I'm supposed to get my car out of service today. It's been there since last Friday. The following summarizes all my current issues. Many of these problems are intermittent, so I've had a problem getting these addressed/resolved by MB service.

1. Rattles

Since my last service visit in January 2003, I have noticed two new rattles. I believe these relate to work performed during that service, as both the steering wheel and the center console were removed in an attempt to correct other rattle issues.

One rattle I believe is coming from the center panel air vents mechanism. Also, the left vent does not fully rotate upward without catching on something from inside the plastic vent housing. (You can see whatever is catching on it has created scratch marks on the vent louver.) Maybe this issue is tied to whatever is rattling inside.

The other rattle is around the steering wheel and steering column. You can replicate this rattle by pushing and pulling on the arms of the steering wheel. This rattle also is usually quite noticeable on bumpy roads.

I have noticed other rattles in the center console area and around the dash near the windshield on the driver’s side.

2. Transmission concern

The transmission often seems to shift funny from 2nd to 3rd and from 3rd to 4th gears under moderate-to-heavy acceleration. Just when the throttle is disengaged to shift to the next gear, the car will hesitate for a moment and then kick-in, semi-abruptly, when accelerating into the next gear. Another way to describe it would be that it sounds like it’s engaging the next gear, then backing off very briefly, thenly re-applying acceleration, all the while having a constant pressure and position with the accelerator petal. It seems almost as if the throttle is killed just upon hitting the next gear, then reapplied. The problem seems to be the delay in the throttle reapplication after shifting is too long.
The other problem I believe is also related to the transmission, or maybe the throttle management system that works in conjunction with the transmission and shifting program. The other day, I was cruising at about 20 mph and accelerated sharply to get onto a freeway on ramp. I reached the top RPM range (far from red line) for the gear I was in (I believe 3rd gear), and the car went to shift on to 4th. When it went to shift out of 3rd, it was like someone shut off the ignition (the throttle was cut off completely for about 1.5 seconds and the car slowed abruptly) though I still had my foot on the gas pedal. When the throttle and transmission re-engaged, it was in the 4th gear and accelerated rapidly. Again, all this happened without me changing the position of the accelerator petal—my foot did not move. I've experienced this twice since I've owned the car.

3. Steering wheel

Also in my January service visit, I had complained of my steering wheel being off-center to the left. They removed the wheel and repositioned it one notch to the right. This movement actually overcorrected, making the wheel off-center now to the right. They indicated the only way to properly align the steering wheel would be to perform an alignment. So....an alignment is being performed so the wheel will be centered as it should be for a brand new car.

4. Hands-free phone system (microphone)

On numerous occasions while using the in-car hands-free phone, the person I’m speaking with has complained that the volume level of my voice will fade down to nearly inaudible for a period of time. During the same conversation, my volume level will usually revert back to normal usually within 10 or so seconds. I’m certain this issue is not related to my wireless network provider signal strength or service, but the microphone module in the car. I realize there is some logic to the system where the volume of my voice is adjusted depending on how loudly I speak, road noise that may be present, etc., but it should never actually mute me out completely. Also note that when the person I'm speaking with complains of my voice going mute or barely audible, I can yell into the microphone and they will still not hear me for that period of time in which the system is malfunctioning.

 

I have a 2003 C320 Coupe. I think my transmission has the same problem. Did you get the problem fixed. If yes, which dealer you went? I'm also in Dallas.

 

Nope. It's been in for this twice, and they "can't replicate the problem". Park Place on Oaklawn is the only place I've taken it.

 

Once you figure out what cured your tranny problem would you mind posting it here. I have a similar issue when the car is cold/just started. I would describe it the same way or might even call it double clutching. Patrick in the tech forum called it an adjustment procedure (or something similar to it) but would never explain what exactly he was talking about.

Thanx

 

I would say it is like "slow clutch releasing". I turned off the ESP and the transmission shifts much better. Did you guys try this before?

 

THAT is a "long" list?! The only thing remotely serious is the tranny prob. EVERY car is gonna have a squeak or rattle somewhere. Exactly how off-center was the steering wheel that a single notch put it off-center is the opposite direction?

 

It was very slight, but I wanted it to be perfect since it was brand new. They aligned the front-end and now it's centered as it should be. Regarding the rattles, I ended up having to fix myself. I took off the center console trim and trim around the gear shifter and padded with stick-on felt pieces. Most rattles are now gone.

 

the transmission does this on all MB's, backs off the throttle while shifting. Especially under moderate throttle (at least my ML320, havent pushed the C320 too hard yet). If they do anything with your tranny let me know. Our ML tranny feels kind of lumpy sometimes, I took it in at least a dozen times and they said they couldnt find anything wrong.