SL/R230: Transmission Service
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Newbie
Joined: Mar 2013
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From: St Louis, MO
2004 SL500
Transmission Service
Is there a routine maintenance for the transmission on a 2004 sl500 with 57,000 miles. Can't find anything in the manual about it.
Thank you for any info.
Thank you for any info.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: amarillo texas
2003 sl 500
I believe a flush around 40,000 miles is what forum members recommend, maybe even earlier than that. That is not in my manual either (2003 sl500). Your fluid should be red in color.
moretech
moretech
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You have the 722.6 5-speed. It was sold as "sealed for life - no maintenance needed". Of course "life' was not defined. I think it means "life of a transmission which never gets serviced" which is not going to be very long. MBZ did later come back and issue a very unofficial document to dealers service centers suggesting that "if a customer had concerns" that it was OK to do fluid and filter changes in 70K mile intervals.
The 722.8 7-speed was also originally sold as "seaked for life" until they began to drop like flies at 50K miles or so. MBZ officially changed to a one-time 39K miles fluid/filter change. Later, they changed this to "every 39K". The real problems with early 722.9's were crappy torque converters and sleeve bearings on he fluid pump. These were later corrected, but the 39K interval has remained.
Given that the 722.9 and 722.6 are not very different except for number and arrangement of gears, I think every 39K is good for both. At the very least, I'd do 70K mile changes on the 722.6. Note that sometime around MY2000/2001, they deleted the drain on the torque converter. drain, so you can only get about 4 quarts with a pan drop. That might be good enough, but I'd prefer a full change, which entails a "flush". This means dropping the pan, replacing the filter an 4 quarts, then using another 9-10 quarts for a flush.
Here are instructions (this is for the C/CLK, but should be the same for all 722.6's):
http://benzbits.com/722_6/FluidFilterChange.pdf
http://benzbits.com/722_6/TransmissionFlush.pdf
The 722.8 7-speed was also originally sold as "seaked for life" until they began to drop like flies at 50K miles or so. MBZ officially changed to a one-time 39K miles fluid/filter change. Later, they changed this to "every 39K". The real problems with early 722.9's were crappy torque converters and sleeve bearings on he fluid pump. These were later corrected, but the 39K interval has remained.
Given that the 722.9 and 722.6 are not very different except for number and arrangement of gears, I think every 39K is good for both. At the very least, I'd do 70K mile changes on the 722.6. Note that sometime around MY2000/2001, they deleted the drain on the torque converter. drain, so you can only get about 4 quarts with a pan drop. That might be good enough, but I'd prefer a full change, which entails a "flush". This means dropping the pan, replacing the filter an 4 quarts, then using another 9-10 quarts for a flush.
Here are instructions (this is for the C/CLK, but should be the same for all 722.6's):
http://benzbits.com/722_6/FluidFilterChange.pdf
http://benzbits.com/722_6/TransmissionFlush.pdf
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Joined: Jul 2015
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From: amarillo texas
2003 sl 500
The price I find for MB tranny fluid is about $25 per liter and I believe it holds 9 liters. I believe the price is in range for dealer prices though after including labor. Others may comment on this point. I agree it does seem high.
moretech
moretech
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Oops - sorry - I forgot they put the 722.9 on the MY2004 SL500. I think it was the first car that got it.
$600 is slightly high. Most dealers around here charge just under $500 for a fluid/filter change on the 722.9. I do my own, and it costs me around $120 in fluid and parts. I use Shell ATF-134 (it meets MB 236.14 spec) and can be had for under $8/quart. If you do pay the dealer for the job, make sure they use at least 9 quarts - if not, they are only doing a pan drop and not draining the torque converter. The converter on the 722.9 should have a drain, though some of the early ones did not. Dealer techs are notorious for being lazy and just claiming "no drain on TC" when in fact you have one. The engine has to be manually rotated to find it through the access port.
$600 is slightly high. Most dealers around here charge just under $500 for a fluid/filter change on the 722.9. I do my own, and it costs me around $120 in fluid and parts. I use Shell ATF-134 (it meets MB 236.14 spec) and can be had for under $8/quart. If you do pay the dealer for the job, make sure they use at least 9 quarts - if not, they are only doing a pan drop and not draining the torque converter. The converter on the 722.9 should have a drain, though some of the early ones did not. Dealer techs are notorious for being lazy and just claiming "no drain on TC" when in fact you have one. The engine has to be manually rotated to find it through the access port.
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Joined: Jul 2015
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From: amarillo texas
2003 sl 500
Will the Shell tranny fluid mix properly with the red MB fluid if it is a change rather than a complete flush? Or in case you developed a road leak and could not get MB fluid. Somewhere I read Dexron III might substitute.
moretech
moretech
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From: Kansas
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
Dexron III is NOT suitable. You need to buy something that meets MB spec. The shell meets current spec and is far superior to the old spec that is in the car now. To flush all they do is disconnect the return transmission fluid line from the radiator and run the car till the fluid stops coming (this is the actual procedure in the STAR manual). This is in my opinion far superior to hooking it up to a machine that flushes it since there can be remnants or debris in the machine that could then go into your car.
You will for sure want to also drop the pan and change the electrical connector. What is probably about to happen is that this will fail and transmission fluid will wick up the wires that go from it and into the transmission computer that is located in the interior passenger side right kick panel. It will then ruin that computer. The electrical connector is like $8 and this is a no brainer maintenance. I just took out my transmission computer to have a tune flashed into it and noticed that in the past the connector must have failed as there was transmission fluid sitting on the pins from the wiring harness. Its not a matter of if the electrical connector will fail, but when and if you caught it in enough time to save the transmission computer from being ruined. Don't have anyone do the tranny fluid service that isn't also going to do this and change the filter in the tranny.
You will for sure want to also drop the pan and change the electrical connector. What is probably about to happen is that this will fail and transmission fluid will wick up the wires that go from it and into the transmission computer that is located in the interior passenger side right kick panel. It will then ruin that computer. The electrical connector is like $8 and this is a no brainer maintenance. I just took out my transmission computer to have a tune flashed into it and noticed that in the past the connector must have failed as there was transmission fluid sitting on the pins from the wiring harness. Its not a matter of if the electrical connector will fail, but when and if you caught it in enough time to save the transmission computer from being ruined. Don't have anyone do the tranny fluid service that isn't also going to do this and change the filter in the tranny.
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From: Kansas
2003 E55, 2003 SL55, 2014 CLS63, 2018 q50 Redsport, 1968 Camaro SS, 1999 Trans am Firehawk
for reference, here are all the fluids that meet the current spec. do NOT use any fluid that is not on the list. You will find maybe some valvoline or other 'universal' fluid that says 'suitable for mercedes' DONT USE IT. ONLY USE STUFF THAT MEETS THE SPEC.
https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevol...236.14_en.html
Member Glyn M Ruck helped develop the new standard. Read this thread & his comments with post #6 being important as well as his comments regarding flushing.
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...722-6-atf.html
https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevol...236.14_en.html
Member Glyn M Ruck helped develop the new standard. Read this thread & his comments with post #6 being important as well as his comments regarding flushing.
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...722-6-atf.html
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2004 SL500
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From: Tucson, AZ
'20 X5 M50i; '17 Ram 3500; Golf Cart; Bikes; Scooters
As a data point, I've also seen that the latest 'blue' trans fluid is backward compatible to the older transmissions using the red fluid. The white paper stated the blue fluid is energy saving (better mileage) and that was the major difference, as MB was pushing better mileage numbers, and still is.
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As a data point, I've also seen that the latest 'blue' trans fluid is backward compatible to the older transmissions using the red fluid. The white paper stated the blue fluid is energy saving (better mileage) and that was the major difference, as MB was pushing better mileage numbers, and still is.
Super Member
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From: Tucson, AZ
'20 X5 M50i; '17 Ram 3500; Golf Cart; Bikes; Scooters
The FE stands for Fuel Efficiency.
The previous info I found was not correct. Don't believe everything you read on the internet. And just like politics...don't mix blues and reds!
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2007 E350; 2018 GLE350
The new transmission oil is not backwards compatible due to the target-oriented optimization measures implemented for all tribological systems, which encompass the oil itself and the bearings, seals, gearing, and friction plates. To visually reinforce this, the transmission fluid has been dyed blue instead of the previous red to prevent confusion during maintenance.
That paper is a sure cure for insomnia. But it settles the red-blue lube questions.
That paper is a sure cure for insomnia. But it settles the red-blue lube questions.
