Red Bull

I'll add that I replaced the front diff fluid about 3 months ago, at round 98k mi. I had an axle out to replace a howling intermediate shaft so figured why not. I will say that fluid looked terrible! I'm glad I did it. And since I'm going to have an axle out here shortly I'm going to do it aagain, For maybe $60 in fluid (if using the expensive Castro stuff they sell by the .5 liter)it certainly cannot hurt

Mojo20032004

I got quoted by a reputable mb shop in Chicago 750 for this service, including new axle seal. Remove axle, drain,fill,replace axle seal and reinstall.. Hefty indeed..

But then again they also quoted me 800 to install kw lowering springs 😭.. Diy everything for life!

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jvakos

@Mojo20032004 - I’m in chicago also and am DYING to find a new solid MB Indy shop to service my 15 E63. Fletcher Jones MB chicsgo charged me $400 to service my rear diff last year and part of that cost was $120 for the new 2 bolts for drain and fill!!!

let me know if you found a good MB Indy shop in Chicsgo or surrounding suburbs?

I used to take my car to Loeber MB when it wa sunder warranty because my guy Rudy was the MB master tech there but he left just as my warranty expired so I’ve started doing basic stuff on my own since I don’t trust dealers

Mojo20032004

I do 95% of my own work, but just hate lifting the e63 above my head. But today the new quick Jacks arrived so il be doing the front diff myself. I also did the rear diff and trans last summer on jackstands and it was a pain ughh

Red Bull

After several dealer calls/visits and a few different answers, I've settled on MBZ P/N 001-989-33-03-09 (75w85) as the correct fluid for an E63S front diff. .6L seems like the agreed-upon amount of oil.

Hope this helps

cold bud3

I do all my own maintenance, I got quickjacks, youtube and laptop with merc diag soft from BenzNinja. I strongly recommend to get up close and personal with your amg or pay the $200 per hour for mechanic fee.

OldManAndHisCar

LIES! There is no reputable Mercedes shop in Chicagoland...north of the Cheddar curtain, maybe. Chicago to Rockford and south to Peoria...nope.

Mojo20032004

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This shop in Lincolnshire, not Chicago, but close enough. Plenty of Mercedes shops around Chicago that work on MB only,but I have never went else where other than the one in Lincolnshire

OldManAndHisCar

Way way way way off topic...but, most SMB who could or can did or is moving out of Illinois. A big Mercedes guy down here in FL I used to see at GLD and Byron (drag strips) back in the day. He closed shop and did the smart thing - got out of Illinois. It was very odd to walk into a Benz shop and see a guy I knew from up north....

Red Bull

Back to the topic! Just completed front diff service. Drained the universal 75W85 MBZ fluid that was in there, which was changed at 95k ( 11k miles ago). Although it was not black like the initial drain, it was far from fresh looking so glad I did it again.

FWIW I installed the new gear oil by pumping it through the driver's side opening, which I accessed by removing not only the axle but the intermediate shaft.

As to the fluid, MBZ Sheet 231.1 states that sheet 239.72 covers front axles with alloy differential housings. Currently (and oddly) there is no MBZ-branded fluid listed under 239.72 so I installed Fuchs Sintopoid FE 75W85 which is on the list. This fluid also meets the spec for open rear axles (like our SLK55) so I'll keep it in stock going forward.

kevm14

Why didn't you pump it into the drain plug hole?

Red Bull

I had an axle out, so easy enough to pump the correct volume into the differential this way