new W212 owner, 2013 E350 sport with EPS, steering wheel not returning to center?
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Joined: Jul 2025
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new W212 owner, 2013 E350 sport with EPS, steering wheel not returning to center?
Hello all, newly acquired W212 2013 E350 sport w/ 80k miles on it. Im starting to get acquainted with the car. Just did a transmission service, and realized it has electric power steering. I cant get used to something very strange about this vehicle, that i havent experienced in any other vehicle with electric power steering. After turning the wheel, and then hitting the gas to straighten it out, the wheel doesnt go back to center, it stays turned in almost the exact position its left in. I have to manually turn it back to center. Its very strange and i cant seem to get used to it. Was thinking maybe it had bad power steering fluid, but when attempting to flush the fluid, we couldnt find a reservoir and realized it has EPS.
Could this be some old EPS software version that has been updated? Anyone else experience this? I have a hard time believing that this would be normal. Car has new tires on it, and recently had an alignment as well. Steering in general is also extremely light, but thats not my concern right now. Scanned with foxwell NT530 and no fault codes. Any input appreciated, thanks.
Could this be some old EPS software version that has been updated? Anyone else experience this? I have a hard time believing that this would be normal. Car has new tires on it, and recently had an alignment as well. Steering in general is also extremely light, but thats not my concern right now. Scanned with foxwell NT530 and no fault codes. Any input appreciated, thanks.
Last edited by 2013W212; Jul 18, 2025 at 10:37 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,964
Likes: 6,806
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
BETTER EPS TIPS
Hello all, newly acquired W212 2013 E350 sport w/ 80k miles on it. Im starting to get acquainted with the car. Just did a transmission service, and realized it has electric power steering. I cant get used to something very strange about this vehicle, that i havent experienced in any other vehicle with electric power steering. After turning the wheel, and then hitting the gas to straighten it out, the wheel doesnt go back to center, it stays turned in almost the exact position its left in. I have to manually turn it back to center. Its very strange and i cant seem to get used to it. Was thinking maybe it had bad power steering fluid, but when attempting to flush the fluid, we couldnt find a reservoir and realized it has EPS.
Could this be some old EPS software version that has been updated? Anyone else experience this? I have a hard time believing that this would be normal. Car has new tires on it, and recently had an alignment as well. Steering in general is also extremely light, but thats not my concern right now. Scanned with foxwell NT530 and no fault codes. Any input appreciated, thanks.
Could this be some old EPS software version that has been updated? Anyone else experience this? I have a hard time believing that this would be normal. Car has new tires on it, and recently had an alignment as well. Steering in general is also extremely light, but thats not my concern right now. Scanned with foxwell NT530 and no fault codes. Any input appreciated, thanks.
The software is configured as good as the solderless hardware. That's not the issue here.
> No1: The struts bearings use engineered grease that evaporated into glue under the engine extreme heat... The long story short is your struts bearings need high-temp silicone grease that stands heat to let you wheel return like new.
This ball-bearing is huge (~10In) and acts as a sticky friction clutch.
> No2: the EPS rack can work well given good network. Do a quick chassis "reboot" and witness best steering wheel behavior within 50 to 100Mi.
A hard to steer car is not what's owners want!
You want a car that holds its center line like a German PANZER tank, right?
That's available given proper CAN networking.
When this car EPS steering is allowed to work it's like no other cars at freeway speeds. It keeps planted straight without bump-steering off.
+++ Rack is safe, other stressors detune steering.
what's at stake is awesome steering vs. poor behavior of wheels stuck Lor R.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jul 19, 2025 at 12:02 AM.
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i never said i want a car thats hard to steer, but this is absolutely not normal. The only thing that makes me question the strut bearings needing glue is because the steering wheel is EXTREMELY light at all times, and there are no other symptoms at all when i turn the wheel. If the strut bearings needed glue, wouldnt that also cause a noise, vibration, or another symptom when turning the wheel? Ill look into it either way, and do that reboot you mentioned. Is this a common issue on these cars?
Regarding the steering wheel being extremely light at all times is that normal? There is absolutely no feedback in the steering wheel as well. I know this is a downside of EPS systems in general, and I dont have much experience with EPS cars, but this car's steering definitely seems like it needs a software update, i just dont know much about them. I will call the dealer and ask if this is something available, and maybe ill order a Xentry clone and return this foxwell i just got if you can make changes like on Porsche's with their PIWIS system in developer mode. For example, if i can choose different EPS profiles, like being able to set my car to the E63 EPS profile. If anyone has done this or has experience with Xentry would love to hear about it (especially about if it has a similar "engineering mode" or "developer mode" like the PIWIS has that allows you to change options and settings). I have a PIWIS and am very experienced using it, so thinking a Xentry might be the way to go because as always, ive already found things i want to change in the car, and this is just the beginning.
Regarding the steering wheel being extremely light at all times is that normal? There is absolutely no feedback in the steering wheel as well. I know this is a downside of EPS systems in general, and I dont have much experience with EPS cars, but this car's steering definitely seems like it needs a software update, i just dont know much about them. I will call the dealer and ask if this is something available, and maybe ill order a Xentry clone and return this foxwell i just got if you can make changes like on Porsche's with their PIWIS system in developer mode. For example, if i can choose different EPS profiles, like being able to set my car to the E63 EPS profile. If anyone has done this or has experience with Xentry would love to hear about it (especially about if it has a similar "engineering mode" or "developer mode" like the PIWIS has that allows you to change options and settings). I have a PIWIS and am very experienced using it, so thinking a Xentry might be the way to go because as always, ive already found things i want to change in the car, and this is just the beginning.
Last edited by 2013W212; Jul 19, 2025 at 01:00 AM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,964
Likes: 6,806
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
i never said i want a car thats hard to steer, but this is absolutely not normal. The only thing that makes me question the strut bearings needing glue is because the steering wheel is EXTREMELY light at all times, and there are no other symptoms at all when i turn the wheel. If the strut bearings needed glue, wouldnt that also cause a noise, vibration, or another symptom when turning the wheel? Ill look into it either way, and do that reboot you mentioned. Is this a common issue on these cars?
Regarding the steering wheel being extremely light at all times is that normal? There is absolutely no feedback in the steering wheel as well. I know this is a downside of EPS systems in general, and I dont have much experience with EPS cars, but this car's steering definitely seems like it needs a software update, i just dont know much about them. I will call the dealer and ask if this is something available, and maybe ill order a Xentry clone and return this foxwell i just got if you can make changes like on Porsche's with their PIWIS system in developer mode. For example, if i can choose different EPS profiles, like being able to set my car to the E63 EPS profile. If anyone has done this or has experience with Xentry would love to hear about it (especially about if it has a similar "engineering mode" or "developer mode" like the PIWIS has that allows you to change options and settings). I have a PIWIS and am very experienced using it, so thinking a Xentry might be the way to go because as always, ive already found things i want to change in the car, and this is just the beginning.
Regarding the steering wheel being extremely light at all times is that normal? There is absolutely no feedback in the steering wheel as well. I know this is a downside of EPS systems in general, and I dont have much experience with EPS cars, but this car's steering definitely seems like it needs a software update, i just dont know much about them. I will call the dealer and ask if this is something available, and maybe ill order a Xentry clone and return this foxwell i just got if you can make changes like on Porsche's with their PIWIS system in developer mode. For example, if i can choose different EPS profiles, like being able to set my car to the E63 EPS profile. If anyone has done this or has experience with Xentry would love to hear about it (especially about if it has a similar "engineering mode" or "developer mode" like the PIWIS has that allows you to change options and settings). I have a PIWIS and am very experienced using it, so thinking a Xentry might be the way to go because as always, ive already found things i want to change in the car, and this is just the beginning.
What you call "extremely light steering" is actually unstable steering: NOT good to drive straight.
Communicate your unsafe driving issues to the dealer specialists so they can provide great repairs.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Jul 19, 2025 at 02:03 AM.
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From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
Get your wheel aligned properly, see what parameters went bad.
EPS is indeed not as nice as old classic hydraulic steering when it comes to feeling the tire traction limit....but its straight line high speed and self straightening recovery after a tight u-turn is very good.
EPS is indeed not as nice as old classic hydraulic steering when it comes to feeling the tire traction limit....but its straight line high speed and self straightening recovery after a tight u-turn is very good.
