bottedi

I have a brand new ML 320 (2002). Since they day I picked it up, I've had a vibration in the steering wheel when going at speeds over 60 mph. I've had it back at the dealer TWICE to get the wheels re-balanced, but to no avail.

The only strange thing is, the vibration intensity seems to vary from day-to-day. On some days, it's very slight and on others it shacks enough to make my wrist-watch rattle!!

Any advice? Anyone else have this problem?

Please let me know!
Thanks

sosh

Agree with the previous post. Have heard of some ML tires being out of round. Have them checked by a capable dealer and replaced if out of spec or, there used to be shops that did tire truing and it worked great even though you sacrificed a little tread but do not know if this is done any longer. Also check the tire pressure and set it cold at the minimum suggested figure. this may help

Guy

which tires do you have?
I had on my ML500 the Conti's and had this problem.
replaced 3 tires after determining out-of-round at a tire shop with Hunter Engineering Load-Force balancing machine.

I still need to run 2500 miles on the tires full PSI (42psi) to get real smoothe ride.
guy

bottedi

FYI - I have Dunlops. (The standard ones that come with the 2002 ML320).

I had it in the shop AGAIN this week and they replaced 2 of the tires, but it's still not right! The strangest thing is that the vibration varys so much from day-to-day. In the mornings it's almost unbearable and then in the afternoons (when I take it in) it's only slightly noticable.

Could it be something in the suspension? Or are 4 wheel drives just inherently unstable?

It's really not fun to drive this car righ now. It doesn't feel like a Mercedes - more like a Chevy!!!

CarfixerDO

The wheel vibration that you are feeling is due to improper wheel balancing. Make sure that the dealership is using the required "DUO-EXPERT" adaptor and flange plate adaptor when balancing your wheels. If they fail to do this with the off road tires and light alloy rims that the ML has they will never get the proper balancing (even though the machine will read 0). The DUO-EXPERT is a centering tool specific for the rims and wheels on the ML. Make sure they do this and I will bet that the vibration will disappear.

bottedi

I am taking it in again tomorrow (I am nothing if not persistent) - and I will take the print-out of this message thread with me. I hope the guy in the service department doesn't give me "one of those looks" when I tell him to use the DUO-EXPERT.

My dealer is the largest MB dealer in the SouthEast U.S., so I assume they have at least heard of this tool.


Thanks again for all the advice.

Dirk

CarfixerDO

If they are not familiar with this then refer them to the Technical Service Bulletin # S-SI-MBNA-40/26A-58/82A Date Aug. 1998.

bottedi

First off - Thanks for all the feedback and advice!

I took all of the documentation from this message thread to the dealer and told them to make sure they follow the instructions! (Of course the claimed to have been doing so all-along, but that was to be expected!)

Net/Net: It's a lot better, but still not perfect. Between 60 - 75 mph I still feel vibration, but it's very slight and intermittent. They switched out ALL 4 tires (unbelievable) saying they were all out of round. Then they took it for a lengthy test drive with the shop foreman (who apparently is "Mr. MB Expert") and told me that any vibration I still might feel was related to the drive-train.

I don't buy that, but I am sick of sitting at the dealer waiting....

If anyone has any additional words of wisdom, I certainly would appreciate it. Could it be the drive-train? Or the power steering?

Anyway - thanks again!
DB

jares1

I have the Dunlops as well. I had my ML320 in the shop three or four times for the same problem. The final trick was a Match Balance. I do not know if it is the same as the other postings but you may want to ask. They told me that they would match the rim to the tire. I can only assume they would align the tire to the rim to balance the tire. What ever they did it worked. Hope that helps.


Jeryl

FRASML430

Does the vibration cause any noise upon accelaration ? I Have this problem with a 99 ML430 driving at 1900 RPMs. Been through many visits at the dealer and the problem still there. They tried to duplicate the vibration and noise while on the hoist, they weren't successful. They did hear it while they test drove it and came to the conclusion that it occured under load. My next visit they will try the drive shafts.