It wound up that I had two separate dealers get me a pan magnet for my '98 C230 transmission.

One magnet is part# 220-271-00-98 and is a 2mm thin 40mm square slotted design.
The other magnet part# A 169 371 00 03 is a 44mm round 6mm thick magnet with a hole in the middle and it seems more powerful than the other.

I already placed the first magnet in my trans pan, but was curious why two different style/strength magnets?

The 169 part number replaces the 220 number...ALSO the list price goes from $3.00 for the 220 number vs $14.00 for the 169 number..

The 169 number comes from the NEW "A" class...not for the USA (car not parts)

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

When did the pan magnet show up in the 722.6 transmission. I've got a '99 and am not sure whether I'll need to add one at my next ATF change or not.

Len
'99 E300TD 93,000 miles

Excellent info, MB Doc thanks!

Len does your `99 torque converter have a drain plug?

This new magnet is so strong I wonder whether if I place it on the outer bottom of my transmission pan it would increase the effectiveness or help collect more metal particles.

I noticed when I did my 98 C230 (85K) trans fluid change last week (previous change done by independent around 45K miles) I had no metal particles on the bottom of the pan, any metal particles suspended in the fluid I couldn't tell. My fluid looked healthy.

Len, there is a new trans fluid for the seven speed trans that I used in my 722.6, the fluid was actually beautiful - a wild purple color.

Yes, my '99 has a torque converter drain plug. That ended about September of '99. Since I have a couple of liters of the 722.6 specific ATF, I'll likely just buy more of it and use it up on my next service. Might not be a bad idea to buy some now in case it is going out of production.

Len

I have installed 2 magnets in many cars...cars made before 2000 didn't have a magnet in the pan..The 220 part number come out when the W220 chassis came out in early 1999.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

...and here's a picture of the old and new magnet.

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W163.154, M112.942, 722.662, ZF.970.402

I did my 1997 W210 E300TD ATF change a few months ago, filter and gasket as well, but there was no transmission magnet. Shame really, would be a nice idea if the sump plug was magnetic.

Oh, it had a plug on the torque convertor as well.