722.9 Transmission Service Kit with 6L ATF and Filter

If your C-, E-, S- or ML-Class with the 722.9 seven-speed is due for its transmission service, or it has started to shift firm from second to third and you suspect old fluid, this kit puts everything for a pan-drop service in one box. Inside are six 1-liter bottles of red ATF to MB specification 236.14 made in Germany, the internal filter, the pan gasket, a new drain plug with its seal washer, six pan bolts, a fluid guide tube and the threaded fill adapter (manufacturer kit number 22127702KIT). It is aimed at the 2004-2010 cars that left the factory on red fluid.

What this service does in a 722.9

The 722.9 has no dipstick and no conventional filler tube. Its level is set by a plastic overflow pipe that stands up inside the pan: the height of that pipe decides how much fluid stays in the transmission. Mercedes service data has you screw an adapter into the pan drain hole, pump fluid in from below, run the engine in Park, then pull the adapter at 45 C (113 F) and let the excess run out of the overflow until it only drips. That is why the adapter and guide tube in this kit matter. Without them there is no factory way to refill the unit. The filter rides on the valve body above the pan and catches clutch lining and fine metal before it reaches the solenoids and valves.

Symptoms that say a service is overdue

• Harsh or bumpy 2-3 and 3-2 shifts, especially once the car is fully warm
• Delayed engagement when shifting into Drive or Reverse after a cold start
• Torque converter shudder at light throttle on the highway
• Dark fluid with a burnt smell, or a heavy paste of debris on the pan magnet
• No service record past the factory interval, or fluid that may have been topped up with the wrong spec

How to confirm the right fluid before you buy

This is the step most people skip. Mercedes Star Bulletin S-B-00.40/89d splits the 722.9 by production date: transmissions built up to June 21, 2010 take red 236.14 fluid, while later units take blue 236.15 (or 236.16 on some engines). The bulletin states the two 722.9 oils are not compatible and must never be mixed. Check the color of what drains out, and if it is blue, order the blue 236.15 service kit instead. If you are servicing because of a shift complaint rather than mileage, read our high-mileage service checklist first so you know what fresh fluid can and cannot fix.

Fitment

The listing covers select 2004-2010 Mercedes-Benz models with the 722.9 7G-Tronic. The red fluid is correct only for transmissions built before the June 2010 change, so a 2010 model-year car can go either way. Confirm with the drained fluid color or your transmission data plate, or send us your year, model and VIN. 4MATIC cars with the 722.96x transmission also have a transfer case that is serviced separately. Everything else we carry for the 722 family is on the 722.6 and 722.9 parts page.

Install notes

• Park the car level side to side and front to back. The overflow method is only accurate when the car is level.
• Pull the drain plug, then pry the overflow pipe off its base to drain the rest. Measure what comes out so you know roughly how much to put back.
• Clean the pan and magnet with lint-free cloth and fit the new gasket dry. The service data says not to use sealant on the pan or case.
• Mercedes calls for new pan bolts, tightened to 4 Nm and then a further 180 degrees, and 22 Nm on the drain plug. Do not reuse the old bolts.
• Fill through the adapter with the engine off, start it, shift through P-R-N-D, and set the level at 45 C. Our 722.9 filter and pan service guide walks through the whole job.

Six liters covers a pan drop on its own. The 722.9 converter has its own drain screw behind a cover in the bell housing, and if you open it as well, plan on more fluid. Mercedes also says to replace the overflow pipe with one of the same color, which is not in this kit. If the car still shudders after a correct service, look at the 722.9 TCC solenoid next.

Is six liters enough for a 722.9 fluid change?

For a pan-and-filter service where the torque converter drain screw is left closed, six liters usually covers it, because the converter keeps a large share of the fluid. Measure what you drain and have one extra liter ready. A dry transmission takes about 9 liters (9.7 on 722.96x 4MATIC units) per Mercedes data.

Can I use this red 236.14 fluid in a 2011 or later 722.9?

No. Mercedes says 722.9 transmissions built after June 21, 2010 take blue 236.15 (or 236.16 on some engines), and the red and blue oils must never be mixed. Use the blue kit for later cars.

Where does the fluid go back in? I cannot find a dipstick.

There is none. The fill adapter in this kit threads into the drain hole in the pan, you pump fluid in from below, then remove the adapter at 45 C and let the overflow pipe set the level.

Do I need to reset the transmission after the service?

It is not required for a basic service, but if the car shifted poorly before, clearing the adaptation values with a Mercedes-capable scan tool lets the control unit relearn on fresh fluid.

Can I reuse the old pan bolts?

Mercedes calls for new bolts on the 722.9 pan, torqued in two stages. This kit includes six pan bolts, so compare the count with your pan and order extra if needed.

• 722.9 Filter and Pan Service
• 722.6 High-Mileage Service Checklist
• 722.6 Filter and Pan Service
• 722.6 Mercedes E Class Shift Problems: Diagnosis and Fix