W203 steering off center?
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Almost a Member!
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Los Angeles
2002 C240
W203 steering off center?
Hi guys... i have a problem with my steering as it seems to off center and the car tends to tilt to the right while driving.. I went to my dealer once, they were saying that the road surface is not 100% flat from preventing the raining water staying on the road and water can drain to the side. That why my car tilt to the right while driving. But i do hear this problem from other people too.. Is it just really the road or the w203 problem? Thanks guy...
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: West Covina, CA
2004 C230k (SOLD), 2005 C230k (Lease ended), 2004 Carrera 4 Cab, 2007 530i
I had the same problem first day driving my car...yup it seems like the dealer is right somehow, I noticed (in a small stree) when I drive on the other side of the road, it will pull to the left instead. So it could be the road, plus I just had my car aligned recently..so I know it wont be off.
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Joined: May 2002
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
Yes, the "crown" in the road causes the car to go to the right if you drive on the right side of the road. If you were in a country where you drove on the left side of the road, your car would drift to the left.
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Delaware, United States. (First ~little~ state)
Mercedes-Benz
Yeah, I had this same issue on my 01 c240. On some roads, the car would go to the left and others it would go to the right. I was like, to myself, what the heck?
After the dealer telling me I needed a front head alighnment to fix what I was dealing with, I did that acouple times and spent ALOT of money for it. Since it was a benz, you can only get those done at the dealership. Why, I have no clue about. Other repair places informed me that the dealership puts sand bags in the front seats. FUN FUN FUN. AnyWAY, after that... the car was still the same. So I said, heck with it and lived.
I found, after getting tires every 10,000 miles (I only drive like grandma BTW), that the problem sometimes fixed itself. From my experience, I feel the problem was caused by the car being rear wheel drive. If it was front wheel drive like my mazda I have now, the more weight in the front seems to be a factor.
After the dealer telling me I needed a front head alighnment to fix what I was dealing with, I did that acouple times and spent ALOT of money for it. Since it was a benz, you can only get those done at the dealership. Why, I have no clue about. Other repair places informed me that the dealership puts sand bags in the front seats. FUN FUN FUN. AnyWAY, after that... the car was still the same. So I said, heck with it and lived.
I found, after getting tires every 10,000 miles (I only drive like grandma BTW), that the problem sometimes fixed itself. From my experience, I feel the problem was caused by the car being rear wheel drive. If it was front wheel drive like my mazda I have now, the more weight in the front seems to be a factor.
Last edited by rockintunes23; Feb 19, 2005 at 07:39 PM.
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
The car should go down the road straight if the pavement is reasonably level. While there may be a few high crown roads around, they are certainly in the minority. At speed on a straight interstate highway, (motorway for those in the UK), you should be able to center the wheel and almost let go for some distance.
Dealers have the proper alignment tools, and the tech's are very adept at following the instructions to check and correct the base dimensions. What most of them don't know is how to correct slight (major is usually taken care of in the first adjustment) pulling found during the test drive. All the computers and charts will tell you that the car is on spec, but it still requires you to hang onto the wheel and make corrections.
I have always had the best results by using an off-road 4 wheel drive shop to do the alignment. Those guys do so many different types of vehicles, and wild suspension mods, they can handle anything, and with a proper four wheel alignment, your car is just a dream to pilot.
Dealers have the proper alignment tools, and the tech's are very adept at following the instructions to check and correct the base dimensions. What most of them don't know is how to correct slight (major is usually taken care of in the first adjustment) pulling found during the test drive. All the computers and charts will tell you that the car is on spec, but it still requires you to hang onto the wheel and make corrections.
I have always had the best results by using an off-road 4 wheel drive shop to do the alignment. Those guys do so many different types of vehicles, and wild suspension mods, they can handle anything, and with a proper four wheel alignment, your car is just a dream to pilot.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Los Angeles
2002 C240
OH COOL... thanks guys.. at least now i can be sure that the problem happens because of the road itself. The funny thing is, i felt the steering seem go back to normal today while i was driving to lunch.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: California
C230K
Do you all notice the same feeling in the other cars you've driven?
I'm not experiencing the difference...well, maybe not yet, atleast. Something to watch out for, I suppose.
But, for those of you who are experiencing the difference...does it feel the same in your other vehicles?
Just wondering...
I'm not experiencing the difference...well, maybe not yet, atleast. Something to watch out for, I suppose.
But, for those of you who are experiencing the difference...does it feel the same in your other vehicles?
Just wondering...
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
yup. there should be a slight pull to the right at all times. Mine now drives nearly straight after two alignments but now the steering is slightly off center e.g., driving the car 100% straight means the steering wheel is a degree to the left..
