'11 E350 4Matic - differential fluid change recommend.

[pezzy669]

So I have finally gotten my recently purchased (Aug 2018) '11 E350 4Matic up to my maintenance standards now with ~85k on the clock. Brake fluid has been changed and brakes bled, trans fluid changed (no torque converter drain at MB dealers), oil, air filters (cabin and engine) and I replaced a cracked windshield washer reservoir.

So the only ? mark and an item that MB does not address in the maintenance manual (except for AMG63 cars) are the front and rear differential fluids. Any recommendations whether I should just go ahead and get it done now or would it be good to lets say 100k miles which I probably won't hit for another 2-3 years.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dino01]

You should know what us OCD BITOGERS will say lolz, DO IT NOW OR THE EARTH'S CORE WILL SPLIT!

It'd definitely be fine until 100k IMO, but with that said, I'd definitely swap it all out now with OE spec'd (235.7 in yours? My CLK is 235.0) and run it at 50k intervals from here out. That's what I do with all my diffs and t-cases on applicable cars. Mercedes diffs, like all their mechanical "hard parts," have always seemed very durable, but I always like to get things freshened up like you do to establish a baseline and look for any potential underlying issues to monitor or remedy. Diffs are often forgotten about but a great thing to add to the fluid refresh regimen to make it drop of a hat cross-country road trip ready

 

[Pelican]

Since you haven't had it since new and probably you don't know what's been done to them, I'd change both, check the cost of this vs a new differential left alone two. You'd think they were made out of solid gold!

 

[The Critic]

I recommend it every 40K. Local dealer here does the same.

I use Fuchs Titan Sintopoid FE 75W-85, which is MB approved for 235.7.

 

[pezzy669]

Thanks everyone for recommend! I'll prob get this done when I get the serpentine belt, idler pulleys and tensioner replaced - squeaking while cold but sounds more like a dry bearing than a belt issue.

That 235.7 is apparently liquid gold at $35-40/quart for the Mercedes branded fluid. Hopefully the independents can use some OE fluid, I'm sure my friendly money grubbing local dealer will prob mark the fluid up to $50/quart on the service side.