SL/R230: Alignment at Dealer
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 103
Likes: 6
2007 CL550, 2005 SL500, 1984 380SL 1985 Mustang GT
Alignment at Dealer
I got an alignment at my local dealer because my car would change lanes if you took your hand off the wheel and the wheel was cocked to the right. they looked at it for two days and said the alignment was off and charged 188 for an alignment. cool lets get it driving straight.
picked it up and its still drifting into the next lane when I let go of the wheel to scratch my nose. The wheel is now slightly to the left.
I called my service rep and he said to bring it in and he will go for ride with me. he said its the road crown that is probably making it seem like its pulling. He drove it down the center of the access road by the dealer and showed me its actually pulling to the left? I pointed out to him the centerline was practically on the passenger wheel so of course its going to pull to the left.
His explanation was, the alignment is fine. Mercedes suspensions are set up for high speed highway driving. with that in mind it will follow the lines and cracks on the road. so it will seem like it pulling to the right but it is following the road crown.
when I got out of the car I followed up with for a 100K car it is supposed to pull to the right and have a rough idle(see previous post). I have a 30k mustang that idles better and drives straighter than this.
If I were to drive the car at 100 mph and let the wheel go I would be in the next lane instantly. is this normal? the cl550 I had for a loaner must be defective because it did not follow the road crown and drove straight.
Should I try another dealer or go to an indie? or sell it and find something else to spend my money on.
picked it up and its still drifting into the next lane when I let go of the wheel to scratch my nose. The wheel is now slightly to the left.
I called my service rep and he said to bring it in and he will go for ride with me. he said its the road crown that is probably making it seem like its pulling. He drove it down the center of the access road by the dealer and showed me its actually pulling to the left? I pointed out to him the centerline was practically on the passenger wheel so of course its going to pull to the left.
His explanation was, the alignment is fine. Mercedes suspensions are set up for high speed highway driving. with that in mind it will follow the lines and cracks on the road. so it will seem like it pulling to the right but it is following the road crown.
when I got out of the car I followed up with for a 100K car it is supposed to pull to the right and have a rough idle(see previous post). I have a 30k mustang that idles better and drives straighter than this.
If I were to drive the car at 100 mph and let the wheel go I would be in the next lane instantly. is this normal? the cl550 I had for a loaner must be defective because it did not follow the road crown and drove straight.
Should I try another dealer or go to an indie? or sell it and find something else to spend my money on.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
05 SL500
is this car new to you?these symptoms are 'all of a sudden'?
we all know that when our cars are aligned correctly and wheels r balanced, there is ZERO vibrations @ any speed, and they ride as straight as an arrow
....and an alignment is prob the least expensive thing, that a mb dealer performs on our cars..lol! its a bargain!
and i still cant believe the malarki that srvc reps still use-especially talking to people who know a little more about cars,than the average person
we all know that when our cars are aligned correctly and wheels r balanced, there is ZERO vibrations @ any speed, and they ride as straight as an arrow
....and an alignment is prob the least expensive thing, that a mb dealer performs on our cars..lol! its a bargain!
and i still cant believe the malarki that srvc reps still use-especially talking to people who know a little more about cars,than the average person
Last edited by COMEINPEACE; Aug 24, 2013 at 11:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 103
Likes: 6
2007 CL550, 2005 SL500, 1984 380SL 1985 Mustang GT
Thanks, I have had the car for a couple years. it had 14k miles on it when I got. it was smooth and straight. now has 40k miles. I don't race it or abuse it. just normal driving. It simply needs an alignment. I did see a post from a couple years ago and they recommend science of speed for the alignment here in Chandler. Funny that in that post from 2010 they mentioned my service rep by name.
I you live in Arizona I do not recommend going to MB in Chandler.
I you live in Arizona I do not recommend going to MB in Chandler.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: A bit north of Toronto Canada
2004 SL500
I'm having the same issue on my 2004 ! More noticeable now that I just got rid of the old Pirelli's and went with Michelin Pilot Sport 2's !
Tire shop has swapped the tires side to side, my Indy has done an alignment, and I still drift right.. ya, and I've heard all teh same you have about roads crests etc....
Seems the only option is to have Camber Bolts installed ($$$) and another alignment !
I'm in agreement that a car of this level of sophistication and technology should go straight !
-Stephen
Tire shop has swapped the tires side to side, my Indy has done an alignment, and I still drift right.. ya, and I've heard all teh same you have about roads crests etc....
Seems the only option is to have Camber Bolts installed ($$$) and another alignment !
I'm in agreement that a car of this level of sophistication and technology should go straight !
-Stephen
