when it was built, it's still good enough. And probably cheaper.
One secret if you need 236.10 is go buy a gallon of Valvoline MaxLife at Walmart. It's way way cheaper and actually meets the 236.10 spec.
I replaced all the fluid (including my torque converter) in an SL about 5 years ago with MaxLife (after trying to find the MB fluid cheap) and it has performed perfectly. Knowing it meets 236.10 was good enough for me!
I am referring to the colour of the fluid itself when I say red or blue. I don't think the label colour shows the colour of the fluid... I suspect if it doesn't say "236.15" on the bottle, it is probably red.
There is an old and a new pan. And the standoff (drain) tube matches the type of pan too (there is an old and a new).
MB originally said if you had the old pan/tube, you needed to upgrade when doing a flush. However, I think mine may have the original pan/tube style, my indy shop mentioned it doesn't make a difference enough to be worth buying a new pan. Not sure what the exact difference is, but I'd leave the old pan/tube if you have it, since I have not heard of any problems with one pan type vs the other. It's probably some very minor change MB made along the way. Make sure you order the correct tube for your pan type.
I think RMEuropean or FCPEuro sells a kit.. includes fluid, filter, gasket, even the torque convertor drain plug and gasket! When I priced it out, their kit was cheaper than buying the parts separately, even when I saw the fluid on eBay it wasn't any cheaper than buying the kit. Just get the kit and you're done!
05-01-2017, 07:30 PM
#5
looking for substitutes for oem fluids (and brakes) is not the way to save money. you will have the occasional success, but on the grand scheme of things the risks/ rewards are stacked against you (us, me... etc)- especially if you intend to retain the vehicle for a long time.
the mb dealer will sell you blue or red depending on when your transmission was manufactured. there is a serial number cut off when fluid is switched to blue.
new pan takes more fluid and is also improved design so the gasket lives longer.
05-03-2017, 12:42 AM
#6
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2007 GL450
07 GL450 here
14 is the later spec
supposedly backward compatible with 10 but don't know it for sure
not forward compatible with 15
There are lots of 10 spec fluids and also some 14 spec. You don't need to buy OEM.
I wouldn't save money on the 10 spec fluid, either.
722.9 transmissions are all over the place, so it's no surprise there are options when it comes to the fluid.
Supposedly the standard drop-the-pan-change-the-filter-add-five-quarts is a good 20k mile service. On the other hand, last time I did one of those, they said it looked fine, but the trans blew up 10k miles later. On yet another hand, the transmission was throwing D139, 0513, 0717, 1709 errors already when they did the service. I'd had a flush done at 90k miles and the guy said the fluid was blacker than my sister's boyfriend. So who knows.
According to the tranny rebuild guy, it's a great transmission if you take care of it. Most people don't because MB told them it's sealed, lifetime, blah blah blah.
14 is the later spec
supposedly backward compatible with 10 but don't know it for sure
not forward compatible with 15
There are lots of 10 spec fluids and also some 14 spec. You don't need to buy OEM.
I wouldn't save money on the 10 spec fluid, either.
722.9 transmissions are all over the place, so it's no surprise there are options when it comes to the fluid.
Supposedly the standard drop-the-pan-change-the-filter-add-five-quarts is a good 20k mile service. On the other hand, last time I did one of those, they said it looked fine, but the trans blew up 10k miles later. On yet another hand, the transmission was throwing D139, 0513, 0717, 1709 errors already when they did the service. I'd had a flush done at 90k miles and the guy said the fluid was blacker than my sister's boyfriend. So who knows.
According to the tranny rebuild guy, it's a great transmission if you take care of it. Most people don't because MB told them it's sealed, lifetime, blah blah blah.
