GlennPoley

Ever since owning my 2nd hand 350CDi (2009 model W164), especially for the first 15 minutes or so, I experience a jerky 1st to 2nd gear change which is quite annoying. Higher gears are all smooth as silk.

When pulling into my house, which is on a slight uphill, as the vehicle slows to less than walking speed, it will also give a jerky 2nd to 1st gear change, as though someone has bumped you from behind. This is a known problem on the 7g gearbox.

Anyone have a fix for this? Some say do a gearbox service ie. flush the tranmission fluid, others say get Merc to replace the valve body. Vehicle has done 135 000km. Have owned it from 110 000km.

sheepdog8

I have an 08 320cdi with 84k. It's had the tranny fluid changed every 40k. It is still jerky. I bought it with 75k, took to dealer to have checked. They reset the "adaptations" but said the hard downshifting in the lower gears was normal. They made it a little better , but it's still there. I've just gotten used to it. As long as it stays the same & doesn't die all together, I'll be happy.

sheepdog8

K meaning thousands of miles, not km.

dgiturbo

New valve body will fix you. The valve body also houses the computer so all will be changed together. Then have the computer reprogrammed with the latest software, and make sure the correct fluid is used. (MB is very specific on this matter.) Then you can have the adaptations reset, by someone who really knows how. The torque of the diesels make this difficult for the "average tech".

cburda

Is that a warranty item or is there a service bulletin on that trans issue