M-Class (W166) Produced 2012-2015

Changing transmission oil, blue or green?

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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 12:36 PM
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ML 350 2013 w166 bluetec
Changing transmission oil, blue or green?

Hello, i have ml350 w166 2013 bluetec with 86k miles on it. i want to change the fluid of the transmission and asked someone here in my country that is known for transmission and he told me it needs green fluid for this car. So i am not sure if the fluid needs to be blue or green because what i looked at the forums some people said it need blue fluid so i am not sure. Any idea whats the best fluid to use for this car? Thanks
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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 06:53 PM
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2017 GLE350 4MATIC
What is your VIN?

MB spec 236.14 without code A89 https://operatingfluids.mercedes-benz.com/sheet/236.14
MB spec 236.15 with code A89. https://operatingfluids.mercedes-benz.com/sheet/236.15

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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 07:07 PM
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ML 350 2013 w166 bluetec
4JGDA2EB5EA272464
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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 08:38 PM
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2017 GLE350 4MATIC
You have code A89.

Your fluid is:

MB spec 236.15 with code A89. https://operatingfluids.mercedes-benz.com/sheet/236.15

Ignore fluid color. Spec compliance is the determinant.
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Old Dec 3, 2023 | 10:08 AM
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2013 ML550 US spec. Air+Offroad pkg
I have a ML550, so probably different transmission, but I used Pentosin brand when I did mine (mine took 134...blue)...I think this is what MB uses as OE (usually cheaper to buy Pentosin branded than MB branded). Make sure you look up the drain/fill procedure, as MB has a little dam in the pan you have to knock out from the drain/fill hole to get it to drain, you have to fill from below, precise temp, pan bolts are one-time use stretch bolts, and don't forget to spin your crank and drain out your torque converter if it has a drain plug (you have to spin it around with a ratchet from the crank slowly and look for a plug on the converter...not hard). Follow Chassis fluid advise, and he has links to procedures in his signature line. FCPEuro is a decent site to check out maintenance parts/kits.

Last edited by Leetom; Dec 3, 2023 at 10:11 AM.
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Old Dec 4, 2023 | 05:26 PM
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ML400 - 128i - Atlas VR6
I had such a struggle with the TC plug that I gave up. Any tools anyone recommends to get a good fit to unscrew it?
I even drilled off some metal where the rubber grommet is at to get better access similar to the vid by Sr. Leigh on youtube for his E class.
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Old Dec 4, 2023 | 06:41 PM
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From: Buchanan, SK CANADA
2013 ML350 Bluetec
Originally Posted by Gray_Panther
I had such a struggle with the TC plug that I gave up. Any tools anyone recommends to get a good fit to unscrew it?
I even drilled off some metal where the rubber grommet is at to get better access similar to the vid by Sr. Leigh on youtube for his E class.
That's a phenomenally stupid design. Not the only one on the car but one of the worse ones. I spun the shoulders of the torx socket on mine which wasn't a complete surprise but p'd me off nonetheless. I'm waiting for a hex head replacement to arrive from Amazon. At that point I will drop one corner of the pan, drain the fluid that way and then extract the old plug on the bench. I have Pentosin 134FE sitting on the bench next to the gasket/filter kit. That whole concept of drain/fill through the same hole is - at best - silly. At 66 I think I'm already too old to list all the stupid stuff I've seen engineers do over the course of my life. Not enough time left to make that list.
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Old Dec 4, 2023 | 06:44 PM
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From: Buchanan, SK CANADA
2013 ML350 Bluetec
Originally Posted by Gray_Panther
I had such a struggle with the TC plug that I gave up. Any tools anyone recommends to get a good fit to unscrew it?
I even drilled off some metal where the rubber grommet is at to get better access similar to the vid by Sr. Leigh on youtube for his E class.
That's a phenomenally stupid design. Not the only one on the car but one of the worse ones. I spun the shoulders of the torx socket on mine which wasn't a complete surprise but p'd me off nonetheless. I'm waiting for a hex head replacement to arrive from Amazon. At that point I will drop one corner of the pan, drain the fluid that way and then extract the old plug on the bench. I have Pentosin 134FE sitting on the bench next to the gasket/filter kit. That whole concept of drain/fill through the same hole is - at best - silly. At 66 I think I'm already too old to list all the stupid stuff I've seen engineers do over the course of my life. Not enough time left to make that list.

Re-reading your post I see you are referring to the torque convertor plug which I have yet to tackle. I may elect to simply leave the fluid in the TC and step up the drain interval to deal with whatever tired fluid dilution may result from ignoring the TC grief.
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Old Dec 4, 2023 | 09:03 PM
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2013 ML550 US spec. Air+Offroad pkg
If you have a drain on your Torque Converter, I’d drain it for sure, about half of your system fluid is in there. Drain/refill via pan drop will require all new bolts each time…they are one time use only. Designed to stretch when torqued.
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Old Dec 4, 2023 | 10:03 PM
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ML400 - 128i - Atlas VR6
yeah I think I am going to do the same, thanks to FCP Euro I think I will change it every 10k miles or so at least a couple more times. I hope to see some improvement.
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Old Dec 10, 2023 | 08:06 PM
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2013 ML350 Bluetec
FCPEuro has you covered.
https://blog.fcpeuro.com/mercedes-7-...TvQN6SX.Rsduzp

(Blue fluid)
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