E63 violent 2-1 downshift
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
E63 violent 2-1 downshift
I'm experiencing what could best be described as a jolt on downshifts from 2nd to 1st. It only happens in sport mode. As I understand the car only downshifts to 1st in that mode. The jolt, which feels like the car jumps forward (some have described as feeling like a car bumped into the back of the car) feels stronger when the car hasn't completely warmed up. I have searched the forum and have read about ECU updates and a myriad of other problems that could cause this. Apparently it's pretty common. Can anyone chime in about their experiences and how they may have resolved the issue?
#2
Member
There is a TCU update that resolves this apparently. You need to go to the dealer and they should be able to flash your TCU/ECU. I believe they update both when performing updates. Expect to pay an hour of labor.
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks Farkis! I see you own an '07 E63. Did you run this update with success?
#4
Member
I have not but want to. I don’t have the hard downshifts like you are experiencing but my car does start off in second gear even in sport mode and I know the update fixes that issue as well. In general, I’ve read the update smooths out shifting.
Did this issue just start or has it always been like this?
Did this issue just start or has it always been like this?
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Richmond, CA
Posts: 3,250
Received 255 Likes
on
233 Posts
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
Mine will occasionally give 1 harsh downshift when cold. I'll have to talk to my mechanic and see if he knows about an update for that.
#7
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I have not but want to. I don’t have the hard downshifts like you are experiencing but my car does start off in second gear even in sport mode and I know the update fixes that issue as well. In general, I’ve read the update smooths out shifting.
Did this issue just start or has it always been like this?
Did this issue just start or has it always been like this?
80K miles on the car.
Trending Topics
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
In the name of science, I will spring for the TCU update--provided my local stealership doesn't price gouge me on labor. It seems to me it's the most reasonable suggestion (thank you, Farkis) to fix this problem. I've seen that others have replaced solenoids and just about every component of the transmission--and many without resolving the harsh downshift issue fully. Someone mentioned the TCU update should prevent the car from downshifting from 2nd to 1st altogether in sport mode. That gives me a reasonable degree of confidence that this could fix the problem. Stay tuned.
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
I'm going to check into this, as I'm starting to have lagging engagements from 1-2 when accelerating. And 3-2 hard engagements when downshifting.
#11
Super Member
I have the same issue when cold that when coming to a stop its a hard downshift like being hit from behind; 2009 E3 w/ 81K miles; and my understanding reading the several forum posts on this is to change out the one solenoid (TCC? can't remember the name right now); and a flash to the TCU will not help.
#13
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I have the same issue when cold that when coming to a stop its a hard downshift like being hit from behind; 2009 E3 w/ 81K miles; and my understanding reading the several forum posts on this is to change out the one solenoid (TCC? can't remember the name right now); and a flash to the TCU will not help.
It may be common, but there is nothing normal feeling about that downshift. It feels almost violent and can't be great for the transmission.
#14
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Ok, so I'm going to try having my indy mechanic replace the PWN (TCC) solenoid, part 240 270 17 00. Thanks Anomadtoo, for bringing this up. It looks like the most reasonable fix to perform first. Plus there are several members who claim that this completely remedied the issue.
Btw, regarding the TCU update, apparently this only masks the issue by making the 2-1 downshift less frequent. Plus I've read varying results from this update. I'm not dropping $220 on a "maybe" until I try replacing the solenoid.
Btw, regarding the TCU update, apparently this only masks the issue by making the 2-1 downshift less frequent. Plus I've read varying results from this update. I'm not dropping $220 on a "maybe" until I try replacing the solenoid.
#15
Member
There is literally a service bulletin that describe the symptom you are experiencing and a TCU update that fixes it (prevents 2-1 shifts until the car is stopped). This and addition to smoothing out shifts in general.
If you have always had this issue, there is a great chance this would solve it. And for the price, This is the best place to start imo. Now if this had just started, I would think the software update wouldn’t help.
$200 seems a little high to update but not insane. Did you go to the dealer? In my experience, my Indy charged more than the dealer for updates bc they needed to pay more for them I believe.
Also, the model of car doesn’t really matter as long as it’s the 722.9 tranny around the same years as far as I know—so reading about different car models isn’t necessarily leading you in the wrong direction.
Good luck
If you have always had this issue, there is a great chance this would solve it. And for the price, This is the best place to start imo. Now if this had just started, I would think the software update wouldn’t help.
$200 seems a little high to update but not insane. Did you go to the dealer? In my experience, my Indy charged more than the dealer for updates bc they needed to pay more for them I believe.
Also, the model of car doesn’t really matter as long as it’s the 722.9 tranny around the same years as far as I know—so reading about different car models isn’t necessarily leading you in the wrong direction.
Good luck
Last edited by farkis644; 03-19-2019 at 08:35 PM.
#16
Junior Member
Thread Starter
There is literally a service bulletin that describe the symptom you are experiencing and a TCU update that fixes it (prevents 2-1 shifts until the car is stopped). This and addition to smoothing out shifts in general.
If you have always had this issue, there is a great chance this would solve it. And for the price, This is the best place to start imo. Now if this had just started, I would think the software update wouldn’t help.
$200 seems a little high to update but not insane. Did you go to the dealer? In my experience, my Indy charged more than the dealer for updates bc they needed to pay more for them I believe.
Also, the model of car doesn’t really matter as long as it’s the 722.9 tranny around the same years as far as I know—so reading about different car models isn’t necessarily leading you in the wrong direction.
Good luck
If you have always had this issue, there is a great chance this would solve it. And for the price, This is the best place to start imo. Now if this had just started, I would think the software update wouldn’t help.
$200 seems a little high to update but not insane. Did you go to the dealer? In my experience, my Indy charged more than the dealer for updates bc they needed to pay more for them I believe.
Also, the model of car doesn’t really matter as long as it’s the 722.9 tranny around the same years as far as I know—so reading about different car models isn’t necessarily leading you in the wrong direction.
Good luck
#17
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
Received 46 Likes
on
39 Posts
Too many to list
My ML63 had a violent downshift from 2nd to 1st as well in S and S+ and was told by dealer it's normal. Thus, I resorted to driving it in C mode most of the time until recently I had a Eurocharged tune done. It completely got rid of the violent downshift both in S and S+ mode. Only on very cold mornings and the engine super cold that it'll still exhibit a slight hard shift. I asked Eurocharged if the tune had anything to do with the shift and was informed that the tune changed the shift points so it may have gotten rid of the violent shift. Thus, I can only assume that it's software related and not necessarily hardware. But who knows, I'm no car expert....
#18
Junior Member
Thread Starter
My ML63 had a violent downshift from 2nd to 1st as well in S and S+ and was told by dealer it's normal. Thus, I resorted to driving it in C mode most of the time until recently I had a Eurocharged tune done. It completely got rid of the violent downshift both in S and S+ mode. Only on very cold mornings and the engine super cold that it'll still exhibit a slight hard shift. I asked Eurocharged if the tune had anything to do with the shift and was informed that the tune changed the shift points so it may have gotten rid of the violent shift. Thus, I can only assume that it's software related and not necessarily hardware. But who knows, I'm no car expert....