HARD downshifts into 1st gear when cruising very slowly sometimes....
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
Likes: 24
From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
HARD downshifts into 1st gear when cruising very slowly sometimes....
Sometimes when I'm cruising super slow, like as in barely hitting the gas, or slowly de-accelerating to a stop without applying the Brakes, the car doesn't seem to know whether to stay in second or go into first.... And every once in a while it will downshift into our oh-so-closely geared 1st which naturally causes for a VERY hard and jarring downshift experience. It worries me that when it happens it does some possible wear related damage to the Tranny?
Anyone ever experience this?
Anyone ever experience this?
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
04 E500
Check ou this thread.
I had the same problem and it was my Transmision mount.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...d-feeling.html
I had the same problem and it was my Transmision mount.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...d-feeling.html
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
Its a well documented complaint about the 7 Speed Tranny. There are various fixes that the dealers have access to. Just tell them that you feel a "Bump from Behind, 2nd < 1st downshift"
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
Likes: 24
From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Yeah I figured there were many victims to it. Fortunately the bumping has almost completely gone (was insane when I first got the car), I took it in a few times and they kept telling me that it would fix itself, now this hard downshift barely happens, but I'm going to mention it when I take it in for Servicing next week.
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 110
Likes: 6
2014 E350
Mine does it when coming up to a red light and I don't stop the car (slow roll stop). If I stop right away the tranny is fine. Took the car in and they said all it needed was a software update. Car still does it even after the "update".
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
E wagon
the update doesn't work...... it only helps the shifts in the upper range... it is actually an engine flash.. not a tranny flash.
the tranny valve that people are talking about is the culprit.. it is a $3000 fix and the dealers are not apt to want to replace it all that easily.... they will give you the runaround about the flash... and possibly the fluid flush.. the valve has to be changed.
the tranny valve that people are talking about is the culprit.. it is a $3000 fix and the dealers are not apt to want to replace it all that easily.... they will give you the runaround about the flash... and possibly the fluid flush.. the valve has to be changed.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 142
W221 S600, W220 S55 AMG Kompressor, W124 300E, W140 S320, W210 E3204M W164 ML320 Bluetec
the update doesn't work...... it only helps the shifts in the upper range... it is actually an engine flash.. not a tranny flash.
the tranny valve that people are talking about is the culprit.. it is a $3000 fix and the dealers are not apt to want to replace it all that easily.... they will give you the runaround about the flash... and possibly the fluid flush.. the valve has to be changed.
the tranny valve that people are talking about is the culprit.. it is a $3000 fix and the dealers are not apt to want to replace it all that easily.... they will give you the runaround about the flash... and possibly the fluid flush.. the valve has to be changed.
Last edited by Polar Bear; Apr 1, 2009 at 06:29 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
I'm no mechanic & don't wish to inject confusion here... but is it the same as the "Valve Body"? (The Valve Body IS the defacto director of HOW the transmission shifts. The computer is the director of WHEN it shifts.)
Last edited by Barry45RPM; Apr 1, 2009 at 05:31 PM.
Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, Tx
2008 S550 designo
Yes, it's the valve body that is replaced. Mine was done about 3 weeks ago and the car still has the same symptoms. It is back at the dealer now being looked at again. Not sure what the next step is; replace the transmission?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
I have an '07 which I got new to replace my '04. It happens occaisionally in my '07 too. They have never solved the problem, but it happens far less often. Especially when cold. When I want the transmission to perferm flawlessly, I switch it into C mode & drive it like that.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 440
Likes: 1
From: Exit 16E
07 E350 4Matic / Sport with P1
I have an '07 which I got new to replace my '04. It happens occaisionally in my '07 too. They have never solved the problem, but it happens far less often. Especially when cold. When I want the transmission to perferm flawlessly, I switch it into C mode & drive it like that.
After 9 unsuccessful tries at eliminating the tapping noise from the moon roof cover (inside), I'm not about to even try this complaint!
Last edited by SPNJHockey; Apr 1, 2009 at 06:30 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,901
Likes: 4,632
From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 440
Likes: 1
From: Exit 16E
07 E350 4Matic / Sport with P1
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento
06 E350
Just got my 350 and it's doing the abrupt 2-1 shift. Car is going in in about 2 weeks for a once-over, thanks for bring this up, I thought I was just being picky. Kinda has me worried about mechanical stress.
Thread Starter
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
Likes: 24
From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 16
From: Ft. Lauderdale Area, USA
2015 ML 350
The very simplest, most graphic image I can paint for you is as follows:
The valve body looks like a big flat maze thru which transmission fluid flows, controlling how (not when) the tranny shifts up & down. If they change any of the holes or maze passages within the valve body, the shifting smoothness has been altered because the pressure of the transmission fluid which (roughly speaking) moves the gears has been altered.
Don't think of the valve body as a single valve like on a garden hose, its a maze of passageways that looks like a map of downtown streets a couple of layers deep... sort of.
The valve body looks like a big flat maze thru which transmission fluid flows, controlling how (not when) the tranny shifts up & down. If they change any of the holes or maze passages within the valve body, the shifting smoothness has been altered because the pressure of the transmission fluid which (roughly speaking) moves the gears has been altered.
Don't think of the valve body as a single valve like on a garden hose, its a maze of passageways that looks like a map of downtown streets a couple of layers deep... sort of.
Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio, Tx
2008 S550 designo
Here's what they look like internally.
I got my car back yesterday after the dealer looked at it again. It is still bumping down to first coming to a stop. I also had a rough 4-5 shift that was worked out. I will take it back for try # 3 at some point, but will wait until I need something else done at the same time.
I got my car back yesterday after the dealer looked at it again. It is still bumping down to first coming to a stop. I also had a rough 4-5 shift that was worked out. I will take it back for try # 3 at some point, but will wait until I need something else done at the same time.
Last edited by Trey; Apr 4, 2009 at 03:41 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
2005 C240 4matic and 2007 ML320 CDI 4matic
I have a 2007 ML320 CDI and had the same harsh downshift problem. The dealer installed the software update and fixed it. No problems since the update approximately 2000 miles ago.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,133
Likes: 265
From: NM
2023 AMG EQS
