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2003 CL 55 vibration after 80 MPH

Old 08-31-2007, 09:31 AM
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Question 2003 CL 55 vibration after 80 MPH

Hello MB fans. I just bought a 2003 CL 55 from the original owner with 5400 miles. Thats right, 5400 miles and I was just as shocked. This car has been sitting in his garage along side other high end beauties for almost 4 yrs. It is absolutely in mint condition in/out. I took the car to the local mb dealer for its prepaid service B and pre-warranty inspection. Everything checked out okay. As a very excited New AMG owner, I left the dealer straight for the highway. I accelarated up to about 78 mph when it started. A very noticable vibration coming from the whole vehicle. Even the passanger seat was rocking.


Has anyone experienced this? Please help.

The tires were just balanced and the car aligned at the dealer with the service b so I'm guessing this is not the cause. Thanks
Old 08-31-2007, 01:50 PM
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If the car has been sitting for nearly 4 years, your tires probably have flat spots. If it does have flat spots, you will need a new set of tires.
Old 09-01-2007, 09:27 PM
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Thanks for the info. I' ll get back to the dealer after Labor day.
Old 09-05-2007, 06:24 PM
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Ferrrari 458 Lamborghini SL 570-4 Mercedes CLS63
Same EXACT problem here...Had my wheels straightned..still there....had wheels balanced...still there..bought new tires...still there...bought new wheels...still there..new wheels balanced again.... still there....I am about to throw this car off a cliff.....for real.

Dead give away when you siad the passenger seat was vibrating..exactly what mine does..whole car vibrates at 75mph...
Old 09-05-2007, 07:21 PM
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new balance
Originally Posted by proform

Dead give away when you siad the passenger seat was vibrating..exactly what mine does.. vibrates at 75mph...
+1
Old 09-05-2007, 11:07 PM
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Ferrrari 458 Lamborghini SL 570-4 Mercedes CLS63
I find myself driving 100 mph cause it goes away....

really really frustrating.
Old 09-06-2007, 10:11 AM
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E63, SL 550 Sport,C63 Coupe On the Way!!
I am glad to see this surfaced again I have a 2007 E63 same deal since the day of delivery it was towed back to the dealer entire car vibrated like i never felt in my life of owning 30+cars. Tires and wheels all checked out etc.All wheels were checked, tires roadforced on the Hunter GSP9700 and my last visit they found a front tire with excessive roadforce and replaced but that didnt solve a thing.

The adjusted the exhaust mounts, software and everything in between ZERO improvment they now installed an E500 mount for the gearbox but it must be deteriorating with the power the E63 generates, such a bad band aid soluton


This is what i heard from the factory field engineer. There are problems with the gearbox mounts and possibly drivehsaft balancing. They even had a few worse case scenarios that the vibration is in the engine assembly. My car at idle in park will vibrate at 1000RPM to 3000 badly. I am almost thinking mine is in the engine.

My car hits 70 and my drivers seat shakes i am going insane with this problem since July 2nd. 2 dealers attempted fixes but there are no solid solutions.

Some cars have this problem and others dont it ruins ownership experience because we didnt buy these cars to vibrate at high speeds it kills everything.

I have no had it and am going to pursue a buyback unless they can fix this problem its just not fair. I like the car so much i rather have "Check Engine lights which i can easily ignore versus this crap.
Old 09-06-2007, 03:10 PM
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Originally Posted by BenzoManNY
... There are problems with the gearbox mounts and possibly drivehsaft balancing. They even had a few worse case scenarios that the vibration is in the engine assembly. My car at idle in park will vibrate at 1000RPM to 3000 badly. I am almost thinking mine is in the engine.
...
I was convinced from post 1 that this was a driveshaft issue however, if it vibrates in park, it's prolly not the driveshaft.
Old 09-06-2007, 03:24 PM
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Ferrrari 458 Lamborghini SL 570-4 Mercedes CLS63
I throw mine in N when it is occuring it does not go away..so you would think 100% wheel issue.....not true...I am parking it again and driving the C4S..screw this thing
Old 09-06-2007, 03:34 PM
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Have you guys really checked to make sure you do not have a bubble in any tire? I have had tires raodforced and they never saw a buble on the tire. Pull them and check them inside and out. I bubble will give you a wobble at 70+...clearly this is not the issue with a vibration at no speed.
Old 09-06-2007, 03:46 PM
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E63, SL 550 Sport,C63 Coupe On the Way!!
100% my car its not a tire and wheel issue i almost wish it was then it would be fixed by now.


I have been driving my C4s Cab daily as well this E63 is just frustrating me too much.
Old 09-07-2007, 09:54 AM
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Thanks guys for the feedback. Unfortunetly, I have not resolved the issue. I bought a new set of bridgestone potenza's and still have the problem. The weirdest thing is that it only happens after 75mph. Anything below that she runs very smooth. Still very confused. Oh, it does not vibrate in park or neutral. Only after 75 mph.
Old 09-07-2007, 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by jcern
Thanks guys for the feedback. Unfortunetly, I have not resolved the issue. I bought a new set of bridgestone potenza's and still have the problem. The weirdest thing is that it only happens after 75mph. Anything below that she runs very smooth. Still very confused. Oh, it does not vibrate in park or neutral. Only after 75 mph.
That screams driveshaft to me.
I'm not a mechanic but it seems rather simple.
Old 09-07-2007, 12:57 PM
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2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
I vote Driveshaft too.

Do you feel the vibration in the shift handle ?
Is it more in the handle than the wheel ?

Could be as simple as a U-Joint that has lost a clip or
is damaged. Or a balance weight came off the shaft.

If its vibrating in park. Thats not the drivetrain for sure.
That is motor or tranny realted.
Old 09-07-2007, 10:38 PM
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Ferrrari 458 Lamborghini SL 570-4 Mercedes CLS63
Same here...70-75 mph it starts..I throw the car in neutral and it keeps vibrating till I coast below 70mph.....Over 90mph smoooooth as silk....I can cruise at 120mph with 0 vibration......at 75 I can scramble eggs on my dash!

Originally Posted by jcern
Thanks guys for the feedback. Unfortunetly, I have not resolved the issue. I bought a new set of bridgestone potenza's and still have the problem. The weirdest thing is that it only happens after 75mph. Anything below that she runs very smooth. Still very confused. Oh, it does not vibrate in park or neutral. Only after 75 mph.
Old 09-08-2007, 01:57 AM
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I'd say driveshaft as well.For the car that vibrates in park at certain rpms,balancer on motor coming apart,input shaft on trans,or tq convertor/flex plate is coming apart.Or as simple as it has a dead hole,but it would run poorly if thats the case.
Old 09-11-2007, 03:12 PM
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2004 CL55 AMG
I just picked up a 2004 CL55 with 20k miles and I get vibration starting at 78 mph and it does not go away until 95 to 100 mph.

I'm going to take it to the dealer and see what they say.
Old 09-14-2007, 03:04 PM
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Mine does the same thing...vibrated at around 70. I tried everything alignment, balance etc. finally I decided to change out all four tires. Now it runs smooth. Good Luck.
Old 09-14-2007, 03:54 PM
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Just a guess on m part...but I agree with the driveshaft posts above...
When driveshafts are manufactured they weld weights on them to balance them. Maybe the balance machine was off for a batch and needed calibrated?

I hope they are able to fix this issue for all that have it!
It is such a pain to have a fine car with stupid defects like this...
Old 09-14-2007, 03:55 PM
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2004 CL55 AMG
My 04 CL55 AMG is at the dealer today and I'll be picking it up shortly. They told me they're "force" balancing the tires and that should take care of the vibration out of the front end. We shall see - I hope the Police are not our on Route 1 today as I drive home.... I'll need to test it out...

Old 09-17-2007, 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by jeffj
My 04 CL55 AMG is at the dealer today and I'll be picking it up shortly. They told me they're "force" balancing the tires and that should take care of the vibration out of the front end. We shall see - I hope the Police are not our on Route 1 today as I drive home.... I'll need to test it out...

I'm sorry to report that force balancing the front two tires by my local MB dealership did not fix the problem. My wife (who is much more "sensitive" than I am) is convinced the vibration is coming from the back end - so - back the car will go tomorrow so that dealership can force balance the rear tires.

Jeff
Old 09-17-2007, 05:49 PM
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I m back guys and still no idea whats going on. I was also told that the new tires needed to be forced balance so i did. $100.00 later still have the problem. I'm going back to the dealer next week. First available appt....
Old 09-18-2007, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by jcern
I m back guys and still no idea whats going on. I was also told that the new tires needed to be forced balance so i did. $100.00 later still have the problem. I'm going back to the dealer next week. First available appt....

dealer around here must be slow - I can drive in anytime and they'll take me.

Old 09-27-2007, 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by jcern
I m back guys and still no idea whats going on. I was also told that the new tires needed to be forced balance so i did. $100.00 later still have the problem. I'm going back to the dealer next week. First available appt....
After multiple tries and guess by the dealer, theyhave finally resolved my vibration issue. The cause for all of my headaches was a bad tranny mount and low tranny fluid due to a bad gasket. I just drove it home and it feels like a different car. Very pleased at last. no more vibration and smooth shifts.
Thanks to all that replied to my initial question..
Old 09-27-2007, 07:15 PM
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That's good to hear jcern. Nobody likes a malfunctioning luxury car.

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