AudiA4Turbo22

Because warranty doesn't work like that, they want to see what's broken and if they can replace that one specific part instead of the whole thing. A new AMG trans is like $15,000 LOL.

PeterUbers

I had the same question on both my E550's... why not just replace the whole unit??

They never agreed to do so -- which was one of the reasons I dumped the first E550 because I didn't want a 28 year old naperville tech opening the transmission and putting it back together when it was assembled by seriously experienced people in germany. and this naperville tech likely has done three or four of these in his career.

Just saying

PeterUbers

83

Ask for a new car identically optioned

Don't accept a repaired problem child car

They will give u a new e63

83zx83

Had a real good conversation with the GSM yesterday. Hopefully the dealer will encourage the right resolution. I hope we get to the replacement discussion and replacement is not many months away. Would be great to end up feeling good about MB and the dealer in the end. appreciate the support!

AudiA4Turbo22

Lol if you think the techs in Germany assembling your transmission are that knowledgeable you are mistaken. They are no different than factory workers that are given one specific job(think assembly line). Several people assemble each transmission, not one man one engine like AMG motors.

Not wanting a tech to work on your car because you think he/she is inexperienced is not a reason to lemon a car. Mercedes techs undergo some serious training and anything that serious is carried out by an ASE certified MASTER technician that does nothing but transmissions for the dealer. Mercedes takes their transmission issues very seriously, if the dealer can't figure it out they send in a regional factory certified specialist to diagnose the problem.

EVERY E550 has its transmission problems, some more severe than others. Mine even has problems, not constantly, but it does happen once or twice a day. Is it acceptable? No, I don't think my $70k car should have harsh shifts, etc. However, it isn't often enough to get rid of the whole car. If/when the transmission takes a nose dive, mercedes will gladly replace it with a new one. So, I'm not worried.

Oh and just FYI, the 4 Matic 7GTronic's seem to have a lot more issues than the standard RWD ones, probably due to the extra load placed on the transmission by having to turn 2 differentials. My ML550 had TONS more tranny issues than my S or E.

PeterUbers

Glad you got a kick outta my comment, and if it's ok for your $70k car to clunk periodically, great, for me it was not and I appreciate a company like MBUSA who takes back their car and stands by their slogan, the best or nothing. This is particularly funny to me considering I've only owned japanese cars that never had a trans clunk issue, so it was quite a shock to have this E550 issue. All your points are well taken and I appreciate your input.

And sure it's a reason for me to have MBUSA buy back or replace my car -- due to my concern that a brand new car's transmission was being disassembled in under 1000 miles. Sure that's a reason for me to have MBUSA buy back the car and if they disagreed, i don't think they would have 1) replaced my car and 2) gave me my money back on the 2nd try. I agree to disagree with you. I'm glad you weren't advocating for me, and Naperville Benz was -- they felt the same way as me and went to bat for me to get my car replaced, then to get my cash back. Is it a technical reason to "lemon" the car -- well, in my cases, the car met all the illinois lemon law criteria, so yes. But you're right, just because the transmission has to be opened up doesn't in and of itself constitute requirements to fulfill the illinois lemon law.

The theme I'm getting from some forum members is "suck it up and deal with it, it's a $70k car and you need to learn to deal with its imperfections" How exactly do you decide what is an isn't acceptable for everyone else and what they should expect out of a car? You yourself said it's not acceptable for a car costing this much, yet you deal with it and determined that for you, it's not a large enough offense to get rid of the car. I'm just grateful for the support of others on this forum during this process, I've obtained so much valuable information and advice from this and the "other" forum. I'm not knocking MBUSA, I'm a huge MB fan, I just look forward now to a more improved 9G transmission.

Glad I get the opportunity to try another brand, although I'm very hopeful the 9G-tronic transmission is better mated to the 4-matic for 2015 as I have my eye on the CLS550.

The other thing, Kirk, is that RARELY, people like you post and discuss that there are known clunking issues with these E-class sedans, most people just talk about how smooth theirs are and no issues nor should most of the E-class cars have anything but butter smooth transmission... as if it's forbidden to talk about any imperfections. I appreciate your candor.

PeterUbers

If you are patient as you are and have been, they will take care of you -- I am very impressed with MBUSA, you will be too! Get that new replacement. Let this be someone else's issue, your current vehicle.

83zx83

Friday this was a torque converter/wet clutch issue, today I was told this was a manifold and intake issue. Service director said he was "100% confident", then he mentioned they had not even replaced the manifold/intake yet as they had to order parts. What a sad and completely disheartening process. Mercedes-Benz – The best or nothing. Wow what happened

83zx83

Friday this was a torque converter/wet clutch issue, today I was told this was a manifold and intake issue. Service director said he was "100% confident", then he mentioned they had not even replaced the manifold/intake yet as they had to order parts. What a sad and completely disheartening process. Mercedes-Benz – The best or nothing. Wow what happened

PeterUbers

I know 83, my thoughts exactly. Some members will tell u "all cars have their problems" ... Eyeroll

GoBlando

A bad dealer service manager, is a bad service manager, is a bad service manager. Demand the regional service rep that oversees the dealerships in your area investigate your car. Back when I had an Audi S5 I had terrible clutch issues. The first dealership told me I was crazy. The second dealership told me I'm an idiot and was driving it too hard. The third dealership shattered my driver side window while replacing a failed power window motor. My car being kept was a godsend since they had already told me my clutch was great and that I am being ****. The regional service rep just happened to be there the next day when my glass came in. He sat in my car, pressed the clutch pedal in one time, released and gave the dealership a list of parts to order under warranty. He said mine wasn't the worst he had felt, but it was "up there".

Dealer incompetence is extremely frustrating. I hope they get you straightened out soon. I could trade these types of stories all day. My S5 was quite an interesting experience. If it wasn't for the dealer, it would have been a pretty reliable car (minus the clutch part defect).

AudiA4Turbo22

Peter, please don't take my post as a personal attack. I had zero intention in criticizing your actions. My post was strictly to describe my case and my position along with my opinion in regards to service techs.

I completely agree with you that the clunking is not acceptable and that it should be dealt with. Take it from me though, I have owned/experienced a range of vehicles from Mercedes most having the 7G Tronic transmission.

Here are my experiences:
-2006 ML500- The 7GTronic was introduced on the W164 and I got one of the first ones(built April 2005). Within the first 3 days my transmission began to disengage the drive gear while cruising on the highway. So it would be like changing into neutral while cruising at 70MPH on the highway. I would have to pull over and turn off the car, wait 1-2 minutes and restart and I was able to get it to the dealer the next day. A few months later the transmission began clunking very often. Long story short, I took this thing to the dealer 14 times in the first 12 months. Kept it till its lease ended and returned it.

-2008 GL450- I then leased a GL450 as a replacement and this one had one clunking issue that I took it to the dealer for and for the next three years it was transmission problem free. However, 18 months after leasing the driver's side cylinder head had to be changed as the car was running on 7 out of 8 of the cylinders. Kept it for all 33 months again.

-2010 S550- After the GL450 I decided to give the S-class a whirl and it has been the least problematic one of the bunch. Aside from the very rare downshift clunk on steep steep inclines it has been tranny trouble free. Only issue I've had is a steering wheel vibration which they corrected by road force balancing the wheels/tires.

-2008 ML550- I decided to buy an SUV since I no longer had the GL, so I bought a 2008 ML550 second hand 2 years ago. Believe it or not, the transmission had a very hard 2nd to 3rd shift from my first test drive. I had to have a clause placed in my contract that if Rusnak Mercedes couldn't fix it within 10 Days they would have to buy the car back from me. Rusnak replaced several of the clutch discs and it solved the problem. About 2 months later my transmission started blipping the throttle during upshifts which is very odd, took it back and they recalibrated the TCU a couple times and it worked. Long story short, it had tranny issues for the whole year that I owned it. Along with these transmission issues, it had a plethora of other problems like the steering column adjustment motor died 3 months after purchase, Homelink range was less than 2 feet all the time, it rode like crap(mercedes did away with the air suspension for the ML550 like a bunch of morons), the power lift gate had to be fixed twice, etc. It was unfortunately totaled 13 months from the date of purchase.

-2010 E550- I decided to buy an E550 as a daily since I couldn't find a decent ML63 within 500 miles of me. I actually had my heart set on an 04 W220 S65 AMG instead of the E550, but realized that I need to be realistic given its age and insane cost of maintenance and insurance. I made the logical decision and bought my E550. My E550 has harsh shifts under certain circumstances, but honestly there's nothing the dealer can do. This car has had its share of minor issues as well, nothing I can recall off the top of my head. However, out of all the cars(aside from the S550) this is the best one I've owned yet.

As you can see Mr. Ubers, I have had my fair share of problems with Mercedes. I have essentially been to hell and back ten times over with these cars and yet I continue to loyally buy their cars. Why? I just like them too much, they are like E-Type Jaguars, not reliable, but when they run they are an absolute dream to drive.

I also have an 03 Audi A4 and let me tell you, that car has cost me more to repair and maintain in the last 11 years than a new engine for the 04 S65 AMG. I thought the grass could be greener on the other side, but nope this is the price we pay for owning German cars.

My Lexus on the other hand, has had ZERO issues, aside from a blown speaker in the door it has been trouble free. However, Japanese manufacturers use tried and tested technology in their cars. Rarely do Jap manufacturer take risks like developing new motors or converting all the infotainment onto a CAN-Bus or MOST system. Lexus used the same 4.3L V8 from 1995 to 2010 and the 4.6L V8 they use now is just a variant of the old 4.3. The German manufacturers dump their engines for brand new concepts every 5-7 years and continually improve them every year. Heck my 08 Lexus SC430 still has a freaking tape deck and a 2D Nav drawn by a kid in kindergarten. The Germans up until a couple years ago were so much further ahead in terms of implemented automotive technology. The Japs liked to wait for the Germans to solve all the issues and THEN implement that tech into their cars.

I've just learned to accept that these issues come with the territory of owning one of these advanced machines and just end up coping with it. Hope that's enough insight for issues I've experienced for you Mr. Ubers.

/Thread Jack

AudiA4Turbo22

Oh and as for the 9GTronic, I think this is a HUGE mistake on Mercedes Benzes behalf. I've driven the LS460 with the 8 Speed transmission Lexus makes and let me tell you, that was even clunkier than the 7GTronic. There are way too many gears now a days. I have never felt that 7 speeds was not enough, now nine? Might as well call it a CVT.

Mercedes should ditch manufacturing transmissions and go with the tried and tested 8-Speed trans ZF makes for the new Jags and BMW's. It shifts super quick and is very reliable. Mercedes massively failed with the 7GTronic if you ask me, they should know when to call it quits.

PeterUbers

AudiA4:

Awesome info, once again I appreciate your insight and information. I see your point and wholeheartedly agree with you that when a Benz works well, it's the best car on the planet for me

Perhaps I'll be stuck having to deal with some type of issue as a cost of being in this brand... It's unfortunate isn't it?

Thanks again

PeterUbers

My understanding of the 9g is that it's very similar to the 7g, therefore I doubt it will be a tremendous success... What are your thoughts? The net says the isf Lexus has the zf8?

I thought a 5 speed trans left some dead spots in acceleration curves while the 7spd really opened up the power band particularly on the highway... Not even to mention the fuel efficiency,. But a 9spd???

AudiA4Turbo22

After I wrote my reply I actually did some research on the 9G Tronic and it sounds very impressive. I even found a video clip of an E350 Bluetec with the new trans and shift times are much much much reduced, but that's all I can see. The transmission seems to be very efficient but I don't think the fact that my car will be cruising at 1,300rpms at 75mph is a good thing. I personally despise the fact that my e550 hunts for 7th gear ALL THE TIME. I mean even while driving at 35mph my car wants to be in 7th gear. This puts so much unnecessary load on the engine, it feels like it's going to stall if it drops anymore. I personally felt 6 speeds is plenty, I can live with 7, but 9 is just redundant. Going through the canyons in a 9 speed would be a lot of work if one were to use the paddles. We shall see though, I'm sure mercedes will convince me otherwise yet again. However, I do really like the Hyundai Equus and the Jaguar F-Type, let's see where the cards fall.

link to video:

83zx83

My dealer was helpful in reaching a reasonable resolution today. I was told the final repair resolution was a wet clutch replacement and repair of intake manifold leak. With that said post "repair" when my radar detector installer picked up and dropped of the car to pull the passport system - he said the car shut off twice unexpectedly while on the road twice - Good bye to the troubled E63S, hello new beast!

Thanks to all of you for your insight and support!

Raymond Lee

Thank you guys for information that I need. I am in same process not knowing what final resolution will be in 2 to 4 weeks, which is their review time.

Steinhart

my '12 CLS62PP bucks wildly on cold mornings if I don't let it warm up first, I've backed out of my driveway several times with it bucking to the point I almost lost control of the car, its scary

I considered it a side effect of a high performance high torque car that is bucking due to misfiring secondary to being cold....

not sure if it's the same as what your car is doing

83zx83

Sounds like the same symptoms. How many times have you had it in for repair of this issue?

Steinhart

no, I just live with it, let it warm up first for a few minutes, not saying it's "normal", maybe I should present it to MB...

Arrie

Just don't run over anybody while you wait presenting it...

thefisch

Anyway you can take and post some video of what the car does?

Steinhart

mine only happens when it's cold, so I let it warm up first, really not an issue for me

thefisch

I like to document things in case they get worse. I suppose you are still under warranty and could wait. But as you get closer to the end of your warranty, it would be worth getting it checked on their dime instead of yours.