pcbchow

have anyone of you experienced understeer with your w203, in particular sedan???

2 weeks ago, after I pull my car out of the garage down the hill (did not slow down a lot to catch the green light) when I turned my car left, it goes straight ahead, and ran onto the kerb, the next thing I know is my front right wheel is smashed, and my car being towed to the dealer for repair...

One of the reasons I guess the tires were still cold, but they are only one month old s03

Dont understand why ESP did not kick in??? or not suppose to work in thouse situations

anyway my car is under repair and I wont get it until some time next week

Rowdy Audi

I personally think the w203 is the worst handleing of all the new Mercedes. Plus the stock tires Mercedes puts on them are just crap. As far as the ESP, their is only so much it can do.

KWiK

Yes, the W203 has a fair amount of understeer, but it sounds to me like you took the corner much too fast.

pcbchow

I guess if you can over the problem of understeer its not that bad

However, I certainly believe that SLK handles much better or much earier to handle than w203

FrankW

rowdy audi, you have no idea wat u r talking about.

i agree wit kwik, i think you just took the turn too fast. Yes, 203 still has understeer going into the corner even for the C32, but it's not enough a reason for you to blame on running into the curb. ESP is not gonna save you when you already lost it to the law of physics. It's meant to keep you save when you are still on in the line.

the slk is based on the shortened 202 chassi which the overall length is shorter & lower than the c-coupe and the track is wider, of course it'll handle better. heck, a new Mini CooperS with it's 4 wheels sit at each corner is a better handling car then even most of the sports car on the road.

pcbchow

I used to have a SLK but I sold it for 203, and I reckon SLK is much more fun to drive, at least less understeer

Since I had the 203 I immeditately notice the understeer, I have already changed to 17" wheels, and Eibach suspension set, but the understeer continues....

Frankly I wasnt driving "too" fast, it is the only way out from my home, so I know the road pretty well, I also have faith in my 203 especially I just put a new sets of s03...
but I let me down this time....

any comments as to how to deal with this understeer, except to drive slowly

eason

Just put the AMG/Eibach sway bar to the rear... it can help to reduce understeer, but your tail will tent to slide out if you corner too fast.

jpb5151

pcbchow, that's a 320? i've ground our 230 around some pretty fast turns and it's just led to tire squeal (hey, gotta have fun _somehow_) -- fortunately, because yesterday there was a pickup truck in the other lane next to us .

I can feel the car wanting to understeer if I take a sharp turn without hitting the accelerator. If I'm in a low gear and really punch it, the only thing is the tire squeal.

Good luck with the repairs, hope it doesn't cost too much.

pcbchow

I was thinking to install the Eiback sway bar (both front and rear), but the friend told me that it will be to stiff, ie. too bumpy, so I drop this idea, I guess I should reconsider it again....

actually mine is c200K sedan, if I had the couple instead, I think I will experience less understeer

When I go about telling my friends about this understeer, lots of them saying that I was driving too fast, but when I had my SLK it wasnt a problem at all???

Unfortunately it costs me a fair amount to fix it

Matt230K

Check your tire pressures on the new tires. I have made no wheel or suspension changes on my car and it doesn't understeer too bad. It doesn't even squeal the tires that much. It's been handling really good lately as the tires start to really wear down.

pcbchow

Matt I can see that you've Kleemann alloy pulley installed, how long have you got it? any problems go far?? Most important question, did you change your fuel stage setting??

Since I've got 17" wheels what pressures do you recommend?
215/45/17 front
235/40/17 rear

Matt230K

I've had the Kleemann pulley for almost a year now with zero problems. I changed the fuel setting to stage 2 when I put it in. But I have since set it back to base setting. It seems like changing it is not necessary unless you floor the car all the time.

I usually keep my tire pressures at 34F 36R or higher.

jpb5151

Hey, thanks for the reminder. I just checked, wound up adding a couple pounds to each tire.

alevy

Lower your tire pressure... I would say run between 31-34 all around.. that should Help a great deal with understeer.. and someone suggested sways.. i agree with that as well.. front and rear are a good idea.. get the AMG sways

-Alex

Matt230K

It's really just personal preference and how you want the car to ride and handle. But if you have 17" tires or larger, I don't think I would run anything less than 32 psi.

RD Sport

pcbchow,

I think your tire pressure is wrong. I would recommand 32psi at front and 36psi in the back and this is reduce understeer dramatically. Also, if the Eibach swaybars are stiff, don't take it because we are in Hong Kong and the roads are bad and bumpy and if the sways are too stiff, it will be worst.

pcbchow

Thanks Matt, I will get mine install this weekend.

I am just a little bit concern about reliability and fuel stage setting.....

I guess the stock setting is good enough??

JustinTRW

Frank knows what he's talking about from experience. He crashed his BMW. My advice to everyone, including myself: learn how to drive.

FrankW

...lol I've learned from my mistake, that's all i can say...

pcbchow

Speaking of BMW, I've got a E46 325i as well, only mods are 17" wheel, white indicators and sport front spoiler....

Although lots and lots body roll in cornering, there is less understeer compare to 203

KOMPRESSORnSC

Last week, after I picked up my car from 8 days in the shop, I was driving home. Took an exit ramp at a less than agressive speed. The thing pushed (or for Nascar fans-it poooshed) like crazy! I was on the shoulder before I knew it, and trying to reel it back in slowly so I didn't slide on the marbles. I thought "what the crap did they do to my suspension? There wasn't any problem with it when I took it in." So I get home, and I'm reading through my invoice (all 6 pages), and one of the sections says "Incorrect tire pressures-reset to 28/32-do not over inflate tires." Ah-ha! I've always run them at 34/34 (17" & AMG sways), and it's very balanced. Pumped them back up and ran the ramps again and the f & r gave up at the same time. These cars seem to be very sensitive to tire pressure-especailly with the 17's and a lower profile tire.

jpb5151

Wonder if it's like that for better ride comfort, optimal tire wear, ?? Maybe a Bridgestone employee's working at MB now?

I like our tires on the higher side too, just feels a bit more solid all around.

KOMPRESSORnSC

My Service Manager at an Open House even said "You didn't hear this from me, but run your tires higher than what it says to. You'll get better gas mileage and better handling." I think they just have to stick with the 'party line' of 28/32 for liability reasons.

I told them, "Well, it says to go +4psi if you're running over 100mph, so that's where I need to be."

jpb5151

LMAO. Hope they don't chat with too many traffic cops.

That's reassuring, so I'll continue to run them a bit higher too.

pcbchow

wow dont know the pressure of the tires can make hell lots of different

since I've got wider tires at the rear (235), whats the optimal pressure??