7g Gearbox oil change schedule
Discussion
I have a 2013 C220cdi with the 7g gearbox. Oil was changed at 53k at approx 5 years old IIRC, car is now 9 years old and on 92k.
I believe the manual suggests change is due ONCE, not EVERY X years/miles. Lots of differing opinions online.
I am pretty sure all is well with mine, but the shifts are firmer when cold in the first few gears.
Has anyone done a second gearbox oil change and if so, did you get the garage to drain the torque converter too? Any observations afterwards with smoother shifts or just the same?
I believe the manual suggests change is due ONCE, not EVERY X years/miles. Lots of differing opinions online.
I am pretty sure all is well with mine, but the shifts are firmer when cold in the first few gears.
Has anyone done a second gearbox oil change and if so, did you get the garage to drain the torque converter too? Any observations afterwards with smoother shifts or just the same?
Not sure about 4-year suggestion.
The 7g gearboxes were usually, IIRC, a one-off change at 3-years or 46,500 miles, whichever came first.
The later 7g+ box change interval altered to every 5-years or 77,500 miles, whichever came first.
A 2013 car would almost certainly have the 7g+ box, which was introduced around about the same time as start/stop. 7g+ uses different fluid to the 7g.
In any event, the change schedule should be in the service handbook.
The 7g gearboxes were usually, IIRC, a one-off change at 3-years or 46,500 miles, whichever came first.
The later 7g+ box change interval altered to every 5-years or 77,500 miles, whichever came first.
A 2013 car would almost certainly have the 7g+ box, which was introduced around about the same time as start/stop. 7g+ uses different fluid to the 7g.
In any event, the change schedule should be in the service handbook.
TarquinMX5 said:
Not sure about 4-year suggestion.
The 7g gearboxes were usually, IIRC, a one-off change at 3-years or 46,500 miles, whichever came first.
The later 7g+ box change interval altered to every 5-years or 77,500 miles, whichever came first.
A 2013 car would almost certainly have the 7g+ box, which was introduced around about the same time as start/stop. 7g+ uses different fluid to the 7g.
In any event, the change schedule should be in the service handbook.
Thanks for confirming 7g+ made reference to hybrid drive trains but I think it means start stop as it references an electric pump which I guess is to keep the oil flowing with the engine off.The 7g gearboxes were usually, IIRC, a one-off change at 3-years or 46,500 miles, whichever came first.
The later 7g+ box change interval altered to every 5-years or 77,500 miles, whichever came first.
A 2013 car would almost certainly have the 7g+ box, which was introduced around about the same time as start/stop. 7g+ uses different fluid to the 7g.
In any event, the change schedule should be in the service handbook.
I have started getting quotes, it’s £30 more for the torque converter flush is this recommended ? Read on one post it can introduce more contaminants into the gearbox oil somehow, I thought it all mixes eventually so don’t believe that.
Mine were the older 5g boxes, but the torque converter held about 4 litres of oil, so I always had it flushed, if not you are diluting the new oil with 4 litres of used oil.
For the extra £30 it seems worth it. The Indy I used charged about £160 for the oil change and flush, depending on the cost of oil, compared to nearly £300 with the Merc dealer.
I always had the initial change at 37.5k as recommended by Mercedes, then did it every 60k miles or so after that, it always improved the smoothness of the gearchanges, and the 5g gearboxes on the three E Classes I had all did over 300k with no issues.
Mine were run as chauffeur vehicles hence the very high mileages.
My understanding is that the 7g boxes are maybe not quite so smooth and robust as the older 5g boxes so looking after them is probably a good policy.
For the extra £30 it seems worth it. The Indy I used charged about £160 for the oil change and flush, depending on the cost of oil, compared to nearly £300 with the Merc dealer.
I always had the initial change at 37.5k as recommended by Mercedes, then did it every 60k miles or so after that, it always improved the smoothness of the gearchanges, and the 5g gearboxes on the three E Classes I had all did over 300k with no issues.
Mine were run as chauffeur vehicles hence the very high mileages.
My understanding is that the 7g boxes are maybe not quite so smooth and robust as the older 5g boxes so looking after them is probably a good policy.
Unless I've completely misread it, the owner manual on my recently acquired 2016 C200 with 7G (7G+ perhaps?) gearbox says that it is due at 31,000 miles/50,000Km. Since mine has just clicked over 31,000 miles as we drove back from the dealer I'm looking into doing mine as I'm doing all my own servicing on this car. (Trade sale and I'm not bothered about MBSH as we'll keep it a long time).
The hardest thing looks to be getting the new oil back in it afterwards having watch a video of it being done: In the video the guy used a submersible pump to pump the oil into the sump. It is a bit annoying as I used to have loads of those kicking around for work, but I retired a month or so back.
I can get a kit of genuine parts and ATF for the job for £155 or so, but they only include 6 litres of ATF and I'd want to drain the torque convertor for the reasons mention above about mixing the old oil with the new. Might work out cheaper to buy a kit, then 2 x 5 Litres of ATF separately and keep the left over for top ups.
The guy on the video was doing it at about 44,000 miles in an E250 convertible, so I suppose there isn't a rush for me to do mine, but I know if I leave it then it'll get put on the back burner and forgotten about...
The hardest thing looks to be getting the new oil back in it afterwards having watch a video of it being done: In the video the guy used a submersible pump to pump the oil into the sump. It is a bit annoying as I used to have loads of those kicking around for work, but I retired a month or so back.
I can get a kit of genuine parts and ATF for the job for £155 or so, but they only include 6 litres of ATF and I'd want to drain the torque convertor for the reasons mention above about mixing the old oil with the new. Might work out cheaper to buy a kit, then 2 x 5 Litres of ATF separately and keep the left over for top ups.
The guy on the video was doing it at about 44,000 miles in an E250 convertible, so I suppose there isn't a rush for me to do mine, but I know if I leave it then it'll get put on the back burner and forgotten about...
Your gearbox might be different to mine as yours will be a W205 ? Either way seems like I need to get it done.
I’ll revert to the gearbox place that replied. £210+vat didn’t seem too bad and they’ll know what they’re doing.
I’ll go for the full flush too, just want to make sure if my gearbox is 7g or 7g+ if anyone knows how to tell definitively?
What about adaptations and software reset is this required ?
I’ll revert to the gearbox place that replied. £210+vat didn’t seem too bad and they’ll know what they’re doing.
I’ll go for the full flush too, just want to make sure if my gearbox is 7g or 7g+ if anyone knows how to tell definitively?
What about adaptations and software reset is this required ?
Yes sorry, I think mine is the 7G+ version. The owners manual is a bit vague as I may have mixed up the 'proper' AMG model with mine in the table of when things are due. Even so I think at 6 years old/31,000 miles I'll do mine anyway. £210 +VAT seems very reasonable as the kit for your model seems to be around £150 inc VAT. I'm still waiting to hear back from our local garage for a price, but I'm not convinced they will flush the torque convertor, so 4 litres of old oil will mix with the new stuff.
Seems to be some mixed options online over the box service schedule.
I could be mistaken, but doesn’t the service code appear in the cars list when a service is due ?
Accessing the service code data when it appears from the hidden menus ?
I don’t feel like I’ve explained that really well, I’m half asleep so it will have to do for now lol.
I could be mistaken, but doesn’t the service code appear in the cars list when a service is due ?
Accessing the service code data when it appears from the hidden menus ?
I don’t feel like I’ve explained that really well, I’m half asleep so it will have to do for now lol.
I've booked mine in, including the Torque Converter as I think this is worthwhile.
He has suggested it is likely a 7G+ box given it has start stop but will check.
Will give some peach of mind - I have approached a gearbox specialist rather than a Mercedes specialist - I had some work done there many years before.
Our local highly rated Mercedes specialist is crap - I have tried to give them opportunity for my business 3 times now, firstly for a service - to which they responded to my email query a month later. The second was with a faulty key, they said they don't touch them, don't have anyone to recommend (fair enough but they were so dismissive it pissed me off), and third time I have reached out for a quote on the gearbox and they haven't bothered replying either. So odd.
I find the VAG/BMW specialists are all really good, I don't seem to have a reliable Mercedes one near me so I usually go to a high street garage with a good reputation - The owner has a w204 the same as mine so knows them very well.
He has suggested it is likely a 7G+ box given it has start stop but will check.
Will give some peach of mind - I have approached a gearbox specialist rather than a Mercedes specialist - I had some work done there many years before.
Our local highly rated Mercedes specialist is crap - I have tried to give them opportunity for my business 3 times now, firstly for a service - to which they responded to my email query a month later. The second was with a faulty key, they said they don't touch them, don't have anyone to recommend (fair enough but they were so dismissive it pissed me off), and third time I have reached out for a quote on the gearbox and they haven't bothered replying either. So odd.
I find the VAG/BMW specialists are all really good, I don't seem to have a reliable Mercedes one near me so I usually go to a high street garage with a good reputation - The owner has a w204 the same as mine so knows them very well.
Be good to hear how you get on and whether you notice any difference after it's done in terms of gear change smoothness. I've just done a 280 mile drive in mine (first proper journey) and I noticed a slight 'thump' when in Eco mode, just after freewheeling and the drive goes back on, then a second later this slight thump. My previous company C220d didn't do this, but it was the later 9G gearbox. I just put it back into Comfort mode again to switch off the freewheeling feature. I still got 46mpg on the mostly motorway trip, not bad for a 2 litre petrol auto.
I'm going to order my parts from MB Newcastle as they have an eBay shop and have confirmed the exact kit I need with genuine parts; full 9 litres of ATF as I will also drain the torque convertor when I do mine. Parts will be £173 inc VAT and delivery. The money saved will pay for a pair of matching Avon tyres for the front as there is a brand new pair on the rear and some budget brand currently on the front, though only half worn as the moment I want to change them before winter.
I'm going to order my parts from MB Newcastle as they have an eBay shop and have confirmed the exact kit I need with genuine parts; full 9 litres of ATF as I will also drain the torque convertor when I do mine. Parts will be £173 inc VAT and delivery. The money saved will pay for a pair of matching Avon tyres for the front as there is a brand new pair on the rear and some budget brand currently on the front, though only half worn as the moment I want to change them before winter.
Had my gearbox and torque converter oil drained and changed today + new filter, in the end it was £252 inc VAT which I think was pretty reasonable.
I am very pleased I got it done, upshifts and downshifts (in particular) are smoother and in the case of downshifts I'm sure faster. It is definitely, noticeably better. Mine is on 92k and its second change. I'd definitely follow the 40k schedule on this gearbox.
I am very pleased I got it done, upshifts and downshifts (in particular) are smoother and in the case of downshifts I'm sure faster. It is definitely, noticeably better. Mine is on 92k and its second change. I'd definitely follow the 40k schedule on this gearbox.
t just scraped it in a car park and drove off. Not all of them have the drain on the torque converter and you don’t really know what you have until you start, oil is somewhere between 5 and 9 litres, occasionally there is a pump that needs to be removed to gain access to the torque converter, if that’s the case budget for additional oil seals - off the top of my head £60
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