CButz1970

I have a 2019 GLS 550 with approx. 90k miles. A few months ago I started noticing a clunk when coming to a stop and it downshifts from 3rd gear to 2nd gear. It is more pronounced after driving for a while, but it happens frequently. I had it into the dealer and they replaced the transmission under warranty, but the clunk is still there. They are going to look at it again, but I was wondering if anyone else experienced this and has a solution or thoughts. Thanks.

W205C43PFL

Hmmm, replaced transmission and still clunk, I wonder if it is something else, something loose loose? I assume they replaced the transmission mounts as well with the new transmission? Unless they reused the transmission mounts, but 90K miles might be a little too early for transmission mounts.
Do you mind posting your work order?

CButz1970

The work order is attached showing the parts. It does not appear that they have new transmission mounts on the list of parts.

W205C43PFL

Hmmm, I still believe 90K miles is premature for transmission mounts but depending on driving behaviour, it might indeed be due, MB should had also check your mounts.

Weird they mentioned nothing about the checking the mounts before replacing the transmission, unless they found shavings in the transmission fluid.

Thank you for posting the work order, we can now see they tried some sort of adaptation. There are two, one is stand-still (forced adaptation) the other is just driving adaptation. I am not sure which one they did but the former, usually helps.

CButz1970

They are going to look at it again. It is very specific to the downshift from 3rd to 2nd, so I’m not sure what it could be. I could see mounts if it happened more frequently, unless that particular downshift puts more stress on things.

W205C43PFL

Usually downshifting to 1 is the most harsh. Harsh from 3rd to 2nd however isn't uncommon, there are many threads on this, here is a good post from a forum member, also a similar issue on a E 350: https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post8758526

Here is a compliant on the GLE: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...ispreloading=1
Here is a compliant on the GLE 550e, also a post that you might find helpful: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...ml#post8825150
Here is a complaint on the GLE 450: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...gle-450-a.html
Here is a complaint on the facelift GLE 450: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...on-issues.html
Here is a complaint on another GLE 450: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...ft-issues.html
Here is a complaint on another GLE: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...nshifting.html
Here is a complaint on a GLE 53 (so the performance oriented version): https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...ispreloading=1
Here is a complaint on a GLE 53: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle63s-gl...on-issues.html
Here is a complaint on a S 560: https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...lp-xentry.html

Here is something that might apply to you, although it says GLE, it includes the GLS as well: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...ew-recall.html

Here is something that might help you, harsh downshift on an W222 S-Class, a fix: https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ispreloading=1

W205C43PFL

Sorry, I realized you have a 166 not 167, so the recall doesn't apply to you, I still hope the other threads linked does help though.

CButz1970

Thanks. I will take look. For the GLS if you are in comfort mode, the shift from 3rd to 2nd is the final downshift. It remains in 2nd. If using sport mode it will shift down to 1st.

W205C43PFL

Yup, that is pretty normal for most modern MBs. saves fuel.

PeterUbers

In 2014 I had a brand new e550 with same downshift issues ... many trips, valve body, clutch packs, and finally trans replacement and buy back ... new e550 they gave me - same issue - it too was bought back.

this was the 7-spd 722.9 gtronic

its simply hit or miss I believe; the 7spd on my 2014 e63 is smooth and it's got a version of the 7gtronic

I feel your pain, I hated the driving experience due to the anxiety of the 4-3 and 3-2 downshift clunk - simply had to get rid of the car

OldManAndHisCar

How many miles on the vehicle? The 550 'likes' to get new motor mounts / trans mount at about 60-70k or so. We just did ours, plus every other possible maintenance thing imagineable (about a $4,000 service).....we forgot how smooth the car was when it was new, it is smooth again (service included flushing of every fluid in the car - trans, diff's, on and on).

W205C43PFL

OP's is 90K miles, I see, I thought it was premature guess it was due time after all. Thanks for chiming in.

OldManAndHisCar

I wish I could understand "Harsh downshift" - (I dont have time to ramble).

I recently did the "Secret Trans Reset" on my E63S....as I had stated in another thread, it started to drive like another MB car in "Sport Mode", but still getting to 4th before 50mph. My normal day to day driving (me with a heavy foot and bad attitude) it would hold first gear and second gear to about 3500rpm. On the downshift it was more of an engine breaking than a smooth downshift.....

So, translate that to the GLS550...my far more mature, far less aggressive other half drives that car and in C it drives me INSANE. It holds shift forever...and ever....and ever....it is smooth. It feel slushy (is that a thing?). So, I put it into sport mode and it drives more the way I want it to drive. Now, fast forward again to when the trans "learns" my driving style....well, then it feels the way I like it to feel - and she complains that the car feels like something is off because the Trans is acting funny....

Bring this to a test drive in a V8 Turbo car. Sure as can be the sales person or test drivers are going to "See what she can do" and off they go. The Trans thinks it knows the driver....and has yet to learn who is driving. So, this may be a part of it.

On top of the fact that at 90k the car wants motor mounts and a trans mount, as well as all the fluids changed.

Eonetiller

I had to replace the motor mounts with 48500 miles on it.