adelprado

Hi Peter,

How many miles did the car ran after the valve body replacement when you noticed that the problem has not been fixed?

I hope you get a new transmission as soon as possible.

Good Luck!

ronyg7

Hello Peter,

I'm very sorry to hear that the rough shift is back as bad as ever. Your earlier comment stating these problems may be as a result of poor design rather than component malfunction may prove very prescient indeed.
I have already informed the dealership that I will not accept such major mechanical work as fitting a new transmission to resolve the problem. If this is the case it's a new car or money back. Time will tell but I'm in agreement with you that Mercedes are going to have many more problems with this transmission as 2014 progresses.

2006_C350

If anyone of you get a replacement car won't it still do the same rough shifting? Or is this only occurring on certain cars?

yadda_vh

Hi all,

Very worrying to read that the problem seems to be widespread. For me, after 4000km, it seems to be less dramatic. Still noticeable if you pay attention, but it no longer bothers me, so I haven't made my way to the dealership to have it checked.

In general, I believe the wet clutch of the Hybrid auto box is quite a bit less smooth than the normal 7G+ with torque converter (I used to drive a C220 CDI with 7G+). But the problem seems to either be a software issue or a serious hardware problem in the depths of the gearbox rather than due to the wet clutch.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's a software issue.

I have noticed that the car will remain in 5th very long when slowing down (closed or very nearly closed throttle) before downshifting to 4th which is when the gearbox struggles to shift smoothly. So it could be a combination of a new spread in the gearing and poorly adapted software. Needless to say, if you hit the throttle when the car is way down in revs in 5th, the downshift to 4th will be even more noticeable.

In the hybrid system, slowing down under closed throttle often occurs without the engine running, which is probably why I don't experience the rough downshift nearly as often as others without hybrid, as the 5->4 shift is often skipped. And when it does happen, it isn't nearly as bad as during the first couple of days.

Nonetheless, I will keep you posted if anything changes. And I hope all of you struggling with this gearbox will find a resolution quickly.

Regards,
Yadda

PeterUbers

I have a whopping. 3200 miles on this piece of crap

PeterUbers

I drove two new 550s that didn't do this

dan1495

I am very sorry to hear of the OP's continued transmission problems. Unlike some others I don't believe it is an inherent defect in the design of the transmission. My 2012 E550 is about to hit 40,000 miles and the transmission has been flawless. I am not aware of any major changes to the transmission between 2012 and 2014, so I have to believe it is some sort of software or calibration issue or perhaps some defective transmissions. I hope you get a satisfactory resolution to your problem.

PeterUbers

Thanks dan, it's Good to know there are flawless transmissions out there, I hope you're right and they replace the trans this time and resolve the issue.

Mbusa and the mb dealer and I spoke today and we all seem to be on the same page... Solve the problem or get out of this car.

Also per the mb engineer there are significant changes from 2013 to 2014 in the transmission, not sure software or hardware.

PeterUbers

And I'm not saying the e class is a piece of crap, I'm saying my e class is a piece of crap

2006_C350

I totally understand then, bummer...ask MBUSA to throw incentive money at you for buying another one and sell your car privately.

2006_C350

This might be easier than going through lemon law or using the buyback program.

PeterUbers

I reasoned with MBUSA on the phone yesterday: "If this car is driving without perceptible problems according to you and your engineers, yet I'm spending all this time experiencing the problem and bring it in over and over to you again -- buy it back, sell me a new one -- doesn't even have to have the same options -- and you privately sell this car again or have a field rep drive it a few months then sell it CPO, why lose the $8k in replacing the transmission and countless hours investigating this. Rather, you take this car back, my current 550 and let it be your guinea pig for all the experiments you'll want to run on it,and put me in a new 550 which is what I paid for, not this loaner vehicle"

All points 'heard' but ultimately it comes down to what this multibillion dollar company wants to do for one consumer. All I told them is that I'm not giving up my loaner until they come and take it from my driveway and physically drop my 550 back in my driveway with the key. At that point I have to hire a lawyer, I don't have a choice (in the case where they continue to say now it's not replicated).

2006_C350

Peter, how come you didn't notice it when you test drove it before you bought it? Or you didn't test drive it?

Maybe the other two you test drove that didnt do it will eventually develop this no?

PeterUbers

I custom ordered the car in June 2013, I've driven mbs in the past and never thought it would be a problem, the problem didn't manifest until about 500 or so miles but I may not have been paying attention.

2006_C350

How do you know the 2 you test drove won't develop the same problems after about 500 miles too?

PeterUbers

I don't, but I have been messaging new owners of 2014 550s on this forum and they have had no issues like mine with a few thousand miles on the odometer

Time will tell

PeterUbers

TRANSMISSION IS OUT:

The engineers had the transmission removed from the car -- the issue was replicated and was deemed a significant problem. They are "doing more tests on Monday" and will update me monday or tuesday.

I feel I have all the leverage now to get my cash back or a new 550 -- i absolutely will fall in the illinois lemon guidelines. Have to talk to MBUSA monday or tuesday when the dealership updates me.

More to come -- we're just getting started it seems.

yadda_vh

Well, kind of good news, at least they have replicated the problem, not that it is hard to replicate as you described precisely when the problem occurs...

Anyway, keeping my fingers crossed for you they get it fixed. The E-Class is a great car in many ways, but that can easily be overshadowed by problems such as this one.

Good luck!
Yadda

martinlarose

Peter mine is a 2014 with 20000 kms and the transmission and the entire car as well have been flawless

Munich77

Peter sorry to hear about all your troubles. I hope they give you a new car. My 2014 E550 has about 2700 miles on it and it has been pretty flawless. I have not issued the transmission issue you described.

david55838

I'm thinking you'll have no problem at this point. All the best!

PeterUbers

Thanks for the support everyone

Thing is that I really love the 2014 e550... I want this model again and will pursue a replacement as aggressively as I can

PeterUbers

UPDATE:

MBUSA called me -- they understand that I want a new car or money back. The case manager told me that they are still looking into the issue, they do not have a definitive answer if they will comply with my request, but she will try to get an answer by the end of the week. She understands that I've been dealing with this since october 2013 with only 480 miles on the car. She has escalated this to the highest level and understands I'm going to pursue the Illinois Lemon which I qualify for by next monday.

More to come.

faz999

Peter - patience is a virtue in the end it will work out. I believe Mercedes will do the right thing with you.

There Reputations online.

Good luck and keep us posted

PeterUbers

UPDATE:

4th and 5th gear clutchpack is bad, they completely opened the tranny (mb engineers) -- transmission is being replaced and then they'll test the car again.

Svc manager saying 99% they'll replace my vehicle with a new one, no "official" word on this yet.