Does anyone else get the feeling that the steering in the current E-class is heavyat times and requires manual setback to center (like after corners or at slow speeds.) I had a leak in the steering and it was difficult to turn at slow speeds, in addition to a noisy pump. This has been fixed, however, at times the steering still feels heavy at times, especially considering the fact that it has that special parameter power assist. What do others think?

 

I have just had my 05 W211 a month. I do not feel there is any difference between it and the steering on the 01 W210 I traded. Seems to be just right, at least for me.

 

Yeah, heavy is a good word. I have also used "thick" as if I were trying to mix a barrel of honey with a paddle. Its not that the car doesn't respond to ther input, it just feels 'thick".

As for the wheel not returning to center by itself, (spinning through your relaxed fingers) when coming out of a turn around the corner, that's just plain weird. I remember my School Bus drivers having to "unturn" after rounding the corner. I'm used to it now and just attribute it to what the engineers wanted you to have to do in order to "drive" your car, and not just be a passenger in it.

 

I didn't mind the "thick" feel you described since our last bimmer feels "thicker". But I do feel the steering wheel is a touch too sensitive at higher speeds. Sometimes it feels like the car is about to wonder off on the freeway.

 

Are you fighting to keep it straight.. It seems on mine I am always pushing down to the left to account for the drift to the right.

 

No it stays straight. But little corrections to steering wheel would result in the car moving more than I wanted.

 

I find a miniscule amount of left turn input is needed by me to track straight. I dont know if it is a "drift" or the fact that in final assembly, the alignment & wheel centering are set a minute or two after 12, rather than on 12 exactly, if you understand my clock analogy. If they re aligned & tried to recenter the wheel to exactly 12 noon, I don't know if they would be any luckier in getting it all set EXACTLY on 12, so I ignore it since its so slight.

You could probably overinflate 1 of the front tires by a pound to compensate... but no two tire guages are really that accurate to the 1/2 lb level either.

 

Great advice, do you know which tire I would do?

 

Off hand, I would think the car would want to turn towards the side with the underinflated tire, & away from the overinflated tire, so if your wheel naturally indicates an "after 12" position, underinflate the Left front & overinflate the Right front.

 

My 3/04 build E320 is just about perfect on the highway. I took it on a 4,800 mile trip and traveled all kinds of roads. I'd say that on the highway that it's as good as my last BMW and better than my 300E. Steering is very precise.

It's much lighter and quicker at slower speeds by design.

I experience no pull left or right. On the highway, I use maximum recommended tire pressures.

Sounds like you have a problem. Have you had the wheels aligned? You have a year to get it done.

 

my car always seems to require a correction late in a maneuver, distinctly unlike my former w210 , and certainly unlike the other hi end german cars i have in the house.
this and a few other ride and handling annoyances are leading me to check around and try to drive some w210s again or maybe s class to see if this is all my imagination. i may just give the car to the wife, she cant tell the difference.

 

I would DEFINITELY NOT over or under inflate the tires to correct a steering problem especially related to tracking.Premature tire wear WILL occur.A proper alignment if necessary,will usually correct the problem not to mention a tire balance or tire rotation. may help befor getting an alignment.

 

1psi is not going to make much of a difference in anything.

 

I'm so happy the E steers the right way.. no more overboosted BMW! That was rediculous.