If/when you change the trans fluid, this trans, like many MB's has the "feature" that you can drain the torque converter as well as the trans pan. So no, I would not mix fluids. Once you jack the car up, you can put a socket on the crank bolt and rotate the engine while looking for the torque converter drain plug to appear in the "window" under the trans bellhousing. Only rotate the engine in the right direction, the one it runs in...

When you pull the trans pan, you will want to pull/change the filter too, be aware that as soon as you tilt that filter a bunch more fluid will come out! Be prepared. I used Amsoil "multi vehicle" ATF as per their web site.

About the sluggishness, as part of your base line work, change the fuel prefilter and the main filter. Suggest changing one at a time, make sure you get the O ring for the prefilter as well as the prefilter itself. Change prefilter, start car and drive around the block, then change main filter. If possible, fill new main filter with diesel as much as you can before putting it back on, to minimize the cranking time. Crank for 30 seconds, give the starter a rest for a few minutes. It should start after a few rounds.

On my car I can always tell when to change the main filter when it will not pull to 4800 - 5000 rpm with it floored in 1st and 2nd gear. And yes, even with my miles, I still give it the Italian tuneup about once a week.

About the fuel lines, dark color is not necessarily bad. It is the O rings at the end fittings of those plastic lines which get crispy and start to leak. But if you don't have any records of them having been changed you can buy a set of new from Phil, they aren't that expensive. Main symptoms of old O rings are bubbles in the lines, sluggish starting, and leaks, of course. The odd single bubble here and there are nothing serious, however, and a bubble which shows when the car is off is often seen, it goes away after starting.

It's much easier to change the plastic lines after removing the intake manifold, but I think some folks have managed without doing that, from above and below.

PS, that engine compartment looks FAR too clean!

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 352K

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