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Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / January 2007

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Transmission Service at 100K??

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E320 Wagon 104K - 28 Jan 2007 15:41 GMT
My mechanic says an E320 with 100K is scheduled for transmission
servce according to Mercedes.  However, I have heard people say don't
service it.  They say the service can cause problems for Mercedes
sealed transmissions.  Any thoughts or experience on 100K transmission
service??

thanks
Tiger - 29 Jan 2007 01:37 GMT
No... don't follow that 100,000 miles... that is a recipe for disaster...
me - 29 Jan 2007 13:16 GMT
> No... don't follow that 100,000 miles... that is a recipe for
> disaster...

Tiger, Could you elaborate on why you say this is a "recipe for
disaster" please? I have a '99 e430 and I am contemplating a
transmission service. No performance reason, however since I cannot
see and smell the transmission fluid, I get nervous.
Tiger - 29 Jan 2007 17:28 GMT
The ATF fluid can last that long because it is synthetic. But the filter
cannot last that long and so much sediments from clutch plates will simply
overwhelm the filter. Once the filter is clogged, it will simply bypass and
let the saturated ATF with sediments flow through... Like dirt in oil, it
will wear down the engine. In tranny, it will start to wear those electronic
valves and all mechanicals inside the tranny.

I got a BMW with lifetime fill tranny... I drained it at 115,000 miles
because my tranny cannot move anymore... and I looked at the fluid... I
can't believe it... so saturated with sediments and blackish. It cooked my
valve body... so once I had someone rebuild the valve body, tranny is just
like new again.

With regular fluid drain and filter change, tranny should last anywhere from
160,000 miles to up to 290,000 miles depending on how you drive the car...
city will get low end, and majority highway will get high end.
me - 29 Jan 2007 17:48 GMT
> The ATF fluid can last that long because it is synthetic. But the
> filter cannot last that long and so much sediments from clutch
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> you drive the car... city will get low end, and majority highway
> will get high end.

Tiger, you echo my sentiment exactly.

Did I misunderstand you?

What service interval would you suggest for a "lifetime" fill tranny?
I was thinking 100K but perhaps sooner? I have about 60K on it now. My
driving is moderate, not much "around town" because I live out in the
country but low mileage (less than 10K a year)
Tiger - 29 Jan 2007 21:35 GMT
Synthetic fluids can be expensive but you are not completely draining the
system... merely replacing like 3 or 4 quarts. With this in mind, there are
still 8 quarts of olf fluids remaining roughly.

The key point is FILTER change... so I'd suggest every 30K to 40K miles...
go as much as 50 if you want... even at 50K you are doing twice the
recommended fluid change. If you are over that, well just do it.

There is no guideline but if you just think about it. You are reducing the
sediments from clogging up the filter... you are providing new fluids with
additives that prolong the life of remaining fluid and parts in the tranny.

This is also cheap insurance... price out a filter change service compared
to rebuilt tranny R&R cost. There is no comparison as these tranny are
getting close to $5000 to R&R.
Chas Hurst - 29 Jan 2007 22:49 GMT
> Synthetic fluids can be expensive but you are not completely draining the
> system... merely replacing like 3 or 4 quarts. With this in mind, there
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> to rebuilt tranny R&R cost. There is no comparison as these tranny are
> getting close to $5000 to R&R.

I haven't seen the torque converter on a Benz newer than 10 years old, but
those I have seen have a drain plug so almost all the fluid can be removed.
E320 Wagon 104K - 30 Jan 2007 03:39 GMT
Tiger,

Thanks for explaining the need for Mercedes transmission filter
replacement on 30 to 50 K, much sooner than 100K as recomended by
Mercedes.
me - 30 Jan 2007 10:03 GMT
> Tiger,
>
> Thanks for explaining the need for Mercedes transmission filter
> replacement on 30 to 50 K, much sooner than 100K as recomended by
> Mercedes.

Yes. Thank you.
 
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