With a 2000 ML430, I am towing a 4000# camper occasionally. I want to change the trans fluid and filter more frequently than the 100K recommended. Has anyone done this on their own---is it a simple matter of dropping the pan cover and bolt off/on the filter????
Thanx as always, Jeff

'00 ML320
'84 300D

The MB recommendation is NOT 100,000 mile changes, it is considered filled for life, no service interval.

Up to 2000 there was also a drain for the torque converter, but I don't believe there is a drain on the converter on your 2000.
MB has no recommendation for using a trans flushing machine, so you're on your own if you get someone to try that for you.
Barring a flushing machine, you'll only get about 3 or 4 quarts out of the pan, the filter is there too and is a press-in, so that part is easy.
The fluid used HAS to be the MB trans fluid for the 722.6 electronic transmission, NO substitute exists in the USA.

There is also a rather complex filling procedure for the transmission fluid involving the shop tool "dipstick" (there is no dipstick on the truck, just a tube and cap, the stick has to be purchased as a tool, and can't just remain in the tube when you're done), and also using the shop computer to monitor fluid temp.

That's about all I can tell you about it, if you have other questions just ask.

In general I go along with MB and advise against changing the fluid.

Gilly

Gilly----thanx for the reply. They weren't against changing the fluid early, I was just trying to determine if there was a better way to spend $200. Guess not. Admittedly, half that cost is the synthetic fluid, although I didn't think to ask if they planned to extract more than the 3-4 quarts you mentioned.
I figured with the sealed system the procedure wouldn't exactly be like changing it on my Ford; as you mentioned, there is no way to even check the level of the fluid without their computer. I guess I will find out how much fluid is actually exchanged with the dealer's procedure and weight the advantage. I do feel like it's something that should be addressed if I'm occasionally pulling a 4000# trailer....
Thanx, Jeff

OK Jeff.
There's not an *accurate* way to check the fluid level, put it that way, plus you'd need to buy the stick.

They may or not be thinking about draining the torque converter, and there is the possiblity your's will have the drain on the torque converter. To the best of my knowledge, 2000 models and newer have no drain on the torque converter.

......Boy, have I got a deal for you!


Gilly

Jeff,

I changed the transmission oil on my 99 ML 320 at 75k miles. It's definitely a DIY job, at least on mine since I could drain the torque converter too. Even if you can not drain your torque converter you can measure what you take out from the pan and put in the same amount. Just measure the old fluid when it's cold and the fluid you put in when it's cold too.

You need a new pan gasket, filter, sealing washer for pan drain, sealing washer for torque converter drain and of course 8 liters of MB synthetic transmission oil (part# A001189210310)

First drain fluid from transmission thru pan, then from torque converter. To find the allen heand drain plug on the converter turn crank from front of car (27mm socket) until you see it.

Owners manual says capacity for my vehicle is 7.5 liters. I measured what I draind out and it was very very close to 7.5 liters. I figured if I put in the same amount I took out I could do no harm. I let it drain out overnight to make sure I got as much out as possible. I must say the condition of the fluid seemed quite good.

Install filter, gasket, pan and drain plugs with new sealing washers and fill. I put in as much as I could with the engine off, then turned it on to fill the rest. I put in exactly 7.5 liters of fluid. No problem.

To check it I took it to my friends shop, where they work on Mercedes only. He has the special dipstick which I think he said is used on some of the other models of MB too. Anyway it's just a dipstick with some marks on the bottom. One for when the fluid is hot and one for when it 's cold. I saw this dipstick tool for sale on some tool website for around $25. We checked my car and it was in the correct range. He then put on one of those little red tabs that holds the filler cap on to make it official.

That's it. You've just saved a bunch of cash.

Ron---thanx for the detailed procedure. I think I'll try to find out whether my torque converter has a drain before proceeding any further. I appreciate the help.
Jeff

I understand that generally, MB doesn't recommend trans oil changes. I frequently tow a 5,000 lb. trailer with our '98 ML320, and plan to keep it until 300K at least.

I purchased the dipstick and the trans oil level is fine. It looks and smells good. Is there any compelling reason to change the oil anyway? 114K on the clock now.

__________________
Lenny

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games. --Ernest Hemingway

'10 GL550/'04 BMW 545/'99 BMW 323/'98 ML320/'87 VW GTI (race)

First, the dipstick is only useful if the temperature of the fluid is known.

The fluid change is not neccesary per MB, I would go along with the MB recommendation. I have seen these transmissions last close to 300,000 without a fluid change. This particular example was in a E300D though, not an ML, (as far as I know it's still working good in that car), so it is possible to get the kind of service life without the change, at least in a car, no towing.
MB doesn't state anything about changing the fluid based on the fact you tow trailers or any other severe service.

BUT it IS your truck, so change away if you want, it's not like MB recommends "against" changing it, they just don't have a service interval for it. Lots of guys change differential fluid for example without there being a service interval, same thing here I guess. Rotate the air in the tires too if you want.

If you do happen to do it make sure you get the rather pricey MB fluid to do it with, the filter and gasket are relatively cheap, and also there is a magnet that MB wants placed in the bottom of the pan if the opportunity arises, use the search function to find the part number, I just posted it last week.

Gilly

Lenny,

There is probably no compelling reason to change your gearbox oil. I changed mine for the following reasons:

1-I don't believe MB when they say the fluid is good for the life of the vehicle. Call me suspious.

2- I think their recommedations regarding engine and gearbox oil as well as spark plug changes are more of a marketing ploy than based in reality. You know they can say you don't have to spend any money on service for a long time.

3-All there recommendations are based on ideal conditions. Who drives under ideal conditions? Do you?

4-A fellow who I know who works at the Mercedes dealership in town and who owns an ML 320 changed his gearbox oil at 75K miles and suggested that I should do mine certainly by 80K miles. This is a real good reason to change it.

5-I've been told that some of the independent shops are starting to change gearbox oil at around 90K.

6-Gearbox oil is cheap next to gearbox repairs.

Remember I'm no expert but that my opinion and the basis for it.

Edited:

I changed the front and rear differential oil at the same time, but I must say what I took out did look to be in excellent shape.
I just feel better knowing that I've changed it.

OK lets just think about this for a second.
Lets say there is a group of engineers at Mercedes (or a subsidiary company) that designed this transmission. They were at the design/production stage where they needed to come up with the service interval recommendation. Do you really think they came up with this idea that in SOME markets the transmission fluid should be replaced at 100,000km, but "ya know, I think it'll be fine without a change in some of these other markets"? "Idontthinkso".
NOT only that, but OK, for a significant amount of time that the transmission has been in the US market anyways, MB has had this free maintenance program, since model year 2000. One might start thinking "Oh yeah, they just don't want to have to pay to have that transmission fluid change, I get it." Uh, excuse me warranty go bye-bye at 50,000, fluid change due at 60,000, think again. Not only that but they would just tag a little more onto the price of the car if they were going to pay for it.
I think the real source of these rumors that MB is suggesting fluid changes on 722.6 trannys is techs that just can't seem to "get over" that they're not being paid to perform the work, simple as that. I may or may not attempt to research if there is a recommendation in Europe. I already double checked the recommendation here in the US based on a rumor at this site, and it was false, NO recommendation, and I'm sure this one is just another attempt to get people to shell out money for work that isn't recommended by Mercedes.

On a final note, I haven't had my coffee yet. OH! No, on a final note, I realize there have been failures of the transmission. Has anyone EVER said that a 722.6 has failed because of a lack of a atf change? I've never heard anyone make a direct connection. They've made alot of changes to this gearbox. LOTS of things beefed up, changes even to the control unit. BUT they haven't made a change to the recommendation on not changing the atf. Hmmmmmmmm. MB checks the boxes out that they get back, the ones that fail. Don't you think that they'd start recommending a change if this is was a problem?
Oh wait, no, they make more money selling you a transmission at 150,000 miles rather than a few atf changes. Very tricky these Germans .


Gilly

Based on all the above comments, a preponderance of other things to do, and the fact that the atf looks so good, I'm going to leave it be. I will check it at 150K and 200K however.

Interestingly, it appears that the FSS computer doesn't see trailer towing as being that severe, even with the occasional 6,000 rpm shifts and cruising in 4th gear (I lock out 5th when towing). On a 1,000 mile trip with the race car in tow, the FSS mileage went down by 1,000; I expected more because of the "severe" driving.

This topic does seem to stir up some spirited discussion!

__________________
Lenny

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games. --Ernest Hemingway

'10 GL550/'04 BMW 545/'99 BMW 323/'98 ML320/'87 VW GTI (race)

Great, thanks for reminding me about this too .

In regards to "looking" at your atf:
Many comments are made that the fluid looks dirty on their 722.6. MB has already addressed this issue as well. In a nutshell, just because it looks "black" doesn't mean the fluid is dirty, appearance is very deceiving on the 722.6 fluid. They use alot of graphite in the friction plates on these transmissions, and as most know, graphite is a very black substance, especially in it's liquid form (have you every used liquid graphite lube? Very messy stuff). But not harmful in any way, it just can make the fluid look quite dirty.

Gilly

Wow, did I ever open a can of worms. Maybe I'm going overboard pampering this rig and should just give the tranny fluid a rest (you'd probably be appalled to know that I still change the oil the old-fashioned way, every 3k miles despite the FSS, and yes it's $4/quart synthetic).
On a related note, my winter/airport car is a Taurus (the 4th I've had since 1988) and Taurus #3 spent a long while out in CO with the ex-wife before she gave it back to me (an important distinction only because it was a period of "minimal" maintenance as you might expect). When it returned to me at 100k mi, I started thinking about changing the tranny fluid--- the shop recommended against it (never having been done at all). I tried it out, and when I sold the car at 160k miles the tranny was still purring along. I wouldn't expect it to have been constructed as well as the MBZ variety and it did just fine.
Am looking forward to checking this thread again when I get back in town next week.......thanx to all for the spirited discussion!
Jeff

Uh oh, I haven't done the air yet.

When I rotate the air in my tires, do I do the cross pattern, or do I do I swap the air front to back on the same side?

__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Criss Cross, and don't forget the spare

Gilly