I called the MB dealer and asked for a quote to change transmission fluid and filter etc.
took them 4 hours to call me back with a quote and it was $457.00.
I asked the service advisor if they took the temperature etc. and he said something about it being a 5 speed transmssion and didn't know if they had to do all that or not.
I got another quote from an indie mechanic and it was about $250.00
Have seen the DIY's on the sight but am no way qualified to do it myself.
this is a 2001 E320 with 101,000.
dealer also said the fluid was lifetime however he recommends changing.
How in the world can it cost $500 to change fluid????//
I'm doing mine this weekend. After many hrs of research I determined that since new Chryslers use MB transmissions, then MOPAR ATF+4 is exactly the same fluid used on 722.9 (7 speed) MB transmissions, which is backwards compatible with 722.6 (5 speed) trannys. The MOPAR fluid is about $4.50 per quart. You need 4-6 qts to do the change. Do the math, the stealer is ripping you off. If you trust the indie, have him do it.
Chrysler makes it's own torque converters for the newer models that use the atf4 fluid.The torque converter is not being drained on your model the 01 does not have a drain plug for the tc.So you are mixing a non spec fluid made for a non conforming torque converter constructed for a different cars demands.Without draining the tc you will be lucky to get out 4 quarts at a net savings of about 40 dollars you are gambling with a very pricey transmission,Please keep us posted
autohausaz.com $14.84 a quart for the real deal....You do the math ohlord
The $250 form the indie seems much more in line. I just got mine done for $225.
$110: transmission fluid
$85: labor
$30: filter, gasket, & dipstick lock
It made quite a difference in the way the car drove. Much smoother shifts.
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Mercedes are like potato chips, you can't have just one.
Well, there could be a few reasons the dealer is that high. First, they don't have the luxury of determining that they can use mopar fluid. They would use genuine MB fluid -- identical or not -- the potential liability is simply too great. Second, lots of dealers don't like to do this job and purposely price themselves up and often out of the market. Third, some dealers will not only drain the pan but also flush the converter and cooler, thus changing lots more fluid and unfortunately wasting a bit in the process. Or they may simply be doing their part to reinforce the concept of a 'Stealer'.
Of course there is no way to know which of these you are dealing with unless you ask. Speaking of which, asking the typical SA about the procedures they use in a rather rare service is about like asking the Blockbuster counter help how the industry encodes Blu-Ray DVDs. So it's up to you to ask him/her the follow-up questions, such as 'Okay, who would I have to ask to find the answer to my questions?' However, as a general rule MB techs use the WIS procedure, so the odds are high that they would set the level properly.
Now all that aside I'd respectfully suggest you seek out a couple more quotes, including a couple from some independent transmission shops that work on German cars. That was where I got my best quote and when I was talking with the shop manager he answered all of my questions without triggering my BS meter one bit. That they were the lowest was just the icing on the 722.6 cake.
For what it's worth, one of the indie MB shops was my highest estimate at $375, some $80 higher than the dealer.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
__________________ If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. Meister Eckhart
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.
Chrysler makes it's own torque converters for the newer models that use the atf4 fluid.The torque converter is not being drained on your model the 01 does not have a drain plug for the tc.So you are mixing a non spec fluid made for a non conforming torque converter constructed for a different cars demands.Without draining the tc you will be lucky to get out 4 quarts at a net savings of about 40 dollars you are gambling with a very pricey transmission,Please keep us posted
autohausaz.com $14.84 a quart for the real deal....You do the math ohlord
If Chrysler's TCs are different but the transmissions are the same, wouldn't the ATF+4 fluid have to be compatible with whatever fluid the transmission uses? They are mixed when the tranny is running....
There is a tranny post where there's an e-mail from a MB mechanic that said that "any high quality synthetic fluid" will work.
I know people that even used Mobil 1 synthetic ATF but I'm not that corageous...
in and OE out of the chrysler tq.,you are mixing OE mb fluid with atf4,who really knows the difference?I don'tHowever I and others have seen so many members that changed to non spec fluid and had problems and peeps with good transmissions use the real stuff and have good results.Like motor oil I will ere on the OE spec fluids.You is up to You ohlord
fastlane thru mercedesshop.com also carries spec fluid.
Vehicle: 2001 E320 - Brilliant Silver/Ash: MBCA member
Location: The Mountain State
Posts: 6,381
We don't have any Cottman's around here (we have AAMCO and they are probably similar) and I therefore have had no experience using them. The price sounds good, but if you do a search on here I think you'll find some negative comments about another member's dealings with them. I think you're still better off with an independent garage that has German car experience, MB if possible. Even my dealer experience was not bad, and I think I paid about $225. I have complete confidence that they did it correctly.
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Ich liebe meinen Mercedes-Benz!
ohlord
However I and others have seen so many members that changed to non spec fluid and had problems and peeps with good transmissions use the real stuff and have good results.Like motor oil I will ere on the OE spec fluids.You is up to You
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