2013 ML 63 Is the tranny really this bad?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 76
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E63 sold, 1972 911S, '58 Speedster, 2021 GLE 63S, Turbo 997, Aston Martin V8 Vantage 69 911 Hotrod
2013 ML 63 Is the tranny really this bad?
2013 ML 63 Is the tranny really this bad?
Just punted my Cayenne Turbo for a 2013 ML63. I love the car in all ways EXCEPT the annoying habit of the tranny taking naps. Seems that if I'm coasting to a stop at 5 to 20 MPH and then step on the gas to accelerate (think in terms of a rolling stop) the transmission takes nearly a full second to get into gear and take off. Very very bad. Very dangerous and Goddamn annoying. Car has 40K miles and is pristine and very well maintained. Is this just the way it is? Do I have to sell this pig? All 3 of the tranny settings do the same thing. In fact sport is even worse because it takes off in lower gear and jerks even more. Help!
Just punted my Cayenne Turbo for a 2013 ML63. I love the car in all ways EXCEPT the annoying habit of the tranny taking naps. Seems that if I'm coasting to a stop at 5 to 20 MPH and then step on the gas to accelerate (think in terms of a rolling stop) the transmission takes nearly a full second to get into gear and take off. Very very bad. Very dangerous and Goddamn annoying. Car has 40K miles and is pristine and very well maintained. Is this just the way it is? Do I have to sell this pig? All 3 of the tranny settings do the same thing. In fact sport is even worse because it takes off in lower gear and jerks even more. Help!
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 58
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From: Massachusetts
2019 GLC63 and 2018 Jeep Trackhawk
might need a software flash for the transmission. sometime there are updates. you can have any MB dealer run the vin number for services that were and need to be done. I did this before I bought mine and there were 2 outstanding updates needed.
Member
Joined: Nov 2017
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ML63 W166
Hi Rhart6
did you solve your transmission delay issue??
I love the car in all ways EXCEPT the annoying habit of the tranny taking naps. Seems that if I'm coasting to a stop at 5 to 20 MPH and then step on the gas to accelerate (think in terms of a rolling stop) the transmission takes nearly a full second to get into gear and take off. Very very bad. Very dangerous and Goddamn annoying. Car has 40K miles and is pristine and very well maintained. Is this just the way it is? Do I have to sell this pig? All 3 of the tranny settings do the same thing. In fact sport is even worse because it takes off in lower gear and jerks even more. Help!
did you solve your transmission delay issue??
I love the car in all ways EXCEPT the annoying habit of the tranny taking naps. Seems that if I'm coasting to a stop at 5 to 20 MPH and then step on the gas to accelerate (think in terms of a rolling stop) the transmission takes nearly a full second to get into gear and take off. Very very bad. Very dangerous and Goddamn annoying. Car has 40K miles and is pristine and very well maintained. Is this just the way it is? Do I have to sell this pig? All 3 of the tranny settings do the same thing. In fact sport is even worse because it takes off in lower gear and jerks even more. Help!
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 76
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E63 sold, 1972 911S, '58 Speedster, 2021 GLE 63S, Turbo 997, Aston Martin V8 Vantage 69 911 Hotrod
I'm planning on them reprograming the tranny on my next service. Meanwhile still driving me crazy with laziness.
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ML63 W166
I'd be very interested in your outcome
mine is still under warrantly and does the same, i also have a flare from second to third when its cold.
i took it back and Mercedes who did an "adaption" for the flare from second to third, but didnt resolve the flat spot, which only lasted 6 months and still does it, so i took it back and they did another adaption and updated the engine computer with no resolve, replaced the throttle pedal, with no resolve, i took it back again and after hanging onto my cart for 3.5 weeks, they gave it back with an extra 157Km on the clock and fuel tank to match and said "its just a characteristic of the model, drive in sport mode, have a nice day."
Same problem in sport mode, so it sounds as if I'm as frustrated as you with the "lazy tranny" "flat spot" "delay" or "characteristic or the model" as you are.
try pulling out into traffic and waiting a while for the throttle to take up, is a bit scary
you will note the "lazy tranny" is not lazy when taking off below 6 Km/h
I'll look forward to what the solution is,
mine is still under warrantly and does the same, i also have a flare from second to third when its cold.
i took it back and Mercedes who did an "adaption" for the flare from second to third, but didnt resolve the flat spot, which only lasted 6 months and still does it, so i took it back and they did another adaption and updated the engine computer with no resolve, replaced the throttle pedal, with no resolve, i took it back again and after hanging onto my cart for 3.5 weeks, they gave it back with an extra 157Km on the clock and fuel tank to match and said "its just a characteristic of the model, drive in sport mode, have a nice day."
Same problem in sport mode, so it sounds as if I'm as frustrated as you with the "lazy tranny" "flat spot" "delay" or "characteristic or the model" as you are.
try pulling out into traffic and waiting a while for the throttle to take up, is a bit scary
you will note the "lazy tranny" is not lazy when taking off below 6 Km/h
I'll look forward to what the solution is,
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 76
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E63 sold, 1972 911S, '58 Speedster, 2021 GLE 63S, Turbo 997, Aston Martin V8 Vantage 69 911 Hotrod
Exactly. Stepping on the throttle to pull out into traffic and have nothing happen is dangerous. 3.5 weeks. Uh huh. You know what happens when you
accrue 30 days out of service. Lemon Law time. Mine is a 2013 ML63 so no warranty. I would take it in again so you hit the 30 day requirement or 5 times
in for same problem. After reading your post I don't have much hope for them fixing mine. Let me know how it goes.
accrue 30 days out of service. Lemon Law time. Mine is a 2013 ML63 so no warranty. I would take it in again so you hit the 30 day requirement or 5 times
in for same problem. After reading your post I don't have much hope for them fixing mine. Let me know how it goes.
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Member
Joined: Nov 2017
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ML63 W166
Don't think we have the "lemon laws" in Aus
could go into battle with Mercedes via consumer affairs, but i don't think it would be worth all the stress to go up against such a corporation who is just going to say "it was built that way" " its a characteristic of the car".
I feel sure it wasn't built that way, as the new car reviews would have crucified the car in reviews, had that been the case.
I also wonder is the engine computer update that was implemented may have been the problem. (latest upgrade available May 2018).
Maybe a bit like Iphone upgrade on the Iphone 4, they upgrade the phone to make it slower. maybe Merc upgrade the computer and a side effect has been the delay, flat spot, lazy tranny.
Shame Merc couldn't sort the problem, and dont want to, old model so they don't give a stuff.
strangely enough the 2015 model with the same motor and tranny does not have the flat spot/ delay problem.
so live with a lemon. make lemonade.
could go into battle with Mercedes via consumer affairs, but i don't think it would be worth all the stress to go up against such a corporation who is just going to say "it was built that way" " its a characteristic of the car".
I feel sure it wasn't built that way, as the new car reviews would have crucified the car in reviews, had that been the case.
I also wonder is the engine computer update that was implemented may have been the problem. (latest upgrade available May 2018).
Maybe a bit like Iphone upgrade on the Iphone 4, they upgrade the phone to make it slower. maybe Merc upgrade the computer and a side effect has been the delay, flat spot, lazy tranny.
Shame Merc couldn't sort the problem, and dont want to, old model so they don't give a stuff.
strangely enough the 2015 model with the same motor and tranny does not have the flat spot/ delay problem.
so live with a lemon. make lemonade.
Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 75
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ML63 W166
I have had my ML63 for 8 years and got used to the terrible lag. last time i changed the battery 7 years ago I kept power to the car while i changed the battery, fearing the memory would be lost. i have now replaced the battery again, but this time without power to the car, having read Forum suggesting it wasn't required (and without any issues at all). With new battery fitted OMG the flat spot seams mostly gone (or is this a placebo effect?) so my advice to those with the flat spot, disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes and see if there is any improvement.
I have had my ML63 for 8 years and got used to the terrible lag. last time i changed the battery 7 years ago I kept power to the car while i changed the battery, fearing the memory would be lost. i have now replaced the battery again, but this time without power to the car, having read Forum suggesting it wasn't required (and without any issues at all). With new battery fitted OMG the flat spot seams mostly gone (or is this a placebo effect?) so my advice to those with the flat spot, disconnect the battery for a couple of minutes and see if there is any improvement.
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 75
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ML63 W166
Yep previously tried the reset method which I gather just forgets your driving technique and starts again
The lag has always been there until this Battery change
The leg is still their tiny little bit but nowhere near as bad as what it was
The lag has always been there until this Battery change
The leg is still their tiny little bit but nowhere near as bad as what it was
Would it be easier if i just disconnect the ecu on engine side instead of battery under the seat?
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ML63 W166
I dont know, but i would suggest that's not a good idea, battery terminal is not that hard to get to , im advised the other way is to reset the transmission by putting foot on accelerator with ignition on for 30 seconds, which i had previously tried and made no difference
