seven speed auto box problems?
Discussion
With my ML320CDi, from day 1 it has had crap changing quality between 1st and 2nd. Car has been back several times. Doesn't happen with the petrols - they lent me an ML500 for several days and that was fine. Something to do with software on lock-up clutch in first. Their 320CDi demo does it as well. Still to be resolved and ruining an otherwise good car.
Also had problems with the SLK55 - stuck in 2nd gear, ended up with replacement box.
Also had problems with the SLK55 - stuck in 2nd gear, ended up with replacement box.
I confess that having tried 'said box' in various demo's at work it is CRAP compared to the old 5 speed. Shift from 1 to 2 always surge's, hot or cold, and it does'nt know how many cogs to drop when you kick-down. It is software related and given time (as usual) they will sort it. Sorry, I only sell them. Well, used to - started at Porsche this week. Now there's a car.
SLK 55 AMG:
Never driven an auto before so not sure if this is a problem... Particularly when cold and moving off sedately, the gear box suddenly changes gear and the 'jolt' is much stronger than when first driving it. Also, when breaking as I slow down to a near stop it 'jolts' again (more than I'd expect and again didn't notice this at first. It feels like it does on a manual when your foot slips of the clutch and it suddenly engages gear.
Is this normal for this type of gearbox ???
Never driven an auto before so not sure if this is a problem... Particularly when cold and moving off sedately, the gear box suddenly changes gear and the 'jolt' is much stronger than when first driving it. Also, when breaking as I slow down to a near stop it 'jolts' again (more than I'd expect and again didn't notice this at first. It feels like it does on a manual when your foot slips of the clutch and it suddenly engages gear.
Is this normal for this type of gearbox ???
To be fair to Mercedes, this gearbox is all-new, and most of the engines they are linked to are all new, so I suppose teething problems are to be expected. We bought a brand new Land Rover Freelander, when they were a brand new car, and it had a couple of factory recalls, and the air-con didnt work on day one! I'm sure all these teething problems will be sorted in the coming months - stick in there with the 3 pointed star! 
Alternatively, go and buy an older merc with the bullet proof 4-speed box 
Darren
>> Edited by iluvmercs on Friday 11th November 14:28
>> Edited by iluvmercs on Saturday 12th November 13:55
Alternatively, go and buy an older merc with the bullet proof 4-speed box
Darren
>> Edited by iluvmercs on Friday 11th November 14:28
>> Edited by iluvmercs on Saturday 12th November 13:55
But you would think that after several years in the making that it
should work.
I mean, why the gitmeister have they put it in cars if the thing dont work?
The -79 300D mercs was almost impossible to get into first gear (autobox)
It would start in 2'nd anywich way you hit that pedal. You had to lock it in first to get access.
Ive driven several Mercs with autos, and it does require a certain degree of practice to
use an automatic. However, if the torquesensing in the new 7 speed isnt quite there yet, it
is a bit odd indeed. I've never experienced this in any of the cars I've hurded down the road.
should work.
I mean, why the gitmeister have they put it in cars if the thing dont work?
The -79 300D mercs was almost impossible to get into first gear (autobox)
It would start in 2'nd anywich way you hit that pedal. You had to lock it in first to get access.
Ive driven several Mercs with autos, and it does require a certain degree of practice to
use an automatic. However, if the torquesensing in the new 7 speed isnt quite there yet, it
is a bit odd indeed. I've never experienced this in any of the cars I've hurded down the road.
Morning all,
Like Steve P, absolutely no problems with my better half's SLK 280 - actually, the changes (both up and down) are all silky smooth (much better than we had expected), although I agree with the earlier comment about kick-down, it's gear selection can sometimes surprise.
Hustling the car using the buttons on the steering wheel also works surprisingly well.
Cheers
Like Steve P, absolutely no problems with my better half's SLK 280 - actually, the changes (both up and down) are all silky smooth (much better than we had expected), although I agree with the earlier comment about kick-down, it's gear selection can sometimes surprise.
Hustling the car using the buttons on the steering wheel also works surprisingly well.
Cheers
Interesting thread.
I have had the same problem with my CLS 350. Mercedes took it for about a week and said they had resolved it - and as soon as I got it back it was just as bad.
They are now going to put in a new replacement gear box. If this is a problem that is endemic to the 7 speed gearbox, the problem may not go away with that either. It took a lot of pressure from me to get the garage to take this seriously and I wonder how many others there are out on the road with the same awful low end gear changes.
I have had the same problem with my CLS 350. Mercedes took it for about a week and said they had resolved it - and as soon as I got it back it was just as bad.
They are now going to put in a new replacement gear box. If this is a problem that is endemic to the 7 speed gearbox, the problem may not go away with that either. It took a lot of pressure from me to get the garage to take this seriously and I wonder how many others there are out on the road with the same awful low end gear changes.
The A Class that we bought last year was one of the earliest cars of the 2nd generation. As a result it had a number of faults requiring numerous visits to the dealer. In the end I had enough, the final straw being the service manager admiting that Mercedes launched the car with numerous software glitches and they would be ironed out as the customers reported them.
Similarily the A Class's replacement was a Citroen C4. The car we purchased was an early build car that had been in the showroom for sometime. As a result it has so far required new modified rear shocks, modifications to the door handles, modified calipers and pads. Yet another example of a car being launched with flaws to be ironed out.
Similarily the A Class's replacement was a Citroen C4. The car we purchased was an early build car that had been in the showroom for sometime. As a result it has so far required new modified rear shocks, modifications to the door handles, modified calipers and pads. Yet another example of a car being launched with flaws to be ironed out.
I think the biggest factor here is that the 7-speed box is the first time a manufacturer on the scale of Merc has produced an in-house gearbox. Most use ZF or similar to cut costs. BMW are investing in their own boxs now as well as they are getting unhappy with not haveing as much say in ratios as Merc can now have. The 7 speed box can vary in ratio from engine to engine if Merc so wish. However the downside to developing in-house is that at some stage the box will have to be released to the public, after as much R&D as you can afford to do. It has to start earning it's keep at some stage and the best place to iron out hidden glitches is to put it in service. Outsources such as ZF et ál must have the box 100% as their industry reputation is more important than end user satisfaction.
No issues at all with my AMG 7 speed box even when cold. However, there are variables which we don't know about which might explain some individual problems, for example the software version of the gearbox software, and whether or not the break in procedure was followed religiously. Nowadays that's mostly for the benefit of the drivetrain since the engine is bench run to a certain extent. I wonder how those people who took their car up to three figure speeds and even in some cases up to the speed limiter within a couple of hundred miles of the factory are getting on.
Have had my SLK 55 AMG a year now and done 3400 miles. Nearly always drive it in standard auto mode - on 3 occasions, it has "stuck" in 1st gear and the display has shown 1 instead of D - have resolved it by pressing the button to go into manual, then back to standard auto. As it's only happened 3 times, I haven't really thought about having it looked into.
alc said:
Have had my SLK 55 AMG a year now and done 3400 miles. Nearly always drive it in standard auto mode - on 3 occasions, it has "stuck" in 1st gear and the display has shown 1 instead of D - have resolved it by pressing the button to go into manual, then back to standard auto. As it's only happened 3 times, I haven't really thought about having it looked into.
That's normally because you accidentally touched one of the paddles on the back of the steering wheel, which restricts the highest gear to the one you are in. We've all done it while manoevring at low speed, but in my case, only once
If you didn't, then the car thinks you did, which is why it shows "1" in the display. >> Edited by steve-p on Monday 3rd April 20:13
Well the idea is to restrict the gearbox from selecting a gear higher than you want it to. This is like the old style boxes where putting it in '1' locked it in first, '2' meant it would only use first and second gears, '3' allowed it to use 1st to 3rd gear etc. I suppose it might be useful for going down extreme hills without cooking the brakes but that's about it. It's not like we're going to be towing caravans or anything
Just popped over from the TVR forum regarding my day to day transport.
I noticed this thread and wondered if anyone has had a recent update.
I have a C320 CDI with the seven speed auto box. It worked fine for two years, but over the last couple of weeks has started to do what others have mentioned i.e. jerky gear change from first to second especially when cold.
Took it into the local dealership and they plugged it into the diagnostics and came up with zilch. Suggested that I bbok it in for the gearbox to be updated with the latest software.
Does this ring any bells with anyone. Just wondered if it is still a common problem.
I noticed this thread and wondered if anyone has had a recent update.
I have a C320 CDI with the seven speed auto box. It worked fine for two years, but over the last couple of weeks has started to do what others have mentioned i.e. jerky gear change from first to second especially when cold.
Took it into the local dealership and they plugged it into the diagnostics and came up with zilch. Suggested that I bbok it in for the gearbox to be updated with the latest software.
Does this ring any bells with anyone. Just wondered if it is still a common problem.
razorman said:
Just popped over from the TVR forum regarding my day to day transport.
I noticed this thread and wondered if anyone has had a recent update.
I have a C320 CDI with the seven speed auto box. It worked fine for two years, but over the last couple of weeks has started to do what others have mentioned i.e. jerky gear change from first to second especially when cold.
Took it into the local dealership and they plugged it into the diagnostics and came up with zilch. Suggested that I bbok it in for the gearbox to be updated with the latest software.
Does this ring any bells with anyone. Just wondered if it is still a common problem.
I noticed this thread and wondered if anyone has had a recent update.
I have a C320 CDI with the seven speed auto box. It worked fine for two years, but over the last couple of weeks has started to do what others have mentioned i.e. jerky gear change from first to second especially when cold.
Took it into the local dealership and they plugged it into the diagnostics and came up with zilch. Suggested that I bbok it in for the gearbox to be updated with the latest software.
Does this ring any bells with anyone. Just wondered if it is still a common problem.
From my time at a Mercedes dealer I do seem to remember a technical update being issued with regard to 7gtronic boxes and upgraded software to allow smoother changes.
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