7 speed transmission fluid change

seabadger

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Has anyone attempted this at home?

For the 722.9 autobox MB now recommend a once only oil change at 40,000 miles using ATF 3353.

I would like to know if it's possible to drain all the fluid out of the torque converter?

Threads describing fluid changes on 5 speed boxes talk about a drain plug on the torque converter which was not present on later models.

Any help would oblige.

Regards

Seabadger
 

124coupe

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The official method uses a filling adaptor in the pan underneath and its full when it overflows "a small amount".....

No torque converter drain plug.


Merc charged me £75 labour on top of the cost of the oil and parts when done with the service (that was theie final offer - they started at £150!) - I couldn't be bothered to get dirty or to take a second trip for that much.....especially given the chance I might need to try for goodwill if the overcomplicated beast ever goes wrong!
 
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seabadger

seabadger

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The official method uses a filling adaptor in the pan underneath and its full when it overflows "a small amount".....

No torque converter drain plug.


Merc charged me £75 labour on top of the cost of the oil and parts when done with the service (that was theie final offer - they started at £150!) - I couldn't be bothered to get dirty or to take a second trip for that much.....especially given the chance I might need to try for goodwill if the overcomplicated beast ever goes wrong!
Thanks 124coupe.

I'm sure its a simple job if you know what you're doing, without the MB workshop manual and special tools it becomes a black art.

I have an MB quote of £253.69 inc vat which compares with - parts £26.91 inc Vat + 8 litres (say) fluid £90.16 inc Vat + my labour (nil) = £117.07.

My concern is that I might only manage to get 3 - 4 litres of the old tranny fluid out, whereas I am led to believe the box will take 7 - 8 litres.

On the positive side I would have seen the state of the old fluid and residue myself, put a new filter in and partly renewed the transmission fluid.

Jury is out at the moment. I'll see if there are any more pearls of wisdom out there?

Cheers

Seabadger
 

rpe2

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It's far from simple on the 7G box. As the post above suggests, it has to be filled through the drain hole, and measured at a certain temp which is only accessible through star or such like.

A bit of a camping holiday on the 7G box, best left to the experts.
 

124coupe

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I take it that price is to just do the fluid change?

You will therefore have included in the price at least 1/2 hour labour for "prepping the car" - into the air and onto Star (where it would already be if combined with a service for instance).

Have you tried a quick haggle/ring around?

(the one-off is set at 60,000km by the way - or 37,500 miles).

Are you out of warranty?

I took the view that I could certainly do it (as I do on the W124) but the saving of a few quid was not worth the loss of bargaining power if I needed goodwill later.

How would Merc react to the only evidence of gearbox oil having been changed being a parts receipt?

There are plenty of cases of 75% or more goodwill in year 4 on box failures with a service history intact.

Maybe indie and watch? At least then you will have a fluid service receipt showing reg/VIN.
 

124coupe

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It's far from simple on the 7G box. As the post above suggests, it has to be filled through the drain hole, and measured at a certain temp which is only accessible through star or such like.

A bit of a camping holiday on the 7G box, best left to the experts.

All on purpose to keep our mitts off (and all but the best indies)!
 

rpe2

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All on purpose to keep our mitts off (and all but the best indies)!

Agreed. You should see the tech paper on how to do, such a performance.
 
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seabadger

seabadger

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I take it that price is to just do the fluid change? Yes

Have you tried a quick haggle/ring around? Starting negotiations!

(the one-off is set at 60,000km by the way - or 37,500 miles). Your arithmetic may be correct but my service book describes it as 'Service 20 once at 40,000 miles (60,000km)' . [I would judge + or - 5,000 miles anyway]

Are you out of warranty? 3 weeks left

I took the view that I could certainly do it (as I do on the W124) but the saving of a few quid was not worth the loss of bargaining power if I needed goodwill later. My worry is that I might cause the failure by getting it wrong

.......There are plenty of cases of 75% or more goodwill in year 4 on box failures with a service history intact. Ye of little faith!.........

The plot thickens......so it's more difficult than the 5 speed box then?

It's surprisingly how little persuasion I need to avoid lying on my back under the car.

Thanks guys.

Seabadger
 

124coupe

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My "little faith" comes from having had a new box myself on the last 211 at 33,000 miles when my patience at the 2->3 and 2->1 jerks wore itself out and I went to war with MK to get a replacement.
 

124coupe

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The plot thickens......so it's more difficult than the 5 speed box then?

It's surprisingly how little persuasion I need to avoid lying on my back under the car.

Thanks guys.

Seabadger

Merc, having failed to disuade the masses by removing the dipstick, this time removed the whole tube.

Therefore nowhere to fill it "from the top" so you need to get access to the filling adaptor that squirts the new ATF in from the bottom of the sump. It then overflows, again underneath, when its correctly filled (assuming the ATF is at the right temp of course).

Fine with the correct adaptor etc on a ramp, decidedly dodgy on your back at home with the car on axle stands..

Just a suggestion re the "3 weeks left" - book the car in at one of the Merc Retail outlets doing the "half-price MOT/free safety inspection/free STAR updates" offer (to get anything looked at while still "free"). Then, once booked, ask to add the ATF change to be done "while its in the air". Then haggle the 1/2 hour off the standard price as you know its already prepped & on STAR etc.....
 
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seabadger

seabadger

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Merc, having failed to disuade the masses by removing the dipstick, this time removed the whole tube...........

Game, set and match! ......... to MB then? DIY is not permitted!

Your implication is that you need to purchase a special tool (the filling adapter) as well, which wasn't in my calculation.

I think I was already convinced that this one-off job was perhaps better paid for and done by the trade. Now I'm certain.

Best regards

Seabadger
 

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It sounds like a better system to me, no chance of overfilling the box. I bet the adaptor is just a cheap bit of plastic.
 

124coupe

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Assuming filling at the correct temp then agreed - fill it cold and plenty of room for mistakes.
 

S.Speed

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So what would prevent you from carefully measuring the quantity of old fluid and replacing new fluid of the same quantity via say the fluid cooler pipes?
At the end of the day there will be an exact optimum amount.. Its just a case of knowing this..
Merc may be snide but so am I !!:D
 

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So what would prevent you from carefully measuring the quantity of old fluid and replacing new fluid of the same quantity via say the fluid cooler pipes?
At the end of the day there will be an exact optimum amount.. Its just a case of knowing this..
Merc may be snide but so am I !!:D
And if you had a little leak, how much do you put back.

Not that easy, take out all of the fluid in these boxes, then you only take out 2 liters and leave 4 liters in the box and the converter.

They hold 6 liters from an initial fill , you also need the filling adapter.

Thank goodness I have the good old 5 speed
 

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I've come to the conclusion with the 7G that you really do need to take it to an indie who has experience of these boxes. There was a recent post by one of the indie members and apparently you are supposed to refill them through the drain hole. How crazy is this? Are you supposed to turn the vehicle upside down?
 

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I've come to the conclusion with the 7G that you really do need to take it to an indie who has experience of these boxes. There was a recent post by one of the indie members and apparently you are supposed to refill them through the drain hole. How crazy is this? Are you supposed to turn the vehicle upside down?

:D:D:D They use a filling adapter
 

prm

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But what stops the oil coming out when you remove the pump/adaptor to put the drain plug back in?
 

S.Speed

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You do a Tommy Cooper type of juggleing act with the filler tube and the filler plug !:)
 

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But what stops the oil coming out when you remove the pump/adaptor to put the drain plug back in?

It could be a stand pipe arrangement
 


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