I’m sorry I know there’s tons of posts about this but I can’t find an actual precise measurement in any of them. I have a 2004 Ml350. I replaced my radiator and leaked a bunch of transmission fluid, so I bought a transmission dipstick online that’s 48” long. I know it doesn’t insert all the way, but to stop when u get resistance. The problem is there’s resistance at 34” which is giving me an ok reading and then if u twist it it’ll go to 38” and have resistance.
Please if anyone can help just tell me the actual length of the dipstick I need to insert, measured from the black plastic tip to the top of the tool.

 

What are you doing first?

 

Since the W163 doesn't have a dipstick to check trans fluid. I purchased a dipstick from Amazon. If you're refilling the tranny fluid. Insert the dipstick down so it touches the bottom, then add enough fluid so it's about halfway up on the black plastic end piece. That will be enough.

 

At 34" you're there. It's a gentle touch that you can feel the stick flexing and stacking.

My protocol was:

Make sure the dipstick end is not bent (my eBay one was). Gently push/coerce it into being in line with the spring portion. (If anyone knows were to get OEM gearbox sticks reply, I'm sure OEM is better even though this works).

Once the dipstick is straight put in in the hole. It will go down until about 1 foot of spring is still outside the dipstick tube. Slide it back and forth (yeah I know) until you can feel how it's sliding in the tube, but hitting the pan. It has to get in there but stop when it hits the pan. Grab a sharpie and mark the spring.

Remove the dipstick tube and straighten the plastic if necessary (IDK if this was just mine that was bent). Wipe and reinsert. When ya get close to the sharpie mark slow down and feel for the bottom of the pan. When you make contact remove and evaluate your levels.

BTW, if you loose the insert that keeps the cap on, two zip ties cut precisely and facing each other (the "head" of the ties, flat part facing each other, with a tail of 1 inch) fit in perfectly and make the clip lock, yet is removable by pulling the zip ties out of the slot. I don't usually like "hacks" like this but it works darn well until you can get the original .

 

I measured mine. Tomorrow when I’m down at my shop I’ll post a pic and a dimension.

FTW: the shorter of the two MB dipsticks available on Amazon and eBay are too short for our motors. You have to buy the longer one and partially insert it.

 

So I went and got the official cap seals, they're cheap, and you get a lifetime supply!

 

Niiiice. Thanks for the listing ill pick some up!

Does anyone know what zeroes the OEM gearbox dipstick? That is, does the OEM one stop at the top of the tube and that's "zero", or does the official MB one have to contact the pan with extra stick at the top, like the amazon ones.
Essentially, does the MB stick "zero" by tapping the pan or by virtue of it's length...? It seems very much like it's designed to contact the pan rather than measure from the top, would like to know what how the OEM stick is supposed to be used.

Thx!

 

Overall length is 115mm, marked at 89mm (just about the 34” mentioned above) But you’ll tell when it bottoms. Gently push it down, it catches on something about half-way in, give it a slight twist and push it the rest of the way in. As mentioned, don’t force it, or you’ll bend the rubber end and get a false reading.


Also, important to measure it hot, with motor running. 180° is the spec, but I’ve found the 180° on the gauge is close enough for the girls I go out with.

There are hot and cold marks on the dipstick if you ever do need to check it cold.