PeterUbers

This is a more widespread problem than I had anticipated. My outgoing 2014 E550 had a very harsh, but intermittent "clunk" 5->4th gear downshift, as does this car after about 100 miles of driving, now it has about 500 miles .. same exact issue.

Luckily, we seemed to have figured out what fixed my last E550 (see my sig to catch up if you're bored) -- a transmission rebuild.

I've been scouring the forums -- seems that 2014 C300's, 2014 GLK350's and 2014 E350's are also affected.

How many of you 2014 owners perceive your up or downshifts?

Car's going back to stealership in a couple weeks when I have time to drop it off.

SnakeDoctor

I just picked up my 2014 E550 on Monday, and I noticed the same thing almost immediately. I'm reading through your thread right now...

SnakeDoctor

Ah man, I just finished reading that thread. I really don't want to go through all that. I'm going to have to take what info I have in with me, if I want to get this done. I just know they will make me go through the motions before coming to the conclusion you and your story already has.

hammermf

Same here with a 2014 E3504M at about 1200 miles. Definitely 3-2 downshift when coming to a stop, and 4-5 upshift at light throttle (I think, I will confirm today and update.) Not terrible, but my wife says the Sienna shifts better. If she notices it, it's noticeable.

In my opinion it's not terrible, just quite noticeable. This is in E mode, I have not driven enough S mode.

PeterUbers

UPDATE:

Service manager just dropped off a 2014 CLS550 in my driveway and took my car for immediate repair -- I contacted senior rep at MBUSA this morning, the guy who authorized the replacement of my previous 550.. and he mandated this dealership get this fixed NOW!

I am also getting (apparently) a wheel/tire warranty package as an exchange for my ongoing troubles

Service manager acknowledged this is a wide spread problem, and mbusa knows about it, and he WILL get it fixed this time, they are committed to it.

I hope you all don't get the same run around, will continue to update you all.

PeterUbers

Trust me, it gets worse, sorry to say, had 5600 miles on my first 2014 E550 and I know it gets worse. I had it in 36 business days, over 6 drop offs for service, and weeks and weeks of watching it come back and get worse.

PeterUbers

Enjoy this read about 2014 C300's experiencing the same problem:

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204/526549-2014-c300-4matic-transmission-jolt-jerking-problem.html

...and this read on the 2014 GLK's with the same problem:

https://mbworld.org/forums/glk-class...g-problem.html

Will also let you all know if this 2014 CLS550 I have does it as well.... wouldn't that be something.. LOL

tabakin

I have a CPO E350 BT got it at about 16500, not about 17700. Definitely noticeable shifts 4->3 and 2->1, especially after driving fast and stopping quickly. Its noticeable sometimes and very bothersome at other times. Not sure I want to go through the hassle of making them put new clutch packs in, but maybe I should. It is not "clunking" like yours Peter. They probably will tell me its normal.

SnakeDoctor

I've only experienced the 5 down to 4 downshift. It's most certainly noticeable. It's just like if you were driving a stick, downshifted, but didn't rev-match.

SnakeDoctor

Oh, and mine is the coupe, not that it matters I don't think.

SLpat

Is this issue mostly related to the 2014 model? Isn't the 7 speed transmission the same one they have used for several years? I have a CPO 2011 E550 and the transmission shifts like butter. If you don't watch the tach you wouldn't even know it downshifts. It feels very similar to my wife's Infiniti JX35 with a CVT.

Good luck getting the transmission issue resolved.

UnderCoverNinja

Thats horrible, I just put about 1300 miles on my 14 E350 4matic luckily the shifts are very smooth still...

justdonating

Will pay close attention to my 2014 E350 4Matic. Sitting at 2200 miles now....

axhoaxho

I have a 2014 E550. So far so good, no rough downshifts.

samkimg

My 2014 E350 is smooth on all up and downshifts, BUT it is RWD. Is this a 4M issue only?!

GregTR

4Matic E350 Wagon here, 12000 miles in 4 months, no rough shifting yet...

PeterUbers

Thanks for all the input guys, glad to know I may be able to FINALLY get to a car that does not clunk into a shift.

Hopefully they have the right fix .. fwiw, the 2014 CLS550 I have with 3000 miles on it (loaner) is butter smooth, but and ever so perceptible 5th->4th downshift occasionally present

What are the chances of me getting two dud E550's???

SnakeDoctor

Well, I'd think since you've already gone through the whole ordeal with the first, and you said after the fix it was great, but traded it in for a new car which again (ugh) had the issue. Once they fix it, you'll be good. *crossing fingers*

DubVBenz

It may be something that's fixed with a firmware update at a later date. I know my Bluetec 211 was plagued with really harsh 2-1 downshifts that were ultimately (mostly) corrected with firmware updates. Everyone who had the car new complained about it all over the forums.

PeterUbers

The dealership called me this morning, it's on the rack, transmission is out of the vehicle and being evaluated.

They are conferring with engineers in germany, this is top of their list. I have held further purchases from them (father was going to pay cash for 2014 E350) and friend was negotiating a GL550 and I have asked both of them to NOT purchase their vehicles until I have proof this is fixed, and my friend/family is very grateful they knew about this significant problem.

No more money goes to Benz from now on from me or any referrals. And I don't really care that previous years of 7G tronic cars were fine, all that matters is that my two were not fine, not by a long shot. It's certainly good info to know this and interesting that something must have changed in 2013/14 to cause this.

Thanks again for everyone's input

PeterUbers

Another reason I traded the previous 550 was that it was rear-ended prior to them fixing it officially (with the trans rebuild). So I had that on the carfax and the palladium on the bumper never matched up as well as when it was OEM. It always bugged me. I probably would have kept it if it wasn't rear-ended.

That being said, MBUSA ate the depreciation, the entire depreciation with accident included without giving me any stink about the car accident.

Also I had sensors malfunction on that car with corroded harnesses, likely more corrosion that would evolve over time, and a bad steering column and alignment issues that were ongoing.

Glad I got out of the palladium and into this obsidian, but like you said, hopefully they'll do the same fix (clutchpack) and be done with it

DubVBenz

Sounds like they're really losing out here. Hope they don't go out of business.

K-A

Unfortunately, the 7G is just such a crap, inherently faulty transmission that they exhibit the same issues I had to take my 2006 E350 in for, multitudes of times. My 2010's and 2011's were slightly smoother, but every 7G I've driven has that inherent "7G issue" to it. I hope M-B's 9G fixes this, but I've heard some reports stating that it's still a bit behind the ZF 8 Speed transmissions.

PeterUbers

I've got about 200 miles on this loaner 2014 CLS550 and while it does have a slightly perceptible shift only in 5th->4th downshift (while closed throttle and slowing/braking to a gentle stop), it's butter smooth.

MBUSA called me yesterday to offer their support for my ongoing issue (same customer rep I've been talking with since Oct 2013) and I said that I have all the leverage in the world here, and if they don't fix it, I will get my full amount of money back, and I quote, she says "and MBUSA would agree that you deserve your money back after putting up with all this."

At least I have that consolation that I'll happily take my $77k back, but then I'll have to decide what to do with it. Part of me wants to just drive our spare '08 Infiniti G35x (bulletproof sedan with 35k miles on it) until Benz figures the 9g-tronic out and then re-up with Benz. I just am not likely Bimmer or Audi right now, nor Lexus.

Cheers to first world problems, eh guys?

PeterUbers

So you have it too .. initially mine was soft.. then a couple times i literally thought the tranny fell out of the car or I was rear ended it was so harsh!

Something mechanically is going on during this sequence of downshifting and it can't get it smooth... the metal plates or whatever are slamming together. The funny part is that 70% of the time, it gets it smooth under apparently the same circumstance, while 30% of the time it slams the gears down.