Clunking when shifting to reverse?
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
Clunking when shifting to reverse?
On my 2019 Cabriolet sometimes when I shift into reverse it makes a real clunk sound. It seems the eco is shutting off the motor and restarting it right when I shift to reverse or something. Gonna really start observing it's behavior and watch the tach to see if this is exactly what's going on. If I shift back and forth between drive and reverse I can't seem to get it to do this. I think maybe there is some kind of software glitch. Anyone else have this issue with either a sedan, wagon or cabriolet E450? It's a really noticeable clunking the car lurches. At first I thought maybe a bad u Joint as the car is 2WD but I don't think thats it, hopefully not. 780 miles on the car right now.
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From: Cambridge, UK
W213 E220d
I have occasionally noticed a clunk when shifting into gear, that I think is associated with having the footbrake on only very lightly (that is, enough to defeat the interlock but not enough to stop the vehicle moving).
Is it possible that you’re shifting from drive into reverse just as the vehicle comes to rest and unconsciously you’ve hardly got the footbrake on? You wouldn’t reproduce this when trying to test it because you’d probably be pressing the footbrake hard while you do that.
Is it possible that you’re shifting from drive into reverse just as the vehicle comes to rest and unconsciously you’ve hardly got the footbrake on? You wouldn’t reproduce this when trying to test it because you’d probably be pressing the footbrake hard while you do that.
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From: Louisville, KY
2023 EQE350 4MATIC, 2023 EQE 350 4MATIC SUV, 2015 E250 BlueTEC 4MATIC, 1995 E300 Diesel
Do you hear it when in the car with the windows up? Or do you have to be in an enclosed space, or have the windows open?
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
No, you can feel it big time, feels like another car bumped into the car. Ya, I think there is a issue, I have a 2019 E450 Wagon and it does not do this at all. I need to feel out the situation more and if I don't come to any conclusions time to make an appointment at the dealer. Was hoping to maybe wait till the 10K oil change service but this is not a normal thing and thats going to be a long while as I'll be driving this car under 10K miles per year.
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2019 Dune Silver Metallic E-450 Mercedes Cabriolet NEW Mercedes 2020 GLC300 graphite gray SUV
Yeah, that's not normal. I have the same 2RWD configuration and I experience nothing like that. I would definitely get it into the dealer ASAP! Don't want your transmission going out on ya.
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
Thanks, ya, it can't be good for the trans. I think the auto start feature is bump starting it when I go into reverse and starting when it's in gear already. At least thats what it feels like. Doing a small trip tomorrow, I'll really try to figure out what it's doing when it happens then and make an appointment at the dealer.
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2023 EQE350 4MATIC, 2023 EQE 350 4MATIC SUV, 2015 E250 BlueTEC 4MATIC, 1995 E300 Diesel
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
Gonna try that today. I have the feeling it won’t do it then. I’m pretty sure it only does it when the engine auto stops and then go into reverse it’s like it auto starts to slow and that’s when it clunks. If I sit there with the engine running and shift back and forth between drive and reverse it does not do it.
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From: UK
MY19 E450 4MATIC Coupé
Not had this happen on my E450 coupe 4matic.
Really does not sound normal at all based on your description. The fact that you've not had this problem on your wagon suggests that it might be specific to your cabrio.
Definitely monitor more closely and report back.
Really does not sound normal at all based on your description. The fact that you've not had this problem on your wagon suggests that it might be specific to your cabrio.
Definitely monitor more closely and report back.
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
Definitely related to the auto engine stop/start feature. Only clunks going to reverse when the engine has shut down which it seems to do a lot when shifted to neutral. I'll see if my wagon shuts off tomorrow when shifted to neutral, I'd think if anything it should start again when shifted to neutral. Does not do this at all when in neutral with the auto stop engaged and shifting to Drive. Nor does it do it if the Auto stop feature is turned off with the button with the green light on the center console or with the car in sport plus mode. So definitely looks to be a software issue. I think it's something that can wait until my 10K service. Also the drivers side sunvisor mirror light is not working properly either so I'll get that fixed at the 10k service too. I'm debating on whether to try resetting the throttle calibrations to see if that might fix this issue.
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From: San Diego, CA
2024 EQE 500
WRT to the sunvisor light not working properly, have you tried unhooking it (as if to move to side window) and re-hooking it firmly? I had this issue on my 212, and that was the fix. On the 212 (and many others) there's a metal contact in the hook/hinge for power. I haven't looked on my 238.
Definitely related to the auto engine stop/start feature. Only clunks going to reverse when the engine has shut down which it seems to do a lot when shifted to neutral. I'll see if my wagon shuts off tomorrow when shifted to neutral, I'd think if anything it should start again when shifted to neutral. Does not do this at all when in neutral with the auto stop engaged and shifting to Drive. Nor does it do it if the Auto stop feature is turned off with the button with the green light on the center console or with the car in sport plus mode. So definitely looks to be a software issue. I think it's something that can wait until my 10K service. Also the drivers side sunvisor mirror light is not working properly either so I'll get that fixed at the 10k service too. I'm debating on whether to try resetting the throttle calibrations to see if that might fix this issue.
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
Yep, did that and still the same, the light flickers on and off as I move the sunshade, it's getting a bad connection. When I get the time I may try taking a small wire brush to the contacts, I'm thinking maybe there is some kind of film on the contacts, thats sure what it seems like. If not I'll get it fixed at the 10K service.
I've pretty much determined this drive line shudder is normal as my wagon does the same thing. It only does it when you shift into reverse when the motor is in the eco stop mode. If someone else can verify the car does this that would be great. When you come to a stop in drive and the motor shuts down in eco mode shift into reverse and your going to get one heck of a shudder, I think part of it is the motor restarting and the other part of it is slop in the driveline going from forward to reverse. If you put it in neutral with the motor off in eco and go back to drive you don't get this, the motor restarts and it's fairly smooth. Leave it to me to find the bugs in these cars, I found lots of them in my AMG wagon and there generally was no solutions. I think the only solution to this issue for now is to hit the eco button before putting it into reverse and that way it will be a smooth transition. Hopefully there will eventually be a software fix for this issue. Reason I noticed it in the Cabriolet first is because I back that car into the garage an stop out in the road and thats when the engine shuts down and then put it in reverse and you get a real semi violent nudge like somebody it the bumper of the car or something. Can't be good for the driveline or the motor mounts.
I've pretty much determined this drive line shudder is normal as my wagon does the same thing. It only does it when you shift into reverse when the motor is in the eco stop mode. If someone else can verify the car does this that would be great. When you come to a stop in drive and the motor shuts down in eco mode shift into reverse and your going to get one heck of a shudder, I think part of it is the motor restarting and the other part of it is slop in the driveline going from forward to reverse. If you put it in neutral with the motor off in eco and go back to drive you don't get this, the motor restarts and it's fairly smooth. Leave it to me to find the bugs in these cars, I found lots of them in my AMG wagon and there generally was no solutions. I think the only solution to this issue for now is to hit the eco button before putting it into reverse and that way it will be a smooth transition. Hopefully there will eventually be a software fix for this issue. Reason I noticed it in the Cabriolet first is because I back that car into the garage an stop out in the road and thats when the engine shuts down and then put it in reverse and you get a real semi violent nudge like somebody it the bumper of the car or something. Can't be good for the driveline or the motor mounts.
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
Taking my small pipe cleaner wire brush to the sun shade rear view contacts did the trick, light works fine now. Would like to hear from anyone that has stopped and made sure Eco engine stop has stopped the engine and then put the car into reverse. How much of a jolt did you feel? On both my 2019 E 450 Cabriolet and 2019 E450 Wagon the jolt is pretty substantial to the point where I don't like beating up on the drive train that much and will hit the eco button to restart the engine before putting the car into reverse. Hopefully Benz will come up with some sort of software fix for this in the future. It would be too much of a coincidence if something was wrong with both my 2019's. I suspect all the 2019 E450's do this. My Cabriolet does it worse than my Wagon, I suspect because it's RWD and there is less drivetrain components to absorb the shock.
Last edited by 2012 merc amg; Dec 15, 2018 at 01:36 AM.
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2024 EQE 500
I just tried engaging reverse after ECO shut the engine off. It shook the car a bit more than when in drive and in normal ECO usage, but nothing I would describe as harsh or a jolt.
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2014 ML350, 2003 E320
The transmission shift a few seconds after you push the lever, you might step on the gas too soon and make the clunk sound when it engage at higher engine rpm. Everything is slow in response in the new E class. We don't like the E class nearly as well as our 2014 ML. In the ML, everything is fast, you shift the transmission, it shift instantaneously, not wait for 2 or 3 seconds before it shift.
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From: Tampa, FL
2019 E450 4Matic & 2018 E400 4Matic
The transmission shift a few seconds after you push the lever, you might step on the gas too soon and make the clunk sound when it engage at higher engine rpm. Everything is slow in response in the new E class. We don't like the E class nearly as well as our 2014 ML. In the ML, everything is fast, you shift the transmission, it shift instantaneously, not wait for 2 or 3 seconds before it shift.
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
No complaints about shifting smoothness it’s just that reverse gear shift when eco engages and it does generally engage when I stop to shift into reverse as I back my cars into my garage. The 2wd e450 cabriolet does it a lot worse than my awd wagon. This being the only real complaint I have with the car though is not bad as everything else about both my 450s I could not be more happy with. I’ll mention it next time I’m in for service. They probably will just tell me it’s normal though. With the cabriolet though I may be able to turn off eco with the tune when OE comes out with a handheld for this car and that will take care of that issue.
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2014 ML350, 2003 E320
I am not complaining about the transmission shift when in drive mode. It's when you go from reverse to drive or drive to reverse, it will take time.
I got spoiled by the 2014 ML350, it's so much smoother, everything is quick in response, you shift from R to D or D to R, it change right a way.
Last edited by Alan0354; Dec 26, 2018 at 05:35 AM.
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2017 Mercedes E300
Hey did you ever figure out the cause of this issue? I just purchased a 2017 E300 and am having a similar experience whenever I attempt to back out of my driveway. The car will randomly lurch and make a loud grinding noise. It feels like someone is hitting the rear of my car as you described. The problem seems to go away after I put the car in drive then back into reverse. Any advice on what is causing this issue? Thanks a ton
