W208 Atf Change & Service Parts

[Mr Teddy Bear]

I'm in the process of having a fluid & filter change plus f/disc's and pad's.
At 77kmiles the fluid has been reported as black & needed changing.
The box changed smoothly with just a slight whine when cold.
A point worthy of note is that the sump pan is held on by bolts and some sort of cast ally' clip, one of these was corroded and required replacement.
This if left might have leaked.

After listening to the advice offered here, I specified FULLY SYNTHETIC ATF.
EuroParts could only offer a semi synthetic product hence I visited the parts
counter of the local dealer. The ATF is labeled up as a Mercedes product.

I took the opportunity to double up on Pan Joints and filters so as to make a comparison. The joints look as if they came off the same machine, the filter
different manufacturer but apart from that looked identical.

I know that when I changed the plugs that the ones from Euro were identical
to those I took out apart from a M in front of the part number.
What are other members opinions regarding OEM/Pattern Parts and the problems posed by Fake Parts which are reputedly unfit for purpose, often
even dangerous ?

T.B

 

[BlackC55]

You just have to use your good judgement when you have the product in your hand. If in any doubt buy OEM.

Euro are great for some parts but terrible for others.

 

[Blobcat]

MB parts are not always as expensive as you may think. They are also guaranteed to fit.

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Yes I realise that Blobcat, thanks for pointing out my mistake over the antifreeze I learnt some thing there.
I would'nt use Halfords stuff myself, possibly you don't 'do it your self' I'm not
sure. Their 5year stuff was £8 for 2L thats diluted and sold as coolant!

I use the VAG Purple stuff in the Merc' which is fill for life. Not cheap but good.

My purchase's from the dealer came to around the £100.00 figure, ok as a
club member I could save 10 %, but the sump joint and filter from Euro were
half the vat ex' price.
The fluid was branded as Mercedes however I don't believe that Daimler/Chyrsler own their own oil refining blending facility and hence will be
a 'bought in' item. As I dont read/speak German I can not tell if it says Fully Synthetic or not. All commonality items will be 'bought in' from specilist high
volume subcontractors irrespective of the Brand Name on the component.

I would never buy (for example) plugs, filters, common suspension and brake
parts from a Dealers Parts Store when a litttle investigation can provide a
comparable part, at a significant cost saving.

This is my opinion anyway.
Cheers,
TB

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

I forgot to add that back in the '80s I ran a Ford Escort and bought a lot of
consumables from the local dealer. It eventually dawned on me as I worked
in the 'Trade' back then, that a lot of this gear:-? was not genuine FoMoCo.
I should add that I lived in Chesterfield and worked in Nottm so could talk to
people using different agents.

Over the past 10 years I believe that there has been a issue with dangerous
fake vehcile parts in the European Market which necessitated the EU Directive
stipulating that genuine pattern parts, brake pads for example should comply
with the OE Spec'.
I'm not a EU Directive Anorak, just something a remember reading on a leaflet
in a Brake Pad Box from a High Street Car Parts Store( not for 1450 kgs and 190 BHP of CLK by the way)

Cheers.
Teddy Bear without his car

 

[Blobcat]

Yes I realise that Blobcat, thanks for pointing out my mistake over the antifreeze I learnt some thing there.
I would'nt use Halfords stuff myself, possibly you don't 'do it your self' I'm not
sure. Their 5year stuff was £8 for 2L thats diluted and sold as coolant!

I use the VAG Purple stuff in the Merc' which is fill for life. Not cheap but good.

My purchase's from the dealer came to around the £100.00 figure, ok as a
club member I could save 10 %, but the sump joint and filter from Euro were
half the vat ex' price.
The fluid was branded as Mercedes however I don't believe that Daimler/Chyrsler own their own oil refining blending facility and hence will be
a 'bought in' item. As I dont read/speak German I can not tell if it says Fully Synthetic or not. All commonality items will be 'bought in' from specilist high
volume subcontractors irrespective of the Brand Name on the component.

I would never buy (for example) plugs, filters, common suspension and brake
parts from a Dealers Parts Store when a litttle investigation can provide a
comparable part, at a significant cost saving.

This is my opinion anyway.
Cheers,
TB

There is a list of oils and ATF on these two threads.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=19165

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=25558

With regard to the suspension components for a lot of Mercedes there are many many possible springs / shocks / spacers and only with your Vin is the dealer able to decode exactly which is the correct combination for your car.

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Your a man of few words Blobcat.