Gearbox Oil Change C320 CDi

[Paulopt2248]

My local Mercedes dealer in Suffolk has just quoted me £295 for an oil and filter change on the 7G auto box fitted to my C320 CDi. I am told the job takes several hours.

The oil and filter change is recommeded at 39,000 mls and it then apparantly does not need changing again for the life of the gearbox!.

Can any member tell me if this is a reasonable charge for this work??.


Regards Paul

C320 CDi

 

[television]

Probably OK for an MB dealer and £100 less from an indie.

It should be done at every 40-50k miles through oput the life of the car

 

[colechelle]

you need the right tools, no dip stick or tube, need star as well due to level only being correct at 40c, also need a pump to pump the fuild into the drain hole, been waiting for this one to crop up!!

 

[moosehead]

I just had some warranty work done on my 7G and they changed the fluid as part of this. The procedure sounds an absolute nightmare with them having to keep the car in overnight and checking it the following morning. Definitley not a DIY job and probably needing an indie with 7G experience.

 

[stumo]

And make sure they use the latest new fluid (236.14) instead of the recently superseeded new fluid (236.12).

 

[Rasputin]

My local Mercedes dealer in Suffolk has just quoted me £295 for an oil and filter change on the 7G auto box fitted to my C320 CDi. I am told the job takes several hours.

The oil and filter change is recommeded at 39,000 mls and it then apparantly does not need changing again for the life of the gearbox!.

Can any member tell me if this is a reasonable charge for this work??.


Regards Paul

C320 CDi

Here is an article by Kim Langley

There is a lot of hype out there that the mere mortal does not posses the technical skills to change the transmission fluid on his/her Benz and there is a cadre out there saying it's as easy as an oil change. I am of the opinion that it is somewhere between the two. The procedure is more complex than an oil change but certainly within the grasp of the majority of DIY'ers.

Tech Specs:

• Mercedes 722.6 transmission
• Transmission Pan torx bolts[6ea]: ~106 inch/lbs
• Torx Bolt : #30
• Transmission Drain Plug: 5mm hex at ~18 ft/lbs
• Torque Converter drain plug: 5mm hex at ~20 ft/lbs
• Camshaft pulley nut : 27mm

Tools Required:

• Jackstands 4ea
• Floor jack
• #30 torx socket
• 5mm hex socket
• Socket wrench with extensions
• Torque wrench > inch pounds [106 in/lbs]
• Torque wrench > 20 ft/lbs
• 27 mm socket
• Long breaker bar
• Mercedes transmission dipstick tool [Fastlane - J2024-110887]
• AT Filter [Fastlane - J000-56367]
• Infrared thermometer
• Long Neck funnel fits transmission tube
• Rags
• 7-9 liters of MB transmission fluid [Fastlane - Z8001-107773]

Procedure:

1. Jack up the Benz as far as possible [front and rear] and support with jack stands. Benz on flat ground I like to use a 6 x 6 piece of plywood to act as a buffer between the Benz and the jack stand]

2. Good idea to put down a good layer of newspaper/cardboard under the Benz to catch spillage

3. As far as I know the transmission can be drained either cold, warm or hot. I drained mine warm.

4. Start draining with the transmission pan drain plug. It's quite obvious. 5mm hex. You should get about 3 liters of fluid out. After the pan has drained, detach the pan via #30 torx [6 bolts]. There will still be about a half-inch of fluid in the pan so be careful [unless you like tranny-oil

5. You can examine the color, smell of the transmission fluid and get an idea as to the status of your transmission > see the color of money article. Additionally, it's good to note any metal particulates in the bottom of the pan. Clean the pan with a lint-free cloth you don't want to induce any unwanted stuff into the system.

6. Remove transmission filter. It's just pressed into position no hardware holding it in position > note it's location before removing though.

7. Drain torque converter. The torque converter is located forward [towards front of car]of the transmission pan in a sort-of oval housing. Unless the drain plug stopped in the down position, you will have to have someone turn the engine over to rotate the torque converter. Turning the engine over is accomplished by using a 27mm socket on a long breaker bar placing the 27mm on the crankshaft pulley nut and gently rotating the engine clockwise. Since the rear wheels are off the ground- should rotate easily. Obviously, you don't want to break the crankshaft pulley nut loose just rotate the crank which rotates the torque converter.

8. With the torque converter drain plug in the down position use a 5mm hex with an extension and unscrew. You'll get another 3 liters of old tranny fluid out of the torque converter.

9. After everything is drained it's time to install a new transmission filter, reinstall the drain plugs and secure the pan back to the transmission. Torque to 106 inch pounds [not a lot of torque]

10. I found that the transmission pan gasket was still quite serviceable it's a rubber affair and quite well-constructed unlike most typical US gaskets > so I reused the old gasket.

11. The reinstall of the transmission filter was not exactly elegant You get the filter in position, hope it stays attached, and quickly put the pan into position.

12. Ok, tranny drain plug in, torque converter drain plug in, tranny pan attached .

13. Clear-out all stuff under your Benz and lower off of jackstands.

14. Now it's time to pour in new transmission fluid. Obviously > use only the correct Mercedes Benz fluid > .

15. I poured in six liters and took the Benz on a short/medium drive to get the transmission warmed up. I wrapped a rag around the tranny tube > used a long neck funnel and slowly poured the fluid in.

16. With the engine running, car in Park, > use the infrared thermometer and ping the tranny pan the pan should be the same temp as the fluid inside.

17. Unclip the red plastic piece on the transmission cap and remove the cap.

18. Using the MB dipstick tool check the fluid level.

19. This is where the purists' note that only a shop with the special MB diagnostic star-gizmo can perform the procedure.

20. I maintain that if my infrared thermometer says the tranny pan/fluid is at 80degrees Celsius, and the tranny fluid level on the special MB dipstick tool is at the top mark at 80 C, then I am good to go. I have filled the proper amount of fluid. I used 7.3 liters of fluid for the change.

21. It should be noted that the MB dipstick tool reads from the bottom up. That is, stick it all the way in and pull it out, read the fluid level. You will have a good 8 inches of dipstick hanging out the transmission tube overhanging the engine remember it's a tool...not a dipstick.

22. Some of you are going to be griping: Man, I gotta buy a special dipstick tool, a blinking infrared thermometer...a 25 inch breaker bar...too much gingle for this gig. Let me impart my tools-are-free philosophy. It goes...an indie shop wanted $125 to do a tranny fluid change and that's with me providing the filter and fluid. So I spent $69.00 for a infrared thermometer and $30 for a dipstick tool.. I purchased the correct tools so I could perform the task correctly so with my labor [$0] and special tools purchase $99 I managed to get the job done for less than what a shop would charge for it.


- Kim Langley

 

[colechelle]

wrong gear box, thats the early one!!

 

[Blobcat]

I had mine changed at the last service, no issues £440 inc a service at my main dealer (with MBOA & Blobcat discount) and according to the service book it is a one off at 40K miles - Malcolm where do you get the every 40-50K miles recommendation from?

 

[mg-paul]

Just took my new (to me) C320CDI (2005) for it's 2nd service (1st one for me) and was quoted £220. But then an hour into it was phoned to say it needed the transmission oil and filter change. Was told it would be another £200 but this would not need doing again for the life of the car.

Mind you also told it needed a new air filter (another £70).

Seemed a lot at first but doesn't sound too bad since it is the local main dealer.

 

[Rory]

Just took my new (to me) C320CDI (2005) for it's 2nd service (1st one for me) and was quoted £220. But then an hour into it was phoned to say it needed the transmission oil and filter change. Was told it would be another £200 but this would not need doing again for the life of the car.

Mind you also told it needed a new air filter (another £70).

Seemed a lot at first but doesn't sound too bad since it is the local main dealer.

The work is all valid but it's really deceptive of Mercedes to structure it so that you go in thinking it's going to cost £220 and it ends up being £500.

 

[124coupe]

The work is all valid but it's really deceptive of Mercedes to structure it so that you go in thinking it's going to cost £220 and it ends up being £500.

This will have been the old "we need to connect it up to Star before we know what it needs but guess at £200 ish" scam.

Unless they are gormless, they should have known at booking in time the ATF change was needed purely from the mileage of the car.

The V6 TDI air filters (there are 2) were originally changed when the cluster warning came on but now the dealers seem to be working to the-service-before-each-30,000 miles.

 

[busby20]

I had mine changed at the last service, no issues £440 inc a service at my main dealer (with MBOA & Blobcat discount) and according to the service book it is a one off at 40K miles - Malcolm where do you get the every 40-50K miles recommendation from?

The following is a Q.& A. blog from an auto transmission specialist that services / repairs / re-manufactures transmissions and gearboxes in my area, (my slk230 is currently in getting the gearbox "re-manufactured" but it went in initially for a diagnostic and service - which was to cost around £220, but is now costing £1945!)

Q How much does it cost to service my transmission ?

A Most makes and models can be serviced for a fixed price of £99.88 inc vat.

Q How long does it take to service my transmission ?

A We advise that your car will be with us for approximately 2 hours.

Q How often should my transmission be serviced ?

A It varies according to make and model, driving conditions etc however as a general rule, a normal car driving in stndard conditions should have the transmission serviced every 24,000 miles. Vehicles with factory filled synthetic oil can have the interval extended to around 80,000 miles. Obviously hard working vehicles should be serviced more often.

Q What does an automatic transmission service consist off ?

A Again varies between models, generally the transmission sump is removed, filter changed, sump washed, gaskets replaced and any adjustments made. The unit is then refilled with fresh oil, road tested and checked for leaks. Servicing the automatic transmission on a regular basis gives us the opportunity to spot and rectify any potential problems before they turn into a crisis.

Q What is the main cause of automatic transmission failure?

A Overheating is the number 1 cause of automatic transmission failure. An automatic transmission is cooled via the engine cooling system, therefore if the vehicles radiator or cooling system is not functioning 100% the transmission life span will be drastically reduced.

Q How long will my car be off the road when the transmission is being reconditioned ?

A In most cases the car will be back on the road within four working days.

Q The automatic transmission fitted to my car is called " sealed for life " what does this mean ?

A "Sealed for life" only means that the automatic transmission has been factory filled with synthetic oil. It does not mean that the transmission cannot be repaired, overhauled or remanufactured.

Q The automatic transmission warning light is illuminated and flashing and the car is sluggish, what does this mean?

A Normally that means that an electrical malfunction has occured, the automatic transmission is controlled by an ECU (computer). If the ECU recognises a fault in the system the ECU shuts down and puts the transmission into default (normally 3rd gear). The transmission ECU takes readings from various engine sensors, brake sensors, tempreture readings etc before calculating and optimising gear selection. Therefore if the warning light is on the actual fault may not be in the transmission itself but in a engine or brake sensor. However the vehicle should be taken to a specialist ASAP for diagnosis.

Q Why does it cost so much for an Automatic transmission repair?

A Most don't, around 60% of the vehicles we repair have some form of electrical fault, which after diagnosis is relatively inexpensive to repair.

 

[S.Speed]

busby20... What an excellent read..
It sounds so full of common sense to me..
A friend of mine with a Renault Clio Auto has just had the Gearbox ECU recoded be a specialist.. I asked why this needed to be done..
You wont beleive the answer..
They reconed the Gearbox ECU programming had been "wiped" be electro-magnetic interference from Supermarket car parks and the likes..

Does this sound possible??
To me its just so weird that it may just be true..
Apparently its a known issue with Renault on this model..
Now I am not a Physics PhD student but surely Renault (or any other car manufacturer) could devise some form of sheilding.. How about perforated zinc around the ECU ?

Sorry I have hijacked the thread with my ramblings...

 

[124coupe]

I would suggest that the fluid change when COMBINED with the service should be nearer £200 than £300.

The labour includes prepping the car but when done as part of a service it will already be up in the air and connected to Star with the codes read out.

Negotiate....

 

[rapide]

well rasputin it may be the wrong box for the other guy but its the same as mine! so many thanks for your pictorial demo! all the best Rap.

 

[whiting1960]

My local Mercedes dealer in Suffolk has just quoted me £295 for an oil and filter change on the 7G auto box fitted to my C320 CDi. I am told the job takes several hours.

The oil and filter change is recommeded at 39,000 mls and it then apparantly does not need changing again for the life of the gearbox!.

Can any member tell me if this is a reasonable charge for this work??.


Regards Paul

C320 CDi

Just had my E320 at the main dealer and he told me that all boxes are checked , oil and filter changed at 37500 miles and then not touched again This was the only time it was changed?? the charge was £300
RegardsWhiting1960

 

[television]

Just had my E320 at the main dealer and he told me that all boxes are checked , oil and filter changed at 37500 miles and then not touched again This was the only time it was changed?? the charge was £300
RegardsWhiting1960

They are a little out of date,, the box fluid was only ever changed when the car is on assist, cars not on this do not get the fluid changed.

It is well known now that the fluid is best changed ever 40k miles.

welcome to the forum

The dealer charged you £300 the indies charge £135

 

[Rory]

The dealer charged you £300 the indies charge £135

Bear in mind we're talking about the 7 speed box here and it's an awkward job as there's no filler tube / dip stick. Will the indie's really do it for £135?

 

[television]

Bear in mind we're talking about the 7 speed box here and it's an awkward job as there's no filler tube / dip stick. Will the indie's really do it for £135?

Sorry just a touch higher, you do need star to check the levels as you go, as much is temperature related

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

For a 722.6 gearbox oil and filter change is around £120

For a 7G gearbox is £165 simply because it takes longer to do.

There is no set interval for changing gearbox fluid after the initial 37.5k miles but we are seeing more and more gearbox faults and shift issues caused by poor oil quality that it is best to change every 40k from when it was last done. Its not a huge outlay and could prolong the life of the gearbox. Prevention is always better than cure.