E200CDI 5-Speed Auto - Gearchange at 30mph... is this right?
Discussion
Hi everyone, hopefully someone can tell me that this is just a foible of this car/gearbox combination but I just need to make sure.
I've recently bought a 3 year old E200CDI Bluefficiency with the 5 speed auto box. Overall I'm very happy with the car but there's one bl**dy annoying thing that is really, really irritating me. I can't imagine that any decent motor manufacturer would design a gearbox like this so thought I'd ask if anyone else has come across this problem!
There seems to be a gearchange at almost bang on 30mph. The throttle's relatively sensitive so ease it up accidentally to 31 and it can change down causing a sudden rise in revs and the accompanying light jerk that comes with a gearchange. But move your foot a micron and it changes it up again, then down, then up... it provides this annoying jerking sensation. Just travelling down a level road packed full of speed cameras can become really annoying.
I can't imagine Mercedes designed a gearbox for UK use that changes at 30mph. Surely 25mph or 35 mph would be much better. But not bang on the speed limit. It actively discourages you from driving at 30mph. The 'box changes smoothly and, whilst it's a little clunky and unintelligent compared to the more modern 7 speed autos, it seems fine in every other way.
The car's done an absolutely verifiable 17,000 miles in just three years so I can't see it can be a gearbox problem... surely?
Can anyone advise?
I've recently bought a 3 year old E200CDI Bluefficiency with the 5 speed auto box. Overall I'm very happy with the car but there's one bl**dy annoying thing that is really, really irritating me. I can't imagine that any decent motor manufacturer would design a gearbox like this so thought I'd ask if anyone else has come across this problem!
There seems to be a gearchange at almost bang on 30mph. The throttle's relatively sensitive so ease it up accidentally to 31 and it can change down causing a sudden rise in revs and the accompanying light jerk that comes with a gearchange. But move your foot a micron and it changes it up again, then down, then up... it provides this annoying jerking sensation. Just travelling down a level road packed full of speed cameras can become really annoying.
I can't imagine Mercedes designed a gearbox for UK use that changes at 30mph. Surely 25mph or 35 mph would be much better. But not bang on the speed limit. It actively discourages you from driving at 30mph. The 'box changes smoothly and, whilst it's a little clunky and unintelligent compared to the more modern 7 speed autos, it seems fine in every other way.
The car's done an absolutely verifiable 17,000 miles in just three years so I can't see it can be a gearbox problem... surely?
Can anyone advise?
Wow, what a nightmare. I'm almost regretting buying another auto after the nightmare I had with my last box (Audi 7 speed) imploding.
I'm going to take it down to my local garage, they're excellent and have all the latest kit. See if they can plug it in and reset the gearbox ECU for me.
I'm going to take it down to my local garage, they're excellent and have all the latest kit. See if they can plug it in and reset the gearbox ECU for me.
Yeah, it's an April 2011 model - I think they moved over to the 7-speed with column shifter a few months later, almost certain it was in 2011 that the change was made.
In terms of the limiter I must confess having only had the car for a week and a half now I haven't got my head around the limiter just yet. Can you advise how to use it? I know it's operated from the cruise control stalk but, other than that, I couldn't really tell you what it does/how to make best use of it.
Regarding the gearbox modes, I don't seem to have a Comfort mode. I just have M (manual), S (Sport) and E (Economy)... no C at all. I imagine that could be because the car is a Blueefficiency model rather than the conventional E200CDI? This could all be just one of those sacrifices you have to make to drive one of the economy models, such as the low rolling resistance tyres on the BMW Efficient Dynamics models that provide pretty poor grip. The car starts off in E and, in all fairness, it seems to have sufficient grunt for everyday town and motorway driving in that mode. Sport is a bit thrashy and doesn't seem to provide much improvement really.
In terms of the limiter I must confess having only had the car for a week and a half now I haven't got my head around the limiter just yet. Can you advise how to use it? I know it's operated from the cruise control stalk but, other than that, I couldn't really tell you what it does/how to make best use of it.
Regarding the gearbox modes, I don't seem to have a Comfort mode. I just have M (manual), S (Sport) and E (Economy)... no C at all. I imagine that could be because the car is a Blueefficiency model rather than the conventional E200CDI? This could all be just one of those sacrifices you have to make to drive one of the economy models, such as the low rolling resistance tyres on the BMW Efficient Dynamics models that provide pretty poor grip. The car starts off in E and, in all fairness, it seems to have sufficient grunt for everyday town and motorway driving in that mode. Sport is a bit thrashy and doesn't seem to provide much improvement really.
Brilliant, thanks for the advice on the limiter... all makes sense now. I can see how that could be a really useful system and I'll definitely make use of it.
I've just taken it into my local garage (excellent independent firm who service tonnes of Mercs, Audis etc.) They test drove it and agreed with me immediately that it's irritating but they don't think it's a problem. They just think it's an oversensitive design... I then took it around the corner to the local Merc main dealer. They refused to test drive it for me as any work has to be booked in and charged for. They also denied that there was any known faults - but then they would wouldn't they ;-)
I'm a little bit more happy with it now that my local garage (who are outstanding) have said they don't think it's a fault. They were surprised that Merc hadn't considered this before releasing the model but think it's probably a function of big heavy car + smallish engine + 5 speed box. They suggested that the C200CDI might not have the same issue because it's so much lighter. The 'box therefore doesn't need to change so quickly to keep it moving.
In terms of gearbox modes mine's just got E, S and M. E is Economy, S is Sport and M is manual which is operated either from the stick itself or from the paddles on the wheel. Sport is next to useless... it doesn't improve throttle response noticeably and it seems to just stay in gear for longer without any real benefits in performance. Being quite a noisy engine anyway it just makes it sound like I'm driving a van rather than a luxury motor... feels like it's holding onto the gear a little too long IMO. Not as good as the Audi 'box in that respect but, overall, the car is head and shoulders above the last gen A6 S-line I just got rid of. MILES better.
I've just taken it into my local garage (excellent independent firm who service tonnes of Mercs, Audis etc.) They test drove it and agreed with me immediately that it's irritating but they don't think it's a problem. They just think it's an oversensitive design... I then took it around the corner to the local Merc main dealer. They refused to test drive it for me as any work has to be booked in and charged for. They also denied that there was any known faults - but then they would wouldn't they ;-)
I'm a little bit more happy with it now that my local garage (who are outstanding) have said they don't think it's a fault. They were surprised that Merc hadn't considered this before releasing the model but think it's probably a function of big heavy car + smallish engine + 5 speed box. They suggested that the C200CDI might not have the same issue because it's so much lighter. The 'box therefore doesn't need to change so quickly to keep it moving.
In terms of gearbox modes mine's just got E, S and M. E is Economy, S is Sport and M is manual which is operated either from the stick itself or from the paddles on the wheel. Sport is next to useless... it doesn't improve throttle response noticeably and it seems to just stay in gear for longer without any real benefits in performance. Being quite a noisy engine anyway it just makes it sound like I'm driving a van rather than a luxury motor... feels like it's holding onto the gear a little too long IMO. Not as good as the Audi 'box in that respect but, overall, the car is head and shoulders above the last gen A6 S-line I just got rid of. MILES better.
Thanks for the advice Neil, really appreciate it. I've only done just over 250 miles in the car so far - picked it up on the 31st October. In total it's done about 17,500 now I think, without popping outside to check the odometer.
I'll take it for a long drive over the next few days as you've suggested and see what comes of it.
In all honestly I was after a 220 but this car was just so immaculate, low mileage and well specced that I couldn't really afford not to get it.
I'll take it for a long drive over the next few days as you've suggested and see what comes of it.
In all honestly I was after a 220 but this car was just so immaculate, low mileage and well specced that I couldn't really afford not to get it.
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.
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.
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
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
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