hyperion667

Okay, now you guys are making me miss that S.....a little

I'm a recovering S class driver....
"It's been three years since my last S"

emilner

The gravitational pull is great. One you go S it's tough to slum it elsewhere for long

2012 merc amg

Ya, I'd go 38 PSI max. 35 or 36 PSI as listed is probably even better. NYC Benz cars with these type of rims and tires always seem to bend rims so that is nothing usual. You should try to get the dealer who sold you the car like that pay for it though as they aren't suppose to be selling you car which is probably Certified with 4 bent rims, plus from what you said sounds like you have the tire and wheel package.

Denis Osullivan

I did purchase the tire and rim policy a few days afterwards thru another dealer. But after reading the policy as well as other members experiences I’m looking to cancel.
It seems that rims will be covered only if the tire doesn’t seal. So if my rim is bent ,I’m out of luck under the terms of the contact.
I did find it interesting that my shop that fixed my rims I saw prior markings on these rims that they were refinished last month. So they cleaned them up but never validated true roundness.
I think after fixing these rims that the cost of the contract as well as time lost at a dealer and/or debating coverage allowances, the policy isn’t worth the cost.

Denis Osullivan

I’m still not happy with the ride. Driving above 60mph still causes vibrations that are felt in the steering wheel as well as the floor. All tire and rims have been fixed and balanced. I even replaced the front rotors and pads on my own.
CPO my a$$.
I don’t want to waste time at a dealership only to tell me I need new tires. But I will try to have them cover this cost. And to add insult to injury the front camera doesn’t open consistently.

2012 merc amg

More than likely the wheels where not fixed properly and are still out of round. I've been through the same thing with my 2019 Wagon, I finally just ended up getting aftermarket wheels for the car and it fixed the problem until I bent two of them on potholes.

Fedcomprop

Switch to 18's, run the RF tires at 33lbs and you'll likely be much happier. I sure was with my e450/w213 wagon/estate. The low-profile sidewall tire is a marketing fad championed by MB USA, and an unfortunate one. Look at the thicker tire and smaller wheel combo's that are run on UK MB cars where the roads are as rough or rougher than ours. You'll see what I mean.

SW20S

Are you still running 42 PSI?

Denis Osullivan

I lowered to 35psi

SW20S

And your issue is vibrations not ride softness? Somethings gotta be out of balance with the wheels/tires.

as.thompson

Denis, This certainly sounds like a wheel/brake/tire balance issue. Another possibility that I once had that caused similar vibration was a bad steering dampener.

Fred2

How many miles are you putting on the car when you test it, and how long is it sitting before hand?

Some tire are more prone to flat spotting than others, and you may be feeling that effect.

Denis Osullivan

I am now running at 42 PSI on all fours. Car rides much better and smooth at highway speeds.
Doing an experiment, I lowered just the rear tires to 35 PSI (as per fuel flap) and the ride was horrible. Changed them back to 42 PSI and the ride was smooth once again.
These tires and PSI numbers are unexplainable. I hope those with highway vibrations try adjusting their PSI.

emilner

There is something quite wrong with your car. I would try to solve the problem before it gets worse...

SW20S

This means there is still a balance issue in the wheels/tires. Higher pressures mask balance issues vs lower pressures. I would have the wheels road force balanced at 35 PSI and see what the result is

I just got home from a dinner appointment, my tires are 33 cold and smooth as glass on the highway at 75...

2012 merc amg

In my experience with wheels and tires and I have a lot of experience with these cars with this issue with the big low profile rims and tires is that the MB dealers seem to handle things best. I've had too many experiences with tire shops and independent garages not getting things right and wasting a lot of my time. You might be best off having a decent MB dealer check out your wheel balancing and rims for still being bent.

DaveW68

It sounds like you need to get more food into your girl. Then she'll eventually soften up for you and provide a very soft ride....if that's your thing.

Denis Osullivan

Update:

I had the tires balanced once again with no change in the ride.

I was reading within the C-class section on this site where someone posted similar ride symptoms. One response was that his dealer replaced the rear rotors and pads with success. Since I did the fronts already why no do the rears? So now it seems the car is riding great now (or else I'm just convincing myself). What I found odd was that one wheel I had to use a hammer with several blows to displace the pads. They must have been stuck/frozen in place. In any case, the ride has definitely improved..

Denis Osullivan

Update (again)

Car still vibrates after rims straightened, new tires, new brakes while cruising speeds over 65/70 mph within 10 minutes. I have car at the dealer and told them about the vibration as well as hearing a slight clunk on front driver side while airmatic damper is raised and slowly riding over a few bumps. They immediately told me that I needed not just one but four new rims @ $6995. And then told me that the Airmatic damper on the drivers front is being replaced.
I'm hoping this Airmatic damper will resolve this vibration. Anyone support my idea?

SW20S

My money would be on the wheels.

MBNUT1

What is the nature of the vibrations. Steering wheel shimmy or more felt in the floorboard. Certainly if the damping part of the Airmatic strut is not damping then that could result in vibrations. Please report back after it is installed. As far as the wheels go have you had them road force balanced?

Denis Osullivan

The wheels have been road forced balanced as well as an alignment was performed

SW20S

So, that doesnt really matter. On a car like the S Class the wheels can be within spec on the road force balancer, assuming that the tech uses the road force balancer properly which most don't, and still give a vibration you can feel. I had that issue on my LS460L where I had a tire that had high road force but they swore it was within spec after being roadforce matched with the wheel and counterweighted, once I replaced the tire the vibration was gone. The car is so smooth and refined anything even slightly out of whack and theres a vibration.

Thats why I would never have a bent or cracked wheel repaired, I would always replace it.

I dont recall in the thread, but if you put the car in neutral at those speeds does the vibration go away? If so it could be the driveshaft, or one of the driveshafts.

MBNUT1

Putting in neutral wouldn't necessarily eliminate a driveshaft vibration unless it was load driven.

MBNUT1

Really need a better description of the vibration. You started this thread as "missing that soft ride" and it has morphed to a vibration issue. Is it random or shimmy? In the wheel, floor, seat?