How Many Hours Should a Shop Quote for Transfer Case, Front & Rear Diff Fluid Change?
#1
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How Many Hours Should a Shop Quote for Transfer Case, Front & Rear Diff Fluid Change?
I have a 2015 ML 350 4MATIC approaching 100,000 miles. I would like to have the transfer case fluid and the front & rear differential gear oil changed at the same appointment. Correct me if I am wrong, but the job would entail:
1.) Getting the vehicle up on the lift, removing undertray, and setting up the oil lift drain pans;
2.) Removing the fill and drain plugs (Mercedes-Benz part #: 00908-016010) w/ copper crush washer seal rings (Mercedes-Benz part #: 007603-016105) from the transfer case;
3.) Removing the fill and drain screw plugs (Mercedes-Benz part #: 000-997-79-32 / 352-997-00-32) from the rear differential;
4.) Removing the fill and drain plugs w/ O-ring seal (Mercedes-Benz part #: 164-331-00-56) from the front differential;
5.) Waiting for about 1/2 quart of transfer case fluid to drain and about 1 quart of gear oil to drain from each of the differentials;
6.) Re-sealing with the new drain plugs w/ copper crush washer seal ring on the transfer case, the drain screw plug on the rear differential, and the drain plug w/ O-ring seal on the front differential;
7.) Replacing the ~1/2 quart of 236.12 transfer case fluid (Mercedes-Benz part #: 001-989-45-03-09) and re-sealing with the new fill plug w/ copper crush washer seal ring;
8.) Replacing the ~1 quart of 239.71 gear oil (Mercedes-Benz part #: 001-989-88-03-12) in the rear differential and re-sealing with the new fill screw plug;
9.) Replacing the ~1 quart of 239.72 gear oil (Mercedes-Benz part #: 001-989-33-03-09 or Fuchs TITAN Sintopoid FE 75w-85) in the front differential and re-sealing with the new fill plug w/ O-ring seal;
10.) Clean-up and check for leaks;
11.) Returning the undertray, getting the vehicle back down from the lift, starting it, and performing a quick scan for codes;
12.) Drive it out and perform figure 8s;
13.) Done.
What am I missing (I haven't seen a workshop manual)? What is a reasonable amount of labor time (based on book time?) for
? Thanks.
1.) Getting the vehicle up on the lift, removing undertray, and setting up the oil lift drain pans;
2.) Removing the fill and drain plugs (Mercedes-Benz part #: 00908-016010) w/ copper crush washer seal rings (Mercedes-Benz part #: 007603-016105) from the transfer case;
3.) Removing the fill and drain screw plugs (Mercedes-Benz part #: 000-997-79-32 / 352-997-00-32) from the rear differential;
4.) Removing the fill and drain plugs w/ O-ring seal (Mercedes-Benz part #: 164-331-00-56) from the front differential;
5.) Waiting for about 1/2 quart of transfer case fluid to drain and about 1 quart of gear oil to drain from each of the differentials;
6.) Re-sealing with the new drain plugs w/ copper crush washer seal ring on the transfer case, the drain screw plug on the rear differential, and the drain plug w/ O-ring seal on the front differential;
7.) Replacing the ~1/2 quart of 236.12 transfer case fluid (Mercedes-Benz part #: 001-989-45-03-09) and re-sealing with the new fill plug w/ copper crush washer seal ring;
8.) Replacing the ~1 quart of 239.71 gear oil (Mercedes-Benz part #: 001-989-88-03-12) in the rear differential and re-sealing with the new fill screw plug;
9.) Replacing the ~1 quart of 239.72 gear oil (Mercedes-Benz part #: 001-989-33-03-09 or Fuchs TITAN Sintopoid FE 75w-85) in the front differential and re-sealing with the new fill plug w/ O-ring seal;
10.) Clean-up and check for leaks;
11.) Returning the undertray, getting the vehicle back down from the lift, starting it, and performing a quick scan for codes;
12.) Drive it out and perform figure 8s;
13.) Done.
What am I missing (I haven't seen a workshop manual)? What is a reasonable amount of labor time (based on book time?) for
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Yup... As much as I would like to, I am unable to do it myself right now, and I am not sure when I'd be set up to do it in the future. Just out of curiosity, I asked a Service Coordinator at the local Mercedes-Benz dealership here in town to get me a quote for this job today. He went back and forth to the service techs in the workshop a few times before coming back to his desk over five minutes later... First, he told me that they do not perform differential gear oil changes on the non-AMG 4MATIC MLs/GLEs. "They're sealed for life." Second, he said that to change just the ~1/2 liter of transfer case fluid (FYI: From parts departments at Mercedes-Benz dealerships here in New England, I can order a bottle of the correct spec transfer case fluid for 15 USD, the fill & drain plugs for 3.50 USD x 2; and the copper crush washer/sealing rings for 3.25 USD x 2) the total parts and labor (without sales tax) would amount to a little less than 600 USD. Basically, they quoted me for a 3-hour job and jacked up the prices of the parts/supplies...The longtime service manager and senior Mercedes master tech at the local independent Mercedes specialist shop I have used on occasion both left in recent months, so I might have to haggle with them (or try another independent shop that I have used in the past).
#4
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You'll ALWAYS be better off going to an indy mechanic over the dealership. Find one you like and stick to them; the more they know your car the better off you'll be.
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#5
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Agreed. You see, I also received one of those $150 off of any $300+ service fall promo coupon cards in the mail last week and had to find out whether it was worthwhile. ...And did I ever find out. Even with the discount, it's a huge rip-off. LOL!
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Both axles and transfer case are, in fact, not sealed for life. I changed all of these oils on my W166. Easy in the automotive DIY world of tasks. Provided one has the time, tools and ability to do the job.
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#7
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It's less than $20 total in parts and for the 1/2 L of transfer case fluid (+ small environmental/disposal/shop fees), but the bill would have been around $565 for changing the transfer case fluid. What takes non-mechanics with above-room-temperature IQs well under half-an-hour now takes Mercedes master techs in expensive, well-equipped workshops 3 hours, according to the dealerships... Dealerships with higher labor rates in other parts of the country now charge $700 for changing the transfer case fluid (this example is of a different model with a larger capacity, but MB-approved Mobil Delvac 1 gear oil for that one is only $40 a gallon...). It's no wonder that the owners of the car dealership groups up here are billionaires (or very close to it) who host political rallies and fundraisers every election season... LOL!