Issue with electric steering? Or is this how it is supposed to be?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
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Porsche GT3
Issue with electric steering? Or is this how it is supposed to be?
Hi Guys,
I have about 1,000 miles on my S so far, and I really like it. My only issue is the electric steering, and I wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing this. On the freeway, at 60-75MPH, I find the steering feel/resistance to vary considerably when changing lanes or taking a turn. It is kind of hard to explain, but it doesn't feel natural. I have lane keeping assist and the steering assist off, so I don't think that should be impacting things. The best way I can describe it, is that it is like the pull/tension for the wheel to return to center all of a suddenly goes away at some point during the turn, which is really disconcerting. Is anyone else experiencing this?
Sorry if that doesn't make sense. It is really hard to explain.
Let me know.
Thanks guys.
I have about 1,000 miles on my S so far, and I really like it. My only issue is the electric steering, and I wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing this. On the freeway, at 60-75MPH, I find the steering feel/resistance to vary considerably when changing lanes or taking a turn. It is kind of hard to explain, but it doesn't feel natural. I have lane keeping assist and the steering assist off, so I don't think that should be impacting things. The best way I can describe it, is that it is like the pull/tension for the wheel to return to center all of a suddenly goes away at some point during the turn, which is really disconcerting. Is anyone else experiencing this?
Sorry if that doesn't make sense. It is really hard to explain.
Let me know.
Thanks guys.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 68
Likes: 2
From: Sydney, Australia
W205 c63S estate, 997 GT3, 981S
yes, this is what I have felt with the steering as well. My feeling is that it happens in C(omfort) mode and it's especially vague and light when the steering wheel is dead centre.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
From: Midlands, UK
C63 AMG W205
My C63 does exactly the same - I was going to ask the dealership to check the wheel alignment when it goes in for it's 1500 mile diff oil change.
it is hard to describe as you say, I notice it most on the motorway when trying to negotiate long gentle curves. It is like it loads up and provides resistance, but then when you turn that few mm more, it seems to almost 'lock' on the turn and doesn't want to self centre easily. I then find that I move the steering wheel back and over compensate, if that makes any sense at all!!
It will prob be easily adjusted by altering the toe in on the front wheels, but if other owners feel the same, then it prob isn't down to poor setup but more of a design 'feature'
it is hard to describe as you say, I notice it most on the motorway when trying to negotiate long gentle curves. It is like it loads up and provides resistance, but then when you turn that few mm more, it seems to almost 'lock' on the turn and doesn't want to self centre easily. I then find that I move the steering wheel back and over compensate, if that makes any sense at all!!
It will prob be easily adjusted by altering the toe in on the front wheels, but if other owners feel the same, then it prob isn't down to poor setup but more of a design 'feature'
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 232
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a UFO
do you guys have the distronics option? I think i know what you are talking about, but i think it is a feature. there's a lot of features in this car that I haven't gone through yet, but you can try disable distronics and the steering assist? (button on the left behind the steering)
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Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
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Porsche GT3
PA11LDH - This is exactly what I'm talking about. Not sure if it does it in S or S+ mode.
I have Distronic, but have all the systems off and still experience this. Just a guess, but I would say that the electric steering needs some additional tuning to eliminate this issue. Maybe they will come out with a software update at some point?
I have Distronic, but have all the systems off and still experience this. Just a guess, but I would say that the electric steering needs some additional tuning to eliminate this issue. Maybe they will come out with a software update at some point?
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
From: Midlands, UK
C63 AMG W205
I don't have the distronic or lane assist feature fitted to my car so you can eliminate that. It's a strange feeling, almost like over and then under assisted steering - my car is due in for the diff service soon so will mention it then, there might be an update available like you say?
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C8, FF, C63S, 911 C4S, GTI, E350, Boxster S, 355, Esprit S4, Vantage, S5, Z4, M3, Miata, A4, 325is
Funny this is exactly the issue in the Audi s5 which also has electric steering. And the solution was a software update that practically made the comfort setting the same as the dynamic (sport or sport+ to Mercedes) mode. 
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
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Porsche GT3
Bump for an update. I took my car in to the dealer to see if they can figure out what is wrong, and they said they couldn't replicate the issue I was experiencing. I wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing the above issue, and if anyone has had any luck getting Mercedes to address it. Sometimes the steering is fine on the freeway, other times it is very sluggish and doesn't feel natural at all. It will almost lock on a certain direction, and if I let the wheel go, it will keep turning for a second or two before finally returning to center. This is with all the driver aids off.
Is anyone else experiencing this, or is this an isolated issue on just a handful of cars? Your help would be appreciated.
Is anyone else experiencing this, or is this an isolated issue on just a handful of cars? Your help would be appreciated.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
From: Midlands, UK
C63 AMG W205
Mine does the same and drives me nuts, I havent took it to the dealer as if everyones cars are doing it, it must be an inherent designed in feature of the electric steering?
I am doing a C63 driver training day next week at mercedes world so hopefully I will see if their cars are doing the same and get their opinion on it also?
I am doing a C63 driver training day next week at mercedes world so hopefully I will see if their cars are doing the same and get their opinion on it also?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 3
Porsche GT3
I share your frustration. I would be very interested in hearing from you after your course next week. I think that if enough of us complain, they will be forced to do a software update to address this.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 32
Likes: 1
From: Surrey, UK
C63 AMG Coupe
Mine is like this but when in Sport or sport plus it is better - So I dont like it but I think it is part of the C setting.
It feels like the wheel gets to a abt 1/8 of a turn maybe on a gentle curve and if it steepens just a touch more it starts to sort of 'over steer'. Feels weird.
It feels like the wheel gets to a abt 1/8 of a turn maybe on a gentle curve and if it steepens just a touch more it starts to sort of 'over steer'. Feels weird.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
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Porsche GT3
I haven't heard anything about a fix, and have asked at my dealer several times. I have just learned to accept this glaring flaw in their design, and will never buy a Merc without test driving it again. I'm very annoyed that the numerous reviews that I read about the car didn't mention the problem (some of the more recent reviews have mentioned it now, but I already purchased).
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3
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w205 c63
Same issue here, on a long slow left bend it tends to have a sticking point and feels very strange. Ive taken the car to the dealer 3 times and they can't replicate the feeling. Also the steering feedback seems to vary on the motorway, sometimes the car feels fine and other times very unstable...very frustrating.
Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 243
Likes: 27
W205 C63 AMG
Same issue here, on a long slow left bend it tends to have a sticking point and feels very strange. Ive taken the car to the dealer 3 times and they can't replicate the feeling. Also the steering feedback seems to vary on the motorway, sometimes the car feels fine and other times very unstable...very frustrating.
Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 140
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C63s AMG W205
turn off the ESP or at least to sport ESP mode. I think its the stability control that adjust the rear brakes when the car detects some loss of grip when doing a long bend at speed especially if the accelerator is still pressed in.
I drive mostly in sport or off mode even on highways so never noticed any difference.
Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 243
Likes: 27
W205 C63 AMG
turn off the ESP or at least to sport ESP mode. I think its the stability control that adjust the rear brakes when the car detects some loss of grip when doing a long bend at speed especially if the accelerator is still pressed in.
I drive mostly in sport or off mode even on highways so never noticed any difference.
I drive mostly in sport or off mode even on highways so never noticed any difference.
