Transmission Flush at Transmission Shop -- Would you do it??
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2001 S600 V12 Sold, 2011 Jaguar XFR Sold, 2017 S550 4-Matic, 2018 S63 AMG Sedan
Transmission Flush at Transmission Shop -- Would you do it??
I have a 2018 S63 with 53K miles on it, but I wanted to post this question to you guys too. I was quoted $1800 for a tranny flush at the dealer. A full service independent transmission shop said he'd do it for $400. Would you guys take yor cars to a transmission shop for a tranny flush?
Background: The shop is VERY highly rated and the owner is personal friends with a client of mine who has a tire and wheel shop across the street so they've sent customers to each other for years. He said he get the OEM fluid from MB in bulk and can get the pan for much cheaper than they would sell it to me for. He had a GLS with a 9G on the lift when I was there today, and says he's performed a flush and fill on the 9G tranny many times. Weird thing is that if he had quoted $800 I probably would have felt more comfortable. What would you guys do? AND, if I go through with it, I'll post the results so people can tell me how big of an idiot I am for doing this if something goes wrong.
Background: The shop is VERY highly rated and the owner is personal friends with a client of mine who has a tire and wheel shop across the street so they've sent customers to each other for years. He said he get the OEM fluid from MB in bulk and can get the pan for much cheaper than they would sell it to me for. He had a GLS with a 9G on the lift when I was there today, and says he's performed a flush and fill on the 9G tranny many times. Weird thing is that if he had quoted $800 I probably would have felt more comfortable. What would you guys do? AND, if I go through with it, I'll post the results so people can tell me how big of an idiot I am for doing this if something goes wrong.
Last edited by carlosinseattle; Dec 1, 2025 at 11:57 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2012
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E63 S AMG, CLS550 4matic, C63 Ed 507, Volvo XC90 T8s
I paid in the $500 area for a tranny fluid change on the E63 - parts and labor, independent shop but the lead mechanic there has owned multiple MB V8s and he did mine. Saw the whole process and it was correct per online videos. I got to keep some of the specialized tools that came with the kit and have two quarts of Liqui Moly tranny fluid left over un-opened. So is $400 a credible price - I would say possibly though it is quite cheap. As long as the mechanic doing it knows the process and level sets the fluid correctly at the end of it, you should be good. The MB approval for my 9G tronic fluid was 236.17. Make sure they use the fluid with the relevant approval for yours.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Pacific Northwest
2001 S600 V12 Sold, 2011 Jaguar XFR Sold, 2017 S550 4-Matic, 2018 S63 AMG Sedan
I paid in the $500 area for a tranny fluid change on the E63 - parts and labor, independent shop but the lead mechanic there has owned multiple MB V8s and he did mine. Saw the whole process and it was correct per online videos. I got to keep some of the specialized tools that came with the kit and have two quarts of Liqui Moly tranny fluid left over un-opened. So is $400 a credible price - I would say possibly though it is quite cheap. As long as the mechanic doing it knows the process and level sets the fluid correctly at the end of it, you should be good. The MB approval for my 9G tronic fluid was 236.17. Make sure they use the fluid with the relevant approval for yours.
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Joined: Nov 2012
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E63 S AMG, CLS550 4matic, C63 Ed 507, Volvo XC90 T8s
https://operatingfluids.mercedes-benz.com/
The fluid specs are available here across the different types of trannies.
The kit I bought was for the 9G but I had to add about three or four more quarts to it cos it was for a 9G with a torque converter. My tranny is MCT so no torque converter - the fluid all comes out when you take the pan down, which is why i needed to get a few more quarts.
The fluid specs are available here across the different types of trannies.
The kit I bought was for the 9G but I had to add about three or four more quarts to it cos it was for a 9G with a torque converter. My tranny is MCT so no torque converter - the fluid all comes out when you take the pan down, which is why i needed to get a few more quarts.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 792
From: Pacific Northwest
2001 S600 V12 Sold, 2011 Jaguar XFR Sold, 2017 S550 4-Matic, 2018 S63 AMG Sedan
https://operatingfluids.mercedes-benz.com/
The fluid specs are available here across the different types of trannies.
The kit I bought was for the 9G but I had to add about three or four more quarts to it cos it was for a 9G with a torque converter. My tranny is MCT so no torque converter - the fluid all comes out when you take the pan down, which is why i needed to get a few more quarts.
The fluid specs are available here across the different types of trannies.
The kit I bought was for the 9G but I had to add about three or four more quarts to it cos it was for a 9G with a torque converter. My tranny is MCT so no torque converter - the fluid all comes out when you take the pan down, which is why i needed to get a few more quarts.
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From: New England
2017 c43 amg
That's sounds like a good price, but it may be to good to be true. The kit alone on sale right now is about 400 shipped. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...fD_BwE#fitment
I would think 800 is a good price to do it right, 400 for the kit and a few hours to swap on new parts and do the correct process to empty the entire transmission via the computer, then fill.
I would think 800 is a good price to do it right, 400 for the kit and a few hours to swap on new parts and do the correct process to empty the entire transmission via the computer, then fill.
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Joined: Nov 2012
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E63 S AMG, CLS550 4matic, C63 Ed 507, Volvo XC90 T8s
The kit you linked above is the right one for sure. You can get it into the low $300 area by the following modifications - use Liqui Moly Toptec 1950 rather than MB fluid. It will meet/exceed MB 236.17 standards. Use an OE supplier for the new pan and filter but not actual MB parts - I ended up with FEBI which is a major supplier to MB and the other German brands. Won't come in an MB box but the fit is essentially perfect. I had the added benefit of my kit coming with the plastic tools and adapters plus a hand pump. For a mechanic who knows what they are doing, this will be a 1.5 hour job. 2 hours if you go slow.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 792
From: Pacific Northwest
2001 S600 V12 Sold, 2011 Jaguar XFR Sold, 2017 S550 4-Matic, 2018 S63 AMG Sedan
That's sounds like a good price, but it may be to good to be true. The kit alone on sale right now is about 400 shipped. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...fD_BwE#fitment
I would think 800 is a good price to do it right, 400 for the kit and a few hours to swap on new parts and do the correct process to empty the entire transmission via the computer, then fill.
I would think 800 is a good price to do it right, 400 for the kit and a few hours to swap on new parts and do the correct process to empty the entire transmission via the computer, then fill.
The kit you linked above is the right one for sure. You can get it into the low $300 area by the following modifications - use Liqui Moly Toptec 1950 rather than MB fluid. It will meet/exceed MB 236.17 standards. Use an OE supplier for the new pan and filter but not actual MB parts - I ended up with FEBI which is a major supplier to MB and the other German brands. Won't come in an MB box but the fit is essentially perfect. I had the added benefit of my kit coming with the plastic tools and adapters plus a hand pump. For a mechanic who knows what they are doing, this will be a 1.5 hour job. 2 hours if you go slow.
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