OM603 new fangled tranny dipstick
 

I was showing my euro parts guy my engine and he noticed some damage on the dipstick, at the point where the little squeeze part hinges at the top. He looks it up, says he can get me an OEM unit for $27 which I go for. It's a slightly different design, seems adequate, maybe better than the original.

Instead of lines stamped the full width at the top and bottom marks it has four half circle notches in both edges.

https://s20.postimg.org/cmxfnvi1p/dipstick_002.jpg

I was at the full mark with my old stick when I swapped them, I was tad over the top mark on the new one IIRC. But very close.

Anybody know what the spacing is about? I just noticed what look like some faint stamped letters in the area. I'll find a good magnifying glass and look more closely.

I'm thinking it should be between the lower two marks when cold and between the upper two marks at operating temp.

That sounds plausible. It didn't come with a manual. I'll keep an eye out for other info.