palisades

Hi Guys,

I have about 1,000 miles on my S so far, and I really like it. My only issue is the electric steering, and I wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing this. On the freeway, at 60-75MPH, I find the steering feel/resistance to vary considerably when changing lanes or taking a turn. It is kind of hard to explain, but it doesn't feel natural. I have lane keeping assist and the steering assist off, so I don't think that should be impacting things. The best way I can describe it, is that it is like the pull/tension for the wheel to return to center all of a suddenly goes away at some point during the turn, which is really disconcerting. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Sorry if that doesn't make sense. It is really hard to explain.

Let me know.

Thanks guys.

PorGT3

yes, this is what I have felt with the steering as well. My feeling is that it happens in C(omfort) mode and it's especially vague and light when the steering wheel is dead centre.

PA11LDH

My C63 does exactly the same - I was going to ask the dealership to check the wheel alignment when it goes in for it's 1500 mile diff oil change.


it is hard to describe as you say, I notice it most on the motorway when trying to negotiate long gentle curves. It is like it loads up and provides resistance, but then when you turn that few mm more, it seems to almost 'lock' on the turn and doesn't want to self centre easily. I then find that I move the steering wheel back and over compensate, if that makes any sense at all!!


It will prob be easily adjusted by altering the toe in on the front wheels, but if other owners feel the same, then it prob isn't down to poor setup but more of a design 'feature'

TLDream

do you guys have the distronics option? I think i know what you are talking about, but i think it is a feature. there's a lot of features in this car that I haven't gone through yet, but you can try disable distronics and the steering assist? (button on the left behind the steering)

palisades

PA11LDH - This is exactly what I'm talking about. Not sure if it does it in S or S+ mode.

I have Distronic, but have all the systems off and still experience this. Just a guess, but I would say that the electric steering needs some additional tuning to eliminate this issue. Maybe they will come out with a software update at some point?

PA11LDH

I don't have the distronic or lane assist feature fitted to my car so you can eliminate that. It's a strange feeling, almost like over and then under assisted steering - my car is due in for the diff service soon so will mention it then, there might be an update available like you say?

JPMBenz

Would you saw the wheel almost is locking itself up? Does that make sense?

PA11LDH

yes, that does make sense!


Have you experienced the same?

theclutch

Funny this is exactly the issue in the Audi s5 which also has electric steering. And the solution was a software update that practically made the comfort setting the same as the dynamic (sport or sport+ to Mercedes) mode.

c63Dal

Do you have DTR Steering assist turned on?

PA11LDH

mine doesn't have Distronic if that is what you are referring to, so just the plain old steering!

palisades

Bump for an update. I took my car in to the dealer to see if they can figure out what is wrong, and they said they couldn't replicate the issue I was experiencing. I wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing the above issue, and if anyone has had any luck getting Mercedes to address it. Sometimes the steering is fine on the freeway, other times it is very sluggish and doesn't feel natural at all. It will almost lock on a certain direction, and if I let the wheel go, it will keep turning for a second or two before finally returning to center. This is with all the driver aids off.

Is anyone else experiencing this, or is this an isolated issue on just a handful of cars? Your help would be appreciated.

PA11LDH

Mine does the same and drives me nuts, I havent took it to the dealer as if everyones cars are doing it, it must be an inherent designed in feature of the electric steering?


I am doing a C63 driver training day next week at mercedes world so hopefully I will see if their cars are doing the same and get their opinion on it also?

palisades

I share your frustration. I would be very interested in hearing from you after your course next week. I think that if enough of us complain, they will be forced to do a software update to address this.

Thanks!

palisades

Bump. Anyone else experiencing this? Still trying to figure out if it is an isolated issue with a handful of cars, or widespread. Thx.

Zand3rs

Try put the car in sport+ I have a feeling it is the programming of the Comfort mode.

c63Dal

If you have lane assist on it will almost steer itself. Last button near the light switch.

dtriggs

Mine is like this but when in Sport or sport plus it is better - So I dont like it but I think it is part of the C setting.

It feels like the wheel gets to a abt 1/8 of a turn maybe on a gentle curve and if it steepens just a touch more it starts to sort of 'over steer'. Feels weird.

Chopinmagic

Hi Guys
Has anyone heard any updates about a potential software update for the steering feel problem on the C63 W205?

palisades

I haven't heard anything about a fix, and have asked at my dealer several times. I have just learned to accept this glaring flaw in their design, and will never buy a Merc without test driving it again. I'm very annoyed that the numerous reviews that I read about the car didn't mention the problem (some of the more recent reviews have mentioned it now, but I already purchased).

24sdel

Same issue here, on a long slow left bend it tends to have a sticking point and feels very strange. Ive taken the car to the dealer 3 times and they can't replicate the feeling. Also the steering feedback seems to vary on the motorway, sometimes the car feels fine and other times very unstable...very frustrating.

Andyroo

I have exactly the same. Feels like it sticks theough a slight bend at high speed, then frees up again. Reducing the tyre pressures to the minimums on the fuel filler door helped a bit.

YICS NZ

turn off the ESP or at least to sport ESP mode. I think its the stability control that adjust the rear brakes when the car detects some loss of grip when doing a long bend at speed especially if the accelerator is still pressed in.
I drive mostly in sport or off mode even on highways so never noticed any difference.

Andyroo

It's supposed to be snowing here today so I'm not sure I want to turn off the safety features

Fordgt40

Mine had a similar 'sticky' feeling on the steering until it went in for a software update for an unassociated problem and it's been fine since, so it can be sorted.