Transmission slipping...ugh!!!!
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: El Paso, TX
'03 G500, '13 G63, '17 GLS63,
Transmission slipping...ugh!!!!
So I was super excited to take the GL63 for a week long road trip a few weeks ago with my wife and kids.
In city traffic, I noticed the 1-2 shift on our '14 GL63 was not very smooth. As the car starts in 2nd in the Comfort mode my wife never noticed, but I ALWAYS have it in Sport when I drive it. Normally, I would chalk an abrupt gear change it up to "Sport" programming, but the RPMS rise briefly before it engages 2nd gear.
This past weekend, I was at our AZ house where I keep our G63 and noticed it shifts silky smooth with no hesitation from 1-2 compared to the GL63. I know the transmissions might programmed differently to the respective platforms, but I have no reason to believe the slipping sensations and rise in RPM's between shifts are normal. When I'm puling from a stop with light throttle its very noticeable. When I floor it, the shift is quicker, but there's still a perceptible rise in RPM between the shifts.
I called the local MB dealer, and they can't say anything over the phone and can't take it in until late next week.
Anyone having similar issues? Wondering if this is mechanical or software related...
Update: Drove it again tonight and it seems to shift fine, but I only drove it to move it out of my driveway to my garage and ended up driving around the block. Gonna try again tomorrow. Might be temprerature dependent.
In city traffic, I noticed the 1-2 shift on our '14 GL63 was not very smooth. As the car starts in 2nd in the Comfort mode my wife never noticed, but I ALWAYS have it in Sport when I drive it. Normally, I would chalk an abrupt gear change it up to "Sport" programming, but the RPMS rise briefly before it engages 2nd gear.
This past weekend, I was at our AZ house where I keep our G63 and noticed it shifts silky smooth with no hesitation from 1-2 compared to the GL63. I know the transmissions might programmed differently to the respective platforms, but I have no reason to believe the slipping sensations and rise in RPM's between shifts are normal. When I'm puling from a stop with light throttle its very noticeable. When I floor it, the shift is quicker, but there's still a perceptible rise in RPM between the shifts.
I called the local MB dealer, and they can't say anything over the phone and can't take it in until late next week.
Anyone having similar issues? Wondering if this is mechanical or software related...
Update: Drove it again tonight and it seems to shift fine, but I only drove it to move it out of my driveway to my garage and ended up driving around the block. Gonna try again tomorrow. Might be temprerature dependent.
Last edited by medici78; Apr 1, 2014 at 12:58 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 947
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From: NYC
18 E63s Wagon 15 GL63 (sold), 10 Turbo TT MT, A36 Bonanza, 20 JLU Rubicon
takes about 1600 miles for the transmission to break in.
even after that.... the transmission is not the silky version in a standard GL.(completely different transmission)
also...monitor the AMG dash panel and wait till your temps aren't "blue" before really getting on it. (takes a long time for the car to warm to operating temps)
even after that.... the transmission is not the silky version in a standard GL.(completely different transmission)
also...monitor the AMG dash panel and wait till your temps aren't "blue" before really getting on it. (takes a long time for the car to warm to operating temps)
Last edited by cyclrder; Apr 2, 2014 at 12:10 PM. Reason: forgot to add something
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,764
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From: El Paso, TX
'03 G500, '13 G63, '17 GLS63,
Update.
Took it in to dealer 2 weeks ago. I told the SA I wanted to have a tech ride with me. In my experience, SA's rarely know much about cars or the mechanical aspect. This is not meant as disrespect as my dealer's guys are great. However their function is as customer service reps. Tech thought it might be a software issue. Left it at dealer for a couple hours and did an oil change at the same time. When I picked it up they told me they did a software update and it seemed to be fixed. All was well until this weekend. After another road trip (430 miles each way) and after arriving to where we were going, the issue happened again. I'm gonna call tomorrow and report the same issue.
Could some of you guys run yours in S-mode and see how yours shifts? Default is C, which only starts in 2nd gear, so it has to be in S-mode to start in 1st gear.
btw, cyclrder, the issue popped up at around 4k miles. It has 6200 miles now. I wish it was as simple as breaking it in.
I've owned countless performance cars over the years. My sig only shows the MB's I currently own, I have quite a few more vehicles of various makes and tune levels in the stable.
Needless to say, I am **** when it comes to getting cars up to temp, etc. not to mention aware of the different behavior that high performance cars display vs the hum-drum stuff. However, for a factory stock car, this one just feels "off".
To be clear: I'm not complaining about hard shifts, my complaint stems from a rise in RPM during the 1-2 shift that is disconcerting.
I also should add that, aside from this, we absolutely love the car.
Took it in to dealer 2 weeks ago. I told the SA I wanted to have a tech ride with me. In my experience, SA's rarely know much about cars or the mechanical aspect. This is not meant as disrespect as my dealer's guys are great. However their function is as customer service reps. Tech thought it might be a software issue. Left it at dealer for a couple hours and did an oil change at the same time. When I picked it up they told me they did a software update and it seemed to be fixed. All was well until this weekend. After another road trip (430 miles each way) and after arriving to where we were going, the issue happened again. I'm gonna call tomorrow and report the same issue.
Could some of you guys run yours in S-mode and see how yours shifts? Default is C, which only starts in 2nd gear, so it has to be in S-mode to start in 1st gear.
btw, cyclrder, the issue popped up at around 4k miles. It has 6200 miles now. I wish it was as simple as breaking it in.
I've owned countless performance cars over the years. My sig only shows the MB's I currently own, I have quite a few more vehicles of various makes and tune levels in the stable.Needless to say, I am **** when it comes to getting cars up to temp, etc. not to mention aware of the different behavior that high performance cars display vs the hum-drum stuff. However, for a factory stock car, this one just feels "off".
To be clear: I'm not complaining about hard shifts, my complaint stems from a rise in RPM during the 1-2 shift that is disconcerting.
I also should add that, aside from this, we absolutely love the car.
Last edited by medici78; Apr 27, 2014 at 03:16 AM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 3
From: El Paso, TX
'03 G500, '13 G63, '17 GLS63,
Yes.
The good news is, it doesn't do it at full throttle and it is much less obvious than before I took it in.
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Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 697
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From: Seattle, WA
2019 M5 Comp, 2005 Ariel Atom 2
I know this thread is super old, but maybe someone who has recently experienced this can chime in.
Our '13 GL63 also has a flare on upshifts, but only during 'boring, normal' city driving. If I get on it the shifts are firm and quick. There is also a noticeable drop in torque in C mode when starting off from a stop that has been annoying me for a while, like power is cut briefly after you get going.
Trans and torque converter were serviced, new filter etc and no change. Old fluid didn't look bad either.
Debating taking it in to a dealer for updated software, that seems to be the only culprit since it's a little intermittent, like a programming issue and not a mechanical failure that I would observe all the time.
Our '13 GL63 also has a flare on upshifts, but only during 'boring, normal' city driving. If I get on it the shifts are firm and quick. There is also a noticeable drop in torque in C mode when starting off from a stop that has been annoying me for a while, like power is cut briefly after you get going.
Trans and torque converter were serviced, new filter etc and no change. Old fluid didn't look bad either.
Debating taking it in to a dealer for updated software, that seems to be the only culprit since it's a little intermittent, like a programming issue and not a mechanical failure that I would observe all the time.
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