ML/GL - would you change diffs and transfer box oils?
Discussion
I would. My GL crossed 40k miles just yesterday, but when it has its ATF changed (next service - MB seem to move the first change mileage around) I’ll change the diff and transfer case fluids. I’ve done a few high mileage MB diff fluid changes and while there’s no stated requirement, and the foul smelling dark fluid that comes out may be no worse than the sparkly clean stuff that goes in, it certainly made me feel better and can’t do any harm.
mine is due a service in about a month, can't remember which one it is but i have a MB service plan so am assuming that it will be all covered either way? mine has just ticked over 75k miles....
have either of you guys had any issues with the sport / comfort mode switch? mine has flagged up a malfunction message as its stuck in sport mode so the suspension is a bit hard, i just put some winter wheels on with a different profile etc so am not sure if that has anything to do with it?
have either of you guys had any issues with the sport / comfort mode switch? mine has flagged up a malfunction message as its stuck in sport mode so the suspension is a bit hard, i just put some winter wheels on with a different profile etc so am not sure if that has anything to do with it?
I have mine set on comfort all the time, although I do "test" the other settings from time to time. So far, no issues.
I also test the low range, diff lockers and suspension height adjust - they don't get used in anger very often but I'm concerned in case they atrophy through lack of use.
I had to have the air suspension pump replaced when I bought it at 38K miles which surprised me, however I don't expect to have to do that again - ever really. The car had a few things that weren't right for a 38K miler. I had them all put right and it's been golden ever since...
... except for the underbody protection plates which clunk upon hard braking. Mercedes once put a sticky rubber strip between the ends (where one plate overlaps another) which stopped it but I had Halfords replace the exhaust sensors at one point, and they must not have replaced them properly. This is on the list for when it goes to Merc in a couple of weeks.
I also test the low range, diff lockers and suspension height adjust - they don't get used in anger very often but I'm concerned in case they atrophy through lack of use.
I had to have the air suspension pump replaced when I bought it at 38K miles which surprised me, however I don't expect to have to do that again - ever really. The car had a few things that weren't right for a 38K miler. I had them all put right and it's been golden ever since...
... except for the underbody protection plates which clunk upon hard braking. Mercedes once put a sticky rubber strip between the ends (where one plate overlaps another) which stopped it but I had Halfords replace the exhaust sensors at one point, and they must not have replaced them properly. This is on the list for when it goes to Merc in a couple of weeks.
My car also stays almost all the time in comfort mode, I just use sport mode now and again, and like Watchman just flick it on to “exercise” it occasionally. Never had a problem with the mode switch. Do your winter wheels have TPMS sensors (assuming the summer wheels do) as I imagine that may upset things?
On the service activities, I haven’t checked the schedule but on RWD cars only AMG variants were scheduled for a change of diff oil last time I checked, so I wouldn’t be certain that the major service saw diffs and transfer box oil changed as a matter of course. Certainly diff changes are very straightforward to DIY if you can get the car in the air.
On the service activities, I haven’t checked the schedule but on RWD cars only AMG variants were scheduled for a change of diff oil last time I checked, so I wouldn’t be certain that the major service saw diffs and transfer box oil changed as a matter of course. Certainly diff changes are very straightforward to DIY if you can get the car in the air.
Mine is an X164 and doesn't have TPMS - it has TPS which utilises the ABS sensors to determine if any tyres have a different rolling radius. Makes it so much simpler messing about with different wheels and tyres but I can't get an instantaneous pressure readout from the dashboard as I'm led to believe the TPMS-equipped cars can.
I think, for the sake of adding it to the major service items bill, I'll just let Mercedes change the diff fluids too.
I think, for the sake of adding it to the major service items bill, I'll just let Mercedes change the diff fluids too.
do you think that TPMS sensors could mess with it? as basically one of the rims on the 20" wheels developed a crack on the inside of the rim which caused the tyre to loose pressure quickly which set them off etc...... so i put a set of winters on which i had ready for the cold weather. these were made up with a set of rims that someone gave me and some "new" second hand tyres etc, as far as i know they wouldn't have had any sensors put on (i actually don't really know / understand how that all works)
the fault developed about a week after i put them on, i generally drive in normal mode and then add comfort on the motorway, which i did the weekend before it gave me a malfunction issue.....
can you add the tpms sensors to any tyre?
cheers
the fault developed about a week after i put them on, i generally drive in normal mode and then add comfort on the motorway, which i did the weekend before it gave me a malfunction issue.....
can you add the tpms sensors to any tyre?
cheers
i am going to have to get two outer rear sensors switched as they not working, nav eyou guys changed any? am guessing the replacements are standard?
my finance deal ends i may next year so i may trade up to a newer version, do you know if the newer ones are a decent step up.... am thinking 13 / 14 plate.....
cheers
my finance deal ends i may next year so i may trade up to a newer version, do you know if the newer ones are a decent step up.... am thinking 13 / 14 plate.....
cheers
I only thought TPMS sensors as it seems a likely thing if it coincided with the wheel change. I don’t know how the ECU works, but I can imagine a missing or erroneous signal would upset the car’s thinking and willingness to change modes etc..
I bought some 20” winter wheels and tyres from a German eBay seller and they too came with TPMS sensors, but I think they can be fitted to any wheel.
My car is a 15 plate GL X166, owned for two years and it’s just passed 40k miles, having bought it with only 19k miles. I’ve never driven a X164, but certainly my car seems very well screwed together and apart from drop links being replaced as a recall, nothing’s gone wrong.
I bought some 20” winter wheels and tyres from a German eBay seller and they too came with TPMS sensors, but I think they can be fitted to any wheel.
My car is a 15 plate GL X166, owned for two years and it’s just passed 40k miles, having bought it with only 19k miles. I’ve never driven a X164, but certainly my car seems very well screwed together and apart from drop links being replaced as a recall, nothing’s gone wrong.
I've had the diff and transfer box fluids changed on our 2015 X166 recently. We've got 140k miles on it and it just seemed to make sense to me.
Cost me £150 each for the rear axle and transfer case at my local dealer. You may get it cheaper elsewhere, not sure.
Cost me £150 each for the rear axle and transfer case at my local dealer. You may get it cheaper elsewhere, not sure.
Edited by StephenP on Monday 4th November 21:06
andyleeds said:
mine is due a service in about a month, can't remember which one it is but i have a MB service plan so am assuming that it will be all covered either way? mine has just ticked over 75k miles....
99.9% certain the diff and transfer case are not part of the service plan, but the gearbox oil is.I have an early 7G transmission and there is (possibly anecdotal) advice to change the ATF only once in the life of the car to avoid slip. The idea being that if you flush a second time then there is insufficient friction material residue in the fluid to avoid slip... Presumably friction modifier isn't enough.
Is the manufacturer advice for newer gearboxes to replace the ATF more than once?
Is the manufacturer advice for newer gearboxes to replace the ATF more than once?
andyleeds said:
StephenP
How do you find the reliability of the x166 with those sort of miles on it? I think the x164 electric is a bit fragile and mine has done about half the miles yours has....
I'll probably regret jinxing it but it's been pretty flawless throughout it's life. We've had it from new (2015) and spec'd it pretty highly (intelligent lighting, pano roof, off-road pack, climate control, multi-contour seats, lane assist, parking pack, TV tuner, ambient lighting, TPMS, etc,etc) so not short of electronics!How do you find the reliability of the x166 with those sort of miles on it? I think the x164 electric is a bit fragile and mine has done about half the miles yours has....
To be fair our previous X164 was nearly as good and of a similar spec (so similar, most people didn't notice we'd replaced it!). It suffered only a couple of mechanical issues in it's 110k miles/8 years before we traded it for the new one. The turbo had an issue with a non-replaceable sensor a couple of weeks before we handed the car back to pick up the X166 and it was replaced under our extended warranty. It seems the fault was getting worse over time but we had the Brabus chip fitted from new and that did an amazing job of compensating!
When the workshop unplugged it, the car wouldn't run but when they plugged it back in it was fine .....
P.S. One thing to watch out for on the X164 is corrosion on the lip of the rear arches, caused by the massive rear tyres "shot blasting" the paintwork! Ours was fixed by Mercedes FOC and they added stonechip paint beneath the final colour.
Our current X166, now with just over 140k miles, in cavansite blue with light/dark grey interior. We've decided this car will be staying with us indefinitely as it's such a good car...
and the X164 it replaced, which was almost the same blue and light grey interior...
i have grown to like the x164 but the tech is absolutely shocking when compared to comparable years..... RR Q7 etc, i think that the x166 was a big step up...... i have got an 13 plate x5 coming so the GL maybe moving on as dont really need two big cars in the stable etc......
interesting that yours has got a relatively high mileage, so am guessing you are doing 30k a year? my 11 plate has only got 75k on the clock and to be fair its done pretty well, just replaced both back shocks and will be doing the brakes soon, rear parking sensors need doing but that's about it..... GL's generally seem to be quite a lot of money when compared to their peers am guessing this is because there aren't that many about relative to the other alternatives?
interesting that yours has got a relatively high mileage, so am guessing you are doing 30k a year? my 11 plate has only got 75k on the clock and to be fair its done pretty well, just replaced both back shocks and will be doing the brakes soon, rear parking sensors need doing but that's about it..... GL's generally seem to be quite a lot of money when compared to their peers am guessing this is because there aren't that many about relative to the other alternatives?
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