W212 E350 not changing into 7th until 74MPH...?!

[TeddyRuxpin]

Hi,

After a recent ECU/emissions update and whatever else software updates MB have done during a service, my W212 E350 CDI 7G (not plug) will now not change into 7th until exactly 74mph - way higher than it used to be. So if you're cruising at 65-70mph you're in 6th and revving higher, wasting fuel.

The car will never 'figure out' that you're cruising steadily and go up a gear - I've tried it for hours. I thought it was doing a DPF regen as it would stick in 6th then, but it isn't.

I can pop it into manual and select 7th no problem, or I can accelerate to ~74MPH and then drop back down to 60mph and it'll stay in 7th.

I've tried several gearbox/TCU resets when cold, when warm, when town driving and at a motorway service station (so that the first few changes are up to speed), to no avail. The car does not want to leave 6th gear until 73-74MPH. Cruise or my right foot holding speed - no difference.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Everything seems fine with the drivability of the car and no check engine light. I've plugged in my iCarSoft MB2 in and haven't found anything up just yet, still going through all the categories...

Ed

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

My dad has a slightly newer E350 with the 7G plus box, and it also had a service with MB (with the ECU update).

I'll take it for a spin tonight to see how that behaves, but it's a bit annoying as it's not exactly the same gearbox so I'm not sure what conclusions can be drawn from it.

 

[markjay]

My W204 has the 7G+ box but not the manual mode. It does not display what gear I am in. Presumably the cars with Manual mode show what gear you are in, even when the gear selector is on D?

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

It only shows the gears in manual mode - but it's easy to tell it's in 6th because at 70mph it's around/just over 2000rpm, instead of about 1650rpm in 7th. You can replicate the behaviour in manual mode and see where the revs usually are at x speed.

Plus when it's 'doing it' and I switch to manual, it always tells me I'm in 6th, not 7th. I upshift manually to 7th and the revs drop accordingly.

 

[skippyjasper]

”After a recent ECU/emissions update”

I recall a similar discussion on the MB UK site. Same observations.

I’m suspecting that the update was designed in response to the VW/Bosch debacle.

Did you request the update? In my experience with MB the software is not automatically updated unless it’s a safety issue.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Yes, but I'm the only person who mentioned it in the ECU software update thread! I made a new thread because it may or may not be related to the emissions update, and that thread is quite long/confusing. However, I do believe this to be a key reason for the decreased MPG after the update.

Example: the other day I manually made sure to put the car into 7th on the motorway, and got 47+MPG on a Cardiff to London trip, instead of 41-42MPG when I just let the car 'do it's thing'.

Example II: Once i let the car 'do it's thing' and did 55-65mph on the Cardiff to London Run. Another time got the same exact MPG for the trip doing 70-85+mph, because the car was changing into 7th and the revs were the same. It's either a waste of time or a waste of money.

Now I understand what's going on, I can manually switch to 7th or speed up and slow down again, but something is clearly not right, or at least not how it used to be.

The only thing I can find online is a person on another forum from 2013 about a similar scenario, but no replies.

Anyway, does anyone else have a E350 with a 7G box to compare?!

 

[markjay]

I don't know if the 'Dieselgate' software update is for the ECU only, or for both the ECU and TCU, but you seem adamant that the auto box wasn't behaving like that before the update?

What I am thinking is that perhaps the gearshift or related to DPF sooth levels? Do you have iCarsoft or similar to check the DPF status?

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

I don't know if the 'Dieselgate' software update is for the ECU only, or for both the ECU and TCU, but you seem adamant that the auto box wasn't behaving like that before the update?

What I am thinking is that perhaps the gearshift or related to DPF sooth levels? Do you have iCarsoft or similar to check the DPF status?

I do, here are my results. i don't have a reading of '% DPF full' like some people do, perhaps the software on my MB isn't completely up to date (I don't have a PC to update it). These figures are found from looking at the live data stream from the engine.

I took two screenshots to show any variation. Certainly some very weird results that I don't fully understand (negative temps and readings?). I think it did (or tried to do?) a DPF regen yesterday, for a start. Something is way off with these results. I'll double check that I selected the right E350 (I selected '212025' - there are a few to choose from).

Also the car went back to MB and they specifically checked out the DPF and said 'no errors'.

Anyone able to shed any light?

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Some perspective, here is the same results on my dad’s E350 (a few months newer but with just 38,000 miles).

His numbers make a lot more sense, no negative values.

Clearly something is wrong with my car, but I don’t know what, or why MB wouldn’t have picked this up when they specifically ‘checked the DPF’. Or why my car wouldn't be throwing errors, not a check engine light nor an ECU code when I scan it.

Bit worried that this could be a DPF disaster, does anyone have any suggestions?

Cheers,

Ed

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Guys, sorry for derailing (my own) thread, but:

I have updated the iCarSoft and it doesn't tell me % of DPF filled. The figures are similar to yesterday's, but the 'ash content' is about half yesterday's, and the 'milage since last dpf regen' is about 10,000km more than yesterday....

Also, when I go to the Service menu and go to 'DPF', my car doesn't work with any of those 3 options. My car is 212.025 and that isn't an option. I try to select 212.023 (my dad's) and it doesn't work.

Where do you go to force a regen, for example?

Anyone got any advice on where to poke around, it'd be greatly appreciated!

 

[HB]

Teddy, unless you really know what you’re doing, I wouldn’t go about forcing anything incase you start costing yourself big money with DPF issues.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Teddy, unless you really know what you’re doing, I wouldn’t go about forcing anything incase you start costing yourself big money with DPF issues.

Sure, I wouldn't actually do it - but I'm still confused as to why these functions aren't available on my iCarSoft device, and why I can't get a % ash content instead of in 'weight'.

I have to take the car on Monday morning to an indie to get brakes fitted as it's too cold to do it myself, so I'll mention it then.

I suspect that it's likely my B19/9 temp sensor is broken as it's giving a negative reading...

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Update: my dad's E350 (which also had the MB ECU update) does the same thing - holds 6th gear forever until 73-74mph, and changes to 7th around 2000rpm. If you set cruise to 70mph, it will stay in 6th gear indefinitely.

His car has no errors or strange readings.

So, while I think this is a new thing after the ECU update and is frustrating, I believe don't fixing any of the strange readings on my car will change this 6/7th gear thing.

Cheers,

Ed

 

[markjay]

So I guess it's possible that the 'Dieselgate' software update keeps the car at lower gear to get the engine running hotter (at the obvious expense of fuel consumption).

If so, then running the engine hotter might make it fall in line with emissions regulations, but possibly the overall higher fuel consumption will mean more emissions overall? Strange.

 

[esscee]

You will be using Manual and flappy paddles then?

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

Yeah, use manual or just accelerating up to 75 and then backing off. Or accelerating really really hard from 40-60 and then the gearbox will drop to 7th then (weird.

I know where my revs should be when it's 7th gear and I am usually eco-cruising on the motorway.

It's just annoying to have to think about this, not very 'Mercedes E-Class'! Perhaps it's useful information for anyone else that's had the ECU update and is experiencing lower MPG readings.

I'd love to hear from someone with another E350 to see when it changes to 7th gear under gentle acceleration, both people with the ECU update, and without.

Cheers,

Ed

 

[br1anuk]

My E350 Bluetec estate will not be going anywhere near a MB dealership again. Does this make any difference to cars that are adblue post facelift Bluetec compared to pre facelift Cdi? When I'm out in the car tomorrow I'll see what speed it drops into 7th when the engine is at temperature.

 

[Mancstar]

Yeah, use manual or just accelerating up to 75 and then backing off. Or accelerating really really hard from 40-60 and then the gearbox will drop to 7th then (weird.

I know where my revs should be when it's 7th gear and I am usually eco-cruising on the motorway.

It's just annoying to have to think about this, not very 'Mercedes E-Class'! Perhaps it's useful information for anyone else that's had the ECU update and is experiencing lower MPG readings.

I'd love to hear from someone with another E350 to see when it changes to 7th gear under gentle acceleration, both people with the ECU update, and without.

Cheers,

Ed

Mine changes upto 7th well before 70mph. Will check later for sure and report back.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

I think another person said it changes at about 60mph.... but please do check thank you

 

[MercedesDriver]

Does this ECU update applies on 212's with manual gear box or it's not related to gearbox but CDI BF engines only?