Hi Doug,

Do you have any transmission-related diagnostic trouble codes? That could tell you if the transmission control module is recognizing any electrical or performance issues. If it were my car, I would replace all of the MaxLife ATF. More on that later.

It is possible that you have a lazy solenoid. One thing you might consider while changing your fluid and filter is to drop the valve body and replace the brown-top solenoids with the faster-acting blue-top solenoids. This makes a nice difference in the responsiveness of the transmission. The blue-top solenoids are available from Mercedes-Benz parts sources. For more information search the X100 forum.


Yes, that is a great method for flushing and replacing all of the old fluid.


Obviously, many factors go into a company's pricing strategies, but one important factor is economy of scale. The more fluid a manufacturer can sell, the lower the price it can afford to sell it at and make an acceptable profit. Apparently, Valvoline's strategy is to claim their MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF is suitable in dozens if not hundreds of different transmissions for which the transmission manufacturers specify very different fluids with very different properties. On the other hand, no DIY customer is likely to buy a Mercedes-approved 236.14 fluid to put in their Honda or Ford, so the market for 236.14 fluids is much smaller. Also, automakers like Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz naturally prefer that their vehicles be serviced in their dealerships, so part of their service fluids pricing strategy is to discourage the do-it-yourselfer.

Regarding Valvoline MaxLife Multi-Vehicle ATF, one thing we've learned is that Valvoline cannot be trusted regarding the specifications its fluids are claimed to meet. Apparently, they are able to offer fluids at lower prices by compromizing the formulations to make them "suitable" or "just good enough" for use in a wide variety of vehicles. But a fluid "good enough" for use in so many gearboxes can't possibly be optimal for use in any of them.

For example, Valvoline claims its MaxLife Import Multi-Vehicle Transmission Fluid is suitable for use in ZF 3-speed, 4-speed, 5-speed, 6-speed, 8-speed and 9-speed transmissions. Yet ZF insists that the 3-/4-, 5-, 6-, and 8-/9-speed boxes require four different fluids, and if you check the Material Data Safety Sheets for those fluids, you'll find that their chemical properties are quite different from one another.

As another example, Valvoline claims that this same fluid is suitable for use in Ford vehicles that require Mercon SP, Mercon V, Mercon LV and Mercon C (for CVTs!). Yet Ford insists that these fluids are not interchangeable and, for example, Mercon LV must never be used in a transmission that requires Mercon V, and vice-versa, and Mercon C must never be used in a conventional transmission! By the way, Mercon SP is equivalent to ZF Lifeguard 6, which is VERY differrent from Lifeguard 5, yet Valvoline claims their fluid is a suitable replacement for both!

Since transmission fluid-related damage tends to happen over many thousands of miles, I personally would recommend replacing the MaxLife with an approved fluid. There are sellers on eBay who offer 4- and 5-liter jugs or sets of 10 or 12 liters at "reasonable" prices. Most recently I found the best price on Shell ATF 134.

Cheers,

Don

 

hispeed42 put me on to this a couple of years ago when he and I were conversing about the blue tip upgrade he had done on his 722.6.

If you do the blue tip upgrade, you may find your shifting to be a bit harsh or not. Good thing is, this is an "driver adaptive" unit, it learns from your driving habits and there is a procedure to reset so it can restart learning your driving habits. You can do this just to clear the memory as well.

(this is from the boys at Mercedes)...
(1) switch OFF the climate control and radio....I would add to this, just for insurance, shut off your Sport mode button.
(2) close ALL doors.
(3)Turn Ignition key to all dash lights ON position (not as far as start though)
(4) Press and hold the accelerator to the floor for 20 seconds.
(5)with Accelerator still to the floor, turn the key to the OFF position DONT REMOVE IT YET.
(6) Slowly lift your foot off the accelerator.
(7) Sit for 2 minutes DONT TOUCH ANY SWITCHES.
(8) Remove the ignition key and exit the car.
I'm adding (9)...do not open the doors until the 2 minutes is up...you are resetting the ECU learning sequence and opening the door and/or operating other items will interfere with that.

I've also read where one guy does this about every 6 months because of his city driving, ....which you can image, is eratic at best....but that's a personal choice.
This is also a good operation to perform if you've just gotten your R kitty and don't want someone else's habits.

I was thinking this may be something good to put in the "How To" Sticky section.

 

Don, thanks for the very thorough and definitive responses. No DTCs on the beast. One aspect I forgot to mention is that sometimes the shifts are crisp even under very light load, and other times I get that slushy shift. It varies whether cold or hot - can't determine a pattern at all. I'll start a search for proper fluid and the blue-top solenoids you mentioned - I definitely prefer a crisper shift. And thanks HH for the reset procedure, though I'm not sure the ECU will ever learn my driving style. Ever since I discovered the beast was maxing out at 62% WOT and reset it to 96%, I find myself going from leisurely cruise mode to not so leisurely - all the time and for no good reason.

 

I added to turn off your Sport mode button for insurance....as for it learning your driving style, I guess you'll just have to find out...

 

I find my driving style is often dependent upon the driving circumstances I find myself in at the moment.
Just the other day I was in a turning lane at a light that did not seem to know how to turn green, and as
I had ample room to pull into the next lane, with no cars coming I pulled into the adjacent lane. Just as I
did, a perky yellow Mach 1 Mustang decided to pull into the lane from his lane which was going about 40
MPH. Needless to say, if I had not floored it, I would be sporting a wounded back end on the Duchess.
He was not impressed and confronted me at the gas station I pulled in to.