another 1 for the diy'ers.
On the early w210 98-99 with the lifetime trans fluid
that mb now changes that to get er done! you have a drain plug on the converter.The 2000 up models do not,so instead of me hurting my typing digit,I will refer you to this typed out link with all the tips to drain the tc on mb without the drain plug on the TC.Measure carefully,follow directions,don't have the fluid hot.Work safe,be smart,use common sense,and don't attempt unless your skill level is some place between oil and plug changes and lower control arms
you will need extra mb fluid,but in the long run it will be cheaper then having to dilute the fluid again by doing the half way drain in another few months.
ohlord Changing Your Torque Converter to Synthetic
don't use the amsoil,use only real mb trans fluid.
I talked to the service guy (former Tech) at the Local MB dealer and he recommended to me that I should do mine around 80k (2002 E320).
Hey, rm.
While I'm encouraged that your dealer recommends it, I would respectfully suggest that you do it much sooner than that. I did mine at 70K and it already looked really bad, made me wish I'd done it at 60K. And the transmission shifted so much smoother and nicer afterwards...and still does.
So that would be my recommendation is that you do it, but don't wait that long.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
__________________ When you learn from your own mistakes, that's experience.
When you learn from the mistakes of others, that's wisdom.
When you fail to learn from any mistakes, that's government.
I was just reading through the DIY tips for the trans fluid change and I think this is probably a bit much for me. Anybody know what the dealer charges for this service? There is a good local import shop that worked on my old 300D that I'll probably take it to for some of the bigger stuff. I assume they'll be a little cheaper than the dealer for the trans fluid change as well.
The dealer will only change the fluid in the pan. You can easily do that yourself.
But I do have a question about the suggestion above. If the fluid leaving the torque converter and none else, this will work as advertised. Otherwise, you're still mixing the fluid; it's just a lot more work and potentially a lot more mess. I highly suspect "otherwise."
I changed two quarts in mine not too many miles ago, because that's what came out of the drain plug in the pan. I may do that again before changing the pan gasket and filter, but I don't really see the need to change my torque converter fluid. As it is, the fluid coming out of the pan looked like new. Clearly it's not on its first fill. If you are on the first fill (more likely with post-96 cars), changing more of the fluid may help.
trans up to 99 with the drain plug for the converter,I think we changed out about 50/50 fluids from both the trans and the converter about 3.5 from each if memory serves.So that is a lot of graphite infused old fluid if you left it in the system.Pumping it out as instructed will dilute it greatly on non drain models.Or do the old school way and just change it all again next year.
Either way potential savings of the transmission is well worth changing the fluid twice this year v.s. $2500 or more for a new one and labor on top of that
Agreed completely. The only thing that I don't agree with is in the linked instructions which you didn't write. I think you'll need more than two extra quarts because of the fluid path, as mentioned above.
It would seem that $2500 is a rather conservative figure for the transmission, but I haven't priced one. Even if that isn't too low, it still makes $10/liter fluid seem to be not so bad.
Fortunately, my transmission doesn't require MB fluid, but I have a '96 with a four-speed. For cheap fluid (even Mobil 1 is cheap), I give up overdrive and a lockup torque converter. Hard to say which is the better option.
and lock up is night and day compared to the 4sp.Had a 425h.p. small block in a 57 belair with a racing pglide trans,built a bullet proof 700 r4 with od and lock up,what a world of difference.
What with the prices of the 98-02 w210's moving down and the availability of low mile models out there,you will probably get into one eventually
ohlord
Well, I might. Or I might find myself something like a late-model SLK. The only unfortunate thing is that I now need to get rid of a car before (or shortly after) I get another one.
May be out of my skill range.... 
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