auto gearboxes oil changes

[jules335500]

Had my c 180 serviced at mercedes (110,000 miles) 1998 at they did a great job at a price ofcourse but they wouldnt touch the gearbox for oil change.
Took it to my family friend Jack Daines in Norwich for gearbox oil change as Mercedes said that these boxes were sealed for life and they dont touch them. Any way oil and filter change £60 and glad i did as oil was scorched and never been changed before.Daines said best change every 18 months on autos...
please if you have an auto box just get it checked for piece of mind...re builds are £1500 upwards.

 

[MW]

I could not agree more. How can any oil last a life time when conditions vary so much. What MB are saying is that when the gearbox fails at 80-100K+ they will say well the car is 9 years old so that's not unreasonable. A new one is £2000 sir + VAT. One must do a cost benefit study. New oil about £12. New gasket and gearbox filter £12 at Europarts. Change every 30K and change the oil only at 15K, what could be easier? Inside an autobox is a hostile environment that needs clean oil.