360 Spyder

I find this mind boggling but both the Mercedes dealer and a mechanic who works on Mercedes knew exactly what I was talking about and say that is normal for the car. What I am referring to is that the trans is not super smooth and doesn't always shift at the optimum times. The service rep at the dealer told me that is by design (which seems preposterous) so the trans can be prepared to shift either up or down more quickly. In a world where even economy cars and Jeeps generally shift smooth as glass with very good rev matching on shifts, I cannot comprehend Mercedes having shifts that I would imagine to be not only worst in class, but worst in far lower classes. I wonder if the electronics are not as good at predicting the instantaneous torque output of a turbocharged engine. Was this issue rectified in later S class cars? And why do I not see deficiencies like this mentioned in car mag reviews?

Tom in Austin

Discussed here regularly ... the W222 transmissions are not the greatest, especially on downshifts. Definitely a disappointment when all else is so smooth and refined.

My 2014 C-class with a 7GTronic transmission had abrupt downshifts in some conditions. Happily the dealer was able to fix it on that car with a software update, but based on what people have posted here there doesn't seem to be a fix like that for a W222.

I've not been on the W223 forum but I wonder how the transmissions are on those cars.

chassis

MB transmissions are rubbish, unfortunately. Vague, hesitant and balky. And coarse. They should exit the transmission design and manufacturing aspect of their business and turn it over to the people at ZF and Aisin who know what they are doing. MB doesn't know what they are doing when it comes to transmissions.

The ZF in my wife's BMW is sublime.

The Aisin in my previous VW was a precision instrument.

Donnymac

There’s a lot of transmission discussion in this forum and clearly programming plays a performance roll, Its as if the trans develops memory and occasionally forgets, generating hard shifts. Such was my experience with the 9 speed. With a tip from the Forum, it was a simple manual procedure and the trans fixed itself. I think that tip came from Konigstiger who is car smart. Sorry I don’t remember the steps or I would lay it out but I will look for the post.

Found it. Procedure fixed my shift issues. Have no clue if it applys to your situation,

LI27.50-P-071658 AUG20 – Vehicles w/725 transmission when changing gear range from P to D or R harsh engagement may be noticeable, the engagement sequence must be taught in again as follows: Start the engine from cold: engage gear P, wait at least 5 seconds; gear D, wait at least 5s; gear P, wait at least 5s; gear R, wait at least 5s. Repeat this process for the engagement processes into D and R 10 times. Then drive the vehicle in up to 3rd gear max., to cool the plates. Also repeat the above procedure with the transmission at operating temperature (approx. 50°C) and running hot (approx. 70°C).
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360 Spyder

I have not noticed P R D issues. Just find forward gear shifting less than perfect

konigstiger

Search "transmission” here for bulletins: https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...tins-date.html - your model # 222.182, transmission 722.909.

OnlyGerman

Mercedes transmissions suck. I have been disappointed in very single one I have had. Not making that mistake again, avoiding Mercedes in the future. Stick to cars with ZF!!!!

DaveW68

The 5 speed I had in my 2007 S600 shifted beautifully. The 7 speed in my S550, not as nice.

MB221

Im pretty sure all of the problems start with that completely unnecessary and stupid complicated lock-up function of the torque-converter (KUB). Not 1 asked/noticed while regenerating the problems were gone. And i bet 90% of the MB-gearspecialists i dealt with with dont have ANY clue how to proper diagnose ANY 7g-9g complaint. Most just...exchange components with NO result. Or just plainly guess.

Tom in Austin

Does anyone read the W223 forum posts? Wonder if those cars have the same annoying transmission behavior?

Streamliner

Yes, there have been a few, similar complaints with the 223’s.

Streamliner

I ordered a new 2020 S560 and took delivery in October of 2020. I started experiencing harsh 3-2 downshifts. In early April of 2021, MB instructed the dealer to replace the transmission and torque converter. If anything, the problem got worse, with even more pronounced 3-2 downshifts. In late May of 2021, MBUSA authorized a buy-back of the leased car. I ordered a new 2022 S580, which has still not been delivered. MBUSA says that the buy-back offer will be honored until September of 2022. In the meantime, I’m still driving the car.

One of the big issues to me, is that I really like this car and being one of the last W222’s, I got an absolutely sensational deal on it. Fast forward to now, where a similar 2022 has an MSRP of over $12K more than the 2020, the dealer wants a $10K markup and the current lease deals stink.

badq45t

Honestly just living with it is what I plan to do. I had the dealer do a big software refresh and that did help but every one in a while I get a kick in the butt. Before the software updated I literally thought that someone rear-ended me getting off the freeway, it clunked so hard I immediately was ready to pull over and start the process but alas nobody was behind me.

I think it is just a situation that now is liveable. I have a 2016 550e and I plan to drive it as least 5 more years as I only have 39k. I think throwing new tranny's at the situation doesn't help, however, I just had the B7 service done which included new tranny fluid and I think that helped alot.

Donnymac

Randomly, when in P for 15 min or more w motor running, I get the same rear end bump.

badq45t

I have never had that happen but I am not sure I have ever sat for 15 minutes in Park for sure not with the motor running becasue the plug-in hybrid is great at shutting down the motor at a stop.

Donnymac

Mine is like a hard bumper hit with a rubber hammer.

Old Rocker

I have a 2021 S580 and also think the shifting could be better. Down shifts are abrupt, and if you were slowing to a red light and it turns green, it often jolts into gear when you put your foot on the gas, even gently. The car has almost 500 horsepower, but unless you baby the pedal the shifts are jarring.

chassis

Electric park brake activating. Normal.