claudio

Brand new 2002 E55. Love it, blah blah, but bothered by the fact that it does not drive straight. Dealer says alignment is correct, but it definitely drifts to the right of center if you don't hold the wheel. Anybody have experience with this?
Recommendations for the best service department the Mid-Atlantic would be welcome. (I’m am in the DC area)

Thanks,
Claudio

black55

Yeah my E55 does the same thing. I took it to the dealer twice and they told me they fixed the problem yet it still drifts to the right if you dont hold the wheel. If you hold the wheel everything is fine. Still havent gotten it fixed yet because ive already gone in twice and thinking about taking it to an independant shop instead of the dealer.

mischief

Have the same problem on my 2000 E430 4matic. The dealer has been trying to fix the problem for over a year now but it always creaps back. They are replacing another part on Tues., hopes this finally solves the problem.

claudio

So far, I am not encouraged. Is this problem rare? Only a couple of posts suggests it is...

Is there anybody who had the problem and has effectively resolved it?

bcapp

I had the problem on my 2000 E 430. They fixed it once and its fine. Again, in a recent car mag (Road and Track or Car and Driver a month ago) they did a long term review on the 1996 to 2000 E Class. They 2001 and 2002 models are basically the same. One of the problems they did mention as coming up often were alignment issues. I would keep after it with your dealer until you're satisfied.

Lightman

Hey there guys. First post. Nice forum! Anyway, my 99 E300TD was doing the same thing. I almost had to pull down and left on the wheel to get the thing to go straight. The mechanics tried to align it 3 times and it still didn't work. Finally a different dealer with a new (very sophisticated) alignment rack determined there was a slight bend in my torsion arm, which was undetectable by normal racks. In any case, it was 800 bux(warranty, yeah!) and now the car is back to the one finger drive that I grew to love. Best of luck, and hope this may help.
Dave

JamE55

Claudio

Same here! I think this is a common thing(wouldn't really say this is a problem) because i know of other E-class models that are doing the same thing but when you bring it in to the dealer they'll say ok it's fixed but when you drive it still the same issue.

ryson

I heard tire pressure also plays an effect on cars "pulling" to one side. Check your tire pressures and make sure they're all correct.

claudio

Basic, but worth a double-check. I'll post my findings after resetting pressure per the suggestions in the other thread.

cb

JamE55

True that tire pressure may also play a part but i doubt that that'll fix the front from going to the right.

Kannan

I have had my 2002 SIlver E55 for eight weeks and I also have this problem. Inflating tires close to the maximum rating helps but there is something wrong in the front suspension. I have given it to the dealer several times and they come back with no diagnosis. Frustrating.

ALso an intermittent static in my radio as well as CD Player / Navigation system. It happens while starting and they have treid to fix it but no luck.

Yet I enjoy the beast as it accelerates like nothing else I have driven.

Nat Kannan

jonboy

I purchased a '97 E320 on a Thursday and three days later drove the car on an 8 hour trip. I had a strange alignment problem - when one side of the car would hit a bump it would cause the entire car to veer in that direction. Not Good!

I took my hand off the steering wheel several times - the car would track perfectly straight. I took the car to a GOOD alignment shop; they immediately diagnosed the problem and it has worked fine ever since.

I believe two issues should help:

1. Have the car looked at by someone who knows alignment.

2. The E320 is a heavy car, it is probably a good practice to have the car aligned each year.

Hope this helps!

tsmb32

I have the same problem (pull to the right) on my new 2002 C32 AMG. Dealer replaced the caster bolts and computer printout says it's perfectly aligned, but it still pulls right. Tire pressure was fine, too.

I mentioned that I had heard this was also a problem with the E55, and dealer confirmed, but stated changing out the caster bolts usually solves the problem. Didn't work for my C32, and I'm very frustrated!

sosh

Try the simple stuff first --- tire pressure. Re dealer, friend of mine was from Annapolis and swore by Benson Motorcar Co

mischief

Its amazing, my alignment is perfect now with no pulling to either side. The dealer put it on there new MKS alignement system which is approved by Mercedes-Benz. It took them all day however with the service manager and two technicans working on it.

tt 55

I recently purchased a 2000 Silver E55 with 17400 miles on it and I noticed on my test drive the steering pulled to the right. I was in sensory overload during the drive.. decided to get the car and resolve issue later.
My local MB dealer checked it out and said it did not pull (12 miles of joyriding later). Found an independent MB service garage not much help. Still a mystery could remotely be a tire problem- radial bias flaw where tire fibers are not perferctly aligned during manufacture has to be checked by Michlin warranty authorized dealer otherwise I will try higher tire pressure suggestion found here. Great site

Kannan

COngrats on your E55. Good choice.

i have done numerous experiments on the road and found out the pulling occurs in uneven pavements where the road is wavy perpendicualr to teh direction of travel. if you drive right over a ridge the tire comes in contact with just part of the road surface nad the edges of the wide 18-inch tires tend to exert a counterforce against the ridge which feeds back to the steering wheel.

By inflating you decrease the area of contact witht eh ridge and tend to ride over it.

I am doing fine now as I anticipate these lateral movements on uneven surfaces. There is not much you can do except to switch to some wimpy cars with thin tires.

Nat Kannan

SteveD

I'm surprised to find alignment issues with new Mercedes vehicles under dealer care. Mercedes has the strictest standards when it comes to wheel alignment, mandating an MKS compliant alignment rack (with no more than 1mm height variation front to back and .5mm side to side...brackets on the rack hold sensors used to check this height accuracy with every vehicle), a Romess Inclinometer measurement system tied into the aligner's software, and special zero runout wheel clamps with 5 pins (3 for Smart cars) that key the sensor brackets directly to the hubs.

Of course, not all dealerships have updated their equipment to these standards and the accuracy of any piece of equipment is only as good as the technician using it. SD

jwc

According to my Austin MB dealer, the drift is a SAFETY feature..HAHAHAHA
I guess I'm Sh**t out of luck in my BMW 645 since it actually drives straight

LukeM

If you have Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires on your car with stamped DOT # lower than 2804 (build date 28th week of 2004) then that is/could be part of the problem. MB put out a bulletin to dealers that this tire was not recommended due to tracking problems. Michelin changed/built up the shoulders of the tire to correct the problem. But only on tires with DOT # 2804 and higher. Michelin will prorate your tires under warranty on MBs so equipped. (lower than 2804)

Been there done that.

Ben'z

I think W210 has some strange aligment issue.
My right side, front and rear wear more than left.
I took her to two stealerships for aligment, they couldn't fix the problem.