My 97 E300D with 230K on it seems to have the tranny slipping a bit. I have owned in for 50K and Im pretty sure the transmission has never been serviced. What would the members of this site recommend I do to keep this transmission going? I dont have the cash to invest in a new transmission. Would changing the (LIFETIME) fluid help or maybe one of the more expensive liquid tranny fixes that are sold? Would having the transmission computer flashed do anything? Its definitely not bad right now and maybe Im imagining it slipping but I want to do something to keep this baby running. Thanks

The "Lifetime" fluid needs to be changed along with the filter. I would also suggest not using any of the "expensive" tranny fixes until you can evaluate the trannys performance after the change of fluid and filter, and even then, I would be cautious regarding those miracle cures. Good luck

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96 E300d

Change the fluid/filter, drive the car a few hundred miles, then change fluid/filter again. The "lifetime" of transmission fluid is about 30,000 miles.

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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

The most current change interval recomendation I've seen for the trans fluid/filter is 60k km or 37,250mi. "Lifetime fill" disappeared many years ago and continues to evolve.

There are now options for the fluild (Febi, Fuchs Shell, etc.) other than the dealer but it must meet spec.

Change it on schedule (inluding torque converter) and drive it until it throws a code. Then deal with the code.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

I forgot I listed this question months ago.

Ive driven about 1000 miles and my transmission is still slipping after changing the fluid and filter. The fluid looked pretty clean when I emptied it. At times especially wen cold the tranny will lunge dramatically with all occupants in the car flying towards the windshield. When it warms up it wont be this drastic. Anything I can do to keep this baby going??

You may have a broken control valve spring?

Or it could be toast?

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1999 Mercedes E300TD daily driver sold at 238K miles 106K miles were mine, rust worm got it :-(
2006 Mercedes CDI new daily driver! 56,000 miles May 2016 now 85,625 Apr 2018 and Apr 2019 101,000 miles Apr 2020 109,875. March 2024 135,250

Thank you EDBSO I will check this out in the coming week.