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Mileage is average. I drive pretty fast. So it hasn't broken 18mpg. I also mostly drive it around town, occasional highway.
The car looks great and I'm mostly happy with it.
The bad? Been to the dealer twice for transmission issues. First issue it was missing a gear when accelerating from a dead stop. I expected 2nd but it was 3rd. So they reset. But that created a different symptom. Hard clunk out of park or into drive. Second time luckily there was a TSB released the day before my appointment. They were trying to push me out of the dealer without taking the car in even after showing them video of the noise (unable to load video).
FYI. Envision Mercedes in West Covina is a terrible dealer on both sides, sales and service. ( I didn't get this car from them but I have tried to buy others from them) STOP. Don't go there. DON'T. I didn't check the car well enough on one visit (my fault I was busy on the phone with work emergency). Two paint chips on the door edge and duct tape on the dash.
Transmission still seems to shift weird occasionally but I have nothing to compare it to - it will have to go back in, again.
Other than that, I'm really happy with the car. But I won't be buying it at lease end. Not the right options etc. for me. I think I'm going to order an E63S. For example, why isn't the trunk finished? At least painted? Cheap. I also don't care for lack of seemingly standard options, ie parking sensors. Really? I knew what I bought, no complaint in that regard, but really? No parking sensors?
Any so cal dealer sales reps in here from a local long time reputable dealer?
Last edited by BRGR TME; Oct 27, 2021 at 02:58 PM.
Reason: Change the title
I'm not sure what you mean about the vent. Nothing is wrong with the vent, it was weird, they put duct tape on it. Anyway, it was removed. It was just weird that it was there in the first place.
As for the transmission, yeah, that's the bulletin they showed me and what was done to it on the second visit. It still has a problem though, a shift hesitation occasionally.
Yeah, it was strange. Why would there be two pieces of tape? The dealer claimed that was from the factory, but I think I would have noticed that when I bought the car. And it's only been out of my sight at the dealer. So who knows.
Once, a long time ago, a Mercedes dealer used windshield putty to try and fix the rear seat trunk latch on my E350. So now, I don't expect much from dealer repairs.
I had tape in the same location when I bought my car new. They missed it when they were washing it and getting it ready. I noticed it before I drove off the lot and had them take it off.
I had tape in the same location when I bought my car new. They missed it when they were washing it and getting it ready. I noticed it before I drove off the lot and had them take it off.
It seems weird that tape would be sandwiched between two panels like that. And what was it for?
I had tape in the same location when I bought my car new. They missed it when they were washing it and getting it ready. I noticed it before I drove off the lot and had them take it off.
Vehicle continues to have a shift issue around second gear.
Basically what happens is:
As you are accelerating up through the gears, 1st and up, intermittently, the acceleration response stops or the car lags at upshift, creating "deceleration" ... After about 1 second, it upshifts. I've tried accelerating through, but that just makes the up shift really harsh.
The worst part is I almost got rear ended a few weeks back due the non up shift and slowing of the vehicle without a brake light. The vehicle has had the trans fluid drained (overfilled), filled (underfilled), transmission reset, some other software update for the known issue of "clunk" during shift from Park to drive/reverse, it's had data transmitted/provided to MB. No results.
Vehicle is back at the dealer for the 6th or 7th time. I've lost count.
But this time, I was able to show the CDT during a test drive and it happened twice. No denying it. Agreed to be not normal.
I love this car but at this point I can't stand driving it. That shift issue is ever present, although random, and somewhat embarrassing. It's like driving a stick and being really bad at it.
I'm also curious why an AMG E53 coupe (c238) doesn't have its own area under the thread titles on this forum.
I'm also sort of starting over with the diagnosis process because the service manager, shop foreman, CDT and service advisor that were on the case have all (yes, all 4) left Mercedes-Benz of Ontario.
Last edited by BRGR TME; Oct 27, 2021 at 02:37 PM.
Mercedes claims that the shift lag is normal. This is even after the dealer can reproduce the issue. No repairs and no advice. They claim it's due to the regenerative battery taking time to do is thing so you have instant torque. My immediate response was "it isn't working".
Shift lag is normal so that you get immediate torque. WTF?!?
I give up.
E53 Coupe for sale. Low mileage.
Last edited by BRGR TME; Nov 20, 2021 at 11:18 AM.
Mercedes claims that the shift lag is normal. This is even after the dealer can reproduce the issue. No repairs and no advice. They claim it's due to the regenerative battery taking time to do is thing so you have instant torque. My immediate response was "it isn't working".
Shift lag is normal so that you get immediate torque. WTF?!?
I give up.
E53 Coupe for sale. Low mileage.
Don't give up just yet, see if you can tell them to do a manual adaptation to mitigate it.
I doubt the manual adaptation would solve the issue, and getting a dealer who A. has techs that know how to do it and B. is willing to spend the time ($$$) to do it (MB won't cover this under warranty is my guess) is unlikely. A shame really as that is a beautiful car. Oh, and I ABSOLUTELY agree, Envision is a terrible automotive group.
Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Don't give up just yet, see if you can tell them to do a manual adaptation to mitigate it.
I doubt the manual adaptation would solve the issue, and getting a dealer who A. has techs that know how to do it and B. is willing to spend the time ($$$) to do it (MB won't cover this under warranty is my guess) is unlikely. A shame really as that is a beautiful car. Oh, and I ABSOLUTELY agree, Envision is a terrible automotive group.
Definitely a shame it is honestly the worse part of this otherwise perfect vehicle. As for the manual adaptation it does help for some owners I heard but it does not solve the issue (like you said), just mitigate it and make it somewhat more smooth.
Thanks for replies. I purchased a gopro and working on a setup so I can record the display.
"...full DTC scan..."
How can I do this? It happens intermittently while driving. I'm down to be buy tools etc., But I must admit I didn't know where to start on something for this car. Land Rover guy, my last Mercedes was a bulletproof E350 Sport. 15yrs of ownership on that one and then only repair besides maintenance was two rubber pieces - crank case vent grommet? Don't know oil change guy just replaced it for me and sunroof rubber washer (grinding sunroof) I did myself. Loved that car. Miss it.
Anyway, I really like this car but that dead spot between 1/2/3? off the line etc is embarrassing and aggravating.
Would love to get more help with it. As stated, bought a go pro to record. What other options do I have for recording the data, view of the display AND showing my foot still pushing the accelerator down?
Thanks for replies. I purchased a gopro and working on a setup so I can record the display.
"...full DTC scan..."
How can I do this? It happens intermittently while driving. I'm down to be buy tools etc., But I must admit I didn't know where to start on something for this car. Land Rover guy, my last Mercedes was a bulletproof E350 Sport. 15yrs of ownership on that one and then only repair besides maintenance was two rubber pieces - crank case vent grommet? Don't know oil change guy just replaced it for me and sunroof rubber washer (grinding sunroof) I did myself. Loved that car. Miss it.
Anyway, I really like this car but that dead spot between 1/2/3? off the line etc is embarrassing and aggravating.
Would love to get more help with it. As stated, bought a go pro to record. What other options do I have for recording the data, view of the display AND showing my foot still pushing the accelerator down?
If you don’t have a scan, find some shop near your route that can make a scan. Better if the scan tool support newer Mercedes cars. Then when this issue happens go to them and let them make full scan without turning ignition off. Sometimes when u cycle ignition codes will disappear.
I have some experience with ZF transmissions. And when there is no codes but have hard shift, lags and other issue. The mechanical part of valvebody is failing.
Try to get the scan and post it here. Maybe we can help.
Can’t you , after three try’s to fix the same problem , claim the lemon law and demand a buy back or whatever they call it. My fiancé had a Camry with a bad radio and they took it back! For the stinking radio! This is a 100K car with a bad transmission. My E53 shifts perfectly . No lag.
Nice looking E53. That’s where it ends for MB, unfortunately. Good looking cars, terrible reliability and bottom of the barrel dealers. It’s how it is.
MB transmissions are poor. They should exit transmission design and manufacturing and leave it to the people at ZF and Aisin who know what they are doing. MB doesn’t have a clue.
Claims of normal behavior is dealerspeak for “you’re on your own, MB isn’t standing behind its product.”
Suggest returning to LR or do what I intend and look at Porsche.
Posts claiming, “My car doesn’t do that, it’s been just fine” are either examples of variation in product - the very definition of poor quality - or denial and buyer’s remorse for fear of having made a bad (expensive) purchase decision.
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