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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
The issue only affects the S-Class 722.9 (7-speed) transmission from 2014 to 2017. I am curious though - are you experiencing shifting issues with your 2020?
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
That software update is only for W222 with engine 278 and transmission 722.9 (basically the S550 not for S560). It took them 2 years to release this since they started working on it as they had to go through a round of tests confirming the new software won't change the claimed EPA metrics. It would be another 2-3 years I believe until they release the same for the new face-lifted models. Software and R&D upgrades are not a priority for MB engineers obviously,,,
I just got my car back from the dealership. Success! It took two trips to get it done but definitely a success.
They installed the new transmission software last week and returned it to me with the suggestion that I drive it a couple of hundred (perhaps thousand) miles to let the transmission self-adapt. This was because though the update solved the rough 5 > 4 downshift issue it left the transmission with less than optimal shifting smoothness overall. Well, me driving it all those miles to let it self-adapt would be one way to do it. However, since life is short, and it is under CPO warranty, why not return it to the dealer and have them do the work for me? The shop foreman performed the "forced adaptation" procedure this morning. "Performed adaptation of all upshift ranges, all downshift ranges, and all three torque converter lock-up adaptation measures via road test with Xentry." It's now buttery smooth and a true pleasure to drive. All covered under CPO warranty.
So many thanks to all on this thread for the help but especially to konigstiger for the Forced Adaptation post and to S_W222 for the document referencing the new software and much appreciation for starting this thread. Having the documents below in hand were invaluable each time I spoke with my service advisor.
Thanks again. May all of you and your families be well.
The issue only affects the S-Class 722.9 (7-speed) transmission from 2014 to 2017. I am curious though - are you experiencing shifting issues with your 2020?
Good question. The 9 speeds are reportedly smooth. Based on that I suspect that there is not a shifting issue with his 2020.
15 S550 4Matic, SLS AMG Gullwing, Previous: Every S Class, SL, 190E, C Class. '16 AMG GTS
I got my 2015 S550 transmission software updated about a week. It had the horrendous 5 to 4 downshift problem. After the software update, the transmission shifted buttery smooth. However, it has been about a week and about 600 miles and I'm starting to notice rough 5-4 shifts again. It is not as bad or as frequent as it was prior to the software update, but still not as smooth as it was immediately after the update. Anybody else have experiences they can share?
I got my 2015 S550 transmission software updated about a week. It had the horrendous 5 to 4 downshift problem. After the software update, the transmission shifted buttery smooth. However, it has been about a week and about 600 miles and I'm starting to notice rough 5-4 shifts again. It is not as bad or as frequent as it was prior to the software update, but still not as smooth as it was immediately after the update. Anybody else have experiences they can share?
in my case it has been couple weeks and over 500 miles and it’s shifting very smoothly and just perfect on all gears.
The 9 speeds have some issues too. I have the first year of the 9 speed 2017 S550. It did have a rough 6 to 5 downshift but that seems to have gone away but now it has a rough 2 to 3 upshift but only when cold, so not really enough to worry about even mentioning it to the dealer. The 2015 I use to have had that brutal 5 to 4 downshift at times, not real frequent like once a week or so but that was before there was a fix. It was very abrupt when it did it.
The 9 speeds have some issues too. I have the first year of the 9 speed 2017 S550. It did have a rough 6 to 5 downshift but that seems to have gone away but now it has a rough 2 to 3 upshift but only when cold, so not really enough to worry about even mentioning it to the dealer. The 2015 I use to have had that brutal 5 to 4 downshift at times, not real frequent like once a week or so but that was before there was a fix. It was very abrupt when it did it.
i knew I wasn’t crazy. I just traded a 2017 for a 2020. Rough **** in sport from 3 to 2 and in comfort 4 to 3. It also thumps when going into park while in 1st gear. I’m having a whine noise between 50 and 60mph so not sure if they’re related. Rear differential was replaced last week and the problem is still there. Getting another opinion this week.
I saw your other post. That is really bad, I'd be in contact with Mercedes if I were you and see if they will trade it for another car out of goodwill. This stuff is just not normal, especially when you pay this kind of money. I think my 2017 might be my last car. I really like it, it's the best one I've had and with Covid now I really don't do all that much driving or travel anymore. I'll probably just take my chances once the Certified warranty expires in a year and half and keep it maintained at a good independent shop. From what I've seen of the 2021's I really would not consider one.
Last edited by 2012 merc amg; 06-14-2020 at 11:56 PM.
My '17 S550 Coupe which came with the 9G was smooth as glass in all aspects, but it was custom ordered and no one else drove it other than the shop foreman who did the pre delv prep for me. I also did not use the paddles much at all and drove it primarily in comfort mode and that's not saying I didn't tromp on it once in awhile.
My 16 also custom ordered and no one else drove it etc, of course had the 7G and it was a mess from day one even after doing many of the steps listed above including a new megatronic unit, but it was before the new sw update of late.
I sold my 17 S coupe a while back and replaced it with a new '19 BMW M850 and must say the BMW 8 speed is a joy, uber quick and uber smooth.
2014 E350 Sport (sold), 2015 S550 Sport (sold), 2018 S560 Sport (sold), 2018 GLE43, 2014 E550
I'm still dealing with this issue. I test drove my car with the shop foreman yesterday and could not replicate the harsh 5 to 4 downshift. We were doing 35-45 mph the whole time. Then I get home and had to run an errand. The route I took was 25-35 mph and the rough downshift happened probably 8 times in 15 minutes. Apparently, at least for me, this seems to happen at lower speeds. I'm at my wits end! I love this car more than any other vehicle I have ever owned but the transmission issue is making me want to bail on MB forever. They're claiming there is nothing they can do and that I'm on the most current software.
My "solution" didn't stick. Within a couple of weeks, the rough shift was back. Maybe the original "fix" report was not correct, but I swear it was. To repeat, my rough downshift is 20-30 mph, 5-4 downshifts only that are rough - and only when cold. After 10 minutes of driving, it's fine. I agree this sucks and is unacceptable - but I love the car.
i knew I wasn’t crazy. I just traded a 2017 for a 2020. Rough **** in sport from 3 to 2 and in comfort 4 to 3. It also thumps when going into park while in 1st gear. I’m having a whine noise between 50 and 60mph so not sure if they’re related. Rear differential was replaced last week and the problem is still there. Getting another opinion this week.
I have the whine noise, they replaced the axle, did not cover this under MB CPO, and it did NOT fix the problem. It will appear between 56MPH and up to 70. Not gear related, If it put the car into Neutral, the noise is still there. The road must be smooth to hear it (asphalt) It its the concrete style road, its to noisy to hear the whine. I hear it all the time when my mother-in-law is in the car too...
I have the whine noise, they replaced the axle, did not cover this under MB CPO, and it did NOT fix the problem. It will appear between 56MPH and up to 70. Not gear related, If it put the car into Neutral, the noise is still there. The road must be smooth to hear it (asphalt) It its the concrete style road, its to noisy to her the whine. I hear it all the time when my mother-in-law is in the car too...
Tires? Wow that must have cost a few bucks to replace the rear end. Is the car AWD or just rear WD?
Just a quick update now since I am the OP
It has been almost more than a 8-9 months, and the car still drives and shifts very very smoothly!. I really recommend everyone to do the same steps described in my comments above if you have the downshifting issue... please make sure to provide a screenshot of the topic number that I referenced in one of my replies (that one has a reference to the software number/version that needs to be installed, and how to perform the service). Servise advisor might claim that this is not something they can do, but you need to push and talk others if he pushed back and politely force them to consider performing the service exactly per the topic number in the XENTRY page.
I just read through this forum and I can definitely relate. That being said, my 5-4 downshift is not very jerky... It's my 4-3 and 3-2 downshifts that provide a sensation of harsh braking. Hoping to get the update and shift adaptation work done soon!
Almost afraid to ask ... has anyone had to pay for this transmission fix? My car shifts well most of the time but not what I'd call perfectly, especially before it's fully warmed up. Not sure I'd invest a whole lot of time and money in doing this ...
I've been out of warranty for a while... I'm not sure if it's worth it. If I do get it done when I take my car in for the 40,000 mile service, I'll let you know the outcome & price!
Just a quick 11-months (almost a year) and over 9K miles since service was done, since I am the OP:
Car still drives and shifts very very smoothly!. (11 months, 9K miles driven since service was done, 78K miles total on the car).
Just a quick update now since I am the OP
It has been almost more than a 8-9 months, and the car still drives and shifts very very smoothly!. I really recommend everyone to do the same steps described in my comments above if you have the downshifting issue... please make sure to provide a screenshot of the topic number that I referenced in one of my replies (that one has a reference to the software number/version that needs to be installed, and how to perform the service). Servise advisor might claim that this is not something they can do, but you need to push and talk others if he pushed back and politely force them to consider performing the service exactly per the topic number in the XENTRY page.
I did exactly this and had the software update done by my dealer 6 months ago. So far the D5 to D4 downshifts that were so abrupt have been smooth with only a rare slightly rough one when the car is cold. Good luck!
I did exactly this and had the software update done by my dealer 6 months ago. So far the D5 to D4 downshifts that were so abrupt have been smooth with only a rare slightly rough one when the car is cold. Good luck!
Glad to hear that. If you want to fix the issue when car is too cold, or also too hot, they will need to also do the adaptation for 3 temp ranges (cold, warm, hot engine). I guess what they did in your case is warm engine only. You might get some resistant by service advisor of the mechanic doesn't know how to do the 3-temperature ranges adaptation process
Glad to hear that. If you want to fix the issue when car is too cold, or also too hot, they will need to also do the adaptation for 3 temp ranges (cold, warm, hot engine). I guess what they did in your case is warm engine only. You might get some resistant by service advisor of the mechanic doesn't know how to do the 3-temperature ranges adaptation process
Thanks for that information. I'll request it at my next scheduled service in a few months.
06-10-2020, 10:26 AM
