Transmission Fluid Change in a 2011 ML350 W164

In this video I describe how to change the transmission fluid in a 2011 ML350, which is a W164 body style. You can see some of the subtle issues that come up when doing this job. I recommend catching all of the old fluid you drain out as a double check on the quantity of fluid that gets put back in. For removing the torque-converter drain plug you will need a 27mm socket to rotate the crankshaft and get the drain plug to appear in the window of the bell housing. I would also recommend getting a new torque converter drain plug - this was the second change in this car and the 4mm hex hole in the plug was starting to get worn. Be sure to get replacement copper crush seals for both the torque converter and pan drain plugs. Tightening torque on the 8mm torque converter plug is 10 N-m and on the 10 mm plug it is 15 N-m.

[@Wcarmn]

Excellent. I appreciate the detail without needless babble. Your information in the description is also helpful. Need to do this on my 2010 ML350. Thanks!

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Great feedback. Thank you!

[@sanhsands6132]

You guys are hero because you are saving consumers tons of money.

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Thank you for the compliment!!

[@mountaindew207]

Thanks, excelent transmission service & good video

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Thank you sir!!

[@mohamedegomaa5642]

Excellent video

[@eschrader]

Dude, this fixed my transmission surging problem at low rpm and moderate speed under load. Thank you!! Pain in the ass without ramps or a jack but I did it.

[@eschrader]

I only got 4L or less out of the pan (didn't do convertor, mine was a large torx looking bit). Added a little over 5L, idled it for 30 min and pulled the tube and a bit came out and when it trickled after a few seconds of major flow I popped a new plug in. My fcpeuro kit was correct on an 08 ML 350.

[@johnsworkshop3312]

@@eschrader that sounds like about what I got from the pan. Better safe than sorry on that torque converter plug.

[@johnsworkshop3312]

That’s awesome!! Yeah, having a lift really pays off sometimes.

[@henrysalem5516]

Thank you for the great video.

[@johnsworkshop3312]

My pleasure. Thanks for the feedback!

[@BoomerShroomer]

Great video! Very detailed.

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Drewmc78]

Great video John. Using this video to do my own ml320. Thank you.

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for commenting!

[@tjtj1566]

Hi boys, today my gorgeous ML320 CDI trans blew on us a couple minutes away from home, car went what I think was limp mode we were able to crawl into a Denny’s parking lot got there and shut motor off then fired it back up and it wouldn’t shift into gear and made terrible noises so I shut off. I’m crossing my fingers this trans flush and change will go smooth on my ml320 and will fix problem and I will try to find a leak or add trans Lucas oil. Is there any difference in steps with your 350 and the 320? Or is all w164 family interchangeable? That’s a good thing then about these Mercs different models share parts in their generation. Anyways, salutations to you gents!

[@johnsworkshop3312]

@@tjtj1566 Sorry to hear that. Not sure a trans fluid change will fix it, but worth a try. I’m thinking the 320 has the same trans as the 350, but you may want to do an internet search just to be sure. Good luck with the fluid change!

[@tjtj1566]

@@johnsworkshop3312 yes I fear that as well. I will have to get a full system scanner as my regular ODB2 does not read back anything from the TCM.

[@johnsworkshop3312]

@@tjtj1566 good plan. That will give you more confidence in your next step.

[@jasonlee771]

Great job

[@VRG171]

Where did you get the fitting for the pump that goes into the filler hole and what size is it?

[@corradokid90]

Thank you so much for making this video. If you could, please let me know where you bought that special fitting for the drain plug to pump the new fluid in with? I'm getting ready to do this on my girlfriend's ML350 next weekend, and I think that fitting will make this job a little less messy.... lol. Thank you for your time.

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Thank you for the feedback! It has been quite a while, but I think I got mine at FCP Euro. Look for a W164 transmission fill adapter.

[@workouteverycorner]

great job

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Thank you!!

[@dmonte6789]

Great video! In the beginning of your video you mentioned having 11L of the transmission fluid. Do you know how much you actually used? Most of the transmission fluid kits sell 7L of fluid. Maybe the additional change of the TC requires more?

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Thank you! The work instructions have you put 6L in first, warm it up, and then add 4 L if you have drained the torque converter So that is a total of 10L. However you do end up draining some of that back out to get the level down to the top of the stand tube.

[@mta3562]

Thanks for the video, very helpful. Where you get that drain fitting to the drain plug?

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Thank you. I ordered it quite a while ago from toolsource.com. It is a 722.9 driveline filler adapter. Part number was 105640. Hope this helps.

[@mta3562]

@@johnsworkshop3312 thank you. I saw one on Amazon

[@eschrader]

6:58 The drive pulley has a hole, align that at 12 o'clock and the Allen will be in perfect position

[@Omardottcom]

Where were able to get the instructions? Also, where were you able to get star from? Thanks

[@johnsworkshop3312]

I got the instructions from the Star system, and you can find Star systems in you go to a Mercedes forum and do a search. There seem to be several sources out there where you can purchase one.

[@TripLineUS]

Can you tell me where I can buy it?

[@user-ic5hg4tb9u]

So I changed the fluid in transmission, dark red, I have an overheated area on torque con. Under belly. P2759, suv is still operable and replacing alternator (electrical problem) any tgoughts

[@johnsworkshop3312]

I’m wondering if the overheated area is really just from the manufacturing process.

[@henryforo3566]

My 2014 ml 350 changes from first to second and second to third a little roughly sometimes depending on the speed, will changing transmission fluid do any good?

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Well, I'm not sure, but changing the transmission fluid will eliminate that as a possibility, and is relatively inexpensive compared with doing something more major.

[@eschrader]

How much fluid was in the pan drain and how much was in the torque converter drain? Thanks!

[@johnsworkshop3312]

I seem to recall about 2 liters or so in the converter.

[@ryansuarez9483]

Just for info purposes benz recommends every 40k miles for transmission. I have this exact vehicle 2009 ml 350

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Thanks Ryan for the good information. I probably should have done it sooner!

[@Mijanboy]

Mercedes is very cautious and sometimes misunderstood. For example, changing the oil every 15,000 km does not mean that it is best to change the oil (in the engine) after 15,000 km. It means maximum km per filling!!! For AT, 60,000 km = max. km. But MB also writes that if the car is under more stress, it is good to replace half as much. And in case of extreme load, shorten this interval even more!!! I've been driving with MB for 30 years and it's supported me for 20 years. In the engine, I change the oil max. after 12,000 km for AMG 8,000 km specification MB 229.5 or 229.3 (DPF etc. 229.31 - 229.51) only 0W40 or 5W40 and AT 30,000 km specification according to MB 236.xx model. Of course, unless MB says otherwise. I don't buy any expensive oils, on the contrary, the cheapest ones, but they must have Mercedes specifications and must be approved by Mercedes (see Bevo mercedes website). So far, the record is MB w124 250D T 1,603.xxx km body corrosion killed it - the engine has been running in the home tractor for 6 years. Vito w639 also has 800.xxx km. I don't listen to Mercedes if they claim to replace more than 15,000 km. I saw an oil analysis after 28,000 km - the whole laboratory came to see what demented people we are :) And a friend only listened to VW - not a single component in the oil was functional :). Good luck to you

[@joonajks]

Is this process good for a drain refill only?

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Yes. This video shows how to drain and fill, but if you did work in between it would still apply.

[@horacesawyer2487]

Nice animatronic noise 2:17 : ) Did you ever notice any slippage starting out uphill? Anyone ever add any Lucas to help this problem? A big GL is hard on a transmission. So is an ML. I have an 09 E320 diesel also doing the same thing.

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Thanks for the comment - yeah, that noise was the air coming back in as the fluid was flowing out. Pretty weird. I have not noticed any slippage starting out uphill. I would think that slippage could be caused by not having enough fluid in the transmission so that the torque converter is not completely full once the pump start pumping it in. But I think you would have to be way low on fluid for that to be the reason.

[@horacesawyer2487]

@@johnsworkshop3312 : Good points, thank you John. Now concentrating on origin of a groaning low pitch bass noise on the 2009 E320 diesel (non DEF on this one) In mild to heavy power increase, usually noticed on incline of any slope, the car has recently begun this noise. May not be readily noticeable to some drivers. Questioning if a bearing in the driveline. Never had this until I took the car to a mechanic and it was out of service for several months. Came back with some problems and some new developed. It's always something . . . But I definitely have to change that fluid in the trans.v

[@Mijanboy]

Hello from Central Europe. Please excuse my google english. I've never had an ML or GL back up on a hill even with a loaded car behind me on the trailer. Of course, if I take my foot off the brake and don't immediately put it on the gas pedal, it will definitely reverse, but I've never done that. You have low oil pressure in the transmission, that's why you are reversing. The question is why. It could be as John says - low oil. But there are many possibilities, e.g. faulty torque converter, wear of friction plates of clutches and brake belt, broken or worn piston sleeves of these sets, wear or damage of sealing rings of these sets, faulty solenoid or hydraulic valve of the hydraulic unit...etc.etc. The car needs to be properly diagnosed - I don't just mean Star diag. Try to see if there is a difference if the transmission is warm or cold. Likewise on the flat - if you stand on the brake and only then put D and again P and back to R. Does the car behave the same warm/cold? And what if you go to 3rd gear and hit the kickdown? The car will immediately downshift and fire, or it could be faster, or it won't downshift and will start slowly...I'm sorry I can't help you more. I just advise you to be consistent. Repair by trial-and-error method with MB does not pay off = it can jump to an unattractive amount. And this also concerns your second problem with the w211 320 which makes "some sound". Once an elderly man came to me with a w211 270 cdi, he also made a sound at higher revs. So bought a new turbo, then replaced all hoses and clips + new intercooler, then pulleys, water pump and alternator and nothing changed. He was at rock bottom. There was nothing left to change... I knew right away what it was (30 years with MB) but I didn't know how to say it. There was a slight exhaust on the first cylinder... I know the sound well - once I searched for 3 days and 3 nights :). Until you are 100% sure - never buy anything - and don't pay anything at the service center if they don't fix it... This is a common occurrence for us - the car is in the garage for 3 weeks for 500 USD and the garage says - so unfortunately we have not been able to find out where the problem is. And here in Europe, people pay them $500. I don't understand... you probably don't know that in the US - pay for nothing.. Good luck.

[@horacesawyer2487]

@@Mijanboy : thank you for sharing important details. Very good sir. Very kind of you.

[@user-wv5br2bn9h]

Are you in Arizona ?

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Sorry, St Louis

[@deotromundo6273]

why you changed the fluid in the first place

[@johnsworkshop3312]

The fluid was in service for about 60,000 miles so it should be replaced.

[@deotromundo6273]

@@johnsworkshop3312 thank you for replying

[@Trucker2083]

I just called mercedes dealer they want 850$ for transmission fluid change both differentials 150$ transfer case 140$

[@johnsworkshop3312]

Wow, that makes me feel good about doing it myself!! Thanks for the comment!

[@shwndh]

Same here. $850. What a ripoff