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#1
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Transmission Service - Dealer, Indie, or Self?
It is time for transmission service on my 201 190D. I wanted to poll members here for their opinions on the value of dealer, indie, or self service. My dealer wants to charge me $275. I am looking into the local indie (MBI Motors) and their prices, as well as the potential for me to do it. However, the dealer "back-flushes" thereby maintaining a steady level of fluid in the transmission, supposedly preventing the failure of seals, etc. Admittedly, I am non-transmission-ese fluent.
Any thoughts on this?
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327K on 1986 W201, 602.911, 722.414 2.5 190D ("The Red Baron") 139K on 1993 W124, 104.942, 722.433 2.8 300E ("Queen") http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/...0bb92d3c_m.jpg http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1325284354 Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater. - Albert Einstein take a walk down memory lane... |
#2
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Unless the transmission is full of nasty crud from having been ignored and abused for many years (and is therefore almost toast) I don't see that the shop's back-flush technique buys you all that much. Drain as much fluid as you can from the pan and from the torque converter, replace the filter and the pan gasket, remember to tighten the drain plugs, and you're good to go for less than $100.
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"Buster" in the '95 Our all-Diesel family 1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car 2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022) Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762 "Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz." -- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970 |
#3
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I don't have a garage, just a steeply sloped driveway, so I opted for the indie. Luckily I found a shop that I like, I think he charged me $80. I already had the filter kit.
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"Poor Krusty, he's like a black velvet painting come to life." -Lisa Simpson
1995 E300D 216k black/mushroom 1982 300SD (sold) |
#4
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Self if you can. IMO dropping the pan is the best way to go if you don't know the last time the filter was changed. I buy the gasket from the dealer and sometimes the filter. The gaskets are about as cheap as the aftermarket ones and the filters aren't that much higher. Then I buy fluid at my favorite parts store. I usually can get it all done for around $60 I believe.
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2009 ML320 Bluetec 1985 300CD 1981 300TD Past Mercedes 1979 300TD 1982 300TD 2000 E320 4Matic Wagon 1998 E430 1984 300SD 1980 300SD |
#5
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I guess I should have mentioned that this is a rebuilt with approx 40K on it - all miles driven by me. Plus, the car sat for 6 mos while I worked on the engine. The radiator was removed and the flex hoses dripped clear, decent looking, violet colored fluid. I suspect the rebuild shop (Deans in Seattle) used dexron. MB trans fluid is a different color right? Different spec?
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327K on 1986 W201, 602.911, 722.414 2.5 190D ("The Red Baron") 139K on 1993 W124, 104.942, 722.433 2.8 300E ("Queen") http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/...0bb92d3c_m.jpg http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1325284354 Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater. - Albert Einstein take a walk down memory lane... |
#6
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Should be Dexron III in there. Doing it yourself is really not too hard, and then you will KNOW for sure if the fluid in the torque converter was changed too.
Rick
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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??) |
#7
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Quote:
If I get this building, I'll be building ramps and doing it myself. s
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Strelnik Invest in America: Buy a Congressman! 1950 170SD 1951 Citroen 11BN 1953 Citroen 11BNF limo 1953 220a project 1959 180D 1960 190D 1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr 1983 240D daily driver 1983 380SL 1990 350SDL daily driver alt 3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5 3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6 |
#8
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Quote:
If the $75 includes all that and he knows what he is doing you are getting a good deal. If it doesn't include it, it is probably a reasonable charge (if one doesn't do it themselves).
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2009 ML320 Bluetec 1985 300CD 1981 300TD Past Mercedes 1979 300TD 1982 300TD 2000 E320 4Matic Wagon 1998 E430 1984 300SD 1980 300SD |
#9
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The question back to you is whether you're trying to avoid cost or work. If I could trust someone to do a good job for $80, I've done enough tranny servicing that I don't care to go back down there. But it's a chance to check for leaks, condition of shift rod bushings, flex disks, etc.
Dexron II or III is good. It's hard to tell what you're getting at parts stores these days since no one uses Dexron III in labels anymore. Even Mobil 1 no longer sells ATF with a distinct claim to be Dex III compatible. There's a synthetic version of Dex II available from Redline or one of the other reputable synthetic oil brewers. The really meticulous MB owners I know use synthetic Dex II. Mind how you fill the tranny. Initial fill is only what you drained from the pan and maybe a quart more. Fill the rest a little at a time with the engine running checking the dipstick frequently until the fluid is about 10mm (each application has a specific gap) below the cold mark. Get the transmission to operating temperature and top off as necessary. Sixto 87 300D |
#10
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I just have my Indy replace the fuid and filter (no flush). I could do it myself, but it's not my idea of fun.
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#11
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Quote:
Thanks to all for their input!
__________________
327K on 1986 W201, 602.911, 722.414 2.5 190D ("The Red Baron") 139K on 1993 W124, 104.942, 722.433 2.8 300E ("Queen") http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/...0bb92d3c_m.jpg http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1325284354 Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater. - Albert Einstein take a walk down memory lane... |
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