Pre facelift E63 AMG 7g+ autobox issue.

[Boristheblade]

I've only had my 2012 E63 AMG prefacelift a few months now, initially everything worked perfectly.
The car has just over 50k with full Mercedes service history.
I couldn't see anywhere that the gearbox had been serviced (oil & filter change) so I had this done at a local gearbox specialist do this.
I also had the rear diff oil changed about a week later.

Only about a week later the outside temperature dropped significantly and the car juddered to set off in 'C' 2nd gear, this was obviously due to the new 'thicker' oil that had been put in the box.
This does not do this in 'D1' or S
Apart from that, the gearbox changed fine, both up and down.
The gearbox place told me the oil had not been changed, as it still had the original Mercedes filter in, he also said the kit he supplied was an updated one, which came with a revised overflow tube that allowed a little more oil to be added to the box on refill.

Onto a few hundred miles later.
The gearxox does some very strange things, sometimes it changes very smooth, sometimes lumpy.
Occasionally when coming to a junction, if the junction is clear and you can go without fully stopping but have slowed down, its almost as if the gearbox doesn't know what to do.

Now when driving the revs are flairing about 200rpm (not all the time), this seems to happen more just before the gearbox changes down (just before a hill etc).
However I have seen it do it on the flat.
When it starts to flair/slip, if you give it more acceleration, it just carries on as normal, no slip or loss of power.

I've done the transmission adaptive shifting reset via the accelerator pedal, but I only did this yesterday, I doubt this will have any effect anyway.
From what I've read, you need to drive it in 'S' for the car to TCU to relearn?

From what I've read it could be a multitude of things:
You are being redirected...
Needs a software update and the adaptations resetting.
Possible star clutch has started to slip.
Conducterplate/ valve body.

I know ultimately I'll have to get this in somewhere and get it looked at, but any help, advice, information would be greatly appreciated.

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[whitenemesis]

this was obviously due to the new 'thicker' oil that had been put in the box.

Did they use the correct ATF, as recommended by MB?
Has the ATF level been checked, when at full operating temp?

 

[Boristheblade]

Yes the correct spec 'blue' atf was used,
Filled using the correct procedure at the correct temp, then re checked at full temp.
The car was fine when it was done, this is new within the last couple of weeks.
Erratic harsh changes and the flair (raise in revs when driving) but no loss of power or drive when you accelerate.

 

[Gbrowncls55]

I had similar issues on a BMW years ago after an ATF change. topping up the fluid (which was low after the change) cured it. Certainly worth checking the level is at max. plus all above

 

[Gbrowncls55]

crossed posts. level seems unlikely then.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

If it happened very shortly after having the transmission serviced then I would ask that the same transmission specialist double-check the level at the correct temperature, and confirm whether they used Mercedes fluid or an equivalent.

If they’re any good they’ll be keen to see the car to make sure that they haven’t made a mistake (they’re only human) and to diagnose a fault which they will be well placed to repair.

Whereabouts are you?

 

[W1ghty]

The fact that the problem occurred when the temperature dropped , may point towards an atf level problem (fluid shrinks when cold) . Maybe it was “just ok” and is now slightly low .
Does the situation improve when the gearbox is hot ?
Maybe the wrong height fill tube that sets the level was used in the sump ?

 

[Boristheblade]

I will ask them to re check the level, I've had a word with him this morning, going to get the car back to him week commencing the 4th.
It was genuine Mercedes blue atf, I made sure of this and that he knew of the correct filling procedure before I dropped it off.
This was the company Gear Box Repairs In Yorkshire : RGC Transmission Services
He did say to me this morning that the last time he tried to do a software update on a similar vehicle, his computer wouldn't do it.

I've just been out for an hours drive, vehicle upto temp, and it's the same, although it does seem to drive better in 'M' but I won't know if it's flairing still until later when I have a 50 mile motorway drive to do.
I will try it in all modes and see what it does.

I am in West Yorks, near Halifax.

Quality Used Cars in West Yorkshire | Delaceys of Huddersfield

Delaceys are local to me, I'll have a word with them and see if they can do a software update and adaptions in the new year.

 

[Boristheblade]

The gearbox is slightly smoother when upto temp, but no worse or better.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I suspect he has not recalibrated the transmission. I believe that this sometimes required during a service.

The supposed “TCU reset” which requires the ignition to be in position II (from memory) and holding your foot on the accelerator for 10 seconds does not actually reset anything, it just makes the car think you accelerated at full throttle for 10 seconds and so could have made any jerkiness more noticeable.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The gearbox is slightly smoother when upto temp, but still the same.

If that’s the case then either a low level or incorrect fluid could be an explanation. Needs an expert to take a look.

Experienced techs do make mistakes. Google “Hoovie’s Garage Mercedes SLS transmission” for an example!

 

[Boristheblade]

The fact that the problem occurred when the temperature dropped , may point towards an atf level problem (fluid shrinks when cold) . Maybe it was “just ok” and is now slightly low .
Does the situation improve when the gearbox is hot ?
Maybe the wrong height fill tube that sets the level was used in the sump ?

He said the gearbox sevice kit came with a revised tube of some sort, which allowed a little more oil to be used in the gearbox.

 

[Boristheblade]

I suspect he has not recalibrated the transmission. I believe that this sometimes required during a service.

The supposed “TCU reset” which requires the ignition to be in position II (from memory) and holding your foot on the accelerator for 10 seconds does not actually reset anything, it just makes the car think you accelerated at full throttle for 10 seconds and so could have made any jerkiness more noticeable.

I suspect this also, however it has been fine for weeks.
As far as the TC reset...oh...damn!
I'll not do this again then.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I suspect this also, however it has been fine for weeks.
As far as the TC reset...oh...damn!
I'll not do this again then.

It won’t do any harm, it will just feel a little urgent when shifting for a while.

If you drive normally for a while then the transmission will readapt to normal driving, ie realise that the car has not been stolen and is not being driven by Lewis Hamilton!

 

[Boristheblade]

It won’t do any harm, it will just feel a little urgent when shifting for a while.

If you drive normally for a while then the transmission will readapt to normal driving, ie realise that the car has not been stolen and is not being driven by Lewis Hamilton!

Would disconecting the main battery do anything, reset the TCU maybe?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Would disconecting the main battery do anything, reset the TCU maybe?

You could try it, it won’t do any harm, but I don’t think it will help. If you do try then you may need to reset your windows, sunroof, etc by cycling from fully open to fully closed to fully open to fully closed, holding it for a good 3+ seconds at each extreme.

 

[Boristheblade]

Just done an hours trip on the motorway, this gave me the chance to try a few things.
So it flairs in all modes, C, S, S+ and M.
It is however better in M than the others.
It is also slightly better when set on cruise control in any mode.

I gave the car some good acceleration and it holds fine, no flairing under load,
No loss of power or drive.
Even when it looks like its slipping, give it gas and it just takes off like normal.
I'll be surprised if it turns out to be the star clutches that are slipping.

The gearchange was however horrible after the trip, 1-2 in S and 2nd to 3rd in C is awful!
Infact all gear changes without accelerating hard are poor, everyone flairs about 200rpms as it changes.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Just done an hours trip on the motorway, this gave me the chance to try a few things.
So it flairs in all modes, C, S, S+ and M.
It is however better in M than the others.
It is also slightly better when set on cruise control in any mode.

I gave the car some good acceleration and it holds fine, no flairing under load,
No loss of power or drive.
Even when it looks like its slipping, give it gas and it just takes off like normal.
I'll be surprised if it turns out to be the star clutches that are slipping.

The gearchange was however horrible after the trip, 1-2 in S and 2nd to 3rd in C is awful!
Infact all gear changes without accelerating hard are poor, everyone flairs about 200rpms as it changes.

If you can, then I would try not to use it much - until sorted - just in case it’s doing some damage.

How many miles did you cover between the service and noticing the symptoms, and how many days/weeks?

 

[AMGeed]

It appears from reading all the posts that the problems started after the transmission service.
Without pointing a finger at the garage that carried out the work, it would appear something is not right.
If the gear shifts are as bad as you say, I'd be booking the car into either a good Mercedes indy or main dealer and having the ATF changed again.
If after having this done the problem remains, further investigation is needed.

 

[Boristheblade]

If you can, then I would try not to use it much - until sorted - just in case it’s doing some damage.

How many miles did you cover between the service and noticing the symptoms, and how many days/weeks?

I've only done about 500 miles in total from buying the car to now.
Probably 300 from gearbox service to today.