I got a 2000 E430 Sport , 60K miles

Does anyone have a Step - Step instruction on changing
the Transmission Fluid and the Diff Gear Oil too?
With Pictures would help.

Thanks in advance.

Steve

nguyensteve@yahoo.com

 

I would not change the transmission fluid.

 

I am glad someone asked this question! What about the lifetime transmission fluid? When I had a '94 540 (BMW), the changing of the transmission fluid was always a hot topic. Is the Mercedes TX fluild common or some special type?

 

Here We Go AGAIN

 

I want to change the transmission and need help. I dont care what Mercedes say about the Lifetime Fluid.

So, if someone have the instruction and Pic. that would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Steve Nguyen
nguyensteve@yahoo.com

 

I agree with you "sealed for life" is just plain stupid - unless your idea of "life" isn't very long. I only need to go as far as Mercedes itself which had the gall to reccomend regular oil in FSS cars would last 2 years or 10K miles. They got SUED - they deserved it! Now as for your trans - you will first need to get the special measuring tool since your dipstick has a sealing plug on it. After that it's the same old routine - but do use synthetic fluid.

 

I too asked this last year, and MBTECH208, said do not bother changing the fluid. This was after I received an E-Mail from MB North America, stating the same thing. I have been using Mobil1 ATF in all my other vehicles for over ten years now and always find the Transmissions run cooler with the Synthetic ATF. But MB North America, said it would void warranty and the fluid is not approved by them. So here I am coming up on 52,000 miles on a 1999 E430, and original; ATF fluid.

 

If you're past 50,000 miles, you're out of warranty anyways. You can go ahead and change the fluid and filter if you want to, it certainly won't hurt.

 

Thanks Dave, this was not a knock on you. We spoke about this about a year and a half ago, when the car had only 32000 miles on it. I ended buying an extended warranty anyway for 7/150000. So at least I still feel somewhat protected. I ordered the measuring tool last month just in case I do change it out. I was acually thinking of just flushing the system with an inline transfer rather than opening the bottom and replacing the filter as well. What are your thoughts on that? BTW, I still owe you a beer if you make it out here to Orlando.

 

I am a believer in fluid changes. I have had 4 cars go 170-200 k miles without transmission work due to frequent fluid changes. I learned the trick years ago from taxi drivers in NYC. Its customary to change fluid every 30-40 k miles due to severe driving conditions.

It is not in the interest of MB to have long lived components on its cars. They can recommend what they want, I do it my way.

 

If you're going to go that far, it makes sense to change the filter as well. It's not hard to do, there's only 6 bolts holding the trans pan on, and then the filter is right there. Would you change your engine oil without changing the filter? Of course not. BTW, I already forgot the reason you owe me a beer!

 

After it is all said and done here, I just have two questions.

1. What type of fluid and your put in the "lifetime" fluid transmission?

2. What is the part number for the dipstick?

Thanks,

Rob Lee
'99 E320

 

I bought the Dip Stick/Measuring tool from the www.thepartsbin.com. About $25.00. They had the ATF Filter and Gasket as well. The filter is aftermarket, the gasket and tool are factory MB with the labels still on the plastic packaging. As far as the ATF fluid goes, Dave, I was going to use th mobil 1 Synthectic, reagrdless of what MBNA says. What do you guys think????

 

A few notes:
1) The dipstick tool is a bit odd in that it is too long so you cannot shove it in up to a "stop". I just pushed it down gently until it hit the bottom of the pan. I took a reading cold (right after starting the car) and then drove the car about 15 miles. I then checked the fluid level again. I made note of the levels. Then I collected the fluid from the pan, which has a drain plug, and the converter. I measured the fluid that I drained. I used the levels and the quantity drained to judge how much to put back in. On my 1999 E430 it was right at 8.5 US quarts.
2) This was the easiest, cleanest trans fluid change I've ever done. Somehow the converter vents internally eliminating the bloop, bloop action one normally experiences. I didn't spill a drop.
3) At 37,000 miles the pan was clean. There was virually no "sludge" from the friction materials in my pan as some have reported.
4) The filter simply pulls off. There are no screws.
5) I would only use the MB fluid. I have not been able to find anything to indicate that any other fluid meets the specs. Judging by what I found, or rather, didn't find, the MB fluid seems to work fine.
6)When refilling put in about 4 quarts, start the engine to get the fluid circulating and fill the converter and cooler and then add the rest. Drive the car over the same route as before and check the level with the dipstick. It should be real close to the original hot level. Recheck it cold after an overnight cool down. Once again, it should be real close to the original cold level.
7) MB now uses little aluminum castings as clamps to hold the pan in place. The castings take the torque of the bolts. This system is superior to the previous method where the "stops" were built into the pan and ham fisted types could over-torque the bolts and distort the pan.
8) The dipstick cap is held by a plastic "seal" clip. It is removed by carefully pulling it out of the side of the cap. New clips are available at the dealer for a dollar or so. Apply the new seal only after you are satisfied that the level is correct.

Hope this helps. If I am wrong on any of the procedure perhaps MBTech208 can correct my method.

 

That's perfect. No comments from me!

 

With all due respect, the MB auto tranny is not quite comparable with NY city cabs. My opinion is that after 50K miles, the fluid and fiolter should be chsanged. I follow the FSS to the T 'cause it makes good engineering sense. But the lifetime tranny stuff is not very convincing. Take care of it at 50K and move on.

 

I had my trans fluid changed on Friday with 60k miles on the fluid.. I requested that the tech save the filter for me so I could assess the trans condition. I was pleasantly surprised by the small amount of metallic/organic film on the filter media. No particles or shavings, just wear. I should easily get 200k on the trans before overhaul. I plan to change the fluid every 50 k miles.

Also a sometime erratic condition in first gear downshift cleared up.

 

Well I changed mine yesterday, and chickened out on the fluid and bough tthe MB Fluid anyway online. I too was quite happy with what I saw on the Filter in the pan, virtually nothing. The fluid however was quite dark, and smelled pourly compared to the same new MB Fluid. The Tool worked like a charm for the measurement. Anyway 53000 mile flush, and I do not plan on changing it again whiile I own the car. I had a flush machine hooked up on the cooler line with the banjo fittings, and was happy to see all the old fluid go out and the new fluid go in. Used all 12 liters I had ordered right to the last drop. (I had to refil the pan with 3L's after I had opned it to change the filter. The flush took another 9 liters.) Anyways thanks for all the help Dave.

 

No problem, glad everything went without a hitch.