Steve,
My car has 48K miles. 75% on highways, which are gentle to the car and the transmission in particular (low usage of low gears, low changing and cooler environment)
I already had planned to replace filter+ATF+gasket.
Your point on the spacer comes on very good time as I live in Brazil and will order the part now.
One suggestion: from my research: we may add a magnet to the pan, already present in newer models. Inexpensive and important to keep metalic debris from flowing.
There is a MB P/N for it. (two in fact. the newer is the better)
Thanks!
Jorge
PS: Read something about premature wearing of discs... ??? synchros??? (I am not sure). They were supposedly modernized in recent versions. It will be worthwhile to know if the newer can replace the originals. (on an affordable labour expense)
PS2: Will probably change ATF much sooner than the new consensus. Looks like the cheaper insurance policy one could buy.
PS3: My transmission has a serial number > 1,000,000. If that really means 1 million units I HOPE that the critical versions were left behind.