M-Class (W166) Produced 2012-2015

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Old Dec 6, 2018 | 04:10 PM
  #1  
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ML3504M
ML350

Hi Everyone,
This is my first time using this forum.
I am not even sure if I am in the right place!
I have a 2013 ML350 with 137,000 miles on it.
I was at the dealership yesterday getting a service. They said I needed the following:
Change the brake fluid
Service the transmission
Front & Rear differential service
The total of which is $1150.
Do I need all of this?
I don't want to put my car at risk & I have never declined work, but I'm not sure if this is all necessary.
I looked in the maintenance book & it stated to change the brake build every 20,000 miles.
It also states to do the transmission but never mentions the differential.
I want to note that I did have the brakes replaced 10.000 miles ago by a different shop, and the dealership was annoyed when they saw that another shop worked on my car.
Can anyone please enlighten me?
Any and all help & suggestions are welcome!
Thanks so much for at least reading my post!
Joanne
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Old Dec 6, 2018 | 05:08 PM
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Depends who you ask.

Brake fluid: Not something normally changed 30 yrs ago, but what with ABS etc, who knows. Can't hurt.
Transmission: I personally wouldn't. Many times, the oil change induces transmission clutches slipping etc. It would be a good thing to do, you're just 75k miles too late. If the shop promises you the tranny won't slip afterwards, go for it
Differentials: Can't hurt, but doubt it'd really be beneficial

The above is my opinion, which is like an a$$hole. Everyone has one *wink*
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Old Dec 6, 2018 | 05:19 PM
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Ml350 bluetec
I have a 2014 ML 350 Bluetec, I just had the 70,000 mile service done on it. I had only the transmission fluid changed. I still need to have the front and rear differential fluid changed. I did the brake bleeding myself, its not hard.

Brake fluid absorbs moisture, this moisture causes brake fluid to degrade (lowers its boiling point), moisture can causes rust to form on the metal parts of the braking system. Transmission fluids should be changed regularly, because heat is the enemy of the fluid. Front and rear diff? That's a grey area as it just gear oil.....
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Old Dec 6, 2018 | 05:42 PM
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This sounds straight out of a 1980's movie - "Many times, the oil change induces transmission clutches slipping etc. It would be a good thing to do, you're just 75k miles too late. If the shop promises you the tranny won't slip afterwards, go for it".

Sorry - wrong decade for that comment - YES - your transmission requires regular recommended fluid/filter service - or you will be paying for a replacement transmission instead !
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Old Dec 6, 2018 | 06:12 PM
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ML3504M
Unhappy ML350

I did my homework.
The transmission was previously done almost 100,000 miles ago
Brake fluid at 22,000 & 106,000 mi
Doesn't look like the differential has ever been done.
I guess I'm in for a big bill in January!
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Old Dec 6, 2018 | 07:48 PM
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For my 2014 the Maintenance Book calls for Transmission fluid & filter at 7 years to 70,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Brake fluid flush is to be done every 2 years (M-B has called for this for decades)
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Old Dec 6, 2018 | 09:27 PM
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This is the Mercedes Service manual for you year of car. Note there is recommended service and a required service for each mileage or years in service. I think this service manual if for ML up thru 2014. Staring in 2015 Mercedes no longer divided the services between recommended and required. They deleted the recommended part. For me I still refer to the recommended for my 2015 because they did not change anything fro 2014 to 2015.

https://www.mercedesbenzraleigh.com/...ce_Booklet.pdf
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Old Dec 7, 2018 | 04:47 PM
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Originally Posted by fabbrisd1
This sounds straight out of a 1980's movie - "Many times, the oil change induces transmission clutches slipping etc. It would be a good thing to do, you're just 75k miles too late. If the shop promises you the tranny won't slip afterwards, go for it".

Sorry - wrong decade for that comment - YES - your transmission requires regular recommended fluid/filter service - or you will be paying for a replacement transmission instead !

Uhhhhh, did you actually bother to read the OP's post? 137k miles and he didn't state that the tranny oil had been previously replaced. Only on post number 5 did he realize that it had indeed been replaced already in the past.

Oh, and by the way. The senior national service manager for AAMCO (who worked as a tranny tech for 30+ yrs before getting up in the ranks) stated the same thing.
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Old Dec 9, 2018 | 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by peter2772000
Uhhhhh, did you actually bother to read the OP's post? 137k miles and he didn't state that the tranny oil had been previously replaced. Only on post number 5 did he realize that it had indeed been replaced already in the past.

Oh, and by the way. The senior national service manager for AAMCO (who worked as a tranny tech for 30+ yrs before getting up in the ranks) stated the same thing.
do it now and you can get 150 off at the dealership!

https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/servi...SAAEgIFivD_BwE

Last edited by kombifan; Dec 9, 2018 at 09:03 PM.
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Old Dec 11, 2018 | 09:27 PM
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I would do all of it. Especially if you plan on keeping the car. Find a good MB shop to do it instead of the dealer and you will save.
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