Gearbox service???????????

[Conmac]

1. Hi all new to the forum and Mercedes. I recently purchased a 2011 c200 cdi and decided to change the gearbox fluid. I left the car with a local indy specialist and was charged £300 which included a mounting replacement. However my friend who is a general mechanic was changing the engine oil yesterday and noticed the pan looked like it hadn't been removed and therefore questions whether the filter has been changed and that it may only have been drained and refilled?? I've attached pics of the pan and gasket/seam to get opinions as to whether it looks like it had been dropped in as little as 3 weeks ago??

 

[Jim2]

1. Hi all new to the forum and Mercedes. I recently purchased a 2011 c200 cdi and decided to change the gearbox fluid. I left the car with a local indy specialist and was charged £300 which included a mounting replacement. However my friend who is a general mechanic was changing the engine oil yesterday and noticed the pan looked like it hadn't been removed and therefore questions whether the filter has been changed and that it may only have been drained and refilled?? I've attached pics of the pan and gasket/seam to get opinions as to whether it looks like it had been dropped in as little as 3 weeks ago??

If it was itself, he left a very dirty pan after him..and that definitely does not look like a new seal. If it's the 722.6 5 speed trans, your mechanic friend could dip it for you, and at least see how the fluid look's?

 

[Mark A]

The seal is old and the pan itself looks like it needs replaced as it looks as if it’s well rusted near the drain plug. When they start to rust they can become porous and leak. Had to change the pan on my other half’s 09 ML a few months ago due to this.

doesn’t even look as if there is a new drain plug washer in there. If it is a 5g box, it is possible that they have sucked out the old oil and refilled - a partial change at best and without a filter change why bother.

 

[Conmac]

The seal is old and the pan itself looks like it needs replaced as it looks as if it’s well rusted near the drain plug. When they start to rust they can become porous and leak. Had to change the pan on my other half’s 09 ML a few months ago due to this.

doesn’t even look as if there is a new drain plug washer in there. If it is a 5g box, it is possible that they have sucked out the old oil and refilled - a partial change at best and without a filter change why bother.

 

[mioba]

Should have gave the job to your mate, you have been had there, no was that seal has been replaced. As a side better get the pan replaced or that rust cleaned up, treated

 

[Conmac]

It's a 7 speed box. He said the job would consist of flushing the box then new fluid at the cost of £250 then another £50 for the new mount? So its clearly obvious the pan hasn't been dropped out at all??

 

[Conmac]

What would be the cost of a new pan?

 

[davemercedes]

I think before you do anything else, ask your friend to check what the transmission oil is like. Auto boxes are supposed to be serviced every 40K miles and this is often missed/overlooked and most engineers can get a good idea what the fluid's like (sight and smell) just from a dip.

For the future - if you update your profile with a location, someone will be able to recommend an indie near you who can do the service - including replacement of the gasket and filter - correctly and at much less than MB would charge.

 

[Jim2]

If its the 722.9 ( 7 speed ) box, only way to find out for sure would be to drop the pan again, and check if the filter is new..even if the outside of the filter looks new ( and living in ATF all its life) you wont find much visible evidence of its age, but a look at the filter internal fabric will tell a lot,,if it looks dirty or has any kind of sediment staining, then its not new. The fluid itself in the 722.9 trans, unlike in the 722.6 trans, has to have the box dropped in order to change the fluid as there is an internal level check pipe within the pan itself which has to be dislodged to allow it to be drained.

 

[Conmac]

Would be normal though to leave the old gasket in place?

 

[Wighty]

Before doing anything speak to the guy that “did the work” and say another mechanic is questioning if the filter and gasket were changed .
Give him the chance to reply before another mechanic investigates if they are new and action is taken if necessary ?

 

[Wighty]

Would be normal though to leave the old gasket in place?

No

 

[Conmac]

Thanks to all for advice folks. Dont mind paying top dollar for a decent job but got a bit of a shock when shown this yesterday.

 

[Mark A]

What would be the cost of a new pan?

£67.80 from MB Newcastle on eBay.

 

[Conmac]

£67.80 from MB Newcastle on eBay.

Cheers Mark.

 

[joderest]

have to agree about the pan, does not look long for this world, rust has eaten away some tin, so even if rubbed down and treated, tin there would be thinner. As its near the drain plug, would also weaken the plug screw in the pan.

 

[Conmac]

have to agree about the pan, does not look long for this world, rust has eaten away some tin, so even if rubbed down and treated, tin there would be thinner. As its near the drain plug, would also weaken the plug screw in the pan.

Would you say theres been a new filter put in there 3 weeks ago judging by the pics??

 

[Wighty]

It's a 7 speed box. He said the job would consist of flushing the box then new fluid at the cost of £250 then another £50 for the new mount? So its clearly obvious the pan hasn't been dropped out at all??

If this is the 7speed box then the sump pan bolts are one time use stretch bolts that could snap if they are reused at the wrong nm (I think they break at 12nm ish ) . They should be clean and shiny if they are new

 

[Conmac]

If this is the 7speed box then the sump pan bolts are one time use stretch bolts that could snap if they are reused at the wrong nm (I think they break at 12nm ish ) . They should be clean and shiny if they are new

I'm convinced that he has possibly drained and refilled the box without touching the pan, filter, and gasket? Looks like I'll have to get the job redone to know for certain.

 

[Jim2]

Would be normal though to leave the old gasket in place?

Would not be best practice, for sure!!! But neither would it be an unknown practice for unscrupulous mechanics / workshops. With the 722,6 trans, its possible to siphon out the fluid in the pan, not so easy to do this with the 722.9 trans though. From your pics it look's completely undisturbed. I wonder if he did anything at all ( except write out the bill?)