Hello everyone. I'm a new member to the forum and need some help. The car has hit 5 years and 75,000 miles and I would like to take care of the spark plugs/coolant/transmission fluid now. I did a quick search, but didn't have much luck. I'm sure someone has written a descriptive narrative on how to perform these maintenance tasks. Could someone post a link or tell me what to search for specifically. Also would like to know if there is anything else I should change out at this time.

 

S281ETT Welcome to the Forum
Go to the How to thread and scroll down there are a lot of different topics on about anything you can think of that should get you started in the right direction and again WELCOME TO THE FORUM ! GOOD LUCK.

 

I tried looking through all the pages and could not find anything on flushing the coolant or transmission fluid. If I have missed something could someone post a link. I did find a tutorial on changing out the plugs. I can't beleive the car uses 12 plugs. Bad enough I have to use 8.5 quarts or oil.

 

Beaner has over 100,000 miles on his car - bought it at about 80,000. You might PM him and see what he has found out.
He does not appear to hesitate to jump into his car and set out on 1,000 mile trips, either.

I do know that I have read that MB says that the trans fluid is to be changed at something like 60,000 miles ... but THEN they go on to say that, after that service, the transmission is "good for the life of the car". I am not sure what to make of that comment, as many cars can go 200,000 or more.

There are threads about changing the plugs - does not sound like a fun job for about the last 5 or 6 plugs!

My XF is not the first thing I've driven with two plugs per cylinder... My Ford Ranger holds only 5 quarts of oil, but it's four cylinder engine has two mags and 8 plugs.

 

For the plugs your going to need a couple extensions and a joint. You also going to need to be in a good mood frustration will set in quick. The tranny im pretty sure has a drain plug on the bottom of it and the filler is on the top that little cover with the MB logo on it. Use the search button it works great. The fluid has to be the right kind made for the crossfire, slk, and i think the sprinter. I'm not sure about the coolant never done that on the crossfire. The how to thread section also has a link to a diy website for the crossfire and the slk. I use that all the time just go down to the index link and type in transmission for the search word. Its a great source.

http://homepage.mac.com/gregmeach/XF...ubrication.pdf

 

I just recently had my Transmission serviced (new fluid /filter 50,000 ) at the dealer charged me 159.00 , Trany shifts a lot tighter now great improvement ,,as far as the coolant I will tackel that myself when I get time .....

 

The MT6 is maintenance free -- the auto calls for a transmission fluid change at 80k, then it's good "for life". I'll probably change brake fluid and coolant, MT6 fluid, plugs, etc around 80-100k. With 34k on a 4-year old car, I have a while to go (only drove it 3k this summer).

 

I have just over 90k on mine right now. I had the oil changed on time, plus the transmission fluid changed and the spark plugs done at 75k.

Just be prepared for the sticker shock on the plugs. They are in the neighborhood of $25 each. What's nice is that the plugs have coil packs so they don't need replacement.

The mech that worked on my car said the transmission takes a lot of time to do since they have to put the car on a rack so they can rotate the drive shaft after they add fluid. They add some, then rotate the shaft, add more, rotate again, etc. Pain in the butt, but it gets the fluid into all of the crevices and areas of the transmission properly.

They handle all kinds of high end cars, but I'm the only XF. However, they do a lot of custom stuff and back up their work without question.

I guess we are fortunate, he was telling me the new mercedes can cost $5k per wheel when it comes time to change the brakes/rotors as they are not meant to be changed like normal cars, a total replacement (rotor, brakes, pads, calipers, the whole thing). My $230 for the front brakes I just had changed doesn't sound so bad.

 

$25, can't I use the NGK Iridium. They were like $7.00 each. Too bad I needed 12 of them.

 

Yes, you can use the Iridium plugs. Needswings and Eurocharged sell them. Better price....

 

Well the plugs, tranmission fluid, coolant, belt, and fuel filter were all changed. She drives like new again. Now I just need to find a 3M restoration kit for my headlights.

 

Why does this document say 6.1 quarts oil & 5w-30 ?

 

misprint. The crossfire takes 8.5 quarts, BUT I normally put 8 quarts and than let the engine run. Tha fill as needed. The first time I used 8.5 quarts I got a too full message.

 

I have found that 8 quarts ONLY puts it dead on the Full line.

 

I did my first change last week ... 8 quarts of 0W40 Mobile 1.

Not puttin in any more... got sick of my "high oil" alarm going off all the time.

They make it clear that there is less danger of running even a QUART low than running too high.

 

Sparks81, What shop near Peoria, AZ does your service work?

 

Sunburst Auto at 67th and Greenway. Talk to Kevin or Kenny. This is a great place. No complaints and I've been taking my truck now XF there for 4 years.

 

mb has changed its policy on the lifetime tranny fluid. it now reccomends changeing at 40k intervals to prevent tranny failure.

sparks81 if you drain the fluid from the pan and add 4 qts. then break the hard to rubber line connection next to the oil pan and put it in a bucket. start the car and put it in drive and go thru each gear. takes about 7 seconds. recconnect the line. there should be approx 4 qts fromn the torque convertor in the bucket refill lost fluid bring up to temp and recheck. no need to do all the shaft turning and such on a lift. good old cardboard and the floor works fine!!

 

Welcome. Your a forum member I have respect for. You drive your car and obviously it isn't a garage queen. Good man. That's what a car like this is for. That said..
If you were changing your oil I would say, it's easy go for it. Transmission fluid, plugs, and wires I would say, buy the plug wires and plugs from "Needwings". Do a search for this company. Rob has great deals on CF parts. Good prices. Get the tranny fluid at Pep Boy's. Have a shop do the work. Worth the money. Not that costly. Let me know when you reach 250k.

 

Plugs/coolant/belt/fuel filter weren't bad. Transmission fluid I did take to a dealer. For $179.99 it seemed like the better deal since I didn't have to buy the special parts called out in the service manual and included the fluid and filter.