SL-Class (R230) 2003 -- 2012: Discussion on the SL500, SL550, SL600

SL/R230: Which 235.7 Differential Fluid?

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Old 03-23-2019, 05:05 PM
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2014 E350 Sport 4Matic Sedan
Which 235.7 Differential Fluid?

What MB specification 235.7 approved gear oil do you recommend for a 2007 SL550 rear diff?

The Factory Approved Service Products booklet says my car should take an 85w-90 hypoid gear oil p/n 001989170310. I've called a couple MB dealers, and they tell me the correct gear oil is 001989330312. Both are specification 235.7. There aren't many specification 235.7 approved products shown in the M-B BeVo. And I'm having a very difficult time finding any of them except the M-B products in the US market. I'll pay what they want for the M-B product if I need to. But I'd really like to find the Fuchs Titan Sintopoid FE 75w-85. However, I haven't been able to find any US sources for it.

Any recommendations for a source for a 235.7 gear oil? Or am I overthinking this? Instead of searching so hard for a 235.7 approved gear oil, will a quality GL-5 extreme pressure gear oil work well?
Old 03-23-2019, 07:30 PM
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Here's the list:

https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/235.7_en.html


Maybe the MobiLube is available?
Old 03-24-2019, 04:01 PM
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'92 500E, '07 SL550
rear diff oil 07 SL550

Now I'm a bit confused. Has the spec changed from what was published in the maintenance manual that came with my car--same as noted by Bhopkins in original post--235 or 235.7?
Second question, is there any problem using the 85-90 oil recommended in the original publication, instead of the 75-85 in this current BeVo?
Thanks.
Old 03-24-2019, 05:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudeney
Here's the list:

https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/235.7_en.html


Maybe the MobiLube is available?
I finally found Fuchs Titan Sintopoid FE from RMEuropean, and have ordered 2 quarts. From what I can tell, I don't think either of the two MobiLube products listed on the BeVo website are available in the US market. I even looked for them on the Mobil website and couldn't find them.

There are a few other hypoid gear oils out there, many from brands that have excellent reputations. But I'm hesitant to use a non-approved fluid, and probably would have paid the price for the MB branded gear oil before I used one of the non-approved.

Originally Posted by AlfaGTA
Now I'm a bit confused. Has the spec changed from what was published in the maintenance manual that came with my car--same as noted by Bhopkins in original post--235 or 235.7?
Second question, is there any problem using the 85-90 oil recommended in the original publication, instead of the 75-85 in this current BeVo?
Thanks.
That's where it gets real confusing. The MB booklet that came with my car calls for "MB Hpoid Gear Oil (85W-90)³", with the footnote reading "Meets sheet 235.7 specification." But when I check in the MB BeVo website, which Rodney references, no 85W-90 is listed under 235.7. Rather, all the approved 235.7 gear oils are 75W-85. (Excepting the MB 001 989 83 03, for which I can't find anything, but when I do a search for it, all the alternative gear oils that come up are 75W-85.)

I've decided that using a lube that is approved to the 235.7 is more important than the slightly lower viscosity. If I were tracking the car, I might feel differently, but I'm confident that the Fuchs Titan product is more than capable of protecting my hypoid diff during an occasional spirited highway driving.
Old 03-24-2019, 08:28 PM
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As for the proper fluid, checking WIS, it states to use one that meets spec 235.7. The BeVo website is MBZ's latest, updated list of fluids that meet all of its specs. I'd go by that. Having said that, I know some people who are experts in lubrication chemicals and understand all of their properties. Those smart people can recommend some other fluids will meet or exceed certain MBZ specs, won't be on the BeVo list simply because those fluid manufacturers have not paid MBZ to be certified. Personally, I don;t have that level of skill, but I do occasionally trust those smart people. In one of those cases, I have learned that the ATE Tyep 200 Gold and ATE Superblue brake fluids are compatible with and exceed the specs for MBZ brake fluids and Iw ill use them (well, not the Superblue because it is now banned int he USA). But without that expert knowledge, I stick with what WIS tells me and what's on the BeVo list.
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Old 12-20-2020, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Bhopkins
I finally found Fuchs Titan Sintopoid FE from RMEuropean, and have ordered 2 quarts. From what I can tell, I don't think either of the two MobiLube products listed on the BeVo website are available in the US market. I even looked for them on the Mobil website and couldn't find them.

There are a few other hypoid gear oils out there, many from brands that have excellent reputations. But I'm hesitant to use a non-approved fluid, and probably would have paid the price for the MB branded gear oil before I used one of the non-approved.



That's where it gets real confusing. The MB booklet that came with my car calls for "MB Hpoid Gear Oil (85W-90)³", with the footnote reading "Meets sheet 235.7 specification." But when I check in the MB BeVo website, which Rodney references, no 85W-90 is listed under 235.7. Rather, all the approved 235.7 gear oils are 75W-85. (Excepting the MB 001 989 83 03, for which I can't find anything, but when I do a search for it, all the alternative gear oils that come up are 75W-85.)

I've decided that using a lube that is approved to the 235.7 is more important than the slightly lower viscosity. If I were tracking the car, I might feel differently, but I'm confident that the Fuchs Titan product is more than capable of protecting my hypoid diff during an occasional spirited highway driving.
Very helpful thread thanks to the OP for starting this... i just acquired a 2004 SL55 with 70k miles and plan to change the rear diff fluid.

As mentioned above - Its confusing as the 2004 owners manual shows the rear diff fluid spec was 85w-90, but the current spec on MB BeVo (updated Dec 2020) has changed to 75W-85 as meeting the 235.7 specification.

Owners Manual: https://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/Digital..._sl5565amg.pdf
MB 235.7 Spec: https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/235.7_en.html

Of the 5 currently approved 235.7 rear diff fluids listed on the BeVo site this one "Fuchs Titan Sintopoid FE 75W-85" can be found on Amazon which is what i bought and will be using.
Amazon Amazon

As another slightly cheaper option is Red-Lines 75W-85 diff oil as one reviewer indicated the back of the bottle specifically states it meets 235.7 spec although its not listed by MB on BeVo (am sure it works fine)
Amazon Amazon




Old 12-20-2020, 08:54 PM
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These specs can be a bit all over the place sometimes and it appears there are some new options on Amazon as well.

From an Owner's Manual perspective, Fuchs 75W-85 (which is probably what the OE MB bottle is filled with) was listed as compatible with non-030 SL63s only.

Every other R230 without a mechanical LSD called for 85W-90. That said, Bevo supersedes the Owner's Manual.

I went with OE MB 75W-85 for peace of mind, but would not have hesitated to run the Fuchs or Redline versions of that fluid had they been available at the time of changing it.


Old 04-25-2021, 02:29 PM
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Resurrecting this thread!

I have an 05 E320 CDi. I'd prefer to use the 85w90 lube for the differential, but I can't seem to find any full synthetic 85w90 anywhere! There are several manufacturers that make a conventional 85w90 with the MB 235.0 spec. Does anyone know of a vendor that may carry this in a full synthetic?

Or is it ok to use a non-synthetic? For example here is a Liqui-moly 85w90 which is conventional with the MB 235.0 spec. https://products.liqui-moly.com/hypo...-85w-90-1.html

Is it ok to use a 235.0 spec if our cars call for a 235.7 spec?

Or is it ok to use a full synthetic 75W-85 which meets the 235.7 specification even though the original MB recommended lube for my car was an 85w90?

So confusing!

Thanks!

Old 04-25-2021, 03:19 PM
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Originally Posted by ironforger
Resurrecting this thread!

I have an 05 E320 CDi. I'd prefer to use the 85w90 lube for the differential, but I can't seem to find any full synthetic 85w90 anywhere! There are several manufacturers that make a conventional 85w90 with the MB 235.0 spec. Does anyone know of a vendor that may carry this in a full synthetic?

Or is it ok to use a non-synthetic? For example here is a Liqui-moly 85w90 which is conventional with the MB 235.0 spec. https://products.liqui-moly.com/hypo...-85w-90-1.html

Is it ok to use a 235.0 spec if our cars call for a 235.7 spec?

Or is it ok to use a full synthetic 75W-85 which meets the 235.7 specification even though the original MB recommended lube for my car was an 85w90?

So confusing!

Thanks!
The superseded MB spec (moving away from conventional) resulted in a superseded MB-labeled fluid, which is that synthetic 75W-85.

You can run any of the above. Non-mechanical LSD differentials tend to be a bit more lenient with fluid options.

Old 04-25-2021, 04:36 PM
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Anybody use Amsoil 75-90? On Bob's oil site it seems to out perform most oils. Getting ready to do the E55...

Last edited by Fountain35; 04-25-2021 at 04:53 PM.
Old 04-25-2021, 04:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Fountain35
Anybody use Amsoil 75-90? On Bob's oil site it seems to out perform most oils. Getting ready to the E55...
Ahhh good question.

I see Amsoil makes a fully synthetic 80w90., fairly close to the original MB 85w90. I may consider that option.
Old 04-25-2021, 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by ironforger
Ahhh good question.

I see Amsoil makes a fully synthetic 80w90., fairly close to the original MB 85w90. I may consider that option.
https://www.amsoil.com/p/75w-90-long-life-synthetic-gear-lube-fgr/

Also


https://www.syntheticoils.us/Products/svg.htm
Old 04-26-2021, 09:50 PM
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I bought MOTUL 75W85 from RMEuropean online store. So far so good, does anyone have any opinion on that? Thank you
Old 12-10-2022, 11:54 AM
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Can we use
https://www.liquimoly.com.au/1410-hy...-ls-sae-85w-90
Old 12-29-2022, 03:05 PM
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At https://operatingfluids.mercedes-ben...ry/gear-oil/en
General information 231.0
Hypoids lumped together under "Hypoid gear oils, Sheet 235.0/.7/.8/.15/.20/.31/.61/.62"
"Service confirmation that an oil fulfills the requirements of Mercedes-Benz AG is provided by internal tests. However, the hypoid gear oils must at least correspond to the US military specification MIL-L-2105 B/C/D and must be classed GL-5 in the quality grade according to API (American Institute of Petroleum)."

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