Steering Vibration
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 38
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2008 CL600
Steering Vibration
Hello all of you lucky CL owners. I have a constant vibration through the steering wheel of my new CL500. Dealer has balanced the tires, match balanced the tires, checked for out of round, acknowledged the vibration, but not fixed a thing. I know that M-B has gone to great lengths to state the harshness and wear of performance tires, but I have never felt this in any of my previous Mercedes. Does anyone else have this problem?
Thanks Sam
Thanks Sam
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,121
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From: West Plam Beach, FL
'16 S550 Coupe, '11 Lexus LS460, '02 CL500 (SOLD)
At what speed range is the vibration. Usually, 55+ mph is a tire or tire balancing. You say it is constant. Are you saying it is there at idle? If they can't find the problem, try another dealer. The car should have no vibration through the steering wheel. For that matter, no car should. One other thing, did they check the motor mounts?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 38
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2008 CL600
thanks for the response, the vibration is there at all speeds. At the slower speeds it feels like a lope and then smooths out some with speed. Originally it reminded me of a steering coupling that was bad or loose. Dealer has checked all that was easy to check. Mine has the Bridgestones on it and I drove another new one with the Michelins that had the same vibration.????
Getting to the point that M-B needs to do something. I cant imagine that this is common to this car.
Getting to the point that M-B needs to do something. I cant imagine that this is common to this car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 86
From: West Plam Beach, FL
'16 S550 Coupe, '11 Lexus LS460, '02 CL500 (SOLD)
thanks for the response, the vibration is there at all speeds. At the slower speeds it feels like a lope and then smooths out some with speed. Originally it reminded me of a steering coupling that was bad or loose. Dealer has checked all that was easy to check. Mine has the Bridgestones on it and I drove another new one with the Michelins that had the same vibration.????
Getting to the point that M-B needs to do something. I cant imagine that this is common to this car.
Getting to the point that M-B needs to do something. I cant imagine that this is common to this car.
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Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 110
Likes: 1
From: So Cal
ex 03 W215 now 08 e92 M3
sernst:
I have lowered my '03 and put 20's on it and I don't experience the symptoms you are describing. I have heard a wive's tale about the cars having a natural right pull to them but NOT the vibration thing. Jud's right; it's not supposed to be doing that. It seems odd to me that the other one on the lot was doing it too. Did the dealer acknowledge that as well?
Try driving it on the newest, smoothest, CONCRETE roadway near you and check to see if the road surface effects the amount of vibration to the steering wheel in addition to the speed variable.
I'd continue to bring it in under the same symptom to the dealer and if it is to no avail; lemon-law that biatch.
Let us know what happens and Good Luck to you.
OC kid
I have lowered my '03 and put 20's on it and I don't experience the symptoms you are describing. I have heard a wive's tale about the cars having a natural right pull to them but NOT the vibration thing. Jud's right; it's not supposed to be doing that. It seems odd to me that the other one on the lot was doing it too. Did the dealer acknowledge that as well?
Try driving it on the newest, smoothest, CONCRETE roadway near you and check to see if the road surface effects the amount of vibration to the steering wheel in addition to the speed variable.
I'd continue to bring it in under the same symptom to the dealer and if it is to no avail; lemon-law that biatch.
Let us know what happens and Good Luck to you.
OC kid
Banned
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 725
Likes: 1
From: Irvine, CA.
2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Vibration in CL500
Mine did it too. When that pump starts going you can feel it in the steering wheel. The vibration is in line with RPM. Put it in neutral. Rev it up.
See if you feel it in the wheel. If you do. Its the ABC pump.
And its going to get worse. Fix it before the pump fails. That failure is
really ugly to have happen while driving.
Only other thing is tires. Or it got curbed hard.
Go to another dealer. This is NOT normal for a CL500.
Should be as smooth as silk at all speeds with tires at 50% or better.
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 185
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From: hotlanta, ga
2003 CL500
sernst, if it is not the ABC, balance and rotate etc. (or other symptoms mentioned in this post), it is serious and you should NOT listen to the dealer. my boss bought a brand new 2005 E500 and it did the same thing (based on what you are describing). she too took it back several times but eventually they had to change it out for a whole new vehicle altogether at no cost. i am not sure if your dealer would be happy at this jucture, but know that you are obligated since this problem occured right out of the box. some of the reasons they gave her was: when cars sit in the lot for a while the rubber 'settles-in' more towards the ground, causing an imbalance; the tires are defective so we're going to replace them; we had to adjust the suspension, it just needs to be 'broked-in' properly. ALL these reasons were BS and eventually they had to eat the cost of getting her into a new car. and another thing, a NEW car should have NO problems when it's rolling off the lot, NONE, NO EXCUSES!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
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2008 CL600
Well, I got the car back with new motor mounts, tried a different set of wheels and tires, but no change. Vibration is still there. Dealer says they are contacting the big cheese rep to come up with a solution. Sure love the CL, but dont know if I can stand to feel the vibration the rest of my life. 
Banned
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 725
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From: Irvine, CA.
2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Vibration
Here in California it would be cause to "Lemon" it.
No way a new CL500 should generate any noticable
vibration thru the steering wheel. Mine is 7 years old
and very smooth at all speeds. Even better at high speeds.
Only time I feel something in the wheel is when the tires are
almost at the end of life. Like cupped and then some wheel hop at 70MPH.
Only other thing I can think of is driveshaft out of align or
damaged U-joint.
But you usually feel that thru the shifter before the wheel.
Something in that front end is not right or true/straight.
No matter what you do. DO NOT "Roll Over" for them.
Be civil. But DO NOT take "Cant Help you its normal"
for an answer and accept an obvious problem with this car.
Good luck. Keep us advised on you progress.
Where are you located ? What state ?
No way a new CL500 should generate any noticable
vibration thru the steering wheel. Mine is 7 years old
and very smooth at all speeds. Even better at high speeds.
Only time I feel something in the wheel is when the tires are
almost at the end of life. Like cupped and then some wheel hop at 70MPH.
Only other thing I can think of is driveshaft out of align or
damaged U-joint.
But you usually feel that thru the shifter before the wheel.
Something in that front end is not right or true/straight.
No matter what you do. DO NOT "Roll Over" for them.
Be civil. But DO NOT take "Cant Help you its normal"
for an answer and accept an obvious problem with this car.
Good luck. Keep us advised on you progress.
Where are you located ? What state ?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 38
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2008 CL600
Update to my steering vibration problem. Service managers report stated that the steering vibration was normal for my car and they cant do anything about it What a load of crap from this guy. Still trying to get with the big cheese area rep, but this is not going to be pretty. Can you imagine the salesman telling you that you get to pay 100k for a CL and that "by the way, that steering vibration is normal". 
Lokey Mercedes in Clearwater Fl.
What a load of crap from this guy. Still trying to get with the big cheese area rep, but this is not going to be pretty. Can you imagine the salesman telling you that you get to pay 100k for a CL and that "by the way, that steering vibration is normal". Lokey Mercedes in Clearwater Fl.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 86
From: West Plam Beach, FL
'16 S550 Coupe, '11 Lexus LS460, '02 CL500 (SOLD)
Update to my steering vibration problem. Service managers report stated that the steering vibration was normal for my car and they cant do anything about it What a load of crap from this guy. Still trying to get with the big cheese area rep, but this is not going to be pretty. Can you imagine the salesman telling you that you get to pay 100k for a CL and that "by the way, that steering vibration is normal". Lokey Mercedes in Clearwater Fl.
What a load of crap from this guy. Still trying to get with the big cheese area rep, but this is not going to be pretty. Can you imagine the salesman telling you that you get to pay 100k for a CL and that "by the way, that steering vibration is normal". Lokey Mercedes in Clearwater Fl.
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: hotlanta, ga
2003 CL500
Update to my steering vibration problem. Service managers report stated that the steering vibration was normal for my car and they cant do anything about it What a load of crap from this guy. Still trying to get with the big cheese area rep, but this is not going to be pretty. Can you imagine the salesman telling you that you get to pay 100k for a CL and that "by the way, that steering vibration is normal". Lokey Mercedes in Clearwater Fl.
What a load of crap from this guy. Still trying to get with the big cheese area rep, but this is not going to be pretty. Can you imagine the salesman telling you that you get to pay 100k for a CL and that "by the way, that steering vibration is normal". Lokey Mercedes in Clearwater Fl.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 17
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From: Carlsbad, CA
2001 CL600, Alabaster White, 19" Symbolic SL-1 Chrome Wheels, Eisenamnn Race Exhaust, K&N Airbox Fli
Steering Vibration is NOT Normal
There is no way this is normal. It is absurd to even suggest this. My car is a CL600 and it is so smooth you would believe it is on rails all the way up to 140.
Good luck with this.
Good luck with this.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 725
Likes: 1
From: Irvine, CA.
2005 SL55, 2000 CL500
Florida Lemon Law applies here.
Looks like Florida has a similar law as here in Cali.
for just this sort of issue.
1. That Vibration is not normal and effects the value of the vehicle.
2. You have taken it in 3 times or more and they cannot resolve it.
Looks like you can file a MVDN on that dealer !
Motor Vehicle Defect Notification.
I think you can get somewhere with this.
http://www.800helpfla.com/lemonlaw.html
Its sad you have to go this far. But sounds to me like that
Dealer is a real turd anyway for even trying to blow you off
like this.
for just this sort of issue.
1. That Vibration is not normal and effects the value of the vehicle.
2. You have taken it in 3 times or more and they cannot resolve it.
Looks like you can file a MVDN on that dealer !
Motor Vehicle Defect Notification.
I think you can get somewhere with this.
http://www.800helpfla.com/lemonlaw.html
Its sad you have to go this far. But sounds to me like that
Dealer is a real turd anyway for even trying to blow you off
like this.
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: hotlanta, ga
2003 CL500
i just cannot comprehend how they can keep glazing over the problem..they know damn well it is not going to go away. i mean, how many times did they plan on brushing you off? 5 times? 10 times? i mean obviously there is a problem. the *******s.
Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 110
Likes: 1
From: So Cal
ex 03 W215 now 08 e92 M3
No waaay!!!
sernst:
bltserv could'nt be more right on the money.
Re-read his post and maybe call one of those shows like "fight back with David Horwitz" or whatever to get the t.v. cameras rolling over there on this one.
This is just a bunch of garbage the way they're blowing you off...I'm starting to get pissed. How much is a plane ticket to Florida these days? My steel toes are ready and due for some kickin'.
Keep us posted.
OC kid
bltserv could'nt be more right on the money.
Re-read his post and maybe call one of those shows like "fight back with David Horwitz" or whatever to get the t.v. cameras rolling over there on this one.
This is just a bunch of garbage the way they're blowing you off...I'm starting to get pissed. How much is a plane ticket to Florida these days? My steel toes are ready and due for some kickin'.
Keep us posted.
OC kid
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
From: SoCal - SaMo & West SFV
2011 C63, 2004 S500, 2013 E350, 2013 Ody Elite
My C32 AMG has exactly the same problem. It all start around 20k miles and the i can feel the heavy vibration between 40-50mph. At first I thought is my tire's flat spot. After I replace with tire, the vibration still exactly the same. Took to dealer and they starting to replace engine mount, drive shaft, tq converter and transmission. After these replacements, the car still vibrate as usual. And during the vibration fix, my car also starting to go weird and dealer had also replaced radiator and flash twice, new battery, new air condition and new step motor(blower adjuster inside the dash) with just 3 months period. After 6 visits, the problem still not fix and now they are telling me this is normal. If is normal, why replace so many stuffs in the first place? I contact a Lemon Law lawyer and they told me I have a great case since MB did replace a lot of major parts which mean they know car has problem. If they didn't fix the car from start, it might be hard for them to sue MB. Anyway, I'm in the process for MB to buy back my car. My car is already out of warranty but the issue was bring up within the warranty period. MB is going down hill quick...
Last edited by DL_AMG; Oct 21, 2006 at 09:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 38
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2008 CL600
thanks everyone, as I said, I will meet with the big MB cheese on monday. I will post the results
BTW, has anyone ever had steering rack issues? loose or too much backlash
or control arm bushings that had to be replaced or changed to a harder compuond
these were suggested by another MB service manager that certainly seems to be more knowledgable and willing to look at something besides tires
BTW, has anyone ever had steering rack issues? loose or too much backlash
or control arm bushings that had to be replaced or changed to a harder compuond
these were suggested by another MB service manager that certainly seems to be more knowledgable and willing to look at something besides tires
