The complaints are about the new 3-pole motors introduced since 2011. Cheap can motors, maintenance-free. Well, some are cheap, some are not - but the product description calls 'em all "controlled high-efficiency propulsion" and even the 5* symbol is used for locos with three-pole motors.

It seems production quality varies a lot (no surprise with cheap mass-produced penny articles) and the load regulation of the new mfx decoders fails remarkably with those new motors. The firmware of the decoders also varies a lot - and the firmware is locked against upgrades from a CS2.

That's what the complaints are about: lack of motor quality, lack of decoder load regulation, lack of transparency with product descriptions.
Not all locos have bad motors, but some premium models do have bad motors.

I'd sign it.

I think they should've pulled the plug in digital technology, and invested in Sinus successor instead.

Enough said.

...(...).... The firmware of the decoders also varies a lot - and the firmware is locked against upgrades from a CS2. ...(...)...

.

[....-.....(...)... but the product description calls 'em all "controlled high-efficiency propulsion" and even the 5* symbol is used for locos with three-pole motors.

.....(.....)..., lack of transparency with product descriptions.
.

Already I see distracting posts introducing mFX as a co-conspirator, which is a front end protocol, and has nothing to do with the motor propulsion.
Or are you complaining about everything?

Tom, I like your idea of having several items in the letter and voting for them.

Janne

Preamble
This letter was compiled by members of the Internet forum m-users.net and contains wishes and suggestions made by members of this forum. All members were invited to vote for the items in the list. Only few members contributed suggestions, only a handful of members voted (vote results are given for each item).
This letter is feedback from Märklin customers who are not fully satisfied with everything coming from Märklin.

A. Wish: No more yellow LEDs for models of prototype locomotives that have white lights.
Reasoning: The price difference between yellow and warm white LEDs is very small and even entry level locomotives (e.g. TRAXX line, RRP € 129.29) should have warm white LEDs.

B. Wish: Models of older prototype locomotives with rather dim light bulbs should use more appropriate LEDs (e.g. golden sunset, not warm white).
Reasoning: Old prototype locos use light bulbs with low wattage and thus the light gets a yellowish or orange hue. Warm white LEDs have a rather neutral white light that looks odd for steamers and old electrics (Swiss crocodiles, E 93, E 10, E 40, E 41 and many others).

C. Suggestion: Premium models shall have motors with bell-shaped armatures or five-pole motors with skewed armatures.
Reasoning: It’s a pity that new models like the Big Boys (#37994, #37995) or BR 45 (#37455) are just almost as good as the older models (#37993, #37452) because of new motors. The new motors are good, but the old motors were definitely better.

D. Demand: All Märklin 37xxx and 39xxx models should have running behaviour that does honour to the brand Märklin.
Reasoning: There are several complaints about the running behaviour of new models BR 94.5 (#37160, #37165), BR 216 Lollo (#37740, #37741), and BR 218 (#37745). It seems the decoder is not capable of controlling the motor properly. In-house quality tests must ensure that never again will such badly running locomotives be shipped to customers.

E. Wish: Märklin shall reconsider their decoder policy and include DCC also in Märklin H0 models.
Reasoning: DCC is included for Trix H0 locomotives, Märklin I locomotives and upgrade decoders (mLD, mSD). Some three-rail users prefer to disable mfx in the decoder and use DCC instead.

F. Wish: Märklin should explain their plans for long DB coaches in the foreseeable future.
Reasoning: Märklin introduced “new longer length” coaches (282 mm) a few years ago, but made trains for eras III and IV only. Coaches for eras V and VI are long overdue. Märklin introduced a set of full length double-stock coaches (303 mm) for era III. And they also make tin-plate coaches (240 mm) and my world coaches (264 or 270 mm). Märklin should explain, which length scales will be supported in the future (e.g. with new moulds).

Item J (new item):
Recomendation: Improve C track plastics.
Reasoning: C track still breaks after several couple/decouple of track sections. We know that if both track sections being decoupled are slightly raised they break less or almost don't break. For C track to be really resistant and suitable for kids, the plastic shouldn't break so easily.

Preamble
This letter was compiled by members of the Internet forum m-users.net and contains wishes and suggestions made by members of this forum. All members were invited to vote for the items in the list. Only few members contributed suggestions, only a handful of members voted (vote results are given for each item).
This letter is feedback from Märklin customers who are not fully satisfied with everything coming from Märklin. We send this letter with the aim to help Märklin improve their products and continue to grow.

A. Wish: No more yellow LEDs for models of prototype locomotives that have white lights.
Reasoning: The price difference between yellow and warm white LEDs is very small and even entry level locomotives (e.g. TRAXX line, RRP € 129.29) should have warm white LEDs.

B. Wish: Models of older prototype locomotives with rather dim light bulbs should use more appropriate LEDs (e.g. golden sunset, not warm white).
Reasoning: Old prototype locos use light bulbs with low wattage and thus the light gets a yellowish or orange hue. Warm white LEDs have a rather neutral white light that looks odd for steamers and old electrics (Swiss crocodiles, E 93, E 10, E 40, E 41 and many others).

C. Recommendation: Premium models shall have motors with bell-shaped armatures or five-pole motors with skewed armatures.
Reasoning: It’s a pity that new models like the Big Boys (#37994, #37995) or BR 45 (#37455) are just almost as good as the older models (#37993, #37452) because of new motors. The new motors are good, but the old motors were definitely better.

D. Recommendation: All Märklin 37xxx and 39xxx models should have running behaviour that does honour to the brand Märklin.
Reasoning: There are several complaints about the running behaviour of new models BR 94.5 (#37160, #37165), BR 216 Lollo (#37740, #37741), and BR 218 (#37745). It seems the decoder is not capable of controlling the motor properly. In house quality test should ensure such products are not being shipped to customers.

E. Wish: Märklin shall reconsider their decoder policy and include DCC also in Märklin H0 models.
Reasoning: DCC is included for Trix H0 locomotives, Märklin I locomotives and upgrade decoders (mLD, mSD). Some three-rail users prefer to disable mfx in the decoder and use DCC instead.

F. Wish: Märklin should explain their plans for long DB coaches in the foreseeable future.
Reasoning: Märklin introduced “new longer length” coaches (282 mm) a few years ago, but made trains for eras III and IV only. Coaches for eras V and VI are long overdue. Märklin introduced a set of full length double-stock coaches (303 mm) for era III. And they also make tin-plate coaches (240 mm) and my world coaches (264 or 270 mm). Märklin should explain, which length scales will be supported in the future (e.g. with new moulds).

G. Recommendation: Märklin to review product descriptions in new items brochures, catalogues, and product database
Reasoning: It has been observed that several locomotives (#37160, #37740 &c.) are showing the 5* symbol (which makes customers expect a five-pole motor), while in reality they are fitted with a three-pole can motor.

H. Recommendation: Märklin should try and improve the turnout mechanism 74491.
Reasoning: Since the introduction of the improved version 74491 users have also reported problem with these switch mechanism being unstable after a certain period. It’s acknowledged that it may be complicated to develop a switch that can work reliable with both analogue and digital current, but it’s our hope that Märklin will be able to find a solution in the near future?

I. Recommendation: Light functions should use decoder outputs (if available) instead of SUSI boards
Reasoning: Some recent models (e.g. #37577, #22770 (Trix)) used a SUSI board to control advanced light functions (for interior lights and cab lights) while AUX1 through AUX4 were not used. Disadvantage of using SUSI boards: the lights cannot be dimmed (and cab lights are very bright with these models).

J. Recommendation: Instruction manuals should explain use of decoder function outputs and SUSI functions (at least for analogue models).
Reasoning: The manuals for several models (including #22631ff and #22779 (Trix)) do not explain which light functions are available and how they are activated. With the former model, AUX3 and AUX4 are used to control lights while AUX1 and AUX2 are unused. With the latter model, AUX1 through AUX4 are unused and light functions are activated through SUSI using sound slots 12 through 16.

K. Recommendation: Märklin should try to develop an improved close coupler that, if possible, is still compatible with the current ones.
Reasoning: Sometimes the coupling is difficult and this happens when both couplers are exactly at the same height.

L. Recommendation: Improve C track plastics. [On hold, waiting for confirmation that current track with “>ASA<” mark still breaks easily when treated properly]
Reasoning: C track still breaks after several couple/decouple of track sections. We know that if both track sections being decoupled are slightly raised they break less or almost don’t break. For C track to be really resistant and suitable for kids, the plastic shouldn’t break so easily.

Brushless motor equals Sinus motor in Marklin's term...

I don't think we can kindly ask Marklin to re-introduce them in the letter...