E200CDI 5-Speed Auto - Gearchange at 30mph... is this right?

[jumpinjohnson]

Brilliant, great advice, thanks gents - really appreciate it. I've got to say I'd get my local garage to look at going through the procedure documented there rather than trying to do it myself... sounds like you'd need a fairly straight, fast road to be able to do the changes it suggests in quick succession!

In terms of using the paddles or manual change that does work but kind of defeats the object a little bit... Obviously I would use the manual mode if I was hustling it around some decent driving roads but I'm just pottering about town when this problem raises its head. The automatic box should be able to handle it by itself.

I've done about 350 miles in it now and I am getting a bit more used to it but it's still a pain. I've got it going in for a gearbox fluid change (it's not quite due yet but, call me paranoid, I've just written off a very nice A6 due to a dodgy auto box!)... I'm going to get them to carry out this reset procedure while it's in. See what happens!

I must say though, I wish I'd bought the 220CDI. I drove a mate's the other day and the additional grunt was very nice on the motorway. The gearbox didn't have this issue either - it was a 7 speed though. Still, the 200 is fine for every day motoring and a remap will probably transform it.

[gizlaroc]

jumpinjohnson said:

Brilliant, great advice, thanks gents - really appreciate it. I've got to say I'd get my local garage to look at going through the procedure documented there rather than trying to do it myself... sounds like you'd need a fairly straight, fast road to be able to do the changes it suggests in quick succession!

No, you need to drive it, it will learn your style, so if you want it to change up after 30mph just give it a little more gas.

Just go out now for 30 mins and see what happens.

[jumpinjohnson]

On a slightly different note but also related to the transmission, now and again I get a thud/shunt when putting the car into gear for the first time after releasing the hand brake.

I realise it's mercedes tradition to have this archaic foot/hand brake combination and I'm steadily getting used to it. But I've never come across this symptom in any other car.

I've read elsewhere that it's because there's some movement left over in the transmission when it's put into park/brake applied. Is this the case? The same people say it's nothing to worry about but, again, if this is something merc haven't resolved then I'm baffled. I didn't get these symptoms on my Saab 9000 from 1997... I don't expect to get them from a much newer, more advanced car.

Is there a particular method to applying park/brake to stop this happening? Say handbrake first, then neutral them park? Or neutral, park, ease of foot brake then hand brake?

Cheers,

Ian

[Mr E]

I have an occasional shunt/thud when engaging gear. It's rather incongruous but I've decided not to worry about it.

[jumpinjohnson]

Probably the best policy! :-) but my recent nightmare with gearboxes (dodgy one wrote off my 2007 A6) I'm quite paranoid, especially with what, for me, is a very nice expensive new car.

What sort of mileage/age is you car and what gearbox?

[Mr E]

2010. 35k. 7 speed.

It's seamless almost all the time.

[gizlaroc]

I wouldn't use the parking brake at all.

I have had Mercs for the last 15 years or so and never used it unless on a steep slope.

Just put it in park.

[jumpinjohnson]

I'd not thought of that, would it not risk putting excess stress on the transmission if you were on even a slight slope? The car's weight pushing either up or downhill depending on the way the car is facing? M

[Mr E]

I have used the parking brake exactly once.

[Sheepshanks]

Use it now and again otherwise they can seize up. I forgot how mine worked after being in the US for a few weeks - it's common on cars there to push the foot-pedal to release the brake and I was stumped for a few mins when that wouldn't work on my Merc.

I guess the OPs car might have the electronic selector and I'm not sure how that operates the parking pawl. On older cars, you're not supposed to let the car rest hard against the parking pawl as it can be difficult to get the car out of Park and when it comes out it'll do it with jolt.

So you should apply the parking brake and then shift out of gear. And the opposite on re-starting - engage drive and then release the parking brake.

[02joe]

I drive an SL600 which does the exact same thing. It is rather annoying. The only way round it is to use tiptronic or go slightly below/above 30MPH.