Hi Fairlane500
The transmission in your 2003 XJR (X308) is a Mercedes-Benz 5G-Tronic W5A580 used in the 1997-2003 XJR (X308) & 1998-2002 XKR.
Here is the JTIS CD extract of the W5A580 Transmission drain & fill:

2003 XJR Transmission Drain & Fill.pdf

I also copied the transmission fluid information:
Fluid capacity - Transmission assembly (with torque converter) is 9.5 liters
Fluid recommended - Shell ATF 3403 - M115

I am not sure about any of the other transmission fluid that could be used in your tranmission. I have not done any research on this transmission. Other forum member probably have done it.

I found another thread where forum member Teck4Jag (1/12/2010) says:
"merc now recommends a 30k service interval on the w5a580 gear box that is used on the x308 s/c (ie XJR & XKR SuperChargered) cars".

Note: The XJR (X350) 2003.5 has a ZF6HP26 transmission (2003.5-2007).

Jim Lombardi

 

Thanks! Appreciate the information

Cheers

 

Thanks , I will add this into the FAQs

 

Available cheap at Ryder Fleet Products web site. Was $4.95/quart. Mail order.

 

On the XKR threads there was discussion of replacing the transmission fluid via the transmission cooler connector at the radiator. Does that work for the XJ8?

In the factory shop manual, the business about monitoring transmission fluid temperature seems prohibitively complicated for DIY - does the aftermarket dipstick that has been offered make it any easier? Or is there any way to determine the temperature with (say) a digital voltmeter?

 

A radiation pyrometer will give an accurate enough measurement of the pan temperature. FWIW, I found very little change in level apparent for a 30 degree F variation as read with a scantool.

 

I have to wonder what the tolerance is on the transmission level between "not enough" and "too much." A teaspoonful? A cup? a pint? A quart? Or for the metric types, 10 ml? 100 ml? One liter? That is, how accurate do we have to be during a refill?

 

I recon you've to be pretty accurate. The thing with auto boxes, if too full, sluggish shifts, so when filling it's small amounts, then check, then add a bit more then check etc etc....

When I spoke to a Jag tech about it, he'd heard the pumps clicking when going round corners in one 'box, needless to say it needed a bit of fluid!

I agree with posts on here about "as much as you can" change instead of force feeding it through the coolant lines. Just measure what you drop then add that amount, checking when cool. If it's not in the "cool zone" on the stick, just add/drop little amounts until it does.

 

I understand that the torque converter has a hole in it and you can rotate the opening to the bottom to drain the fluid out of the converter.

Can this be done with the pan attached? I guess you could tell when the hole was at the bottom because more fluid would come out the drain hole.

I guess you would rotate the engine via the crankshaft on the front of the engine?

Also, Ryder Fleet does not show the Shell ATF 3403 - M115 on their site now. ?

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vector

I understand that the torque converter has a hole in it and you can rotate the opening to the bottom to drain the fluid out of the converter

If you are referring to a drain hole, then yes, that was available until 1999 (don’t know the exact date). From 99 onwards the torque converters don’t have a drain plug anymore. There is no other way you can get fluid out, a flush would be the only way to get that fluid refreshed somewhat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer from Boston

I have to wonder what the tolerance is on the transmission level between "not enough" and "too much." A teaspoonful? A cup? a pint? A quart? Or for the metric types, 10 ml? 100 ml? One liter? That is, how accurate do we have to be during a refill?

Not sure, I always try to be as close as possible, I would say try to be as close as a cup, a pint sounds boarderline and a quart is way off.

Here is a temp/filling chart from one of the mb boards:



I noticed that with my IR Heatgun that when I measure the black pan, it shows about 10% colder temp than what the temp sensor inside the gearbox is telling.