harryd840

Hi Peter,
How long was it before you started pushing for buy back or replacement for your first E550?

I leased my 2014 C300 4 Matic? Will it be easier in this case?

Raymond Lee

This problem with Transmission jerk is also in E350 models. Mine is 2012 E350 BlueTec with only 14,000 miles doing same thing in 4th 5 gear when it is cold only.

rossono308

I picked my car up Friday from the dealer. They had it for 4 days waiting for a response from Germany. I was told that MB is aware there is a problem and it is software related. A fix is being worked on but no ETA was forthcoming. I still need to follow up with my case manager and will press for a date. I believe someone earlier posted the same response and stated the fix was due out in May. I'll be patient for a while longer as I really do like everything about the car...... except the trans. I also discovered something about the trans I wasn't aware of. When in the ECO shift mode, the car starts in second gear. This is why I always complained about the 3-4 up/down shifts. If I put it in the sport mode, the problem is in the 4-5 shift, consistent with what others are saying.

Huz-Z

I agree - the car is simply beautiful save for the transmission problem. We drove a BMW 328 XDrive luxury line this weekend and while its a damn nice car, the engine while powerful and torquey enough is not nearly as refined or as nice-sounding as the silky smooth and throaty V6 in our C300. Indeed, I like the C300 better even though the Bimmer is a newer design. The Merc just feels more solid and substantial and the road noise is much lower than in the the Bimmer.

To the matter at hand. Mercedes needs to set a firm deadline by which it will be able to properly fix this issue. Being vague is not acceptable for something major and widespread like this, if we are to have any faith that their engineers are as good as the Company would have you believe.

Furthermore, this harsh shifting cannot be good for all the various mechanical bits in the car. Are they being damaged or worn more quickly than they should be? This also needs to be addressed with the possibility that other parts may need to be replaced and / or warranties extended.

PeterUbers

It's interesting you are being told there is a software update due, while I'm being told it's a hardware issue with clutch packs etc... All info comes from engineers in Germany. Perhaps it's different on the e550 vs the c300

I was told in Oct 2013 to be patient and a final fix in the form of software was coming!! I was so excited this nonsense would be behind me. Seven months later there is no such fix, and Mbusa refunded my monies. I hope you are all luckier than I was and are being told the truth

Somehow I doubt there is a real software fix at all

PeterUbers

I was patient for four months before I said enough and told Mbusa I wanted a replacement of the first e550. Then once the SECOND 550 was having it's trans disassembled at 500 miles on the odometer, I asked for my money back

I have no idea if a lease or cash deal lends to an easier buyback for Mbusa.

harryd840

Thank you PeterUbers.
I called MB Canada this morning and once again explained the problem. They transferred me to another client representatives who they said will get involved with my case. Transfer went to a voice mail and I am still awaiting a call back Looks like they have stopped caring about their customers.

Huz-Z

It is worrisome that different dealers and Merc reps in different locations are saying different things about what is apparently the same problem.

I conclude that none of them know what the problem truly is.

harryd840

Hi Huz-Z,

Did you try contacting MB Canada?, today is second day in a row that I am being told they will call me back to register my case but no response so far

harryd840

Ok finally got a call back from MB Canada and i am asked to take it back to the dealership i last took it to.

PeterUbers

Good, now mb canada can deal directly with dealership, this is how Mbusa began to help me ... This is a good thing

Huz-Z

Good luck.

Khan28

Yeah that's total BS. The transmission in my old Maxima shifted buttery smooth and my Dad has a 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora with over 200k on it and uses it as his winter beater and the AT in that car shifts very smooth too. MB needs to look at what GM does for their trannies.

PeterUbers

chances are your old maxima had a 4spd or 5spd automatic transmission; and chances are the Olds also had a 4spd auto....

I'm not at all defending MB here, as you know I fought them fiercely over this, but few gears, taller gears -- means less frequent shifting and less logic that's involved in shifting, therefore often smoother shifting.

Nevertheless, benz 7g-tronic transmissions have a ways to go before they're smooth

Huz-Z

On 27 March my car went in to the shop to be repaired. it is still there. Not fixed. Techs have no clue what to do.

And I read this today in the Globe and Mail, quoting Ola Kallenius, Mercedes' global head of marketing and sales:

“But we don’t go at it from the other way around. We focus on our customers and the customer experience, the product experience, the experience at the dealership or wherever we meet the customer. That is most important for the long term. We feel that that will lead to the No. 1 position.”

From http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...ticle18373006/

I would like someone to explain how I am being treated is appropriate, in light of those lofty statements.

accurately

update: we took the car in for the second visit. They kept the car overnight. Finally noticed the problem this time around. Said they took readings from the car and sending them to Germany. Will contact us once they figure out what to do?

Would you recommend we contact MBcanada and file a complaint? You think they would be able to figure this out....

Huz-Z

You most definitely should contact MB Canada (1 800 387-0100) to register this problem with them. A $50,000 car should not ever EVER clunk.

accurately

No real clunking happening. Just very jerky shifts at certain points like others have said. Very abnormal behaviour. Sometimes happens when braking and turning.

Dealership called and said nothing showed up from data that was sent to Germany. They are going to change the torque converter...sounds familiar Same song and dance looks like....but no other choice at this point.

Will call MB canada. Thanks!

linkfosta

Just to update on my post, I just came back from dealer, after 2 days waiting for them to check the problem(harsh shifting), after 3rd attempt and leaving car overnight for 2 days, this time they updated control unit software for fuel pump(no DTC error found before), Maintained battery(seemed to be some issues on my battery), added 500ml of transmission fluid(don't know why so much....maybe it was low since beginning...), Updated my VGS/ME-SFI/MED177(transmission firmware), they told me it's the latest firmware, both engine and transmission. I have rough idle during warm start up as well, so that's why they did the engine firmware update, also they told me 2013 and newer C series use the direct injection, so I am guessing the new fuel system is not quite compatible with the transmission yet(that's my guess).

BTW, They did a road test BEFORE updating and couldn't duplicate the harsh shifting...so I guess they try to make me look stupid and deny the issues but updated whole bunch and fixed whole many issues. And just to add to the list of issues, my a/c fan was broke and passenger door was not flushed to the body which was causing wind noise. My alignment was off when I first got the car, took in 3 times to fix. each wait time is 2 weeks to 1 month. ECO function turns off completely and disabled intermittent which to this day still not working. Just found out recently my passenger window seal is defective, going back again to the dealer........... I did my service at Maple location in Toronto, they are awful, called and emailed customer relation, never returned my call or email. I tried at Kennedy location they are much better...mostly Asian(they are the one updated my software), but wait time still 2 weeks and up.

I hope my info helps to others, I will test car again to confirm if the problem still exist, keep you guys updated. good luck!

mike82212

My Eco function has not worked normally since the day I got it. The dealer handed me a sheet that showed how it worked. It doesn't

linkfosta

I am guessing the ECO function crashed(it's running on software which checks all the condition of the sensors) because of the Direct injection system software. It happens to me more often during winter driving, I drove car for over 10 years now. I never seem so many problem with new car......btw my front seat move, they have play in them, moving back and forth especially going over humps and small pot holes......dealer took 2 seats out to replace the rubbers but still not fixed.

linkfosta

They try to make you look stupid. They ask technician to teach me how it works.....

mike82212

Well sometimes it works, others it doesn't. I never know when it will. And like I said, the dealer claims its normal.

My 1st german car and things I thought would make it nice, I see as starting to be a problem

I am guessing Im goigg back to the dealer and tell them to fix it and not tell me its ok

linkfosta

make sure they update all the software on the car and check for transmission fluid level, and battery. I don't know it will help or not. But that's what I would do. having so many electronic draining the power, I don't know if the new engine would with stand the power drain from starting engine, especially on and off. I notice my lights dim briefly when it restarts.

also adding to my list of problems, my antifreeze level was low after 10 month, dealer just top it up and said it's "NORMAL". Don't let them educate you it's normal. keep bring car back and document. One time they told me I have too many problems and can't fix it in one day. I just laughed.

alistairgd

Hi

I have the same problem and like one other poster in my case this only happens during warmup, after 10 minutes of driving the transmission is smooth as silk.

In my C180 amg sport plus 7speed auto I have figured this out so far....

1. Only happens when car is cold ie the over night temperature has been below 10 degrees Celsius.
2. Only happens with 5 to 3 downshift, ie when breaking an approach to a junction when doing around 40mph. As soon as the car downshifts, just after brake is pressed, JERK.

I don't understand how the manual changes work but I have also figured out that if I do a paddle shift from 5 to 4 just before I know the auto box is about to to a jerky 5-3, then I get a smooth shift, not just then, but if I leave the paddles alone, every down shift is smooth after that, with the dash displaying 4 for the rest of the journey even though the box is clearly changing. I don't understand that but I am throwing it out there.

I left mine with the dealer in Edinburgh because I told them it only happens in the morning and they would only have 10 minutes of driving to experience it. They did feel it and say they adjusted the gearbox settings on the computer.

It is still the same though so I am going to write to them again tomorrow.

I can't understand why they cannot nail this down, if it only happens in the cold, for the first 20 miles or so, why can't they figure out the cause.