cneedham810

While im driving my car at speeds 40 - 80 mph the car has a heavy vibration. I know the most common answer is wheels out of balance or out of allignment but it seems to me that its the car shaking. For example.... When im travelling at these speeds the shift knob looks like its violently shaking, as does the seats. The steering wheel only has a slight vibration. Any ideas other than another allignment and balance?

Thanks

ohlord

The tires,sounds like cupping going on,look at the front tires with the wheel turned hard right,look at the inner tire area,worn ,cupped,bald.?Get it up on a lift and check for broken suspension parts,check the motor mounts,and drive shaft.If not one of these what year is the car?and has the harmonic balancer been checked out?
ohlord

cneedham810

My car is a 2000 E320. I drove for a while with the wheel bearing needing to be replaced. I think that the inner tire is cupped like you say because of that. My car does vibrate at idle also so Im guessing my motor mounts need to be checked. The harmonic balncer is good i checked that out with MB. If i replace those 2 things shoudl the promblme most likely be solved?

ohlord

Correct? So look at the mounts if she is vibrating at idle.Tires cupping or worn out of round from a bad bearing can feel like the steering wheel is going to get pulled from your hands.
bearings fixed? Time for a trip to costco for tires.And inspect those mounts,and did they replace the harmonic balancer if it was a recall chassis number,it will show if they did the recall on their main frame mb computer,don't trust them if they said it looked okay,make sure if it was the recall it was done.I repeat myself on that issue because they have been known to tell peeps it's okay only to later have it take out a good motor.
ohlord
"GOT CODES?"

cneedham810

Correct, there are no engine codes. I called up the main number and gave them my VIN and MB told me my car was all set for the harmonic balancer. As for the other issues, the bearings are fixed but now I'm just going to get new tires. Any ideas on how much is a good price for the motor mounts to be replaced? Also, thanks for all the help!

ohlord

job if you want to tackle it.DIY article on benzworld.org w210 forum diy tips and tricks.Parts at autohausaz.com or germanstar.net,not that expensive for the mounts.Inspect them first,or have a shop look at them,leaking,worn,damaged?any of these and they need to go.
Don't know about shop charge for the r/r I don't charge myself labor
But figure at a shop indie---5 hours at 100 hr,dealer all bets are off 150 hr 5hrs plus overpriced parts.
You with a good jack , a few blocks of wood, and a tool kit from costco, a day in the drive way and a life time of knowledge gained.Priceless!!!!!!!
ohlord
But remember to inspect them first don't just leap if they are not bad!
save your diy skills for when we talk you thru a spark plug change at 100000 miles.

cneedham810

Unfortunately I am at 100,000 is this spark plug change a nightmare?

ohlord

Look up the post or two over on benzworld.org in the diy section.And search my tip on moving the coil packs.Or P.M. me.plugs 2.79, tools about ? if you have a tool kit,if not We can rec one to buy.Time about A sat morning,even if you have never done it before.
ohlord

Dema

Considering speed range it is more likely balance.

ReZzZ320

I have the same symptoms as you and like Dema my front tires are out of balance so I might have to check them

foreyes

Do not forget about worn upper and lower control arm bushings and tie rod ends, had to replace entire set on both sides on my 97 e420 at 120,000 miles, now it is tight and smooth.

rmeneses

I have a 02 E320 that vibrates, mostly while accelerating or on the freeway, kind of like an "occillating" vibration, "thrrrrum...thrrrum...thrrrrum" hard to describe but I feel it through the accelerator pedal and steering wheel the most although I can feel it with my left leg resting on the floor.

Brand new Michellins, fresh balance and two four wheel alignments, new spark plugs/wires, I'm thinking it's the motor mounts, the dealer says they're fine, actually they claim they cannot reproduce the symptom. I think they don't want to touch it because it's under warranty and they won't any money off of my warranty repairs.

This is really annoying and I am at my wits end, they dealer's mechanics say there's nothing wrong, but I KNOW something's amiss under the hood.

cneedham810

I have the exact same symptoms you are describing. I am about to do all that you have done + motor mounts within the next week. I'm hoping this cures the problem because this car does not feel like a mercedes anymore and its so aggravating!

The dealers lying. It has to be the mounts.

ohlord

the one at a speed range is another issue,easy enough to check the mounts,get a flash light and inspect them,leaking?broken?collapsed?
The guy with the warranty,get the service manager involved,nicely,go with hat in hand,as they used to say,and don't plead your case just ask him to go with you on a ride.Don't ring up what you feel,let him get his own view.No reason for them to shine you on for war work they get paid for it very nicely by papa Benz!If that fails go to the dealer manager and same process.

2002 how many miles?no way it needed new wires or if under 100k did it need new plugs.......
ohlord
"GOT CODES?"

rmeneses

My 2002 just broke 71k miles, the alignment went south and ruined the tires (my wife was driving it during this time, my fault I should have checked!) so I had to buy new tires and have it aligned.

There was a rough idle problem, the found that some of the plug wires were "jumping" the spark so it had a bit of a misfire, they replaced those under warranty, so the idle was good for a bit but man, compared to my co-workers V-6 Accord, my 3.2 Benz V-6 idles like a diesel! What's more embarassing is my wife is now wondering why her little Civic Hybrid drives smoother that a "Mercedes" (she adds sarcasm to Mercedes)

rmeneses

Do I have to crawl under the car or remove any of the plastic insulation panels to inspect the motor mounts?

ohlord

motor mounts on benzworld.com w210 diy section.02 should be similar to 98-up
Chock the wheels,use the jacking points or get it up on a lift,
work safe.remove the splash guard,easy just make sure you get all the fittings,and have a good bright flashlight to inspect them.
ohlord

rmeneses

Will give it a look.

Thank you!

Dema

71k and still under warranty? Is it extended? Than less power car has than it feels smoother for women, no surprising here. Japanese cars are very silent. You didn't own BMW, their engine sounds like a tractor.