W220 gearbox - sealed for life

[SimonsMerc]

I had this done a couple of months ago, and it made a huge difference to the gear changes in the car - very smooth.

-simon

 

[television]

I had this done a couple of months ago, and it made a huge difference to the gear changes in the car - very smooth.

-simon

This is the general consensus that the car is much smoother, it is not a fix all cure for faults, but as said it is worth doing

 

[WLeg]

If anyones does this... would love a how-to-idiots-photo-guide, as it is on my list of things to do that I don't have a clue about... I assume the gearbox is the same - mine is a 2001 S500

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Tried a different dealer today, who told me that the ML270 CDi is STILL sealed for life, and such would not be changed under Service Plus. Not what Service Plus said when they checked with a technical advisor.

If anyones does this... would love a how-to-idiots-photo-guide, as it is on my list of things to do that I don't have a clue about... I assume the gearbox is the same - mine is a 2001 S500

HOWTO section....

 

[mark_le_b]

Dealer agreed to change in the end at a cost of £228.........

I was hoping it would make down-change smoother but hasn't helped.

Has anybody experienced similar......when braking and slowing down the change down into 2nd and 1st seems too jerky and clonky (excuse technical terms) and not as smooth as I would have expected. It kind of "drops" into gear as opposed to "sliding" smoothly if that makes sense.

Any thoughts?

 

[television]

Does it do it the same on a level road as apposed to going down hill where the engine braking will take place

 

[mr. shr]

I was hoping it would make down-change smoother but hasn't helped.

Has anybody experienced similar......when braking and slowing down the change down into 2nd and 1st seems too jerky and clonky (excuse technical terms) and not as smooth as I would have expected. It kind of "drops" into gear as opposed to "sliding" smoothly if that makes sense.

Any thoughts?

I know exactly what you mean as I'm getting the same on my W202.
Had the fluid changed just before xmas and the change from 1st to 2nd (and vice versa) is still the same (bit jerky).

Is yours only on down changes?

 

[mark_le_b]

At the moment seems to only be on downchanges - acceleratring away etc., all fine - just when braking and slowing down.

Does it both on the flat and when going down hill and pulling up.

Mark

 

[mr. shr]

I have on two occassions had a really hard thudding type of change down between gear two and one.
The indy that did my oil change did say that if does it every time then I may have a problem with the box, but as I've only experienced it a couple of times it's probably not worth worrying about.

If you're getting it all the time, might be worth taking it to a good indy and asking their opinion.

Thankfully, the changes on my W220 are still pretty smooth and that's about the same age as yours.

 

[television]

I believe that someone with STAR can alter this on the gearbox ECU

 

[jaymanek]

just as a side note, i saw on a programme once that in the USA a lot of garages have a machine that connects to the oil cooler lines.. this then thoroughly blasts out all oil from the gearbox....apparently this is the only way to get all the crud out... a simple drain only gets the best of the oil out...

anyone know if anyone in the uk has a machine like this? I looked through all the trade press and cannot see one advertised anywhere...
i know auto's are more common in the USA, but i would like to have that treatment done..

they also add a special additive that is supposed to make the seals more supple and less prone to drying out and cracking...

 

[mark_le_b]

No real indy choice in Jersey as we're such a small rock - so its probably dealer or nothing!

STAR is pro equipment, available @ dealer I guess........?

Thanks guys

Mark

 

[television]

STAR is the official MB test set, there are other versions, but they are the best

 

[mr. shr]

No real indy choice in Jersey as we're such a small rock - so its probably dealer or nothing!

STAR is pro equipment, available @ dealer I guess........?

Thanks guys

Mark

A good indy will have STAR but like you say, you're on a small rock. Your dealer doesn't fill me with much confidence (actually, none of them do) so might be worth you travelling a bit and finding an indy.
Travel a bit further if you can find a decent one because, and here's the thing, a good indy actually knows about Mercs!!!

When was that last said about a dealership!!!!

 

[IanA2]

I hope now they will eat their words.

Thanks
Mark

or at least suck the old fluid out with a straw......

 

[mark_le_b]

Thanks. Bearing in mind comments re indy Merc guys - I'm likely to have the car in the UK soon - so any recomendations of someone to use on the south coast???
Mark

 

[television]

Thanks. Bearing in mind comments re indy Merc guys - I'm likely to have the car in the UK soon - so any recomendations of someone to use on the south coast???
Mark

The best one is on the coast BLACKC55 in Portsmouth and you can talk to him first

 

[MBManInKen]

As Television says, go to Olly in Portsmouth, he's a member of the forum (BlackC55).

 

[television]

In answer to Jays question about the way they do it in the States.

By disconnecting the oil cooler and putting on a air line, this will empty the torque converter and it is the only way that you can do this, I know some people that do this in the UK.

Air lines have long since been frowned upon as they can force dirt into corners only to come back out at a later date, gut when doing this only enough pressure is need to push out the fluid.

 

[jaymanek]

i think the us machines inject a fluid into the cooling lines and then all the dirt comes out and is separated into a tank in the machine... not sure but it seems a good idea..