Danno4x4

Steve-O,

Had the GL serviced today...

They rebalanced all of the wheels.... Problem solved, no more Shimmy.

Maybe you should just take it over to Schumacher... Ask for a service adviser named Sam... He took good care of me.

Of course they will probably charge you again for the rebalance.

StevethePilot

I think I'll do that! Since it doesn't seem to be fixed after even this.

gmartin

It may be time for them to try and switch out your wheels and tires for a set of OEMs, run it on the highway and see if the shimmy is gone. Find out which tire or rim causes the problem and replace it. This may be a bit drastic but you seem quite upset and this should solve the problem. Who should pay for it, I dunno?

boxboss

+1

That would tell you if it's alignment/suspension or wheels/tires. If no shimmy, put the two back ones on and try again. Still no shimmy - one of the two remaining. Process of elimination.

jpeardm

Another trick to try is to take the most out of balance tire/wheel that they find of the 4, break it down and rotate the tire 180 deg and rebalance. Sometimes the change of position of the tire on the rim makes a difference especially if an excessive amount of balance weights are required. Ask the "kid" doing the balancing and see what he says.

StevethePilot

Thanks to you and jpeardmn. I'm making an appointment with Schumacher on Monday to have a long talk about the car and see that the problem is properly corrected, as after this long wait it still is not again.

StevethePilot

Well, after taking my GL to Schumacher, for $13 less than Phoenix Motor Company my wheels were re-balanced. Again. In fact they were way out of balance and I've got the printouts to prove it. Weights in grams are supposed to be 0/0 (inside/outside out of balance weight), or a maximum of 5 grams which would be hard to feel. With the weights on from Phoenix Motor Co the tires were as follows;

LF 0g/26g
LR 14g/18g
RF 0g/9g
RR 13g/19g

PMC's getting a call tomorrow regarding the $109 bill for balancing, which they then claimed to have done a second time at no charge on the 1st (2nd?). Pudding proof? It doesn't shimmy now on the freeway - smooth as glass. With as specific as the tires are (and as expensive), I could see being ... pissed about early uneven wear due to serious lack of balance!

According to Sam, my SA at Schumacher, he worked briefly at PMC as a tech and basically said he could not vouch for when the last time was PMC had the machines calibrated. He said Schumacher does theirs weekly. He also said if I start coming to them regularly he'll see about getting me a loaner car (I waited for it today). Even if I have to wait, Schumacher's TV's, Internet/Library lounge and coffe counter serving Starbuck's almost makes it worth it. Loads nicer than PMC.

STP

PS He's looking in to the hesitation, which again seems to be near 3 seconds, and chirping when locking/unlocking

boxboss

Good to hear it Steve - nice ending to a problem that should have been solved the first time. My local shop calibrates their Hunter every morning. It only takes about 10 minutes, so why not? I guess it all depends if you want to produce quality work which, as you have seen, some do not.

jpeardm

Good deal Steve, glad you're all set, now you can cruise 17 north at 90+! "Fourbuck's" too, impressive!

Danno4x4

Steve,

Glad to hear Schumacher took good care of you... I have only met Sam once but he seemed to be a really professional fella. When I had mine in there for service last week, I waited for it, and he came out several times just to let me know where they were in the process. They do indeed have a nice waiting lobby. TVs, Newspapers, Coffee... and my bet is that is closer to where you live than PMC.

Too bad for PMC, sounds like they have lost your business permanently. Much the same as you, we also have a Lexus... Every experience with the Lexus dealerships service (Been to 2 different ones in AZ and 1 in Dallas) was a good one, we were always well taken care of... Too bad Mercedes varies so much from one dealer to another.

StevethePilot

It's my understanding that, like McDonald's, there are company shops and non-company shops. I don't know exactly what the difference is, but I was told that Schumacher is company and PMC is not.

Shame, that.

Oh, and Sam told me I was the third guy he knew of to lose his hose, and he recalls the guy coming back with his rear hose blown. Right there in front of God and everybody! PMC tells me they've never heard of it and I'm the only one, yadda yadda. Not a way to earn trust.

StevethePilot

My favorite part is the steep curvy bit south of Cordes Junction where I pass everyone, but I can't wait to see it hold a cruise control speed downhill into Verde Valley.