Why is my Mercedes-Benz E-Class experiencing delayed gear shifting in city traffic conditions?

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Why is my Mercedes-Benz E-Class experiencing delayed gear shifting in city traffic conditions?

Many E-Class owners in Pakistan, especially in cities like Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi, notice delayed o r jerky gear shifts when driving in stop-and-go traffic. This issue is often seen in older models like the W211 o r early W212. Could this be due to transmission fluid degradation, overheating, o r faulty mechatronics? How does local weather and traffic affect the automatic gearbox performance in these models?

Talha Kyanii asked on 11 Oct 2025 12:53:48 pm

1 Answer

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Gari Master - on 11 Oct 2025 12:55:01 pm

Delayed o r jerky gear shifts in urban driving are a common issue for E-Class models, especially older ones like the W211 E200/E240 o r early W212 E250/E300. In Pakistan, the following reasons are typically responsible:

Old o r degraded transmission fluid: Many Pakistani workshops neglect ATF changes, thinking it’s lifetime. But in local conditions, it should be changed every 60,000–80,000 km.

Overheating in traffic: Long idle times and high ambient temperatures 40°C+ in cities like Karachi o r Multan can cause the transmission fluid to thin out, affecting shift quality.

Dirty o r clogged transmission filter: This restricts oil flow inside the gearbox.

Faulty valve body o r mechatronic unit: Common in 7G-Tronic gearboxes 722.9, especially if fluid changes are ignored.

Solution:

Perform a full transmission fluid flush, not just a top-up.

Replace the transmission oil filter and pan gasket.

Use Mercedes-approved ATF e.g., Shell 134 and not generic oils.

If problem persists, get a STAR Diagnostic scan to check solenoids and valve body.