(YART) Yet Another Repair Thread for Vibration
(The car from hell) - Repair journey (Basically rebuilding the car)

--- PLEASE NOTE Before reading! ---

Am finally at a standstill, am unable to figure out what the current issue is or how to move forward with tracking down the cause. ANY ADVICE OR COMMENTS ARE BEYOND WELCOME AND I APPRICIATE EVERY MINUTE YOU SPEND REPLYING TO THIS TOPIC. Thank you all in advanced, some background as to my experience. I am a nerd not a mechanic but am very, very precise. A jack of all trades, so all these repairs and findings are done personally by me or help of close mechanic friends. I Have been to 3 different Mercedes dealerships about 8 times total. Each visit the car was held over 1 month to burn up the warranty time resulting in no resolution or ideas on what any of these issues are besides (Change the tires/Balance/Alignment). So, with the collection of days of research including the use of Xentry etc., this battle for repairing the vibration has been ongoing for about a year now.

--- Vehicle Data ---

Make/Model:E300 – 2017 4MATIC (W213)
Miles: 80,700
Engine: M274
Transmission:725.0 (9G) (Think this is right)

--- Symptoms ---

Steering Wheel/Pedals/Floorboard vibration directly under the pedals slightly more in the steering and pedals themselves than the floor, starting low and worse as reaching highway speeds. Also, to my isolation the car vibrates slightly when acceleration idle (Assuming this is a part not related but could be Something along the lines of the issue at hand.)
The slight pulsation like a bad bearing somewhere when car is in motion, picks up at higher speeds. To my knowledge no specific gears are more or less, I guess acceleration does slightly change the vibration building up slowly but letting the car roll after letting off the gas it still vibrates again like something that spins is rubbing, does it in neutral and all gears.

--- The story ---
Ok so to summarize this story. I have a 2017 E-300 that was CPO warranty, for almost a year after 5 Visits to Mercedes Stealer ship each time, I had mentioned vibration in the floorboards/steering wheel and pedals. All 5 times I was told this is normal for a used car even the oil leak in the engine was normal. Yes, I know insane conversations with them. So, I wouldn’t give up took to other shops and they told me many different things it could be, but none sounded logical except the idea of process of elimination on parts (Listed repairs below in order). Finally, after one year of dealing with this, I finally took a video of a few issues I noticed such as CV axle appeared bent side that meets the wheel hub when the car is spinning (Car on lift running).
The lead technician stood under my car with me would not start it running and proceeded to tell me all the reasons why I was wrong, “The boot is out of shape”, “When car on the lift is running it runs diagonally”, my favorite “We repair over 200 cars a month, and this is normal for a used car”. They held my car for the last 63days of warranty ending and sent me home with only the oil leak repaired
So not accepting that it was normal for a $70k car at 80k miles exactly to run worse than my mom’s $15k Honda, I decided to take matters into my own hands with process of elimination on parts.

Repair Section

NOTE: These repairs were done in the exact order listed and yes, I know most items are replaced in pairs but realize I am over 4k in repairs by this time figured id tinker with stuff and see if the vibration gets any better or not before full out changing all 4 or entire sets. Remember i am at a standstill so if you are sure its a part i already replaced needs to be rechecked PLEASE Advise a recheck. Many times have i changed out a part and later to find out the part i changed out already failed. Defiantly do not wanna miss anything.

--- Parts Replaced (In Order& Results) ---

1.Tires - Switched from Goodyear (Runflats) TO Michelin (Air) |Bent rims were checked
This changed the ride dramatically, along with a Rebalance and Alignment service, very quiet ride and the tire humming sound went away.

2. x4 Rotors – OEM Rotors
The fluttering while breaking become insanely better Changed the rotors because the vibration was still slightly apparent (Pads had 80%-90% life all around) The fluttering while braking became insanely cleaner feel but still present.

3.Brake Pads – Brembo Sport brand

Changed the pads anyway because the car originally sat for a while before I purchased, and the pad material looked a bit uneasy well aged. Vibration in the braking was almost nonexistent. Yet the floor and pedal vibration was still there as I brake feel a slight pulsation like a bearing is grinding somewhere in the front.

4. Second Set of x4 Rotors - OEM Rotors

The stealer ship told me even though the old pads had over 90% health the current pads engraved the new rotors between the installation and 65Miles I drove to the dealership. *Shrugs* So I replaced them again anyway. No change for the original vibration in floor/steering.

5. CV Axle – Driver side/Passenger both changed using DSS brand (Matching GKN)
the vibration was lighter on the floor and pedals. The feel of a small bat slapping the bottom of the car at highway speeds when away. But I now was able to feel the more sensitive vibrations that were being drowned out from the Rotors and CV

6. Wheel hubs – OEM HUBS Front and back – (4 days after CV’s)

Apparently, the wheel hubs have been bad for a while, so I changed them all out hopefully It didn’t break the new CV since the wheel hubs were bent still with the new CV axle install.

7. Driveshaft | Driveshaft Center bearing support | Transmission mount – OEM PARTS
This repair isolated the vibration to the driver seat pedals, steering wheel, Floor under the pedals/front transmission area under the floor. But unfortunately, vibration is still present.

8. Intermediate Shaft & Bearing – After market

This lowered the feel of a bearing rubbing sound.

--- Current Issue ---

Fluttering like a bearing or a rotational part in pedals and steering wheel almost like a rubbing feel. Turned vibration at highway speeds. If I tap the break sometimes it will increase the fluttering almost as if the brake pads being applied to the rotor picks up vibration more from what ever part is bad. Vibration position besides listed above is directly under the pedals on the floor driver side.

----F.A.Q.---

YES

· Wheels Balanced

· Alignment Service

· Oil Changed regularly

· Not too much play in the engine mounts (Not enough to be changed immediately)

· Spart Plugs and Ignition coils changed

· Checked suspension for the most part nothing out of the ordinary it does clunk sometimes when I hit a speed bump, but I have not changed out any struts or bushings related. But no play in any of the ball joints for control arms etc.

· Bit of shaking while idle in “Drive” Gear

· Sounds like a bearing is scratching or rubbing/Pulsating when driving

NO

· Brake pads and rotors are not wearing uneven to my knowledge

· Wheels have been checked for bends wasn’t checked recently (No wheel dmg)

· Vibration is not felt from any other seat but the driver that is noticeable.

 

I have to ask... Even thought it's a CPO.. are you sure the car was not in a front accident? Also, when aligning are they also aligning front to back and not just left to right front and left to right back?

I get a slight vibration with my OEM rims and tires but when I placed my winters on, the vibration went away much. I have not had the time to look into it further as the weather is cold but I maybe going down the same road as you. Mine is not as bad as yours sounds but it's there and does not feel right.

 

The accident listed on Car report was my own doing. A deer jumped out and i hardly nicked it. just popped the headlight no front end damage what so ever besides the headlight. had it repaired at Mercedes collision center. No other accidents in the past as far as i know.

I have rotated the wheels to check if it was wheel related no change on the vibration area unfortunately still remains in the driver seat pedals/steering wheel and directly under the pedals.


Thank you for the reply anything helps at this point. Not even sure what part can change next.

 

Any updates I'm a new owner with the same issue and I'm amazed this is not a recall with everyone having same issue