chenry

Im experiencing a slight vibration between 50-60…cant go to the dealer with this in that I have aftermarket wheels/tires…and of course they will simply point at my wheels and tell me to go pound sound / Having said that I have had the wheels/tires balanced while on the car at a local high-end shop…I’m pretty well convinced I’m not going to get a better balance job…centering rings are not the problem either…so that leads me to this post…just curious if anyone else out there with stock wheels/tires is experiencing the same

kort677

check your balance and tire pressure

W211 Ryda

If you still have your stock rims, why not slap them back on then take it to the dealer?


BTW: how could a shop balance your rims while they're on the car?

chenry

balance is perfect / so is psi / but obvioulsy something isn't quite right

chenry

some high-end shops can do this...they actually spin the wheels on the car / strobe them...and balance accordingly

W211 Ryda

ic. I'm just used to that big red machine where they mount your rims/tires to.

TPAbnz

Same problem here . . . tech notes from the service order said "can't eliminate vib 50 - 60. Verified on test drive." Next line says ordered suspension updates. So, they're installed and the vibration ceased.

Press your dealer to look for whatever updates have been issued. Bushings, of some sort, were installed.

chenry

Oh that's great info...and it makes sense because at this point I know there is no way in h*ll that it's my balance...had to be something beyond my wheels/tires...well I'm due for my 3000 first visit here shortly I'll bring it up with them at that time...is there a service bulletin or any other supporting documentation for this issue?

konigstiger

P-B-33.15/16 NOV04 calls for replacing the hydro-mount or partially hollow rubber style bushings (which ever equipped) with solid rubber bushings for the 211 - ’03 through ’05. Might or might not apply depending on what was actually installed on the assembly line.

chenry

Took the car in for its initial service…and it’ll be ready for pick-up today / The dealer felt the vibration, said it was “very slight” (I agree with that assessment)…but went on to say that the steering was a bit “loose” so they tightened it up.

Tightened my steering? What the heck is that?...curious to see if it's better now

Ramphaus

I have a slight vibration at 60-65 mph also. You can only tell when you feel within "the slack" of the wheel. I told the dealer on my initial visit and they said that they couldn't tell. liars.

chenry

Well picked up the car and problem solved…I’m quite impressed…I really thought this was going to be one of those things where the dealer simply says “could not duplicate”

I will say however that the steering now is noticeably “heavier/tighter” in other words more effort is needed to move the wheel…I really like it but I’m sure others that lean more toward luxury cruiser vs. sport would find it to be a bit much / So they most certainly did tighten something in there….advisor said that they noticed a bit of slop in the steering and this should be the fix

konigstiger

Glad to hear you're satisfied. Can you post the exact wording on your invoice for the benefit of those having the same problem?

chenry

**Customer Comments**
Client states at around 50mph-60mph there is a shimmy in the steering wheel. Client had this issue with the stock wheels. And has had current aftermarket wheels balanced several times and problem persists.

**Tech Comments**

1-460000 tightened steering rack

2-2802 steering rack tightness (steering wheel play) wp152 test drove vehicle, found slight play in wheel at 60mph. tightened steering rack per shop foreman test drove play eliminated from steering wheel

steph280

Which dealer did you go? I know Fletcher Jones will tell me to screw myself even with a TSB printed in my hand.

chenry

well you should know better than to go to Fletcher ...they suck...go to Laguna Niguel...my SA is James / Fletcher would be out of business by now if it wasn't for Jim Slemmons and their location....they really dont deserve to be #1 in the country (Laguna Niguel is #2)

Steve Bland

Chenry, Konigstiger and other repliers, me too!

I too have had this vibration from 50 to 60mph, initially so bad you could see the steering wheel shake. This was with H rated Michelins, dealer blamed on pressure, when that did not solve it, then they said it was because the tires had worn bad, so lucky for me they put 4 of the Conti 2s on, rebalanced. Well it still had it after I took delivery, reblanced again and it cleared up for the last 5k or so, but now I starting to feel again, with 7k on the Conti's.

I guess I should ask my tech, who has also been a buddy for years, about the P-B-33.15/16 NOV04 that Konigstiger mentions. This is really the only problem I have had. Welcome any other input.

Wife is at U2 Concert in Atlanta, I am stuck puppy sittin', so look for some new posts from me tonight!

-Steve
2005 E500
21010 miles

HoosierDaddy

I too had the vibration. It felt like it was coming from the front, and shook the steering wheel. My front tires were worn, so went ahead and replaced with Michelin PS2s, and had front wheel alignment done (adjusted toe, but couldn't adjust caster without MB screw part). Vibration was actually worse. Took it to MB dealer, and they found all the tires (including the new ones) out of balance. Make sure you get a road/load balance which requires a special balancing machine. MB dealer also showed me where one of my rims were slightly bent. Was going to fix the rim, but the MB balancing of all 4 tires took care of the vibration. Drives perfectly smooth now.

Brav

Thank GOD chenry, I have had this probelm forever and have balanced my wheels twice. I will go to that same guy.

chenry

To address some of the comments…yes prior to going this route make sure your wheels/tires are balanced and your wheels are not bent…under any other circumstances I would have attributed my vibration to a balance issue and/or a bad wheel(s)..but after a couple high-end balance jobs on the car and the symptoms persisting I had to look elsewhere / Having said that even if I had no vibration…I like the “heaviness” of my steering the way it is now vs. before…for me I collected twice…no more vibration and the steering now is the way I like it

Love this car

Highend

Its your Thurst Arm Bushings. Similar problem with the E39 5 Series, 5 series you have to upgrade to the 7 series bushings. Go to the dealer and ask them if there is any play in the bushings.

ATS

Did you buy the replacement tires at the Merc dealer or somewhere else? I am just wondering as I just bought winter tires put them on and have had three full tire balances and can't get rid of the shake. I am now going to go to the Mercedes dealer.. Also, do all Mercedes dealers have road/load balancers?

chenry

Are you sure you dont have a problem with your steering (like I did)?

ATS

Yeah I don't believe so.. My other tires (Conti Sport Contact 2's on 18" AMG rims) are perfect..

RJC

I have a new E55 and am having the same issue with a shimmy between 55-60 mph especially if the car sits for a while. I've seen three different solutions here:

1) P-B-33.15/16 NOV04 which addresses bushings

2) Steering rack tightened

3) Road force balance

Has anyone else tries any of these since the last post on 1/16/06 or have any additional information? I hate shimmies