2023 E450 4Matic - with ~2100 miles since new delivery on 10/2023
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 24
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From: Seattle, WA USA
2023 E450 4Matic Cabriolet
2023 E450 4Matic - with ~2100 miles since new delivery on 10/2023
Hi everyone,
I wonder if anyone here has had this issue or heard about it and if I should worry?
This morning the vehicle started normally but after putting the gear in ‘R’ or ‘D’ with the Brake Pedal fully-pressed and the display indicator showing ‘R’ or ‘D’ the car would not move an inch?
After a few starts/shutdowns and pressing & depressing the ‘P’ switch to engage and disengage the Emergency Brake I gave up and called my dealer. In the meantime I was absolutely freaking out that after barely 2k miles on this car, that I broke or bent something major internally. I tried for hours to 'Google/YouTube' a solution/trick in several MB Forums, and nothing worked.
Eventually, my service advisor called back and suggested to put the car in ‘R’ and rev it up. After some initial hesitation on my end, followed by his assurances on his end, I heard a 'loud' and rather violent ‘metal hitting/cranking metal’ jolted the car into moving. He’s assured me this is an anomaly he’s observed before even in new and high-end brands and this is nothing of serious concern. And it usually happens if the vehicle is sitting/unmoved for a few days, which in my case was about a week, since it I last drove it.
Anything like this you’ve seen or heard of over the years of your MB experience, selling & owning?
Many Thanks!
Frank
Seattle, WA, USA
I wonder if anyone here has had this issue or heard about it and if I should worry?
This morning the vehicle started normally but after putting the gear in ‘R’ or ‘D’ with the Brake Pedal fully-pressed and the display indicator showing ‘R’ or ‘D’ the car would not move an inch?
After a few starts/shutdowns and pressing & depressing the ‘P’ switch to engage and disengage the Emergency Brake I gave up and called my dealer. In the meantime I was absolutely freaking out that after barely 2k miles on this car, that I broke or bent something major internally. I tried for hours to 'Google/YouTube' a solution/trick in several MB Forums, and nothing worked.
Eventually, my service advisor called back and suggested to put the car in ‘R’ and rev it up. After some initial hesitation on my end, followed by his assurances on his end, I heard a 'loud' and rather violent ‘metal hitting/cranking metal’ jolted the car into moving. He’s assured me this is an anomaly he’s observed before even in new and high-end brands and this is nothing of serious concern. And it usually happens if the vehicle is sitting/unmoved for a few days, which in my case was about a week, since it I last drove it.
Anything like this you’ve seen or heard of over the years of your MB experience, selling & owning?
Many Thanks!
Frank
Seattle, WA, USA
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 128
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From: Nolensville,TN. USA
E 450 4matic cab MY22
Never heard of this. Our cab, MY 2022, sits for sometimes a week without being driven. It has around 8,000 miles on it. It has never done this. I would totally freak out if it did.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 24
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From: Seattle, WA USA
2023 E450 4Matic Cabriolet
...dealer again confirmed today it's a 'thing' - with most of their cars that sits on their lot, undriven and unmoved for days, under rain with brake/Disk rust 'piling' up.
It sounds like brake pads rusted onto my rotors because they were wet and they got stuck. And I needed a pretty big helping of throttle to unstuck it when that happens. It can happen to all cars unless you have fancy carbon ceramic brakes, so I've been told. And when it does unstick it will make a pretty big clanging noise. This happened after I washed the car on my driveway and then pulled into my garage and didn't drive it again for 2 days. They suggested after a car wash I would drive the car around the block and drag the brakes while doing it so it warms up a bit and also let it rub the water off.
You are still going to have water in the brakes as most cars have ventilated discs (which is basically a big sandwich with radial vents inside) but it would solve a lot of surface rusting problems. Alternatively if you don't plan on driving it, don't engage the parking brake and just let the car sit on the parking pawl. If your parking spot is level it's not a huge deal.
It sounds like brake pads rusted onto my rotors because they were wet and they got stuck. And I needed a pretty big helping of throttle to unstuck it when that happens. It can happen to all cars unless you have fancy carbon ceramic brakes, so I've been told. And when it does unstick it will make a pretty big clanging noise. This happened after I washed the car on my driveway and then pulled into my garage and didn't drive it again for 2 days. They suggested after a car wash I would drive the car around the block and drag the brakes while doing it so it warms up a bit and also let it rub the water off.
You are still going to have water in the brakes as most cars have ventilated discs (which is basically a big sandwich with radial vents inside) but it would solve a lot of surface rusting problems. Alternatively if you don't plan on driving it, don't engage the parking brake and just let the car sit on the parking pawl. If your parking spot is level it's not a huge deal.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 669
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From: Hermosa Beach, California
2018 E400 Coupe
I live within about 500 yards from the ocean, so rust is a huge problem around here. Almost every time I get my car washed, drive home and park it in the garage, I encounter the problem of the brake calipers sticking to the brake discs the next morning. Perhaps it's the beginning of rust, or maybe just suction — who knows. BUT when this happens, the only solution is to do what you've been told — put the car in reverse and press down the gas peddle a bit until the car overcomes the sticky rakes and begins to back up. But do NOT stomp on the gas — when the brakes finally break free, the car will begin to back up, and you want it to do so slowly — keep your other foot hovering over the brake pedal. One other hint — when you leave the carcass, ride the brakes a bit to dry them off. Of course, you usually can't do that when it's raining.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 24
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From: Seattle, WA USA
2023 E450 4Matic Cabriolet
Thanks so much @The_Judge for your input and for confirming this as well.
I'm a bit mystified that 'the marvel of German engineering' in 2024 has not yet engineered a solution for this ( either mechanically or digitally ). I hate to be cynical about this, but I've driven cars 1/5 worth of this one and never ever had seen or heard of this issue, ever.
Truth be told, I hear this happens to other brands as well, like Audi and BMW, so it's the design of the brakes - rather than the brand of the car-maker.
Oh well...
F
I'm a bit mystified that 'the marvel of German engineering' in 2024 has not yet engineered a solution for this ( either mechanically or digitally ). I hate to be cynical about this, but I've driven cars 1/5 worth of this one and never ever had seen or heard of this issue, ever.
Truth be told, I hear this happens to other brands as well, like Audi and BMW, so it's the design of the brakes - rather than the brand of the car-maker.
Oh well...
F
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