Random shuddering at low rpm during acceleration. Help appreciated.
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 169
Likes: 63
From: Denver
2005 ML500, 2011 E350 4M, 2012 GL550
with a slight bit of hesitation I’m gonna call this problem solved. I drove the car down a 6000ft mountain from flagstaff to Phoenix and back again at about 80+ mph and I did not feel any shuddering. There was one moment going up a really steep short hill in town where I might have felt something but it may have been my paranoia.
what I learned.
1. dont trust the transmission shop. They just lied to my face and told me my fluid looked good and the level was right. After changing the fluid, I 100% guarantee they never looked at the fluid.
2. people on this forum are helpful. Thanks
3. Mercedes are designed in a very special way. I’m an engineer so I simultaneously understand some of these design decisions while hating them when they break.
what I learned.
1. dont trust the transmission shop. They just lied to my face and told me my fluid looked good and the level was right. After changing the fluid, I 100% guarantee they never looked at the fluid.
2. people on this forum are helpful. Thanks
3. Mercedes are designed in a very special way. I’m an engineer so I simultaneously understand some of these design decisions while hating them when they break.
One of the biggest reasons I do my own maintenance is the dishonest people so called mechanics, they act like they are the hot sh...t.
Of course not talking about those honest professionals out there with integrity and they know what they are doing.
It was about 20-22 years ago I took my W210 E55 to a shop for a suspension noise, also asked the guys to take a look at the motor mounts, which I knew they were very old and started to getting vibration. They came back to me "motor mounts look great, they look brand new, I can almost smell the new rubber on them" that was the biggest BS I ever heard in my life and final nail in the coffin, I slowly gathered my tools and started to maintain my cars since then.
Only for a back up, when I don`t have the time or anything over my knowledge, have a very good, honest independent MB shop, they treat me like gold over the past 15 years.
When I read your comment "transmission shop checked the fluid level and quality and they said it looks good" I had flashbacks.
722.9 doesn't have a dipstick to check the level, not saying its not possible to check but its a bit involved.
Since your old fluid color looked pretty dark, and this job only replaces 70-80% of the fluid, I`d do another fluid change within next 1000 miles, again that's what I``d do.
Then you are good to go another 40-50K miles if you are not doing any towing. If towing I`d change the fluid at 30K.
So happy that you sorted it out and we were able to help.
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 169
Likes: 63
From: Denver
2005 ML500, 2011 E350 4M, 2012 GL550
As big as a pain in the butt these 164s, its really easy to work on them, that`s another reason I like them.
Last edited by 01blackhawk; Oct 11, 2025 at 01:12 AM. Reason: Grammar
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
From: Bay area, California
2007 GL450, 2010 Mini R57, 2003 Miata
I have a 2007 GL450 that had the shudder problem similar to what you described. I did a transmission spill & fill with a new filter. While that improved the shuddering somewhat, it wasn't gone completely. Shortly afterwards, mine started making a bad noise in the area of the front of the transmission so I pulled the transmission and found the flexplate was broken. Shuddering like that can be a symptom of a failing torque converter and I had one on hand so I replaced the flexplate and the torque converter. I blew the trans fluid out of the cooler and drained the TC before I reassembled it so it had very little remaining fluid. I filled with new fluid and the noise and shuddering are both gone now. I realize the thread is a few months old but the reply is so if anyone else has this problem, there is another data point.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 15
Likes: 4
2012 gl450
Update
Mine has been going pretty good since I did the work that I described earlier. I had it shudder once after towing for about 2k mi. It still doesn’t feel perfect but I’ll try to limp it along. I’m going to try to avoid swapping out with a used trans as long as possible. It seems like that will be hit or miss if I get a good one.
