Wife's E320 is sitting in a puddle of transmission oil this am, it was just serviced by the local dealer I suspect the transmission was over filled.

Is there a vent on the transmission, and where?

When you dip stick one of these transmissions.... how do you do it.
Hot, cold, running, not running. If running, in what gear?

In the middle of the transmission pan is a single 5mm Allen head cap screw..... is this a drain?

Thanks in advance guys.

Lesson, don't take your lovely MB to the "make work" service dept, just cause there is a little snow on the ground and the shop is cold!

Best
Kent

What year?

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

It sounds more like they pinched or rolled the pan gasket.

While running to check oil level.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

Year is important. If you have the 722.6xx or 722.9xx you need special MB fluid. 722.6 does not have dipstick, you need special dipstick tool to set level. As stated, car running, in park, on level ground and at operating temp (very important).

5mm hex socket bolt is drain plug.

Without seeing it can't be sure, but I'd vote for a gasket problem. When you get it sorted out make sure someone who knows what they are doing sets the final fluid level.

Thanks guys for all the responses it's a 98 E320. I do not know the tranny model number........... but I'm coming up to speed on this car pretty quickly.

Fluid is coming over the top of the rear mount only when eveything is up to temp in drive. Pan and tailshaft are dry. Everything forward of the rear mount is dry.

Leak is post service from the local dealer....who we are learning has a rep for having a sleazy service dept.

After it cools off, I'll get a mirror and give it a better look.

Anybody know were the vent is on this tranny.

Wife reports that other than the puddle, everything seems normal with shifiting and etc.

Thanks everyone, a great group!

If it's a 98 you'll have the 722.604 and things I mentioned will apply. I don't believe it's vented although if enough pressure builds up it's bound to come out somewhere. The transmission and torque convertor hold about 8l so losing a liter (big puddle) might not make a difference in shifting.

Just a thought, you have a drain plug on the torque convertor as well as the pan. You might have someone check that. You need to get the car on a hoist as there is a little window in the torque convertor frame at 6 o'clock so you need to rotate the torque convertor until the drain plug appears in that window. If it's leaking and throwing fluid all over, it's hard to say where it will come off the transmission.

I'd echo Richard and ILUVMILS's thoughts. Probably gasket not sealed properly when reinstalled.

Dipstick is a long (about 3'+) steel cable which you can order from the dealer for about $50. These transmissions came with a 'lifetime fluid fill' from MB and hence no standard dipstick included. Which is somewhat ridiculous, IMO. Environmental marketing vs. engineering.

Fluid level is important, as is using the proper specified fluid for your tranny. Level is checked at 80C.

Good luck!

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Even if the gasket is installed properly (no leaks), you can still blow the gasket if you overfill the tranny (ask me how I know)...

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car