I'm working on a 1999 E320. It has the so called filled for life transmission. It is at 100k miles and getting it's first trans fluid change. I captured the fluid intpo a clean container (sometimes you should put the old fluid back in believe it or not). the fluid is dark grey almost black, not a trace of red.

Dropped the pan and found 15 pieces of steel (3mmx1.5mmx1mm). Other than that no traces of copper material, no sludge either. Trans has been shifting fine.

Are these chunks of metal cause for alarm? I'll replace the filter and fluid (will see if convertor can be drained as well). Some mechanics will put the old fluid back in if they think the new fluid will take down the trans while at his shop with a warning to customer that trans will soon fail.

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1972 450SL
1982 300D Turbo