MBNUT1

Let me preface this with that I am a NVH fanatic. Which is one reason I am into Mercedes. I have felt that I get more road / wheel disturbance feedback through my steering than I would expect for a Mercedes. It is fairly minor and sometimes not present but its as though something isn't quite tight. It's like the rack or some other component has a little play in it. All of which I wouldn't expect at 37K miles. It may simply be that my expectations of isolation are too high. But it reminds me of how my A4 felt before the control arm bushings were replaced. The solid tight feeling I had afterward is what I am expecting from my Mercedes.

MBNUT1

Just wondering what other W211 drivers perceptions are and am particularly interested in experience of those who have had the pre and post face-lifted models to see if they experienced and noticable difference in steering isolation. Also wonder if anybody who has experienced this has identified any cures.

Roehl

I'm with you on that! You would expect a sould feeling of the road but ita not. My whole thrust arm assembly and lower ball joint has been replaced. Only have 43k miles.

MBNUT1

Thanks for the reply. Did that make it better? What year model do you have?

Barry45RPM

I found a difference (04 to 07) between my cars. The steering on the 07 doesnt have that "thick" feel to it & I find that the wheel centers better when coming out of right & left turns. On the '04, I had to "unsteer" out of turning the corner.

MBNUT1

Ok thanks, doesn't sound like the facelifted ones would provide any better isolation of wheel or road imperfection induced feedback or increased sense of front end solidity. I suspect mine is in the early stages of some type of wear. Ball joints or thrust arm bushings or something. It almost feels like an ever so slight metallic contact taking place when I hit bumps or with front wheel rotation. The front end just feels kind of springy ie I hit bumps and there is an ever so slight tremor.
It's kind of the opposite of when I test drove a C280 once and it felt so solid that I felt sorry for the potholes. That car just seemed to crush them. This car feels flimsier in response to them.
Its almost as though the car wasn't really designed for the lack of absorption provided by the lower profile 17 in wheels.