E320 CDi (S210) Transmission Fluid Leak?

[Rusk]

Please help;

I had to reverse my E320 CDi up an incline today, to park it on a driveway. It meant that, for a moment, as I was checking my angles, it was searching for the biting point (rolling forwards very slowly) and after a few yards it found it and sat still, before I moved it into position.

When I parked up and jumped out, I looked under the car (no idea why) and saw a steady drip of fluid from roughly the centre of the underside, just behind the two front wheels.

The fluid is yellowy amber and oily.

About a quarter of a cup (estimate) came out.

I've tried rolling it forward, reversing back, selecting different gears, but it doesn't repeat the spill.

Now, I have checked the oil, brake fluid, power seteering fluid and they are all full and it doesn't match - it's also not like the water that the A/C sometimes dribbles, it's clearly oily.

You can just see the drip, here, with the photo taken from just behind the driver's side wheel, looking in and forwards.

Is this transmission fluid?

Is this a normal issuse?

What do you think has happened and should I be worried?

Many thanks in advance for any help you can give me...

 

[Rusk]

Anyone...?

 

[230K]

Hi

It could be your pilot bush (electrical plug into the gearbox) the location you describe would indicate PB.
Reasonably common problem for them to leak. They are ~£20 and 30 mins to fit but best to change oil in box at the same time.

The car will creep on a steep hill when in the S setting but locks when in the W setting btw

Hope this helps

230k

 

[Rusk]

The car will creep on a steep hill when in the S setting but locks when in the W setting btw

I hadn't realised that - thank you.

So the leaky plug, where is it and how do I get to it?

It sounds like transmission fluid change is relatively easy then?