Cabriolet Owners - Myth or Fact: All Cabriolets eventually develop a shimmy at 60MPH?

Pancho · 04-26-2012, 02:03 AM

Cabriolet Owners - Myth or Fact: All Cabriolets eventually develop a shimmy at 60MPH ???

Looking for comments from Cabriolet owners--Cabriolet owners.

Have read/heard that this 60 MPH shimmy in steering wheel is a characteristic of the W208 Cabriolet. I have the shimmy. Replace parts, lessens, or goes away temporarily, then it's back. Seems there is a consensus that this is a characteristic inherent to the cabriolet.

Any Cabriolet owners have an opinion/Info./experience Re. this ?

Thanks.

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john.m.gemmell · 04-26-2012, 03:31 AM

Mine only does this when its due for an oil change, so I suspect engine mounts. I haven’t had a chance to investigate further as yet.

john.m.gemmell · 04-26-2012, 03:49 AM

I have also been told that sway bars at front and back would stop it. Because they will stop the twisting across the chassis.

bobbyjo9 · 04-26-2012, 11:06 AM

Without the roof, any structure will suffer some degree of weakness. An aging chassis in cabriolet form will show those weaknesses more dramatically than the coupe brother. Cowl shake is common to experience but in a straight line smooth road you should not have a shimy. Mine would knock your teeth loose when I first purchased but now is smooth as glass. LCA bushings, ball joints, and flex discs were 95% of my problem. Roof up will stiffen the car but roof down will also allow the whole chassis to absorb and disperse the movement. There is a trade off to all that sunshine!!

trudawg · 04-26-2012, 12:48 PM

mine does it. Still havent figured out if it's a myth or fact, but it really sux. I either have to speed (80mph) or drive like an old lady (55mph)

whitee · 04-28-2012, 10:45 AM

I have yet to experience this...?? I have an 03 430cab w/ low miles, but I've never had any shimmy or vibration.

bobbyjo9 · 04-28-2012, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitee

I have yet to experience this...?? I have an 03 430cab w/ low miles, but I've never had any shimmy or vibration.

Its kind of like talking about the two types of motorcycle riders... Those that have been down and those that will be going down! Rubber ages and bushings will degrade... sorry to say but you WILL be experiencing those pesky vibrations at some point.

nicgentile · 04-30-2012, 03:56 AM

105,000 miles and no noticeable shimmy that I can recall. I will take notes tomorrow.

I will say though, that at 80mph ....she glides like butter. Top up or down.

birkie · 09-19-2012, 10:12 AM

I just bought a sweet 2001 CLK430 Cabrio, 111,000 - excellent condition. They guy who had it before was maniac for service and took it to the dealer every time he heard a noise. Bought him a beer for that!

EXCEPT the shimmy @ 60 and then at 30mph.

FIX - I swear on a stack it was the tires, balance and alignment (road force / F&R) that took 95% of the shimmy off. It was so bad it'd shake your teeth like you were having hypothermia. I put on Continentals at first but had to pull them off after about 100 miles b/c they did not fix the shimmy. The tires is not a good one for this particular car. On other cars sure - but this car is really *****y about the shoes you put on it.

So i put on new Michelin Super Pilots - Butter. Super smooth. I SWORE UP AND DOWN THE BLOCK THAT TIRES COULDN'T NOT BE THE PROBLEM. NO WAY. They were the majority of the problem. Really!!! Tires. After weeks of trying to chase down the problem it turned out to be tires. I wanted to hurt myself. Went to 2 dealers and MBZ shops and I wasn't in the mood to be shaken down by either.

The last 5% is in the struts, bushings ball joints and control arms. They're almost sort-of ready to replace, and I'm just doing this early because I'm neurotic. I still need to replace the struts and the control arm bushings which I'll do all at one time for the front in a few weeks because I'm trying to put this car back into perfect condition. Mint factory.

The tires. I just did this 2 days ago and today is Wed. Sept. 19.

jserio · 09-19-2012, 03:21 PM

Mine does not seem to do it throughout the speedometer. Not that I've noticed anyway.

JayDee4711 · 09-24-2012, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birkie

They were the majority of the problem. Really!!! Tires. After weeks of trying to chase down the problem it turned out to be tires. I wanted to hurt myself. Went to 2 dealers and MBZ shops and I wasn't in the mood to be shaken down by either.
[...]

The tires. I just did this 2 days ago and today is Wed. Sept. 19.

+1 on the impact of the tires. At a mileage of 72,000, mine does not shake. Except ... if it has been sitting in the garage for a week or more, it will shimmy at 60 mph for tens of miles or until it has had a chance to sit on another spot of the tires for a few hours.

I put on a set of Eagle F1 Asymmetric XL tires about 10 kmiles ago. That may or may not have brought a little change compared to the cheapo rubber that was installed before. But it is definitely there.

OT: The Eagle F1 rocks in all other respects!

marcoalza · 09-25-2012, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john.m.gemmell

Mine only does this when its due for an oil change, so I suspect engine mounts. I haven’t had a chance to investigate further as yet.

You're joking right?

Iknow you posted this in April but 25 days late for April Fools!

04-26-2012, 03:49 AM	#3
john.m.gemmell Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 31 Drives: clk 230 w208	I have also been told that sway bars at front and back would stop it. Because they will stop the twisting across the chassis. Last edited by john.m.gemmell; 04-26-2012 at 07:13 AM.

04-26-2012, 12:48 PM	#5
trudawg Super Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 540 Drives: 01' S430, 08' C300,99 CLK 320 cab, 04' Q56	mine does it. Still havent figured out if it's a myth or fact, but it really sux. I either have to speed (80mph) or drive like an old lady (55mph) __________________ 01 S430 [sold] 99 CLK 320 Cab 05 E500 04 Q56 08 C300 [sold]

09-19-2012, 03:21 PM	#10
jserio Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2009 Location: Garden Grove, Ca. Posts: 33 Drives: 1996 SL 320	Mine does not seem to do it throughout the speedometer. Not that I've noticed anyway. __________________ Joe Serio Garden Grove, Ca. 1999 CLK320 Cab 2011 Honda Civic ( daily driver )

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04-26-2012, 03:31 AM	#2
john.m.gemmell Junior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 31 Drives: clk 230 w208	Mine only does this when its due for an oil change, so I suspect engine mounts. I haven’t had a chance to investigate further as yet.

04-26-2012, 11:06 AM	#4
bobbyjo9 Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bay Area Posts: 479 Drives: 02 clk 55	Without the roof, any structure will suffer some degree of weakness. An aging chassis in cabriolet form will show those weaknesses more dramatically than the coupe brother. Cowl shake is common to experience but in a straight line smooth road you should not have a shimy. Mine would knock your teeth loose when I first purchased but now is smooth as glass. LCA bushings, ball joints, and flex discs were 95% of my problem. Roof up will stiffen the car but roof down will also allow the whole chassis to absorb and disperse the movement. There is a trade off to all that sunshine!!

04-28-2012, 10:45 AM	#6
whitee Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 98 Drives: E55	I have yet to experience this...?? I have an 03 430cab w/ low miles, but I've never had any shimmy or vibration.

04-30-2012, 03:56 AM	#8
nicgentile Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 197 Drives: 2000 CLK 430	105,000 miles and no noticeable shimmy that I can recall. I will take notes tomorrow. I will say though, that at 80mph ....she glides like butter. Top up or down.

09-19-2012, 10:12 AM	#9
birkie Newbie Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 2 Drives: 2001 CLK 430	I just bought a sweet 2001 CLK430 Cabrio, 111,000 - excellent condition. They guy who had it before was maniac for service and took it to the dealer every time he heard a noise. Bought him a beer for that! EXCEPT the shimmy @ 60 and then at 30mph. FIX - I swear on a stack it was the tires, balance and alignment (road force / F&R) that took 95% of the shimmy off. It was so bad it'd shake your teeth like you were having hypothermia. I put on Continentals at first but had to pull them off after about 100 miles b/c they did not fix the shimmy. The tires is not a good one for this particular car. On other cars sure - but this car is really *****y about the shoes you put on it. So i put on new Michelin Super Pilots - Butter. Super smooth. I SWORE UP AND DOWN THE BLOCK THAT TIRES COULDN'T NOT BE THE PROBLEM. NO WAY. They were the majority of the problem. Really!!! Tires. After weeks of trying to chase down the problem it turned out to be tires. I wanted to hurt myself. Went to 2 dealers and MBZ shops and I wasn't in the mood to be shaken down by either. The last 5% is in the struts, bushings ball joints and control arms. They're almost sort-of ready to replace, and I'm just doing this early because I'm neurotic. I still need to replace the struts and the control arm bushings which I'll do all at one time for the front in a few weeks because I'm trying to put this car back into perfect condition. Mint factory. The tires. I just did this 2 days ago and today is Wed. Sept. 19.

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09-25-2012, 09:42 AM