semi stupid questions...i did search but no "official" info to be found.

I looks thru the owners manual and the Haynes British repair manual but found no service intervals given for the following systems...

P/S fluid & filter ???
SLS hyd suspension ???
rear differential ???

the transmission filter, air filter, fuel filter are all listed at 36K miles service interval in the Haynes, but nothing mentioned in the owner's manual.

the P/S and SLS system use similar fluids to the trans so would 36K be a good target? or is that too often or not often enough?

36K seems kinda too short for the differential.

does anyone have an official source for service intervals for these items.

__________________
1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

I can't imagine the PS would need changing at that short an interval. the diff should be 72 or 90K, are you sure it's not in your owners manual?

MB does not specify a change interval for the PS & SLS fluids. They don't need changing nearly as often as the transmission fluid, as they do not become contaminated with friction material off clutches. Once every 5 years should be more than sufficient. The SLS fluid is not the cheapest stuff out there.

Likewise, I don't recall a specification for changing the differential, only checking and topping up. I just did it as part of the major service interval every 30K. (Apparently service intervals are slightly shorter in the U.S. - 5K miles lubrication service, 30K miles major service). Changing the differential lube is inexpensive and quite easy.

I consider those fluids as a 100,000 mile item. If you don't drive alot of miles, then five years as Jim says.

My 84 240D had no SLS, but the power steering fluid and diff lube got changed at 100,000 mile intervals and they made it a little over a half million miles.

I had argued with my dealer that I wanted all of those fluids changed, he said that they never need changing. My car was 4years and 100,000miles old at the time. I felt that 100k was enough.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

http://viewer.zoho.com/docs/mSbqL

this might be helpful

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82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

does the Haynes 123 series manual specify P/S, SLS and diff intervals? I gave my old haynes away when I got rid of my old 123 wagon. But I would assume that whatever service intervals are specified for the 123 series are probably inline with 124 requirements as well.

__________________
1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

interesting, that shows brake fluid change every 2 years, and 124 series haynes says 12 months

and 30,000 miles for trans/air/fuel filters instead of 36,000 miles.

so that's longer service intervals for brake fluid and shorter intervals for trans/fuel/air filters.

and nothing about "changing" SLS & power steering filters or fluid or changing rear axle fluid....... just "check and correct" is all that is mentioned.

__________________
1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

I have a copy of the 124 bible. and it has service intervals for everything in it.
I'll go over it sometime this week,and see what it says.

Whats with the brake fluid change every year? I don't know anyone who does that or any other car that specifies that short of an interval. But then again, i don't recall seeing a brake fluid change interval on another car . Wait a minute ..Bentley VW manual says:

"Brake fluid absorbs moisture ... change at least every two years [with DOT 4] to avoid corrosion in brake system"

Well thats good info. I'll probably do it every 3 years though or whenever i'm bleeding my brakes anyway. Love the Bentleys. Wish MB had Bentleys. Might have to check out the 124 bible.

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

The materials in the flexible hoses are better on the newer cars, hence the upgrade to a 2 year change interval.

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

When we got our '96 E300D (at 248,000 miles) I discovered that the PS fluid had never been changed and was black with age and wear. Turns out there is no factory requirement to change it and it's in none of the service programs -- so it never got changed. The W210 cars don't even have a PS filter like the 123 and 124 cars.

Likewise, the oil in the differential had never been changed. It was in much better shape but I changed it anyway.

Jeremy

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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

at the dealer, we changed the p/s fluid and the filter at every 30k svc. trans filter and fluid at the 60k. never did the sls unless the "bombs", the pump, or shocks were changed.

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1984 300TD "MAX" 303K+ still going...
fast '70 Chevelle 200k+
home built Shovelhead chopper

The question then might be what the author used as his source for these service intervals. As I have found this book to be rather full of inaccuracies and omissions, ... I trust it only to sit on to make a chair higher.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff