Wandering on the highway
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 4
From: Massachusetts
E350 4matic
Wandering on the highway
my 2014 E350 4matic luxury has never been a great handling car but I always blamed the “extended mobility” tires it was equipped with. I changed them out about 6 months ago for Continental extreme contact dsw tires hoping that would help. It definitely quieted the road noise and they ride smoother but they seem even worse on the highway. The car wanders within its lane at about 65 - 70 and when you go to correct it will not react and then suddenly when you tweak wheel a bit more it will over correct and you have to turn the wheel back the other way. If it’s windy out at all its way worse.
Anyone else have have this Issue? My mechanic says he doesn’t see anything wrong with the suspension but I was wondering if maybe I put in some good quality aftermarket struts it might help. I have no interest in lowering the car and I would prefer not to stiffen the ride by a lot but the car isn’t fun to drive on the highway and it seems like it’s getting worse. This should be a great highway cruising car but I don’t look forward to long trips since you have to actively steer the car all the time. It has 42k miles on it and was aligned 6 months ago with the tire installation.
any suggestions or similar experiences welcome.
Anyone else have have this Issue? My mechanic says he doesn’t see anything wrong with the suspension but I was wondering if maybe I put in some good quality aftermarket struts it might help. I have no interest in lowering the car and I would prefer not to stiffen the ride by a lot but the car isn’t fun to drive on the highway and it seems like it’s getting worse. This should be a great highway cruising car but I don’t look forward to long trips since you have to actively steer the car all the time. It has 42k miles on it and was aligned 6 months ago with the tire installation.
any suggestions or similar experiences welcome.
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From: Charlotte, NC
2014 E350 4M Diamond Silver
is this when lane assist/ adaptive cruise control is engaged? Is it keeping you in the lane (even if it is wrong side of the lane) only or you're going out of your lane? With new tires, I believe the wheels will be balanced and have less chances. Where did you buy the tires? Is there a free life time wheel balancing offer with that store? I may start with that.
BTW, how do you like the Diamond Silver Metallic
BTW, how do you like the Diamond Silver Metallic
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 4
From: Massachusetts
E350 4matic
is this when lane assist/ adaptive cruise control is engaged? Is it keeping you in the lane (even if it is wrong side of the lane) only or you're going out of your lane? With new tires, I believe the wheels will be balanced and have less chances. Where did you buy the tires? Is there a free life time wheel balancing offer with that store? I may start with that.
BTW, how do you like the Diamond Silver Metallic
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 4
From: Massachusetts
E350 4matic
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 68
From: Charlotte, NC
2014 E350 4M Diamond Silver
Hi and thanks for your reply. Sadly my car does not have adaptive cruise control and the lane assist is only passive, not active so we can rule that possibility out. The tires were purchased at Town Fair Tire in southern New Hampshire and were definitely “computer balanced” at the time of install. I will have to check and see if they offer free lifetime balancing, they offer quite a few other things. I don’t notice any thumping or vibration which you might typically expect from an out of balance tire but I’m not ruling anything out yet.
you're in luck:
https://www.townfairtire.com/vehicle/tires/
They have free alignment as long as you buy tires from them.
i really like the color but in dim light and when it’s not clean it can look like a dull grey.
We went into a mall before Sunset and came back after Sunset and it is really a Day and Night difference for the color shade.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2016
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From: CA
2014 E350 W212
One other thought might be a crowned or grooved (if concrete) road. Many of the roads/hwys in CA are dramatically crowned in the center and grooved (for water drainage), giving the lane on both sides an angled slope - combine that with grooves cut into the road (concrete) and it can sometimes grab the tires and cause the car to wander - some roads are worse than others - just something to keep in mind.
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2011 E-350 4Matic Sport
With good tires like you have, the car should track steady and stable. Assuming tires are ok, usually mis-adjusted caster and/or toe are biggest contributors to road wander.
I have the same tires and the car feels very controllable and planted, even over different road surfaces and grooves.
I have the same tires and the car feels very controllable and planted, even over different road surfaces and grooves.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 170
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From: Massachusetts
E350 4matic
With good tires like you have, the car should track steady and stable. Assuming tires are ok, usually mis-adjusted caster and/or toe are biggest contributors to road wander.
I have the same tires and the car feels very controllable and planted, even over different road surfaces and grooves.
I have the same tires and the car feels very controllable and planted, even over different road surfaces and grooves.
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Joined: May 2018
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2011 e350 sport
Interesting post guys I just got a 2011 and 350 sport package with 18 inch rims I’m coming from driving a 2004 8320 for the last 13 years The ride is completely differentThe new car is more stuff you feel everything and yes I noticed the same thing the car seems to drift slightly at higher speeds on the highwayI have a lifetime warranty so I got the car aligned it helped however I’m gonna take it back and see what else can be done because I feel like it’s still not 100%Adding nitrous to the tires instead of error made a huge interesting post guys I just got a 2011 and 350 sport package with 18 inch rims I’m coming from driving a 2000 4320 for the last 13 yearsThe ride is completely differentThe new car is more stiff you feel everything and yes I noticed the same thing the car seems to drift slightly at higher speeds on the highwayI have a lifetime warranty so I got the car aligned it helped however I’m gonna take it back and see what else can be done because I feel like it’s still not 100%Adding nitrous to the tires instead of air made a huge difference.
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Joined: May 2015
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2011 E550
Same here... car dances all over the lane. It only happens sometimes. Drove from San Francisco to Seattle and back. Car only did this while driving back. My arms got tired trying to keep the car in lane. Pumped the air in tires to 45psi, the issue is somewhat solved, but drive harsh.
Wheel bearing were checked no issues there. The car does eat front tires from outside edge but no pulling.
Wheel bearing were checked no issues there. The car does eat front tires from outside edge but no pulling.
Last edited by NachoLibre; May 21, 2018 at 11:38 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 4
From: Massachusetts
E350 4matic
Same here... car dances all over the lane. It only happens sometimes. Drove from San Francisco to Seattle and back. Car only did this while driving back. My arms got tired trying to keep the car in lane. Pumped the air in tires to 45psi, the issue is somewhat solved, but drive harsh.
Wheel bearing were checked no issues there. The car does eat front tires from outside edge but no pulling.
Wheel bearing were checked no issues there. The car does eat front tires from outside edge but no pulling.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 419
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From: NY
2014 E550; 2003 E500
Took my old e500 in for alignment a few times at the dealer. The last time I took it in I used another dealership. It rode like brand new. The air suspension requires additional steps including a Romness tool, spreader bar, and weights. So I think a nonairmatic would require the last two, which most chain stores won’t have. As I understand, airmatic have to be at the dealership to adjust ride height with Star/Romness tool.
Member
Joined: May 2015
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2011 E550
I tried dealer the car kept pulling to right
2nd shop same thing. Did the camber bolt on both side still pulls to right
3rd shop...this shop does custom car alignment..car goes straight but eat tire edges.
With 95k soon I will put 5th set of new tires at front...rear just got 3rd new set.
2nd shop same thing. Did the camber bolt on both side still pulls to right
3rd shop...this shop does custom car alignment..car goes straight but eat tire edges.
With 95k soon I will put 5th set of new tires at front...rear just got 3rd new set.
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Joined: Apr 2013
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2007 cls550
Camber / caster bolts are easy to be installed wrong. Did you get a printout of settings before and after changes? Call them if not.
Camber - Notches facing outward will reduce inside wear which is common. There is a line on the bolt. You should check if they are.
Caster - pulling back driver caster and pushing forward passenger caster will move car left. How did they install them? Check bolt lines. Passenger side line out and driver side line inward.
Only after this can the alignment shop do the only thing that they can do which is set toe.
Camber - Notches facing outward will reduce inside wear which is common. There is a line on the bolt. You should check if they are.
Caster - pulling back driver caster and pushing forward passenger caster will move car left. How did they install them? Check bolt lines. Passenger side line out and driver side line inward.
Only after this can the alignment shop do the only thing that they can do which is set toe.
