4Matic Transmission Maintenance
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 3
From: Wisconsin
CL550 1976 450 SL
4Matic Transmission Maintenance
The transmission maintenance at 39,000, per the manual. With the 4Matic and 7 speed transmission, is the procedure simply "draining" it, putting in a new gasket and filter and be done or does this 39,000 procedure call for the "power flushing" of the transmission?
I have two dealers equal miles either side of me. One service guy says it is simply a draining, filter, gasket procedure. The other says the maint. procedure calls for "completely looping, special hook up lines and maybe 16 qts. total fluid".
There's a huge difference. Anyone got the unequivocal answer? Need procedure soon. Advice/experience info appreciated. Thanks.
I have two dealers equal miles either side of me. One service guy says it is simply a draining, filter, gasket procedure. The other says the maint. procedure calls for "completely looping, special hook up lines and maybe 16 qts. total fluid".
There's a huge difference. Anyone got the unequivocal answer? Need procedure soon. Advice/experience info appreciated. Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 2
From: California
06 C55, 09 E350
Draining and refilling misses the torque converter and the valve body. A flush uses more than double the fluid usually so I would suggest the flush if you want the system to have all new fluid.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Greenwich, CT
2002 G500; 2007 S550
Whichever you decide, make sure that the service meets MB requirements for warranty support...and that you get it done before 39K miles. There are major problems reported with transmissions in certain VIN runs that take place just after that mark, and MB won't cover the repair unless you've performed this service.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 368
Likes: 11
From: Iowa
2019 S450
I will be doing it to my 07 S550 next week. I will do it myself. The dealer wanted $250.00 and I asked what that bought me. He said they would put in new filter, Gasket and new pan bolts and replace only the 3 qts or so in the pan. On another forum I was advised to not touch it! Needs lot of special tools etc.. I did some research and looks like there is a plastic overflow pipe attached to the drain plug bos so it will run out the drain hole until it is up to the level of the top of the pipe..This pipe can be dislodged with a drift punch . A simple adapter made from a M12 bolt with a hole drilled in it and the head cut off will let me put fluid into it with a pump.. There may or may not be a drain on the TC.. I will find that out. If there is no drain on the TC I will fill and dump it 3 times and drive it a few miles between drain and refils.
Like a guy on another forum said... Wont be long and we will need to go to the dealer to get the hood open with a special tool.
That is my plan , I sure hope it dont go sour on me..
Like a guy on another forum said... Wont be long and we will need to go to the dealer to get the hood open with a special tool.
That is my plan , I sure hope it dont go sour on me..
Last edited by platt-deutsch; Jan 9, 2011 at 02:23 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 3
From: Wisconsin
CL550 1976 450 SL
Here's the pinch, to me. You know what you're doing (drift punch, M12 bolt etc.) and can execute the fluid switch. Whereas many on this forum (surely me) are lucky to know how to get the outside cover to the gas cap open. You're right about shortly being forced to go to a dealer for everything.
I guess, for those of us non-mechanical, we search to find a dealer who'll do the exact work at least cost. I did this on the trans. fluid. Dlr. to my south wanted $480 to drain, replace and add new filter and seal. A dlr. a bit further, miles-wise, to my west wanted $290. I drove the extra few miles. To me, for a simple service, not spending needlessly $180 made sense. Let us know, if your adventure worked out.
I guess, for those of us non-mechanical, we search to find a dealer who'll do the exact work at least cost. I did this on the trans. fluid. Dlr. to my south wanted $480 to drain, replace and add new filter and seal. A dlr. a bit further, miles-wise, to my west wanted $290. I drove the extra few miles. To me, for a simple service, not spending needlessly $180 made sense. Let us know, if your adventure worked out.
