For years now, I've been trying to get my local dealer to change the Tranny fluid/filter on my cars, but since they all have the 722.6X trans (Sealed for "Life", whatever that is!!), they refuse to touch it, threaten me with Warranty Void, yah-die yah.
Well, I decided to call an aquaintance who is the Lead Tech at "The Main" MB Dealership in "One of the Largest Cities" in the US.
Well, I couldn't get a black and white proof of the change in Mantra in the form of a Service Bulletin, but I did get it in email form from him. To me, it as close to the "horse's mouth" as I've found, and I trust this guy.
Anyway, here's his speil:
"As to trans fluid changes, The factory now calls for a one time oil and filter change at 40k for the 722.6 ( 39k for the 722.9) as of model year 2006 so they would appear to have changed their stance on trans service. We still use the 722.6 on AMG and V-12 vehicles and the service is basically drop the pan and filter for about a 4-5qt change. Earlier vehicles like your 140 and 210 will probably have a torque convertor drain for an additional 3-4 qts.If the vehicle has over 50K and exibits a torque convertor "shudder" then the proceedure is to flush with 10 qts (cooler hose diconnected) due to the fact there is no T/C drain. If the trans exibits no problems then a oil/filter change should be fine. There is a specific fluid that costs an arm and a leg although a high qaulity synthetic ATF seems to work well. We have been using this for the older cars (722.6) and have not seen any failures. Tell the degenerated belt material guy there are no belts or bands in that trans, only clutches. "
Thank you! This proves pretty useful. I have already called three MB dealers this past week and have been told different things by all three as follows:
Foreign Motors West MB, Natick, MA (purchasing dealer):
We recommend service at 100K. (I am booked to do this in 2 weeks although i am at 79K now; Pretty nice and friendly service)
Wagner Motors, Mercedes Benz of Boylston, MA:
We do not reccommend ATF replacement unless there is related tranny failure. I can have it done for my own pleasure.
Flagship Motorcars, Mercedes Benz of Lynnfield, MA:
A pretty cocky service advisor mentioned that they follow strict factory reccommendations i.e. "Sealed for Life" ..... I just hanged up
Thank you! This proves pretty useful. I have already called three MB dealers this past week and have been told different things by all three as follows:
Foreign Motors West MB, Natick, MA (purchasing dealer):
We recommend service at 100K. (I am booked to do this in 2 weeks although i am at 79K now; Pretty nice and friendly service)
Wagner Motors, Mercedes Benz of Boylston, MA:
We do not reccommend ATF replacement unless there is related tranny failure. I can have it done for my own pleasure.
Flagship Motorcars, Mercedes Benz of Lynnfield, MA:
A pretty cocky service advisor mentioned that they follow strict factory reccommendations i.e. "Sealed for Life" ..... I just hanged up
ROFL!!!!!!!!! Wagner Motors in Boylston! OMG, that's almost too much, heh. Wait until it busts, then change the ATF fluid.
The reason there is "sealed for life" in the first place is because there's nothing in it for Mercedes or dealerships to recommend changing the ATF. Basically, the fluid will probably last longer than the 4 years bumper to bumper warranty and that's all they care about. Beyond that the customer either pays for the fluid to be changed or Mercedes will gladly make a new transmission for you. Ditto the rear end. Diff fluid will last the bumper to bumper warranty. After that the dealer will be happy to charge you for changing the 75-90 with the expensive factory stuff, or if you never change it, Mercedes is more than happy to make more rear end assemblies, the dealer get their cut too for installing them.
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Take good care of your car and it will take good care of you.
whatever dealer you go to is retarded. I do tranny services on 210's all the time. I even do them on 220's, 211's, basically I have done them on all the newer cars. no tranny fluid is lifetime. that garbage. the transmission on a mercedes isnt any different then a tranny on any other car. the internals are the same as any other tranny. the setup may be different, but they all operate the same and over time the fluid deteriorates. I have dropped pans before to do valve bodies on vehicles with 30,000 miles and the fluid is dark brown. imagine what that fluid will look like at 100k miles.
Here is the deal, if the dealer tells you its a lifetime fill and wont do the change, go somewhere else. now its a different story if you have 120k miles and want it done but never had it done.
Mercedes Benz of Valencia (California) recommends changing the fluid in a 722.6 box. They did mine last summer. My service writer said he was instructed to recommend it at a class. Mercedes Benz of Valencia is a relatively new dealership (they opened in December '05), so it's possible their service writers may have attended class more recently than the dealerships you've contacted.
Transmission oil filter (part number 140-277-00-95)
Gasket (part number 140-271-00-80)
Lock pin (part number 140-991-00-55)
9 quarts of fluid (part number 001-989-21-03-10)
Labor
The total was just under $340. That includes the MBCA discount. Another guy, Musikmann, in another part of the country had his 722.6 serviced for I believe $295 or so. In his case, there was no MBCA discount and the service was the same as mine except they only did 4 quarts (dropped the pan only). He was told afterwards that a full change (8+ quarts) would be slightly over $400.
Mercedes Benz of Valencia (California) recommends changing the fluid in a 722.6 box. They did mine last summer. My service writer said he was instructed to recommend it at a class. Mercedes Benz of Valencia is a relatively new dealership (they opened in December '05), so it's possible their service writers may have attended class more recently than the dealerships you've contacted.
Transmission oil filter (part number 140-277-00-95)
Gasket (part number 140-271-00-80)
Lock pin (part number 140-991-00-55)
9 quarts of fluid (part number 001-989-21-03-10)
Labor
The total was just under $340. That includes the MBCA discount. Another guy, Musikmann, in another part of the country had his 722.6 serviced for I believe $295 or so. In his case, there was no MBCA discount and the service was the same as mine except they only did 4 quarts (dropped the pan only). He was told afterwards that a full change (8+ quarts) would be slightly over $400.
there is no full flush done at the dealer, only a fluid change. may be different at some dealers, but all i do is fluid changes. we dont have any other services drop the pan, replace filter and replace gasket and fill up trans. 4 quarts is all thats needed. if someone is being charged $400, there being ripped off.
4 quarts if there is no torque converter drain plug or if the dealer is too lazy to do it. 8-9 quarts if you drain the torque converter. Drain plugs were on models up through about September, 1999.
Just came back from a dealer and scheduled a transmission service. The service adviser first said that I don't need to do the service, unless I really wanted to. When I insisted, he quoted me $400CA for the flush. I asked him if this includes the full service with filter change, full flush, drain torque converter. He then quoted me $500CA for the full service adding the coolant line flush as well. I figure the full service is worth the extra 100 bucks compared to the half-assed job.
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I haven't lost my mind - it's backed up on a tape somewhere.
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