SW20S

I have the ECO delete and it works great

W205C43PFL

I see, hopefully it solves the problem for you.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Good to hear that it was the solution for you and that it worked as advertised on their site.

vinnybenz

Spoke to 3 different service advisors across Canada yesterday re: this issue and explained that I recently have noticed that shutting the ECO switch off 'while driving', tends to subdue the vibration issue. I certainly don't want to needlessly replace mounts if it is really a software issue related to the ECO function. In any case, one of the advisors said that he encountered this vibration issue and in the end of all his fact finding, MB told him that's the nature of this 4.0L engine. I DON'T BUY IT! Why is it that some of you folks have never experienced these vibrations? Today I will be pursuing MB Canada to work with their in-house engineers and my dealer to find out why the ECO switch affects the vibration and will let you know.

Also, dealer is replacing the main battery today, and checking the terminals in the engine compartment, it was at 12,38 volts after checking before I start the engine for the 1st time in the morning. I know my 2009 Jaguar VDP ran computer-driven functions much better after a battery change.

vinnybenz

Went to the dealer the 3rd time to show the 'grumbling' drive train vibration with no success, the damn thing just wouldn't do it. Also, the Xentry diag they did showed a battery voltage of 11.8 v.. Thought this was low based on other forum members remarks who claim it should be changed at 12.8 v but dealer claims that anything between 11-15 volts is acceptable. Reason I mention this is because the ECO switch when on, the vibration is prevalent but when off, the 'grumbling' aspect is not present. There is however a vibration similar to what a small truck would be, evident in the steering wheel when stopped at a stoplight. The mechanic also told me to expect a small am't of vibration due to the fact that the engine from 2018-20 is the same engine as the one in the AMG S63 but toned down for the 560. Do any of you buy that reasoning?

Still baffled and frustrated by this whole experience from a so called S Class 'luxurious' sedan.

badq45t

Is it evident enough when you are driving that a cell video would help to show the dealership what is going on? These little gremlins that you KNOW 100% are happening sometimes you just need to give them your car and have them drive it more than the small short test drives they take. I had an issue with my truck when still pretty new and I had a mechanic take it home with him, so he drove it 60-70 miles and knew exactly what he had to do. Got me a completely new rear diff and drive shaft.

Do not give up.

W205C43PFL

To add to forum member badq45t, if it wasn't the pandemic I would recommend to take the drive with the shop foreman and not just let them drive it alone, also... if needed request for the regional service manager to take the drive with you. At this calibre, it is certainly no excuse to be having these vibrations.

vinnybenz

Hi badq45t and W205C43PFL,. You're both reading my mind, tried the cell idea but wouldn't pick it up and asked about the regional mgr as well and was told that "she wouldn't really be able to help, more of a customer relations thing rather than technical knowledge". I can't leave the car but I'm certainly not giving up.
The dealer serv adv told me there was really nothing they can do til he experiences it himself.

W205C43PFL

Not sure if you live within the GTA, but try finding a dealership owned by Toronto Retail Group (which is owned by MBCA).
Sorry if this question is obvious and if you answered before but did you try going to a different dealership? Some dealerships are just willing to help and others just don't.

vinnybenz

Here in Windsor, there is only one dealer, next one is 120 miles in London. would have even tried Detroit if the border was open.

W205C43PFL

Oh you are in Windsor, hmmm I mean I don't think I would recommend coming to Toronto just to see if they fix your car, I don't want you to be in disappointment after driving all that distance. As even dealerships owned by TRG is a hit and miss. Can you ask your dealership to open a TIPS case to escalate to MB Germany? I believe there are limits to Canadian vehicles going to the States for warranty services, they provide certain services for temporary stay but I believe they don't cover everything I love to be wrong though.

vinnybenz

They said they can't open a TIPS case til they experience it. What model are you driving and do you experience any of these symptoms? how bout just the small vibration in steering wheel while 'off' eco at a stoplight? Hard to imagine some members claim total silence sitting at a light. Wonder if they're in ECO mode at the stoplight when they said that.

W205C43PFL

I only drive a C-Class (C43) but I have friends that drive E, S, G in which drives pre-facelift and facelift and they too don't experience what you are describing, I can ask them again and link your thread to them via text and see if their cars exhibit these specific symptoms.

vinnybenz

Much appreciated! I traded my 2019 E450 wagon on this car which I found out west on the web.It seemed my wagon drove nicer.

W205C43PFL

Sorry to hear that, especially how E to S is supposed to be an upgrade. I will get back to you when they reply.

RJC

My new at the time 2017 s550 coupe had the exact same problem felt at idle under load/in gear at a stop. Something changed in the driveline when the new 9G was added perhaps the new lighter/more compact transfer case for the awd, but it causes this damn vibration at idle, my 2016 S550 coupe with the older set up (7g) did not have this issue. I got rid of my 17 coupe as I was so used to the 16 running so smoothly at idle I couldn’t even tell the engine was running. My dealer tried all kinds of things but MB was of no use at the time as they weren’t aware of the issue. You will find it occurring in most all S awd and it can be intermittent. From what I remember if you put your foot on the brake and ever so slightly increase the idle speed it goes away. Go drive any rwd S or pre 2017/9G awd and the vibration will not be present. FYI my 17 coupe was not the 4.0 but the 4.7 so it has nothing to do with the engines. Hope this info gives you some ammo for the dealership and MB.

bkdc

Engine mounts are a good thought.
My other thought was a throttle body issue which causes sputtering/vibration when idle. But I’ve never heard of a gunked up throttle body at 35k miles.

W205C43PFL

Ok so one of my friend got back to me. 2019 S560 LWB sedan. No such vibration as described, I told him to test a few things and will let you know when he gets back to me.

I am still waiting for others to reply I will keep you posted. Sorry it is taking so long to get their reply, they seem to be busy lately or they didn't see my message, I will resend.

W205C43PFL

Hmmm, I got an idea, which specific post you want me to ask them about? Maybe they didn't reply because they didn't have time to go through the whole thread? Anyways, I resent the message though.

RJC

I gave you guys the story on what's going on with this in AWD S Class vehicles from MY2017+...it does NOT affect the RWD versions only AWD and those with the new 9G setup...see my previous post.

vinnybenz

"From what I remember if you put your foot on the brake and ever so slightly increase the idle speed it goes away" Any idea why it goes away?

RJC

It increases idle speed so whatever is rotating in the driveline that's causing the vibration then increases with it as well and helps to smooth it out so to speak. The issue is 110% related to the changes that were made to the AWD when they changed to the 9G trans (I know for a fact a new transfer case design occurred) and you will not find this issue in pre 2017 model year with AWD. I had the MB factory rep involved and he documented the issue as not normal but the tech at the dealership assigned was unsuccessful in a solution, the factory rep retired shortly thereafter and I sold the 17S550 coupe for a new BMW M850 (luv it) as that vibration really annoyed me, especially coming from a 16 where you couldn't even tell the engine was running.

I would recommend you go to the dealership and have you and the shop foreman and compare yours and any other 2017+ AWD to any RWD S classes, and you'll see therein lies the problem, it's AWD only with 9G.

MBNUT1

Is the issue for all 2017+ AWD or just some?

RJC

All but it can be more so in some vs others and/or intermittent

H Carman

I just got a 2018 CPO S560 last week w/20K miles. I feel a slight vibration in the steering wheel when idling in D at around 1100 RPM I think it is, as well as when driving around in that RPM range. I'm pretty sure it's the cylinder deactivation. It's the entire reason why I came from an Audi A8 some years ago. It used to do the exact same thing. In the Audi, it has "active motor mounts" which are supposed to vibrate 180 degrees counter to the vibration the engine will make when only running on 4 cylinders. And then there are "downtubes" in the exhaust which have like a corrugation so the vibration isn't transmitted to the chassis. The problem is, I am sensitive to that vibration and couldn't stand the thought of it on a high end car. I had the Audi in the shop multiple time under warranty and they spent many thousands replacing the downtubes, motor mounts and all kinds of other stuff, but it didn't get rid of it. So I traded it for a 2015 S63. I posted something about it on the Audi boards like how to really feel it (car in drive, foot on break and rev engine to about 1200) and then all of a sudden a whole bunch of other people started feeling it also and started complaining to their dealers. All of a sudden it became a "known issue" and they kept on coming up with new motor mount designs. I test drove a few Audi's before switching to the Merc and could make them all do the same thing. On one test drive with the salesman i just kept it in the bad RPM range on the highway and asked the salesman if he could feel it. He said, yes, it's probably just the road. Then when we got back and I should him how it would do it while parked just bringing up the RPMs to the bad range, you could tell he felt it and didn't know what to say.

To me, this feels like the exact same problem. Just think about it for a minute. how the hell can you make an 8 cylinder engine, disable 4 cylinders, and NOT feel some kind of a vibration? I don't find it awful, I just find it awful that when you pay so much for a car with 8 cylinders, you can't have all 8 firing all the time without being able to have the option of that or not. It's absolutely pathetic!

You tend not to feel it as much in sport mode because the engine spends less time in the RPM range where you feel it. But then my car seem to shift a lot sharper in sport mode and I don't always want to drive in that mode.

vinnybenz

Wow! Finally someone who feels exactly as I do on this issue! Thank you so much for elaborately laying out the issue to the forum. So good, that I sent a copy to the dealer and MB Canada.Life is short and I certainly will not waste much of it if MB is not going to take this issue seriously. I'll just move on to a different brand.
Here is what MB Canada emailed me today and my replies in bold black:
;Subject: RE: MB response



Hi Chris,



They want to know:



1)What does ECO START/STOP have to do with vibration while driving -The rumbling stops when you shut Eco off while in motion

2) what speed – anywhere after 50khm

3)on turns? no

4) cold? yes

5) hot? yes

6) on downshift? no

7) on upshift? yes

8) on cruising? Never used cruise yet

9) on braking? no

10) when did it start occurring? vehicle has 37,000 kms - could of always been there, I noticed about a week after recv car with 35000km on it

11) tire condition? About 75% new

12) brake condition ? new pads all 4 wheels

13) any accidents? no

14) felt in the steering wheel or the seats? In the steering wheel but you feel it rumble thru whole car



In addition, as I told you, while you’re driving and you’re at 1100rpm, no matter what gear, when you slightly accelerate to maintain speed, it will rumble til it fully maintains current speed



Please take a moment to answer these questions Chris and will write back to MB.





Sincerely,



Lucas Lenarduzzi

Service Manager

Overseas Motors Mercedes-Benz - Windsor Ont