AbbyKay

Covered under CPO warranty. They never balked at that. Also had to have one shock replaced due to a clunk over certain bumps. Happy for that warranty!

MichaelinATL

Recalling an unsuccessful attempt to solve my 2016 S 550 transmission's rough downshifting, reported last year, I got a call out of the blue from my MB dealership requesting that I bring the car in.

Mercedes Corp Engineering asked the shop foreman if he knew of any S 550's presenting rough downshifting issues and he remembered my car, hence the call.

Service advisor shared the following today when I brought the car in:

1. There is no 2020 "official" software update...today
2. MB Corp Engineering wants the shop foreman to test some new mods -- software or mechanical -- I don't know.

Clearly MB heard us and has been working on the downshifting challenge.

I will report test findings next week when I pick up the car hopefully next week.

Cheers,

MikeinATL

OnlyGerman

I drove a newer 7 series and almost traded the S. ZF and BMW know what they’re doing- smooth like butter. These transmissions are a JOKE.

Eddot

Just purchased a 2015 S550 on March 18th just before the shut down. Coming out of an E350 cpe with the 7G trans. which shifted very smooth, I also noticed the hard downshifts. Took to the dealer and requested the software update that had been discussed on these forums and any calibrations needed. They did this under the Cert. warranty and now its only rough occasional when cold, much improved. I miss the quickness and agility of my E coupe but there's nothing like the feeling of owning an S class. Besides, I still have the boosted Twin Turbo Z4 to get my pulse up

MichaelinATL

With a fair amount of collaboration with MB Germany and the dealer's shop foreman, I picked up my car today and pleased to report...success!


Receipt

2012 merc amg

Wow, good news. Glad MB engineering stepped up to the plate and are doing something with this issue, it can be a really bad thing. I remember with my 2015 S550 sometimes pulling of an off ramp of the highway the car would downshift and it literally felt like a car behind me tapped my rear bumper. That was one of the reasons I finally got rid of the car as the dealer had not been able to fix it. With my 2017 that I bought used last fall with 16K miles on it sometimes the 7th to 6th gear would be slightly rough on decel. The 2017 uses the 9 speed starting that year. For whatever reason it just went away a few months and has not returned yet. Maybe it was something to do with the adaptations to my different driving style over the previous owner or something. Glad to hear all is good though.

S_W222

Update for eveyone: I scheduled an appointment with my dealership to install the new transmission software that was released just few weeks ago for W222 (engine 278 and transmission 722.9) specifically updated to make the transmission shifts smoother. Copy of the Mercedes topic number referencing this new software is below:

jpaul4

excellent news, Please report back after having the software update completed and let us know if it worked. Also I’m not sure if your vehicle is still under factory warranty, mine is under CPO warranty and I’m curious if this will be covered under CPO warranty. My dealer seems to charge if it’s marginally grey.
thx , John

C Swenson

I brought my 2015 S550 into the shop yesterday to hopefully address this issue. This will be most helpful! Thank you.

Nice Ride

Can you post copy of repair receipt listing Shock and CPO? My local dealer barely covers anything with CPO.
Thank You!

S_W222

Mine is out of warranty now, however, my service advisor said that all I need to do is to stop by, they'll give me a loaner, and they will fix this issue at not cost to me. The reason for this is that because my initial service (software update) was done when the car was under warranty, so I asked them to consider this new request as a "return" visit as a follow up on previous software update that was done while car was under warranty.

killawatt

IT'S A BENZ. If you can feel it shifting, it needs to be addressed. Now whether or not you're ok with it is something different.

S_W222

Great update for everyone. It took only 5 hours to get this done. I got my car and it drives as smooth as it has never been before. See attached for service history indicating downloading the new software that was released just few weeks ago. SUCCESS



Great update for everyone. It took only 5 hours to get this done. I got my car and it drives as smooth as it has never been before. See attached for service history indicating downloading the new software that was released just few weeks ago. SUCCESS

konigstiger

Radcad06

Thank you, S_W222. I’ve been hoping for an update like this for almost 5 years. I’ve enjoyed my S550 immensely, but have always abhorred the poor shifting (especially the 5 to 4 downshift) since I bought it new. I’ll be copying and showing your transmission updates to my service tech on my next visit.

S_W222

@Radcad06 be aware that most of the times the dealership will try to say that they don't have the software yet, or that you already have the most recent one or whatever. Just push for the service "politely", and do your best to get your car go beyond the service advisor and reach to the mechanical/technician to work on it and search for the software following the Xentry tips (screenshot in my comment 2 posts above). My service advisor was soooo helpful and supportive so i didn't need to push or act like I just need to get beyond the service advisor phase and get my car to the mechanical. She actually helped me to get the coverage for 100% goodwill and talk in person with the mechanical explaining what I need (note: make sure you get a copy of the Xentry tip document I sent earlier "THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LOOK IT UP UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY BRING THAT PAGE WITH YOU AND LEAVE A COPY FOR THE MECHANIC SO HE COULD DOWNLOAD THIS SPECIFIC SOFTWARE VERSION"

Nice Ride

Strange, it states clearly in the MB Extended warrantee that Shocks/Struts etc. are NOT covered. It is very specific, if the part is NOT listed, it is NOT covered.

Moderator EDIT: Removed warranty contract details for length. Please attach as file if needed. But the point stands; CPO warranties don't covered everything. Please read the fine print.

RJC

Some dealerships are able to accomplish more than others, even with getting things done under the standard warranty, I think this has to do with volume, their relationship with the factory service rep and how badly theyboth wish to accommodate the customer.

konigstiger

Membership, frequently check/search “Bulletins to date” sticky: https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ml#post8059173

phillyreem

I took my 2020 S560 in today with only 869 miles on it. Just picked up two weeks and it has a very very hard down shift in sport mode. Originally the dealership tried to tell me the car has an adaptive transmission and it’s too early to do anything. I mentioned this was my 5th Mercedes and 2nd S-Class, and that a car with a $122k MSRP shouldn’t jerk or thump at all. Period. I provided the above information and hoping they resolve it. It also has a high pitch humming/whine noise between 45mph and 60mph that I pray is something very minor. They’re going to do a sound analysis to send to Mercedes.

MBZFAN55

I have been following this thread since last year, having suffered from this disturbing 5/4 shift issue for years. Numerous attempts to correct the problem repeatedly failed finally resulting in a dealership Service Manager telling me last year, "This is the final time we are going to try and fix this - a no-charge transmission filter change". Reading of my fellow MB owners experiencing the same problem made me realize I was not alone and motivated me to begin contacting MBUSA at the corporate level, substantially beyond "1-800Customer Service". Maybe it helped or maybe I was just another cog in the wheel, but because of this forum, my S550 is now fixed, with no downshift issues three days in a row! Thank you MBWorld members!

S_W222

you are welcome
i am glad i was able to help with this thread
did you use the software update I referenced in my comments above?

as.thompson

I too have the dreaded rough downshift and I certainly plan to use your info when I take my S550C4 in for service. Thanks!

MBZFAN55

Absolutely! Your "Xentry Tips" was precisely what was needed. Thanks again!

I might add, that in addition to the 5/4 downshift being fixed, there is also a general overall improvement to the transmission drivability. I didn't realize how bad it was until it was fixed.

phillyreem

picking up my car today. 2020 S560. Provided Sentry tips documents and both the service director and shop foreman said there is no software update. How could that be? The car is a 1/2020 build and I took delivery 5/8/20? Is the dealership bull****ting me? How could there be no update when the document just came out 4/29? Dealership said the car only has 900 miles on it and I need to drive it more to adapt.

Thoughts