E-Class (W212) 2010 - 2016: E 350, E 550
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jerky tranny shifting

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Old May 27, 2016 | 10:46 PM
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2022 AMG GT 53, 2020 Sl450. Did drive 2018 S450
jerky tranny shifting

on a 2016 E350 2WD. It started the day after I bought it. Speeds up to 40 and gears up to 5th the gear changes are very rough. On downshift between 4 and 3 I get a sudden jerk as if being hit from behind. Dealer 'changed shift points' and said software was current - which didn't do anything. Is this common? Whats the fix?
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Old May 28, 2016 | 01:17 AM
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Plenty of cars with similar problem. Not an isolated occurance at all. My car had similar poor rev matched upshift at 4-5 and occasional hard downshifts especially while slowing down on uphill climb with a loaded car.
Marked improvement after a software update by dealer ( he said there was a TSB on that). Some members had transmission repair performed on a part called valve body.

Read two long threads by forum member Peter uber. Get some pop corn as well.
Bug the dealer or try another dealer till they update or reflash the software. Good luck.

Last edited by pamiboy; May 28, 2016 at 01:21 AM.
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Old May 28, 2016 | 12:02 PM
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'71 Pinto
Have shop foreman test drive vehicle with you to duplicate/witness problem in addition, request they open a case with MBUSA to assist/monitor. Cutting to the chase, if everyone did this MB would have no choice but to expedite a fix.
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Old May 29, 2016 | 12:10 AM
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...50-4matic.html

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Get your popcorn and beer
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Old Jun 2, 2016 | 08:20 PM
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2022 AMG GT 53, 2020 Sl450. Did drive 2018 S450
dealer had my car for three days this week. Engineer from corporate came down with his 'special computer' to check out my car. Apparently I have to drive over 1000 miles for the car to adapt to my driving style - wow...Again, the 2016 E350 loaner shifted flawlessly - apparently as it has already adapted at 8000 miles...wow...who do they think we (customers) are...
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Old Jun 2, 2016 | 11:47 PM
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Ha...we've heard it before. I believe the "adaptation" of car to driving style is a 10-20 minutes thing. Somebody please educate me about the 1000 mile adaptation. I think he may be referring to the "engine break - in" to confuse customers.
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Old Jun 3, 2016 | 03:36 AM
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2014 E63S; AMS 100 octane ECU dyno tune; EDOK TCU tune; BB intakes; sprintbooster
Originally Posted by Merserybenze
dealer had my car for three days this week. Engineer from corporate came down with his 'special computer' to check out my car. Apparently I have to drive over 1000 miles for the car to adapt to my driving style - wow...Again, the 2016 E350 loaner shifted flawlessly - apparently as it has already adapted at 8000 miles...wow...who do they think we (customers) are...
They kept feeding me this crap and I was done...
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Old Jun 4, 2016 | 07:30 AM
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2001 Mercedes s500
Rough shifting

Originally Posted by PeterUbers
They kept feeding me this crap and I was done...
Had this problem with my 2000 s430. I had to drive it in w mode. Finally changed mass airflow sensor. Helped a lot. Also changed conductor plate in transmission. The black paint inside of the pan had pulled away and was all over the valve body and plugging up the shift solenoid
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Old Jun 4, 2016 | 10:15 AM
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From: Revere Beach
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Mine only gets "Jerky" when is it cold. After a few shifts it goes away.
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Old Jun 5, 2016 | 04:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Larrycu
Had this problem with my 2000 s430. I had to drive it in w mode. Finally changed mass airflow sensor. Helped a lot. Also changed conductor plate in transmission. The black paint inside of the pan had pulled away and was all over the valve body and plugging up the shift solenoid
Yikes...

They replaced the valve body (conductor plate) and also several clutch packs and nothing helped

It turns out that if you're a light braker, this has the trans adapt outside of its tolerances for smooth shifting and you get these clunky downshifts

Just funny that they can't program around that
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Old Jun 9, 2016 | 07:12 PM
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Result!! Mercedes Corporate helped me out of the car!. So i just took delivery of a E400 2016. Night and day difference in power, shifting etc...MB was very helpful..
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Old Jun 10, 2016 | 12:19 AM
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Awesome ending. The best or nothing. Congratulations. .
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Old Jun 10, 2016 | 12:44 AM
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does anyone else think it seems like a really backwards idea to adapt transmission behavior to the driver, rather than the driver learning a feel for the transmission?
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Old Jun 10, 2016 | 04:19 PM
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noooooooOO
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Old Jun 11, 2016 | 10:29 AM
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2022 AMG GT 53, 2020 Sl450. Did drive 2018 S450
if it helps anyone else..the day after I picked up my e350 three weeks ago I called my sales rep and complained about the tranny shifts. I then called corporate MB a few days later and asked to be taken out of the car as the gear changes were miserable. I was polite and professional and emphasized being a loyal MB customer over many years and multiple vehicles. 2 weeks later they allowed me to be trade my new e350 for a e400 ..on the original transaction they made me good. I only had to pay the difference in price between the two vehicles. The e400 price I negotiated with the MB dealer so got a break on that too. I hope this helps others with similar problems. I'm happy to still be in an MB rather than jump ship to another brand. MB does have good customer service and clearly want to retain loyal customers. The dealer didn't really try to do much to help me except keep telling me the tranny behavior is normal. Why would they help - they got two sales out of one customer in less than a month at the expense of MB!
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Old Jun 11, 2016 | 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Merserybenze
if it helps anyone else..the day after I picked up my e350 three weeks ago I called my sales rep and complained about the tranny shifts. I then called corporate MB a few days later and asked to be taken out of the car as the gear changes were miserable. I was polite and professional and emphasized being a loyal MB customer over many years and multiple vehicles. 2 weeks later they allowed me to be trade my new e350 for a e400 ..on the original transaction they made me good. I only had to pay the difference in price between the two vehicles. The e400 price I negotiated with the MB dealer so got a break on that too. I hope this helps others with similar problems. I'm happy to still be in an MB rather than jump ship to another brand. MB does have good customer service and clearly want to retain loyal customers. The dealer didn't really try to do much to help me except keep telling me the tranny behavior is normal. Why would they help - they got two sales out of one customer in less than a month at the expense of MB!
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Old Feb 11, 2018 | 12:16 PM
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2013 E350 & 1996 SL320
Thank you.

I have been having this problem for the last 2 years (while car was still user warranty) just to be told by the dealer to use paddle shifter from time to time to help minimize this harsh shifting (from 4 to 5 gear). THey mentionnée no code found so no problem to be fixed. I am glad I found this article. Car is a CPO only has 40k miles but out of CPO warranty by 2 months.
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