PeterUbers

Car is otherwise great, running smooth, however when coasting to a stop or braking moderately to a stop, the 5th->4th downshift is felt (like a bumper tap), the rest of the down and up shifts are normal and smooth. When using Sport vs Econ mode, no difference, still the rough downshift. When using manual downshift, no clunk. Usually more prevalent when engine cold, and after 10 miles or so not as pronounced, however did not experience this issue in the first 600 miles, now I have about 800 miles on the odometer. The car has been babied.

Service appt on friday -- advisor stated he'll check "adaptations" and any software upgrades to the tranny.

I did an exhaustive 1 hour search on this website/forum and found many threads with the 7-spd tranny demonstrating rough 2nd->1st downshifting, a few people with my specific issue, both in E-class and other models. Most seemed to resolve their issue with software/tsb upgrades.

SolidGranite

Keep us posted. These issues as you stated are normally handled w/ software updates. I've also heard it can be resolved by going through the ECU reset process to have the car relearn your driving habits.

rufmb

My car with the downshift kick in the rear from 4th>3rd has probably settled down a bit and smoothened the shift on its own (2013 E350lux 4Matic). I did take it to the dealer and complained about this i.e. every time I exited the highway onto a ramp with really slow cars in front of me - kick in the rear. They said 'software update, software update', I don't know; fingers crossed over here.

PeterUbers

Had a c300 loaner, 2013, while they worked on mine, did the same thing. No software updates ...just told me they reset adaptations, give it 200 miles....still does it occasionally...oh well, don't mind it terribly for now.

K-A

It's an unfortunate inherent characteristic of the 7G tranny which I believe MB never got right.

It will get better with more miles/adapting and if needed, updates, but I consider it an inherent characteristic that will pop up from time to time.

noka

Not sure that is true. My '09 C300 Sport 4Matic had butter-smooth shifts up and down through all gears. (I did have a s/w update early on, to take care of some hesitation when pulling out in reverse and that was immediately solved).

PeterUbers

...about 50 miles on the odo since the "reset" and still with the 5->4 rough shift when slowing down -- only when cold too, once the car is warmed up, it's either hardly noticeable or not evident at all.

Nice to know I'm not the only one with this, and it's nothing mission critical, generally speaking. I have learned over the years to live with a lot of things cars do that they're not designed to do .. just so long as I know it won't end up in catastrophe or major repair bill.

PeterUbers

Ok, started doing it again, this time with more frequency, warm or cold. Only the 5th-->4th downshift, occasionally now the 4th to 5th upshift.

Dropping it off Tuesday, will post and update thereafter.

I've pm-ed so many with 2k11 to 2k14 e's .. thanks to all for the replies... some of you have this, some of you don't. Also seen in the SL class and other classes with 7spd tranny (per my PMs to owners on this forum).

PeterUbers

Update:

Dropped it off today at the stealership, my salesman was kind enough to have another 2k14 E550 4-matic sedan waiting for me with 5 miles on it to test drive -- it had a similar 5->4th harsh downshift, but it's 2->3 and then 3->2 was very noticeable -- salesman even mentioned he hadn't noticed this before on previous test drives but it was noticeable. Also, was able to drive my car with the tech .. tech drove it, definitely felt the 5th->4th and said it's not normal, should be buttery smooth shifting each and everytime.

Thanks for those I've PMed and have given me their insight, will post back as I know more, hopefully this thread can help others (so pumped that I'm back in my C300 loaner!)

Anakclk

Any update? I have the exact same problem with my 2014 e550.

PeterUbers

It's been in the shop for 4 days now, left a vm with the service advisor yesterday morning, no return vm still, will call again.

I'm definitely going to update this thread as I know (or don't know) as I'm hoping this can help others.

UPDATE:

shop foreman and I spoke: there is a NEW 2014 software update fresh off the presses for the 2k14 E350/550 for this particular transmission issue. I did not ask (but will later) about the TSB # or software item number -- will update you all with that once I receive my car in normal driving condition.

Also, my steering column was making a creaking noise with minute degrees of rotation, but was very fluid and quiet with quick movements -- foreman said a part is on order for the steering rack and this is designed to solve this particular, known issue.

PeterUbers

this evening the service manager called, a person I've yet not spoken with, and he stated they changed out the steering rack entirely as there was a TAC (similar to a TSB?) for the steering column noise and he thinks the noise is gone.

Regarding the transmission, they've drivin' it around multiple times and have not gotten it to manifest the rough downshift, he states there is NOT an updated software (this got me pretty upset) and his advisors mis-spoke when they told me a new software patch was being uploaded to the transmission ECU (or whatever or wherever this goes). He states there very well may be a patch or hardware fix later in the model year and since it's so early, he'll keep track of this and let me know in a few week or months as it goes. Also, he wants to drive the vehicle with me in the morning tomorrow to see if he can perceive this shift issue. He stated that there have been times in the recent past with recent E-models where a customer complained to him of a rough shift, and though all codes were normal and all software updated, he pushed the issue with Benz and over a few weeks determined a fix with engineering, etc etc.

Once again, he has reset the ECU and wants the tranny to re-learn my driving style. This just won't fix this issue, I made that pretty clear to him. There is something very mechanical about this thud during the downshift.

Will update tomorrow -- I KNOW, just know, that it's going to still manifest this issue, oh well, here's to optimism. Glad I got rid of a perfectly running 2k9 G37x...

faz999

Hi Peter - which dealership you went to ?

I go to Lober motors and jeff the head person is real nice very knowledgeable and took care of my small issue instantly

PeterUbers

st charles ... loeber is a bit of a hike for me, but it's good to know there's a knowledgeable person out there, thanks

PeterUbers

Final update:

Got the car back this morning, drove with the service manager for 4 miles -- neither him or I appreciated the car to demonstrate the rough downshift (he drove, I was shotgun). The steering wheel issue is completely fixed, no more creaking.

Of course, I'm driving home and a few rough 5-> 4 downshifts. We left it like this: he would continue to monitor the TACs from Benz and if something came up, or my issue worsened, he would contact me or I would contact him to push the issue up the chain. He seemed very supportive, did not at all seem like he was blowing this off, and sadly, it happens so intermittently that it's relatively challenging to replicate. That being said, others owning 2014's have chimed in with a similar issue, therefore I hope there will be a software or hardware update in the near future.

Live Oak

Just to add to the mystery, my 2011 E550 does similar stuff.

Cruising up a moderate hill at 20-30 mph (for just one example), nearing the top I lift my foot off the gas SLIGHTLY in anticipation of a curve, and WHAM!! the damn thing either up-shifts or down-shifts, I can't tell which. REALLY HARD! SCARY!! (I can repeat this at will.)

Similar behavior on downshifts going up hills.

Similar dealer experience. "Can't reproduce." "Updated software," "There is no software update."

I'll say this --- it does appear that they have on occasions reset things. The car then behaves properly for a while. Apparently, it then "learns" me and begins to harass me!

Sometimes, I wish my Mercedes weren't so damn smart.

Carefully documenting ALL this activity on service documents so that I'll have some chance of appeal if the tranny self-destructs after warranty.

PeterUbers

Thanks for the feedback LiveOak as well as the feedback from other owners, particularly 2014 owners with similar issues, it's re-assuring to know I'm not alone. Will update you as I go along. My service manager said the same thing, the most important thing we do now is to document this is going on so there is more support if things go south.

My Infiniti 7-spd would occasionally do what your 2011 is doing, but so much more infrequently than my 2014 is demonstrating the issue -- i'd have a harsh shift in the Infiniti once or twice a month! Not 8x a day.

PeterUbers

Update:

I've been posting more extensive coverage of this 'saga' on the other site (benzwor...org)

Car has been in the shop 2 weeks, all software updates to date (including new ones designed by german engineers working with local foreman) not working. They are going to be testing the hardware/electrical this week, and ultimately will decide what the next step is --> new transmission?

Working with corporate as well, told them I'll accept a new car, my car perfectly fixed, or my money back

PeterUbers

Update:

MB Engineer working now in conjunction with the shop foreman (both in the department at the same time) states it's not all all software, LOL (do they know what they're talking about?)

It's the "valve body" and this is on order.. should arrive today or tomorrow. Still not 100% sure, but engineer is "very sure" it's the valve body.

Escalated my case with MBUSA and my consultant is determining now if my car qualifies for MB's policy on buyback/car replacement.


Question:
1) does anyone know if I could have sustained significant or any damage to the internals of the transmission during 1600 miles (on the odometer) if I have a bad valve body with a 10% rough downshift from 5th to 4th gear? I.E. I only felt it 10% to 20% of the 5th to 4th downshifts...
More to come

Live Oak

Thanks for keeping us posted.

PeterUbers

It's funny -- at any point, I could have just accepted the initial recommendations when i first brought this car in for the transmission problem, and in order of recommendations, early to most recent, here they are:

1) normal shifting, nothing to worry about, we can't reproduce the symptom
2) normal, but it's learning your driving style, let's reset the adaptations
3) it's got to "break in" and it'll be better in 2000 miles
4) let's reset the adaptations, it's likely just that
5) let's download the latest software, and then reset the adaptations
6) it's definitely software, not hardware, let's reset the adaptations more
7) definitely NOT software, it's the valve body, let's replace this and it should be fine

time will tell...

Arrie

I don't think any damage at all has happened to your transmission.

PeterUbers

thanks arrie --

2006_C350

please keep us posted. how long have you had a loaner?

PeterUbers

I've had a loaner for this most recent drop off going on 10 days. In total, I've had a loaner for 20 days (for the drop off to the first dealership multiple times with no resolution and then now with this new dealership with a case directed by MB engineering and MBUSA corporate)

Will update today or tomorrow with what the dealer says regarding a replacement valve body and how it helped or didn't help the symptoms...