steering vibration when turning
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,121
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Wow this is a great reply, thank you so much! Question though - when you say "You would not have center differential locking", what exactly would that result in? A broken transmission? Loss of 4Matic? Is this the worst that could happen?
The car is a 2014 C300, but with 195,000km. It's my understanding that in the W204 model the transfer case is attached to the transmission (and uses the same fuel) so it's harder to service.
I bought it used, it passed an inspection at MB but this was the only thing they found. I don't put in more than 5000km a year - should I pay the 1600$ + tax to fix this in your opinion?
The car is a 2014 C300, but with 195,000km. It's my understanding that in the W204 model the transfer case is attached to the transmission (and uses the same fuel) so it's harder to service.
I bought it used, it passed an inspection at MB but this was the only thing they found. I don't put in more than 5000km a year - should I pay the 1600$ + tax to fix this in your opinion?
But, as I said in my post the construction of the locking system could be such that when the disks wear the gear wheels could be allowed to move and if they move too much they could hit parts that they should never hit and this could cause more serious damage.
Yes, you should have this fixed but I don't think it is as bad as the dealer tells you at the moment, at least. And if/when you have this done make sure they use the updated part as from the document konigstiger posted I understand the original part has an updated.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1
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2013 Mercedes Benz GLK350
Same problem just started for me.
Hey did you ever find out what the problem was or how to fix it? Have exact same car 2013 GLK 350 4Matic, noticed about two days ago the vibration when making low speed turns more so when it’s a sharp turn in drive or reverse. Have been up all night researching for answers with no luck. No warranty anymore and would hate to throw down thousands of dollars for a simple fix.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 31
Likes: 2
2017 GLS 450
Rear Planetary Gear Set in Trqnsfer case
It’s the rear planetary gear set in the transfer case, mine went away it hasn’t happened in a year.
Hey did you ever find out what the problem was or how to fix it? Have exact same car 2013 GLK 350 4Matic, noticed about two days ago the vibration when making low speed turns more so when it’s a sharp turn in drive or reverse. Have been up all night researching for answers with no luck. No warranty anymore and would hate to throw down thousands of dollars for a simple fix.
Member
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 108
Likes: 7
From: Canada
2017 C300 Coupe
Hey did you ever find out what the problem was or how to fix it? Have exact same car 2013 GLK 350 4Matic, noticed about two days ago the vibration when making low speed turns more so when it’s a sharp turn in drive or reverse. Have been up all night researching for answers with no luck. No warranty anymore and would hate to throw down thousands of dollars for a simple fix.
Hasn't happened since.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 35
Likes: 16
2016 E400
a new transfer case will not fix the problem. I have replaced one on a 212 and it came back doing the same thing. I know how to fix this problem now, you would have to be able top lift the vehicle. With all the wheels off the ground you put the vehicle in dyno mode. apply the parking brake hard so the rear wheels don't spin. Put the vehicle in reverse and raise the rpm to about 800 for one minute, then in drive for one minute. DO NOT GO OVER THIS RPM, as it was explained to me anything over 1000 RPM will cause problems with the transfer case. After doing this drive like normal i have fixed quite a few this way and it has never come back.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 35
Likes: 16
2016 E400
Newbie
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
2012 E350
Solution to vibration while turning.
Very recently when making low speed turns at a sharp angle (like navigating a parking lot) I get a low sounding vibration.
Happens while the wheel is being turned.
Obviously I'll check with the dealer but wonder if anybody had anything similar? I probably knocked something out of allignment with the absurd number of potholes we have here in the NY area.
Happens while the wheel is being turned.
Obviously I'll check with the dealer but wonder if anybody had anything similar? I probably knocked something out of allignment with the absurd number of potholes we have here in the NY area.
I hope it helps.
Shiloh
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Glk350
Same here
Very recently when making low speed turns at a sharp angle (like navigating a parking lot) I get a low sounding vibration.
Happens while the wheel is being turned.
Obviously I'll check with the dealer but wonder if anybody had anything similar? I probably knocked something out of allignment with the absurd number of potholes we have here in the NY area.
Happens while the wheel is being turned.
Obviously I'll check with the dealer but wonder if anybody had anything similar? I probably knocked something out of allignment with the absurd number of potholes we have here in the NY area.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
2013 E350
This method works. My mechanic knew about it in 2017
a new transfer case will not fix the problem. I have replaced one on a 212 and it came back doing the same thing. I know how to fix this problem now, you would have to be able top lift the vehicle. With all the wheels off the ground you put the vehicle in dyno mode. apply the parking brake hard so the rear wheels don't spin. Put the vehicle in reverse and raise the rpm to about 800 for one minute, then in drive for one minute. DO NOT GO OVER THIS RPM, as it was explained to me anything over 1000 RPM will cause problems with the transfer case. After doing this drive like normal i have fixed quite a few this way and it has never come back.
This 100% works. After I read this post and contacted my mechanic, he knew about this process.
5 minutes and no charge was a nice fix.
however I have had a theory that the tires were so bad they could have possibly caused the issue.
90k miles later, just had a broken spring replaced, have rear tire cupping and 4 bent wheels. And just recently the “chatter” as my mechanic described it, I called it a “droning”, has somewhat returned.
I’m going to address the wheels and tires first, if that doesn’t fix it, hopefully the above process can be done more than once.
No offense but you guys need to find a good independent mechanic and stop going to the dealership.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 66
Likes: 3
2016 E350 AMG Sport Sedan
Does anyone here have a current part # for the planetary carrier? I am having this issue (my thread is here: https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post9170158) and cannot for the life of me find a part # for it anywhere, when I plug my VIN into various official MB parts catalogs it gives me an error saying it can't even look up the car. Tearing my hair out. 2016 E350 4matic.
