I have a 2018 gle63s does anyone else feel like the shift from 2-1 is a little harsh when coming to a stop?

 

Yep, my 18’ Gle 63s couple with 45,000 was that way and my ‘19 Gle 63s coupe with 17,000 miles is the same.

 

Yes, this happened on the very first downshift I experienced driving off the lot with 15 miles on the odometer. It was a bit unnerving, especially the noise.

It’s gotten a little better, and doesn’t always happen, but it happens enough where I notice it almost every drive. This was one of my main gripes in the JD Power survey I just took.

 

Yes, all MB boxes are rubbish. They need diligent attention to transmission service every 60k miles or sooner.

7G and 9G boxes have crummy shifting, mainly closed throttle downshifts. The only time they perform well is when the gas pedal is hard against the carpet.

 

My 2021 GLE63S has a very noticeable 3-2 shift shock when coasting to a stop. It happens 80% of the time. I purchased it this past March at 6 months old with 5,100 miles on it. I'm going to have this documented the next time I bring it in for any kind of service.

Thanks for the 60K (or sooner) maintenance advise. How much sooner?? What should be done then?

 

MB specified transmission service every 60k miles means oil replacement (drain and refill), filter and pan gasket. Some on this site suggest a 40k mile service interval, which wouldn't hurt and could only help.

 

I’m not a transmission expert by any stretch of the term, but I personally think it’s software related, which means it should be fixable. However, I’ve read here that there are software updates available for some models (like the AMG) but not others, but the software update doesn’t actually fix it. Just seems strange they can’t get this sorted out, assuming that is the cause. I’m going to bring it up at my next service, and I’m sure I’ll get the “I’ve never heard of this issue before” from the service advisor. The transmission performance ruins what is otherwise a nice drive.

 

Actually for W166 GLE/ML 63 (157 engine), MB recommends transmission services is at 30K miles or 3 years, whichever is first.
6years/60K miles transmission service is for non AMG63 (not 157 engined) cars.

 

7G and 9G are bad shifting transmissions. Mainly closed throttle downshifts. It's how it was (poorly) designed by MB. Not a software issue.

 

In my experience their downshifting is entirely different. 9G to 7G.
I think it's something to do in the rev-matching, which seems more apparent with the 9g. Depending on how it's learned your shifting and driving patterns prior to slowing/stopping, it can do that final rev-match awkwardly.
I never experienced this on a 7g.

There are some pretty awful applications of the ZF 8-speed, too. I think it's software and the algorithms, because ZF licenses the transmission but allows the manufacturer to use their own software.
I will take either Mercedes transmissions over a ZF any day, but I prefer a dual clutch more, as long as it has reasonable software.

I can make any automatic transmission goof up somewhere.

 

A lot of this has to do with adaptation and what modes you generally drive in. I don't have a GLE, but I've driven many different MBs and AMGs. They all have their unique traits and the shift quality depends on how it is/was driven. The GLE, even the AMGs have a torque converter, whereas other AMGs have a wet clutch as does my C63, so there are some differences. In AMGs feeling that the car shifts is part of the experience for one thing, but specifically to OPs issue. My C63 no longer downshifts to 1st when coming to a stop. It stays in 2nd gear until I have come to a full stop and only then does it shift into 1st. For brief stops it actually even stays in 2nd and I can do the same in manual mode, so I often accelerate back up in 2nd from what we call a California stop here. However, it did not do this at the beginning. It also had a harsh downshift into 1st whenever I came to stop, but eventually it learned my driving style and it stopped doing that. I have the 9MCT, so as said wet clutch, not torque converter. One thing I do is I only let the transmission shift on its own in Comfort mode. In any other mode when I drive more dynamically and sporty I shift manually, so I'm not confusing the transmission computer with different driving styles. I drive distinctly moderate when I have the transmission in auto mode, and sporty/dynamically when in manual mode, therefore my transmission only had to learn my moderate driving style. I've noticed that many people pretty much exclusively drive in automatic modes and use S and S+ around town where one can't really drive dynamically. My theory is that this confuses the transmission as it doesn't really know how you wanna drive in the sportier modes. The instructors at the AMG Driving Academy essentially confirmed as much. They told us specifically not to use S and S+ around town and only use it on faster open roads such as highways. So that's what I'm doing. In fact as soon as I merge on a highway I put it in Individual mode where I have the engine configured in S+ and the transmission in manual mode. So whenever I'm in I* I'm automatically in manual mode. That's really the only way for me to properly drive these cars, largely because I drove manual transmissions for 20+ years.

 

I agree with mikapen and swiss. I'm on my ninth Mercedes-AMG product and have had several different transmission variants and they all have their quirks and idiosyncrasies. Same with other manufacturers as well. Unless there is a glaring problem that needs warranty I really don't pay much attention to it but that's just me.

 

I use the transmission differently than @superswiss , both around town and at the track.
Around town, I leave the transmission in Comfort but the suspension set to Sport.
​​​​​​When pushing the car, I usually I* setting, which is everything set to Dynamic, Pro, etc., but Automatic for the tranny.
I don't use manual shifting unless I have my head up display to see the shift point turning from yellow to red. Otherwise it hits the rev limiter, and you spend an extra second or two recovering. Head up is great for that. (That's partly because I have my steering wheel adjusted so I can't really see the tach very well. The head up display allows that.)

There is another secret to grabbing the lowest gear. The velocity you apply the gas pedal, tells the transmission algorithms your intent. (BTW This is also true of the speed of your brake application. Brake assist kicks in.)

It's a little counter to my habits of gradual throttle application to keep from breaking traction, so if you want a downshift to the lowest available gear, you really need to stab the throttle. I think the op said that he did that.

 

The digital instrument cluster does that, too. I don't have the HUD, but I use the Supersport design in the instrument cluster with revs and current gear front and center like a racecar and then the entire background starts filling up red until it flashes red to indicate it's time to shift. HUD is not needed for that. The flashing instrument cluster is easily picked up in one's peripheral vision. The HUD was kinda necessary with the analog cluster, but no longer with the digital cluster. Although, most of the time I shift by ear and feel. Having driven so many manual transmission cars I developed a sense of when to shift.

 

For those that think that rough shifting is “normal,” should drive other equivalent brands. It’s not normal, unless that is all you know.

 

You're right, but in my experience, if it flashes red you're already in the rev limiter, which certainly slows you down!

I use a combination of automatic and paddle shifting, since it seems the shifts are sometimes quicker with the pro/dynamic settings on the tranny, than a paddle shifter. I tend to control the shifting with my throttle pedal.

I usually prefer analog over digital displays. And I like big hands and little hands on my watch for the same reason - I can see the needle approaching the event, whether it's 6:50 PM or 6,500 RPM.

It's nice to have those choices. I sometimes pull over before a stretch of road that I want to enjoy, to set up this displays like I want, before heading out.

 

Just curious which car are you specifically talking about? I don't see one in your signature that has the 9-MCT. What you are saying might be true for the torque converter variants, but the MCT shifts instantly when the paddle is pressed, so I only run into the rev limiter if my reaction is too slow.

 

I don't think anybody is saying or thinking that, but there's a difference between a Buick and a 63 S AMG. In performance cars the shifts are deliberately emotional and that's a desired trait. There's often a noticeable shift feel deliberately engineered into the transmission. Personally I've driven many smooth shifting cars. They've all bored me to death. The idiosyncrasies is what makes a car interesting. Just like when I drive a manual transmission, not every shift is perfect.

 

I have an AMG TCT Speedshift, and I think they've done a nice job with s torque converter trans. I've never driven your tranny, but compared to a DSG, it's about a half second slower per shift.

My comments are probably irrelevant to the OP, since his post was about an '18 GLE63S.

 

2022 GLE53, recently took it to the dealer because of the harsh downshift when coming to a stop, dealer kept it for 2 days and told me nothing is wrong,
BS if you ask me, this is not normal software or hardware doesn't matter a vehicle in this price category should not have this issue.

 

The other issue that really annoys me is the gear hunting and lunging during low-speed driving. Does anyone else experience that? It can get jerky (lunging) while trying to drive at very low speeds.

 

I don't know your driving habits, but I've never experienced it.
Have you tried to replicate it for your dealer?
If I have a difficult-to-replicate problem, I find a street or road near the dealer where I can reliably replicate the problem.
I'll take the SA, or the mechanic or the service manager and show them that spot so they can replicate it, and verify that they have fixed it before they return it.
It's time well spent.

 

Hmmm. That's not normal. Mine does not do this either.