Gear box oil change intervals

[MSG2004]

Hello

The other day I posted here re my car going for an mot & I though I'd get it serviced as well though there was about 2400 mls to next service.

C180 Classic SE auto = 53 plate - had 4 years from MB (((Just under 42k miles at the time))

They quoted abot £968 for mot & service inc gear box oil change inc filter - the service was an 'A' serivce. But they said as car more than 3 years old, discount price about 768 quid!

Good news: (((Selling car on Monday & getting C180 Avantgarde 07 plate, same day))


Serious question: As I have been gathering the paperwork for exisitng MB - looked at servie history book but FAILED to find 'gear box' oil change intervals!!!

The lady at MB, service lady statd i needed the gear box oil change as i was approaching the 42k miles & A' service.

Where they trying to con me, but i doubt this!

TIA

 

[hawk20]

Hello

The other day I posted here re my car going for an mot & I though I'd get it serviced as well though there was about 2400 mls to next service.

C180 Classic SE auto = 53 plate - had 4 years from MB (((Just under 42k miles at the time))

They quoted abot £968 for mot & service inc gear box oil change inc filter - the service was an 'A' serivce. But they said as car more than 3 years old, discount price about 768 quid!

Good news: (((Selling car on Monday & getting C180 Avantgarde 07 plate, same day))


Serious question: As I have been gathering the paperwork for exisitng MB - looked at servie history book but FAILED to find 'gear box' oil change intervals!!!

The lady at MB, service lady statd i needed the gear box oil change as i was approaching the 42k miles & A' service.

Where they trying to con me, but i doubt this!

TIA

I'm no expert on this but since nobody else has replied yet: -
there was a time when MB said no need to change the gearbox oil but more recently they have gone back to changing it at around 40-50k miles depending on model. Many threads note the much improved performance of the auto box after a change of fluid.

 

[st4]

gear box oil needs changed every 60,000km/37500miles. Apparenty this is a one off change @ 37.5k but tbh thats an interval, because at 75k miles you'll be doing it at an indy.

 

[Parrotman]

I'm no expert on this but since nobody else has replied yet: -
there was a time when MB said no need to change the gearbox oil but more recently they have gone back to changing it at around 40-50k miles depending on model. Many threads note the much improved performance of the auto box after a change of fluid.

Had my ATF and Filter changed last week @ 36500mls whilst it (C220CDI) was in for A service. Have to agree much improved performance; smoother operation and quicker take up.

Indie said at one time MB recommended ATF change and then changed to sealed gearbox units which MB claimed did'nt need oil changing. These sealed units seemingly led to problems since which MB reverted back to non sealed units. Believe that even if unit is sealed ATF should still be changed.

John

 

[MSG2004]

Thank you all

The service book does not stat g/box oil change.

However, I remeber seeig oe of thos motoring progs of Sky/Discovery channels - where this guy called Mike goes out and buys a car for his tall mechanic Ed to o up & sell on for profit if pss. They bought a Porsche, and according to them a gear box il & filter chang made the box feel like new!!

Thanks again!!

 

[NewMB]

I have just had the gearbox oil changed on my E55.

Talk about difference! Nice, smooth and just great!!

 

[Rory]

gear box oil needs changed every 60,000km/37500miles. Apparenty this is a one off change @ 37.5k

That's correct (37.5K or 4years, whichever is first) and the reason it doesn't appear in service books is Mercedes only decided the boxes weren't sealed for life a couple of years ago, so the requirement to change the ATF was issued on a service bulletin.

It only applies to cars built from late 04 onwards - I presume because when it was introduced they wanted to catch all the cars within and just beyond warranty.

My car is Oct 04 and, when booking it in for last service the dealer told me it would need doing due to mileage. Then when I picked it up they said they'd "discovered" it didn't need doing after all - the bulletin only called up VIN numbers from a couple of thousand later than mine.

I feel the decision to not to do the job was entirely due to the car being on ServicePlus. Of course, if I'd been a cash paying customer....

 

[MSG2004]

That's correct (37.5K or 4years, whichever is first) and the reason it doesn't appear in service books is Mercedes only decided the boxes weren't sealed for life a couple of years ago, so the requirement to change the ATF was issued on a service bulletin.

It only applies to cars built from late 04 onwards - I presume because when it was introduced they wanted to catch all the cars within and just beyond warranty.

My car is Oct 04 and, when booking it in for last service the dealer told me it would need doing due to mileage. Then when I picked it up they said they'd "discovered" it didn't need doing after all - the bulletin only called up VIN numbers from a couple of thousand later than mine.

I feel the decision to not to do the job was entirely due to the car being on ServicePlus. Of course, if I'd been a cash paying customer....

Hi

The 'Service plus' - how does that work pls?
Thnx

 

[MSG2004]

I have just had the gearbox oil changed on my E55.

Talk about difference! Nice, smooth and just great!!

Hi

Would u ind sharin with fellow members the cost of the oil & filter change ad was it at a stealership?
Cheers

 

[Rory]

Hi

The 'Service plus' - how does that work pls?
Thnx

It doesn't! MB withdrew it a few mths ago. I still have a contract which has 2yrs to run.

The scope of its cover is much debated, but it certainly covers all scheduled servicing, plus repairs due to "wear and tear". In the past, MBs interpretation of "wear and tear" was generous and it covered pretty well anything that went wrong, but lately they've been much more stringent.

What I've found is that once I tell the dealer my car has ServicePlus then the car needs astonishingly little servicing - the ATF change was one incident. In addition, at the last service the brake pads were found to be *less* worn that the service before (whereas cash paying customer get the "we've got the wheels off and the pads and disks could do with changing" call).

They also wouldn't do suspension geometry check, bizarrely telling me that it's a warranty item, not wear and tear. I queried what would happen if I asked for geometry check under warranty and they said it's not covered as its wear and tear!! So we stood looking at each for a moment and they said they'd do it, then returned the car with it not done saying it was fine.

 

[MSG2004]

cheers

 

[verytalldave]

Had my autofluid changed at around 50K by Ollie at Prestige near Portsmouth. Driving back to Kent it was like a different car. SO much smoother and quicker changes. Its not a cheap thing, but it is money well spent.

 

[st4]

Had my autofluid changed at around 50K by Ollie at Prestige near Portsmouth. Driving back to Kent it was like a different car. SO much smoother and quicker changes. Its not a cheap thing, but it is money well spent.

Stratstone MB told me it was approx £180, so cheaper than any service so far.

 

[verytalldave]

I think Ollie told me the fluid cost was about £10 a litre. Plus a filter.
Most cars take between 5-6 litres so you can work out the labour costs and profit for yourselves.

 

[NewMB]

Hi

Would u ind sharin with fellow members the cost of the oil & filter change ad was it at a stealership?
Cheers

It was done at MB Colchester....... and due to car being over 3 years, I get some discount.

Cost:

Oil £59.73 (looks like 6 litres)
Seal Ring £0.41
Gasket £6.03
Oil Filter £5.81
Labour £57.60
TOTAL £129.58 + VAT (company car so I pay no VAT :bannana: )

 

[Dinnie]

I think Ollie told me the fluid cost was about £10 a litre. Plus a filter.
Most cars take between 5-6 litres so you can work out the labour costs and profit for yourselves.

Can the oil be purchased cheaper elsewhere?
Is the stuff generic or specific?
Thanks!

 

[Faz Choudhury]

So is 6 litres sufficient gearbox oil for a change on a W209 CLK 320?

 

[hawk20]

Costco, Halfords etc sell oil cheap. Can supply your own when serviced. Handbook shows how many litres you need.

 

[NewMB]

I would thing what I paid (incl 20% discount) is pretty good price for oil from a dealer...

Oil £59.73 (looks like 6 litres) so incl VAT £11.70 per litre.

 

[fuzzer]

Costco, Halfords etc sell oil cheap. Can supply your own when serviced. Handbook shows how many litres you need.

i think he means gearbox oil and filter.