ATF Change - why not required on my car?

[Rory]

I understood that MB had decided to change from sealed for life to changing ATF at 37,500 miles / 4 years.

So took my W203 (late 04 C270CDi) in for a service yesterday and they said yes it did need changing and they would do it (it's on ServicePlus, so no cost to me).

However when I picked the car up they said mine didn't need it doing - apparently the requirement to change it starts from very slightly later VIN's than mine. Of course they had no idea why that was the case, and what the difference between the vehicles was.

Does anyone know what the reason is for some vehicles needing it and others not, and, ideally, has anyone got the advisory notice from MB?

 

[Shude]

Bearing in mind that the gearboxes and the ATF is the same...

"Computer says no".

 

[BTB 500]

Hmm .. I guarantee if the vehicle hadn't been on Service Plus they'd have done it no problem.

 

[Rory]

Hmm .. I guarantee if the vehicle hadn't been on Service Plus they'd have done it no problem.

I'm certain you're right - there attitude was amazing compared to last time (when I didn't have ServicePlus).
This time my car hardly needed anything doing, even the brakes which needed doing "soon" at the MOT were fine!

 

[Rory]

I spoke to the dealer service manager about it today and he had no idea why some cars need the ATF change and some don't!
He said they go on what the ESS (Electronic Service Sheets) say and they are constantly changing without explanation.

In reality it's unlikely to cause me any issue as I don't see myself keeping the car once ServicePlus cover has expired, but I am a bit miffed as the cost of ATF changes was one of the things I took into account (after being told by the dealer when I was considering ServicePlus that they would be required) when I took it out.