First service visit - rough downshifting; 2k14 E550 4matic
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.
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.
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.
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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).
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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!)
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.
Last edited by PeterUbers; Oct 18, 2013 at 12:28 PM.
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...
Last edited by PeterUbers; Oct 22, 2013 at 08:23 PM.
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.
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.
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.
Last edited by PeterUbers; Oct 23, 2013 at 04:34 PM.
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
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
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...




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
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...



