533,000 miles on the 240D and the manny tranny still works perfect. It's never been apart, but the car is on its third clutch. That's how you get around the PITA maintenance and hassle of an automatic transmission.

If you DO elect to drive an automatic, you can't change the fluid and filter too often. The common temperature for ATF is 175 degrees Fahrenheit. For every 20 degrees above the normal temperature, the fluid life is cut in half. This should give you an idea how important it is to change it often.

For those folks who tell you to never change the ATF, you should realize that you can either change the fluid or change the transmisssion, your choice.

Have a great day,