My experience with a 175K Mile 7G-Tronic Plus
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From: Northeast
2012 S350 Bluetec, 2014 GLK250 Bluetec, 2026 E350 4Matic
My experience with a 175K Mile 7G-Tronic Plus
I wanted to share my experience and thoughts on this transmission in my new-to-me 2011 E350 4matic. I got the car with 173K on it and noticed it had the occasional harsh shift, especially when I floored it to get a downshift. It also had a vibration which happened around 30-40 MPH under light acceleration, which I suspected might be related to the torque converter. The history of the car shows a transmission fluid change at 43K and likely at 83K but none since. I changed the fluid (went with the Fuchs brand fluid) and drove on a 350 mile trip. The harsh shifting was gone, as was the periodic vibration around 30-40 MPH. I also noticed the torque converter is much quicker to lock up now too.
When I changed the fluid, I noticed it was black. It looked like the oil out of a diesel car, that's how black it was. There was very little buildup on the magnets in the pan, though, which was encouraging.
The moral of the story is this seems to be a well built gearbox and I would imagine it will have a long service life ahead of it. Seems like fluid changes are very important though, although it looks like this transmission survived one 90K mile (or more) change interval. That may be because most of the last 100K miles were done on the highway.
Anyway, thoughts and comments appreciated.
When I changed the fluid, I noticed it was black. It looked like the oil out of a diesel car, that's how black it was. There was very little buildup on the magnets in the pan, though, which was encouraging.
The moral of the story is this seems to be a well built gearbox and I would imagine it will have a long service life ahead of it. Seems like fluid changes are very important though, although it looks like this transmission survived one 90K mile (or more) change interval. That may be because most of the last 100K miles were done on the highway.
Anyway, thoughts and comments appreciated.
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Joined: Dec 2013
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2011 E350 Sport
I agree the fluid changes help. I noticed as I got to 110k some harder shifts. My last change I did myself at 50k. This time I had a local indy do it for $300. After the change the car is back to normal.
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2011 E-350 4Matic Sport
I've rebuilt enough "domestic" transmissions to be firmly in the camp of regular fluid and filter changes. Flushing does nothing to remove debris trapped in the valve body, it just replaces fluid. Yes I know this transmission has additional electronics and clutchpack configurations but the principal remains the same.
I think you did the right thing and agree that from the description the fluid was full of clutch material. Many times the thought is that if the fluid has not been changed then leave it as it contains enough material to "grab" clutches. Fresh fluid wipes clutches clean and can lead to failure. I've not found this to be true and IMO would always change fluid and filter regardless. If its going to fail it will fail regardless as if that's the case its already slipping.
I would also add that for hi mile conditions I would drop the valve body to clean passages and check solenoid inlets/screens for debris as it takes manual cleaning to get that stuff out.
I think you did the right thing and agree that from the description the fluid was full of clutch material. Many times the thought is that if the fluid has not been changed then leave it as it contains enough material to "grab" clutches. Fresh fluid wipes clutches clean and can lead to failure. I've not found this to be true and IMO would always change fluid and filter regardless. If its going to fail it will fail regardless as if that's the case its already slipping.
I would also add that for hi mile conditions I would drop the valve body to clean passages and check solenoid inlets/screens for debris as it takes manual cleaning to get that stuff out.
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From: Central Coast, CA
2020 X7 xDrive40i, 2016 X3 sDrive28i
I wanted to share my experience and thoughts on this transmission in my new-to-me 2011 E350 4matic. I got the car with 173K on it and noticed it had the occasional harsh shift, especially when I floored it to get a downshift. It also had a vibration which happened around 30-40 MPH under light acceleration, which I suspected might be related to the torque converter. The history of the car shows a transmission fluid change at 43K and likely at 83K but none since. I changed the fluid (went with the Fuchs brand fluid) and drove on a 350 mile trip. The harsh shifting was gone, as was the periodic vibration around 30-40 MPH. I also noticed the torque converter is much quicker to lock up now too.
When I changed the fluid, I noticed it was black. It looked like the oil out of a diesel car, that's how black it was. There was very little buildup on the magnets in the pan, though, which was encouraging.
The moral of the story is this seems to be a well built gearbox and I would imagine it will have a long service life ahead of it. Seems like fluid changes are very important though, although it looks like this transmission survived one 90K mile (or more) change interval. That may be because most of the last 100K miles were done on the highway.
Anyway, thoughts and comments appreciated.
When I changed the fluid, I noticed it was black. It looked like the oil out of a diesel car, that's how black it was. There was very little buildup on the magnets in the pan, though, which was encouraging.
The moral of the story is this seems to be a well built gearbox and I would imagine it will have a long service life ahead of it. Seems like fluid changes are very important though, although it looks like this transmission survived one 90K mile (or more) change interval. That may be because most of the last 100K miles were done on the highway.
Anyway, thoughts and comments appreciated.
Good to hear a flush fixed those issues for you. Proper maintenance is what keeps these cars running for a very long period of time.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 818
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From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
2014 E550 4MATIC TUNED - Turbo Upgraded Stage 3
My 2014 E550, developed rough shift right after new software update.
At the beginning i thought my shift became very crisp and snappy. But it got worse after turbo upgrades.
Rough up shift from 2 to 3 to 4 to 5th gear.
Down shift was also rough between 4 to 3 to 2.
Sometimes, felt like someone rear ended me.....
So, i did ATF change at 50K miles.
It runs way smoother but still not 100% get rid of jerkiness.
At the beginning i thought my shift became very crisp and snappy. But it got worse after turbo upgrades.
Rough up shift from 2 to 3 to 4 to 5th gear.
Down shift was also rough between 4 to 3 to 2.
Sometimes, felt like someone rear ended me.....
So, i did ATF change at 50K miles.
It runs way smoother but still not 100% get rid of jerkiness.
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
I wanted to share my experience and thoughts on this transmission in my new-to-me 2011 E350 4matic. I got the car with 173K on it and noticed it had the occasional harsh shift, especially when I floored it to get a downshift. It also had a vibration which happened around 30-40 MPH under light acceleration, which I suspected might be related to the torque converter. The history of the car shows a transmission fluid change at 43K and likely at 83K but none since. I changed the fluid (went with the Fuchs brand fluid) and drove on a 350 mile trip. The harsh shifting was gone, as was the periodic vibration around 30-40 MPH. I also noticed the torque converter is much quicker to lock up now too.
When I changed the fluid, I noticed it was black. It looked like the oil out of a diesel car, that's how black it was. There was very little buildup on the magnets in the pan, though, which was encouraging.
The moral of the story is this seems to be a well built gearbox and I would imagine it will have a long service life ahead of it. Seems like fluid changes are very important though, although it looks like this transmission survived one 90K mile (or more) change interval. That may be because most of the last 100K miles were done on the highway.
Anyway, thoughts and comments appreciated.
When I changed the fluid, I noticed it was black. It looked like the oil out of a diesel car, that's how black it was. There was very little buildup on the magnets in the pan, though, which was encouraging.
The moral of the story is this seems to be a well built gearbox and I would imagine it will have a long service life ahead of it. Seems like fluid changes are very important though, although it looks like this transmission survived one 90K mile (or more) change interval. That may be because most of the last 100K miles were done on the highway.
Anyway, thoughts and comments appreciated.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 278
From: Northeast
2012 S350 Bluetec, 2014 GLK250 Bluetec, 2026 E350 4Matic
If you have a 2011, then you have a 7G Tronice, not the 7G Tronic Plus (which came out in 2012). the 7G Tronic had a required flush interval of 40k miles. The Plus version is 70k miles. If it was done at 43k and 83k but not between 83k and 173k, that means it possibly went 90k miles without a flush when it should have had at least 2 flushes during that interval.
Good to hear a flush fixed those issues for you. Proper maintenance is what keeps these cars running for a very long period of time.
Good to hear a flush fixed those issues for you. Proper maintenance is what keeps these cars running for a very long period of time.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Northeast
2012 S350 Bluetec, 2014 GLK250 Bluetec, 2026 E350 4Matic
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2013 e350 4matic
The harsh shifts, in my experience, have more to do with the non linear logic of eco pedal. You have to stay even with the pedal pressure and let the computer make the shifts rather than pressing harder on an uphill when the rpms are super low. The car will downshift more smoothly, it is annoying but the car is not a sports car and does get great fuel economy.
I do notice that in sport mode there is a weird hang up after taking your foot off the gas. Like it quickly makes a down shift for a split second which cause the cars weight to shift then returns the the higher gear.
I do notice that in sport mode there is a weird hang up after taking your foot off the gas. Like it quickly makes a down shift for a split second which cause the cars weight to shift then returns the the higher gear.
