BPhillyBenz

Esteemed Forum Members - help and feedback needed:

My 350 Sport has a hesitation in the transmission when I accelerate after starting the car from a cold start (when it has not been running for awhile)? It primarily happens between 1st and 2nd gear...very clunky. After a minute or two of driving it goes away, but I am beginning to wonder if my car has an issue?

Thanks in advance for any guidance on this issue.

HBerman

Is this in "sport" mode or "economy" mode?

BPhillyBenz

Happens in both modes - no difference.

HBerman

There is an ECU update that affects the transmission shifts. I had it applied to "fix" a 4-5 shift issue and a hesitant 2-3 shift when starting up after the car had sat for a while. All went away after re-adapation of the transmission.

BPhillyBenz

Did you feel similar issues? Is this for both 350's and 550's? Thank you!

HBerman

I would think that there would one for the E350 and another for the E550. I reposted to clarify that the issues that I experienced on the 2-3 shift were also addressed.

BPhillyBenz

...same type of experience?

HBerman

Yes, happened even if the car a had been driven, but had sat for 10-15 minutes before restarting. Light throttle would get 2-3, 3-4, 4-5 shifts at 2300+ rpm. After 5 minutes or so, the same throttle application would yield shifts 1000 rpm lower. Very repeatable until I had the ECU update applied. Then, as the transmission re-adapted, the symptoms diminished. There were no codes recorded.

BPhillyBenz

Thank you for your help. Sounds very similar. Did the service dept immedialty know what the problem was? Thanks again...not to be naive, but what is the (ECU)?

HBerman

Actually, the shop foreman couldn't reproduce the problem on a test drive, but then he researched for updates and found that there was newer software for the engine control unit (ECU), but none for the transmission. After the update, we road tested the car again and the problem didn't reoccur.

Here's the text from the work order:

CLIENT STATES VEHICLE HAS A HARD SHIFT, INTERMITTENTLY NOT SHIFTING OUT OF 4TH GEAR

CAUSE: ETC AND ME SOFTWARE UPDATE
540991 CONTROL UNIT - SOFTWARE (AFTER SHORT TEST),
INSTALL 3835WMB93
UPDATED S.W. TO LATEST S.W ON ME AND UPDATE SCN ON ETC. REROADTEST OK

BPhillyBenz

Hope that's it. Thanks...MUCH APPRECIATED!!!

reckrab

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. I have experienced exactly what you describe BPhilly.... hard shift between first and second but only when the car is cold and not run for a day or two. Smoothes out within a mile or two. No other gears were affected.

BPhillyBenz

I just got off the phone with Mercedes. They said "they are aware of the problem and working on a fix, but don't have one yet". Meaning...they do not have a solution right now!!! "reckrab"...we are not alone. Can you say "recall"?

"HBerman" I hate to give you bad news, but the same person said they have also had issues on the 550 and the problem will come back (I hope for your sake they are wrong). Regardless, I have been a strong defender of the "brand" and other than this, really enjoy the car. I sure hope...they figure it out, or mine is going back.

PS...It happens in either Sport mode (where the car starts off between 1st and 2nd) or Economy mode (where the car actually starts out in 2nd and shifts to 3rd next). They are aware of this as well. My car is being picked up next Tuesday to be "looked at". Lemon Law in PA states you have to report the problem 3x to the manufacturer to qualify. I am now officially on record with #1. Truly disappointed.

Dema

Can manual shift be a work around?

HBerman

Well, thanks for the new info. The problem that I experienced with the transmission hasn't reoccurred. However, it still may still happen if not all conditions for the error have been addressed.l

reckrab

Well it's not that big a deal for me. It only happens once in a while and never twice in the same day.

BPhillyBenz

Regardless...it shouldnt be happening to a 60k car and who know how bad it will be at 60k miles? Hopefully it is an isolated case in just a few cars (doubt it) and they come up with a fix soon. I will let you know if I find anything else out...

HBerman

Just a small reality check here. The 7G transmission has been problematic on the 1-2 and 2-1 shifts for quite a number of years. I had at least 3 software updates performed on my '04 E500 before I let it go. My '05 C350 had similar issues and 2 software updates which never completely solved the "defect". I finally stopped using the "S" setting while using the car in town. My '08 C300 was ok, though. Now I've had one software update for a transmission issue that you previously stated isn't really fixed and that MB knows about the problem w/o a solution. Whatever the solution, it won't be a recall as it's not a safety defect. The solution will show up on a TSB. Oh boy!

E550Shopper

Similar deal on my 2007 CPO E350 w/ 50K miles -- told it's normal by the MB techs.

E550Shopper

Is this common in the W212?

60s.tv

I have had the same transmission problem with my 2008 Mercedes Benz E550 since it was brand new. Been in over and over again and given the runaround each time.

I did have several engine and transmission software updates but they did not resolve the problem.

So glad I found this forum. I had no idea it was such a widespread problem. In fact, I was at the dealership today and I was asked to try to recreate the problem, as if it is a mysterious and isolated problem.

After 30 years of MB ownership and many fine models, I was as loyal a customer as a company could have. I had such a great passion for Mercedes cars. I am now left to question if today's Mercedes Benz deserves my trust and loyalty. I think I have my answer now.

E550Shopper

Try this: For me, I've seen this come up most often when I give my '07 350 a fair bit of gas, then either let up quickly (giving it no gas), or worse, brake. If you're doing this, instead try just giving it a little more gas than you think it needs until the transmission can find its way, then let up. I've more or less been able to eliminate the effect using this.

ash_cpe

Do you warm up the car from cold start, i had a similar issue with tranny and i used to warmup the car until it reaches 60 C, I stopped warming the car and it works like a dream now. GL.

ash_cpe

My car 4th to 5th gear jerk or "Hiccup" came back again Any luck fixing your car?

BPhillyBenz

They did a "softare update". Guess what??? It worked for about 30 days.
Now, it's back again. Frustrating. It's always on a cold start and between the two first shifts (after that...its good all day).