EMFAudio

I'm 33 days into owning my E55 and in the last week I've noticed something odd that has gradually been getting worse.

Every time without fail, I have a vibration in the rear end for the first few thousand feet of driving. It does it forward or reverse, and it only does it when I start driving. If I stop at a traffic light or stop sign the issue does not continue. It will only replicate itself when I shut the car off, come back, and start driving again. The car can sit for 3 minutes or overnight, it always does it. The vibration doesn't gradually go away, it's like a switch, vibration or no vibration.

I've seen in several threads having some vibration from the brakes but I question it being the same or not based on I can replicate it and it's not happening past the first few thousand feet of driving.

rapidoxidation

How do your CV axles feel when you move 'em with your hand? (Jack up the car, put it on jackstands, and go get dirty)

EMFAudio

My free time between now and 10 days is pretty much nonexistent so I'm gathering a list of things to check when I can get under it and see. What are you suggesting I should be looking for with the CV axles? Wobbling? Play in any direction? I forgot to mention it happens regardless of what speed I'm going.

rapidoxidation

Look for torn boots (grease is gone and the CV joint is not far behind), play that allows runout in the shaft, anything that doesn't look right. Some motion along the axis of the shaft is fine, but if it wobbles away from the shaft centerline that's not fine.

Might also check the differential fluid, both for level and for sparkly bits. If there's a bearing that drains after a few minutes of no rotation (no circulating fluid) that would be bad.

Have you posted the question in the W211 AMG forum on this site?

EMFAudio

I miiiiiight get a chance to get under it tomorrow for a few minutes so I will check those things. Is the only way to check the diff fluid level taking a plug out and tipping the car to one side or is there a better way? I've only ever had to do that on a 79 Suburban and a 99 Sierra.

I haven't posted it on the AMG forum, I kind of assumed it was a general W211 thing and not really a specific AMG thing. Though, I don't know exactly where the regular E class starts and the AMG starts with the whole car beyond the engine and transmission and cosmetics.

cmriv

You aren't mistaking that awful sbc unit vibrating through the cabin/foot pedals are you?

EMFAudio

I don't feel it in the pedal, it clearly feels like the rear of the car, and maybe I'm mistaken but it kind of feels like maybe only the drivers side. I don't wanna commit to that, but definitely rear.

62bassman

I had what sounds like you've described. My problem was rear wheel alignment. Watch for uneven tire wear.

EMFAudio

Maybe I'm mistaken but it seems like since it got cold again, it's not as apparent. I think I'm still going to get an alignment anyway just because of a small shake at 80 MPH and see if that clears it up and take it from there. I still haven't had time to get under it yet, got back from FL today and everything hit the fan.

EMFAudio

So, interesting find today. I went to lunch and didn't seem to notice the vibration, however, when I came to a stop in the parking lot when returning, I DID notice a vibration and sound from what appeared to be the driver rear. Is it possible all of this is caused by a brake pad or caliper issue?

cmriv

Possibly. What are the condition of your tires? Are they chopping when you turn? What speed are you moving at when you notice this? What suspension setting are you in when it occurs? Maybe an alignment may be a good option at this point. Just to rule out anything being bent or faulty.... Just my two cents.

homeofstone

In my E500 it was the center carrier bearing and mount on the drive shaft. I put new bearing in and mount and while the shaft was out. I also put new flex joints in front and rear. Old Center bearing causing a vibration is common in cars with fairly high HP V8 engines.

EMFAudio

I haven't looked hard for irregular wear, but the tires have plenty of tread. I have noticed chopping when I turn in reverse only, however it seems to be inconsistent. What I have put together on that I believe to be cold pavement slippage vs warm pavement doesn't do it. I currently have it on Sport 1 and pretty much stays there, but I will try others to see if anything changes.

EMFAudio

It did it only when you started to drive, not all the time?

homeofstone

My e500 only had vibration when accelerating from a dead stop. Usually happened between 10 and 20 mph. But after reading the OP again and noticing you stated it does it only when engine is shut off and started again. Given this I think it is not drive train or tire related.

EMFAudio

Interestingly enough, I will definitely be getting an alignment anyway, I noticed my passenger front tire is several degrees negative camber. I don't know that it will fix anything, but does need fixing.

djdirty76

Hi. Im experiancing the same exact symptoms as you.. When I start the car in the morning, or later it has the vibration, that goes avay within few minutes.. but for me it doesn't go avay completely. It ussually goes avay after the first set of lights that's about a 3/4 minute drive from my house.. After that i still feel it but a lot less.. When i hit 60 km/h it's the worst, and 120km/h as well.. leads me to belive it was tire related at first.. had tires rebalanced, same thing.. its not bent rims, since it happens on my winter and summer set, plus i had that checked. I recently (1 week ago) replaced the rotors and pads, and switched to my summer tires, and it's still going on.. I noticed unregular tire wear on my summers before the winter. An interesting thing was that the vibration is less pronaunced on high thread winter tires.. it has to be because they have more cushion than the harder compound summer tires.. I will be taking the car to get a proper mercedes alignment on their machine.. hope it helps.. and want to add i just did rear diff oil change last week, it all looked good.. gonna do the front within next few weeks.. I have a e350 4 matic with sport package.. hope you can get this sorted.. i will let you know if i have any luck with the alignment..

EMFAudio

Some added info to my symptoms, the speed at which the vibration happens does seem to change depending on the suspension mode. In Comfort mode it seems to be a higher speed when it happens. I'm going to get an alignment maybe this week, time permitting, I'm a busy guy.

cmriv

Do you all have directional tires? Are they going in the right direction? Maybe some of the belts in your tires are coming apart.... Pretty common thing with belted tires.

EMFAudio

I setup an appointment for an alignment on Wednesday so we'll see what happens there, but I do have directional tires and they are correct. Others have mentioned the same issue on wheel and tire swaps also, eliminating that possibility.

EMFAudio

Finally getting some time to follow up here. I did the alignment, no change. The more I observe it seems like it does it more and worse the hotter it gets outside. It also seems to be coming front the driver rear. Is it possible I have a caliper going bad?

cmriv

Possiblly. Not sure if that would cause vibration though. What does your flex disc look like? Are you shocks worn? What speeds do you notice this out...

EMFAudio

I don't know what a flex disc is to say what it looks like. I don't have shocks as I have an E55, it's air ride. It generally starts around 15-20 MPH and will do it at every speed for the distance I mentioned before.

cmriv

Okay, your flex disc is at both ends of your driveshaft. Its a rubber disc about 1.5 inches thick, has bolts going through it. You do have rear shocks, even though you have a 55 there are still some shocks back there! How about your rear subframe bushings? Do you hear any noises when this occurs?

EMFAudio

I will have to get under it and check all of those things out. I do not hear any knocking, squeaking, or any other noises at any time. What's odd about this, if you haven't read all the posts, it only right when I start driving after being in park. I can drive 4 miles or 400 miles and it will only do it when I put it in gear and start driving for the first quarter to half mile.