When doing a transmission service, has anyone gone to the trouble to dismantle the filter to inspect it? If so, how dirty was it after how many miles? And how was the integrity of the filter holding up? Have you ever seen a filter compromised?

I've never done this, but plan to at my next service. It seems like the condition of the filter should tell us something about the condition of the transmission.

FYI there are some Youtube videos that show people dismantling their filters.

Thanks.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

This is a good idea, the casing can hide chunks or other problems stuck in the media.

-J

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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.

I did using tin snips and diagonal cutters to unfold the crimp. You have to be very careful with sharp metall edges. Mine looked like new inside with no FOD that I can see with the naked eye. Transmission was rebuilt from PO and my guess is the filter has approx 100K on it.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

That's impressive....hope I find the same thing!

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

What do you think about this: I changed out the filter and fluid in my '85 300D and shortly after the tranny started slipping in high gear. The guy at the local transmission shop said "oh, never change your fluid because it leads to problems!" Is he crazy, or am I?