transmission
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Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 104
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From: Sothern California
2000 w210 E55
transmission
Has anyone had any trouble with their transmission, my 2000 E55 is soon going to hit 144,000 miles. My transmission still feels strong. I do think I need to replace my center support bearing on the drive shaft has any one posted a diy for that job.
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From: Fort Worth, TX
2011 GL550, 2004 Audi S4 v8
Just had my torque converter replaced..Didn't try it myself though. Now it runs like it should. Had the shaft bearing replaced too. Apparently new ones have a drain plug too so now it can be drained. Otherwise you can only drain the pan. This should have been done from the factory. Fail on Mercedes part 
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From: Bay Area, CA
2007 SL55 AMG
137k and my trans seems to be holding up nicely. I'm pretty sure its not as smooth as it was brand new but it still runs through all the gears without any abnormalities. Since I bought the car, I've done a transmission service every 15k including pan drop and filter replacement. When I drained my fluid last time it came out looking brand new. These are very well built cars so just keep up with servicing and it'll last you many more years to come.
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Novato, California
2000 E55 AMG
Torque converter drain plugs do exist on W210 E55 built prior to 08/99. Fortunately, my built date is 07/99. I had my transmission fully serviced back at 40K (not OEM 100K recommendation; sealed for life my A$$). I am currently at 75K and running strong. 
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Boston, MA
2010 E63, 2008 Range Rover Sport, 2010 GLK350
The transmissions in the w210 55s are solid. They were borrowed from the sl600 of the day. They will last a long time. Just make sure to change the fluid every 50K or so and you will be fine for a longgggg time. The lifetime fluid that is stated in the manual is wrong and Mercedes has openly changed that stating to change fluid.
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From: Fort Worth, TX
2011 GL550, 2004 Audi S4 v8
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From: Charleston, SC
GL450
Nope, a 2000 shouldn't have a drain plug. You can generally flush the fluid twice to help get more out.
Here's dirt cheap fluid if you want to flush a few times.
http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ry...oductDetail.do
Here's dirt cheap fluid if you want to flush a few times.
http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ry...oductDetail.do
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From: Central Connecticut
86 190D (Exported to the Nerderlands), 87 300TD (Sold), 82 Ford F150 3spd, 99 E300D (RIP), 02 E55
Nope, a 2000 shouldn't have a drain plug. You can generally flush the fluid twice to help get more out.
Here's dirt cheap fluid if you want to flush a few times.
http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ry...oductDetail.do
Here's dirt cheap fluid if you want to flush a few times.
http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ry...oductDetail.do
Last edited by snooozie; Jan 31, 2012 at 10:03 AM. Reason: add more
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 553
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From: Los Angeles
W210 E55
FWIW, a pan drop does not change much fluid. The cooler should be drained too. I've wondered if a typical engine-running cooler line pump-out procedure would work on these cars. Its the best way to get rid of most of the old fluid. Let the trans pump it out.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Los Angeles
W210 E55
How does one know if the center support bearing needs replacement?
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Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Central Connecticut
86 190D (Exported to the Nerderlands), 87 300TD (Sold), 82 Ford F150 3spd, 99 E300D (RIP), 02 E55
One quick question....can you leave the transmission oil level check dipstick in the transmission and drive the car around...I would think that should be fine.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 104
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From: Sothern California
2000 w210 E55
Well I have reason to believe my center support bearing on my driveshaft is going out. I was hearing a knocking sound, I thought scince my motor mounts where bad that they were the cause. Well replaced motor mounts and knocking still persist. Usally at take off or on cold
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Novato, California
2000 E55 AMG
Did the service include a transmission flush? Typically a Service B may include only a check of the transmission fluid level. A transmission flush would be extra.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Los Angeles
W210 E55
If it's got a drain plug, yes. My 2000 does not have a drain plug. If I had more affirmation, I would try the common pump out and fill method that many use on other cars. Just not sure about this one. I suspect we can do it, just like any other car and it gets out nearly all of the old fluid but uses about twice as much in the flush process. If upgrading to different (newer) version of MB fluid, you absolutely need to get most of it out.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 94
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From: DC
2001 E55 AMG, 2009 C63 AMG
A pan drop will net you 4 L of trans fluid (I verified this amount last weekend when I did my E55). The car holds about 8 L. So this is 50% of your fluid when you do a pan drop. I believe if you do just drain, you only get about ~3 L.
Below was the calculation done by another member on Benzworld. If you want to do multiple drain and fills to exchange the majority of your fluid. (Assuming you don't have the torque converter drain plug from early w210)
The math now comes out to 92% fluid exchanged.
Proof:
First dump of 4 qts:
4 good; 4 old (50%)
drain 3: 2.5 good, 2.5 old
add 3: 5.5 good; 2.5 old (68.75%)
drain 3: 3.44 good; 1.56 bad (don't forget, draining is also removing some good too)
add 3: 6.44 good; 1.56 old (80.5%)
dump 3: 4.03 good; 0.975 old
Add 3: 7.03 good; 0.975 old (87.9%)
dump 3: 4.39 good; 0.61 old
add 3: 7.39 good; 0.61 old (92%)
Shell ATF 134 is approved to MB spec 236.14 which MB states is backwards compatible with 722.6 transmissions in w210. Search on that if you want hours of information to read and lots of arguments whether you should put 236.14 spec fluid into 722.6 transmission.
I just exchanged all my fluid disconnecting the return line that is on the driver side of the oil pan. With a pan drop and filter, you need 12 L (13 Q) of fluid to fully exchange all the old fluid. I used Shell ATF 134. Shifts smooth as ever now.
I plan on doing pan/filter drop once a year now. I don't put but 7-8k miles on my E55 a year, and the Shell ATF 134 is cheap enough that I figured it's good insurance for my transmission to last much longer.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 553
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From: Los Angeles
W210 E55
I would be worried about that Shell oil. From what I have read, these transmissions are very sensitive. For example, doing a pan drop and replacing with .14 Mercedes fluid will cause transmission failure after several thousand miles. A near complete replacement of the old fluid must be done. Just letting you know.
Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 19
From: DC
2001 E55 AMG, 2009 C63 AMG
I would be worried about that Shell oil. From what I have read, these transmissions are very sensitive. For example, doing a pan drop and replacing with .14 Mercedes fluid will cause transmission failure after several thousand miles. A near complete replacement of the old fluid must be done. Just letting you know.
Besides nothing substantial has been proven that .10 (which doesn't appear to even exist anymore) and .14 can't coexist. Most everything I've read is personal opinion regarding the subject. I imagine that MB engineers went over that possibility of both spec fluids mixing when they stated .14 is backwards compatible.
However I did do a full exchange as I stated in my previous post. So I'm not worried at all.
With 236.14 spec fluid in my E55, my trans shifts smoother. Could be the .14, or could be the fact my old fluid was overdue for a change. Either way I'm satisfied it meets the needs of my car.
