Thoughts on changing gearbox oil?

[nickg]

Should I consider changing the gearbox oil on my car. I've had no problems whatsoever with the 'box in the 6 months I've owned the car, but thought it might be a good thing to do just as general upkeep/maintenance.
The car is an SL60 AMG '96 with only 31K miles on it, but its 8 yrs old. I am not doing heavy miles (have only put about 2.5K on it in last 6 months).
Any thoughts? And any idea of cost? I won't be doing the job myself - it will go into George Fraser.

As always, your considered opinions will be very much appreciated.
Rgds

 

[Steve_Perry]

If you have the electronic box (W/S switch), then I would say leave it. However, if you have the mechanical auto box (E/S switch), I think you may have this as your SL is a '96 (gorgeous looking car BTW ), then you may or may not want to change the oil depending on state of your current oil. You may want to take the car to a gearbox specialist like George and he will be able to tell you if the oil actually needs to be changed or not. 31k miles seems a bit early to be changing oil to me but then I can't remember the requirements for the older mechanical boxes. I imagine that auto box oil degradation is governed more by mileage than by passage of time.

S.

*EDIT* P.S. If you check the service schedule booklet in your car's handbook, that may well give the intervals of when the auto box oil requires replacement.

 

[nickg]

Its the electronic box.
Thanks for the nice comments - it is a beauty!!

 

[Steve_Perry]

Its the electronic box.

If that's the case then general feeling is that the auto box oil should be changed every approx 60k miles or so.

Thanks for the nice comments - it is a beauty!!

I saw an AMG SL72 when visiting the factory at Affalterbach and the engine bay was stuffed full of V12 I can imagine yours is similarly impressive

S.

 

[nickg]

Well its based on the 5l V8 so I think looks pretty similar to that, though I'm no expert.