$800 for transmission service!!!
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Is what normal? Being shafted by a shop? Ummm... yes?
When they charge this much it's an indication that they either don't know what they are doing or don't want to do the job. Even the stealers in the bay area charge less than half that.
Shop...around or of course DIY. You can buy the stuff necessary to do the basic pan drop and filter change for about $120.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
Yes, but ...
I have searched the forum and see that it is a simple (relatively) repair. This indy Mercedes shop said they are replacing the pan ($300 cost he said), so that made me think perhaps I should not attempt to do this myself. I am a woman and not real mechanically inclined for the hard things.
I have searched the forum and see that it is a simple (relatively) repair. This indy Mercedes shop said they are replacing the pan ($300 cost he said), so that made me think perhaps I should not attempt to do this myself. I am a woman and not real mechanically inclined for the hard things.
Read this post and keep looking around for someone who doesn't want to take advantage of you. If you have to travel 50 miles to get a bargin, then so be. It's better then paying $720 more in labor, if you provide the parts, then you have to.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r170-slk-class/1289594-tech-tips-such-3.html#post3304588
If all you are asking for is a fluid exchange, then that is a way too overpriced, this mechanic is trying to pull a bag over your head and haggle you. Don't trust him, there is probably nothing wrong with your pan and if there is, a replacment should be no more than $100.
http://www.primepartssuperstore.com...6195&callout=1&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=0
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r170-slk-class/1289594-tech-tips-such-3.html#post3304588
If all you are asking for is a fluid exchange, then that is a way too overpriced, this mechanic is trying to pull a bag over your head and haggle you. Don't trust him, there is probably nothing wrong with your pan and if there is, a replacment should be no more than $100.
http://www.primepartssuperstore.com...6195&callout=1&catalogid=2&displayCatalogid=0
Why do they feel they need to replace the pan? I have never heard of them rusting out (yet). Is it damaged?
The fluid is quite expensive but, even if they are able to drain the torque convertor (They should on a '99) $300-$350 should be a *generous* price for fluid, filter, gasket and labor. If they do indeed need to change the pan that $800 is still quite high.
The fluid is quite expensive but, even if they are able to drain the torque convertor (They should on a '99) $300-$350 should be a *generous* price for fluid, filter, gasket and labor. If they do indeed need to change the pan that $800 is still quite high.
Why are they replacing the pan? Did you drive over something or are they incompetent?
Unless it is damaged there is no reason (literally, "none") for the pan to be replaced.Typically you just pull the drain plug, let the fluid out, drop the pan, pull the filter, clean out the pan, put in the new filter and gasket, bolt it back up and refit the drain plug. Then fill shallow and set the measure with the dipstick.
But shop around. Heck, just call the dealers, they'll be far less than that.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
I think I am using the wrong terms ...
It is not the pan he is suggesting to replace, something that goes inside the pan that collects the metal particles? I should have paid closer attention. He said this piece ($300 part) has been updated and that he puts it in whenever he does a transmission service.
It is not the pan he is suggesting to replace, something that goes inside the pan that collects the metal particles? I should have paid closer attention. He said this piece ($300 part) has been updated and that he puts it in whenever he does a transmission service.
08 ml320 cdi,slk 230,01 boxster S,04carrera911,67 GT350mustang,02G500L,96 s600 w140, w210 e55t 2001
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thats too much for a magnet still, try to ask for the specific part that needs to be change? and whats wrong with the car ? what made you go to an indy shop?
I'd report this shafter to the BBB
14.95 for filter and gasket from ebay. 24$ per qt for fluid from m/b. 3 if the pan is dropped 7 if the torque converter is drained. 20$ for dipstick fluid level checker 2$ for locking tab for dipstick tube. maybe 2 hrs labor if they stop for lunch? 100$ per hr approx. total approx 400$ for the 7 qt drain.
Hi, joirhone.
There is some quibble whether a magnet is really even necessary in the 722.6xx transmission because most of the degradation is non-ferrous, so there is nothing for the magnet to attract anyway. In any event the pan magnet is a few bucks if for some reason yours doesn't have it or it has to be replaced.
The bottom line here is that you have found out something very important: THIS PLACE IS A RIPOFF and cannot be trusted, so you know never to take your car there. Can I ask you also to post their name and location so other Benz owners know also to avoid them?
Most dealers sell the fluid for around $15. Mine is greedy on most things (selling over list usually) but they sell the fluid for $11 last time I bought it.
However, my recommendation is still to call around for the service cost.
As far as the torque converter goes, you are in the transition year, so your car may not have a drain plug in the torque converter. However even a pan drop and filter change is a good start, so just get it in to someplace reputable that isn't a ripoff and and get it done. Let them know that if you have a TC plug, you'd like the TC to be drained as well, that will cost you another $60 or so in fluid plus a little more labor depending on their charges.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
There is some quibble whether a magnet is really even necessary in the 722.6xx transmission because most of the degradation is non-ferrous, so there is nothing for the magnet to attract anyway. In any event the pan magnet is a few bucks if for some reason yours doesn't have it or it has to be replaced.
The bottom line here is that you have found out something very important: THIS PLACE IS A RIPOFF and cannot be trusted, so you know never to take your car there. Can I ask you also to post their name and location so other Benz owners know also to avoid them?
Most dealers sell the fluid for around $15. Mine is greedy on most things (selling over list usually) but they sell the fluid for $11 last time I bought it.
However, my recommendation is still to call around for the service cost.
As far as the torque converter goes, you are in the transition year, so your car may not have a drain plug in the torque converter. However even a pan drop and filter change is a good start, so just get it in to someplace reputable that isn't a ripoff and and get it done. Let them know that if you have a TC plug, you'd like the TC to be drained as well, that will cost you another $60 or so in fluid plus a little more labor depending on their charges.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
Hi Joirhone - suggest you buy the bits and fluid and take it to your local workshop/auto trans shop and pay normal (non benz) rates - this will prevent them using some ordinary oil instead of the required fluid.
You'll need -7-8 litres Benz fluid/filter/pan gasket - that's all
Print off the tutorials on here to clue them in if they want more inf.(without insulting them)
Greg - the residue is indeed ferrous/magnetic - a magnet is fitted on some models of the 722-6 - tried a magnet on my filter (split open) last time and patterns emerged when used underneath.(that's a finger smear in the pic)
Bruce
You'll need -7-8 litres Benz fluid/filter/pan gasket - that's all
Print off the tutorials on here to clue them in if they want more inf.(without insulting them)
Greg - the residue is indeed ferrous/magnetic - a magnet is fitted on some models of the 722-6 - tried a magnet on my filter (split open) last time and patterns emerged when used underneath.(that's a finger smear in the pic)
Bruce
Attachments
You cannot drain the torque converter. Best option is to drain pan and replace filter After about 5k miles drain fluid again. Filter is OK at the second drain. That way you get close to replacing the entire fluid charge. Akin to replacing coolant without removing the block drain plug.
Thanks,
Zill.
Thanks,
Zill.
You can buy it from autohausaz.com for about $15, once you hit $50 they ship it free. Call some other dealers if you have any, prices vary widely. Problem is shipping will usually eat up any savings, so that's why autohausaz.com is a good bet.
There are also a couple of threads in the 210 forum discussing the few other fluids that can be used (Febi is one) that -- if you can find them -- are much cheaper than the MB branded stuff.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
Hi Bruce.
As you note, the magnet wasn't fitted on all models, and those who have the magnet in the pan have indicated that it has come out virtually devoid of any metal, so it looks like the filter media is mostly doing it's job and the vast majority of the detritus is non-ferrous. Patterns in the filter are really de minimis; Did you run the magnet through the pan? Moreover, the special MB fluid is designed to suspend particles (which was part of the whole "lifetime" nonsense) and most of the moving parts are aluminum, stainless and various other non-ferrous compounds (have you seen the youtube of it's 7-speed progeny being assembled?) so unless there is a serious problem with the transmission, I'd be surprised to find metal of any significance on the magnet (and if there is a serious problem, a magnet isn't going to be much help
). Either way, as noted, it's a cheap part.I started playing with auto transmissions back in the 70s (mostly on 60s vintage stuff) and back then, you opened the pan and the magnet would be covered in bits of stuff; you couldn't even see the magnet for the crap covering it. And that was just normal as the bits shed from the clutch material (some plates were metal-impregnated), gears, bushings, etc., there was lots of ferrous stuff to accumulate. One TorqueFlite box I opened had about 1/3 of an inch of goo in the bottom of the pan, it had about 90K miles on it, I was kind of surprised that the fluid change didn't result in it failing shortly thereafter.
At any rate, that's why I don't get too worked up about the lack of a magnet in the 722.6, mine had one but the fluid was pretty shot and there was nothing of significance really in the pan or on the magnet. The filter wasn't broken open so I can't say anything about that. (I had mine done at a shop nearby, spoke both with the manager and the tech that worked on my car, both knowledgeable and helpful guys.) Of course it had only about 72,000 miles, so I didn't expect it to be really bad, I was just impressed with how smoothly it shifted afterward.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
That's probably the easiest option, but yumling posted a DIY over in the 210 forum that allows you to flush the fluid through the cooler lines 1-2L at a time using the trans pump, so you can do all of it. Same transmission, so that's an option if folks want to go that way.
The pan drop gets about 3.5L of fluid, which is a bit more than 1/3 of the dry capacity. I saw a dilution progression on another forum a long time ago, guy was a chemist IIRC, by the calculation he was using four pan drain/refills over about 10K miles to get to a eighty-something percent "mostly new" solution. That's roughly 15L of fluid, or 3 more than to do the pan drop/filter/fluid fill/yumling flush, plus three additional trips under the car.
Either way, I think for most folks the bottom line is DO SOMETHING with it, don't trust that maintenance-free "sealed" marketing nonsense.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
8 months ago, had trasmissioin filter and fluid service, diff. fluid changed, trans. mount replaced, coolant flush and power steering flush for $396.00 labor and $218.95 parts with tax-----$633.01. At the price your guy quoted you, is he throwing in a free tube of Lube.............
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