Something is wrong with my car......
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 422
Likes: 1
From: Florida
07 ML63; 05 E55 (sold)
Something is wrong with my car......
Put new 19"HRE's on last May. Gradually a strange and quite annoying oscillating, rythmic hum/vibration has developed which can be heard as well as felt through the steering wheel and the gas pedal when traveling between 40-50 mph. It disappears when I go above 50. It is also present at 15-20 mph but is of a slower frequency. IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS! It occasionally causes something in the dash or headliner/A-pillar to vibrate in an oscillatory manner as well.
I figured it must be a wheel balance/alignment issue (car was also pulling to the right) So I take the car to the dealer on Fri. and have a front and rear alignment and balancing done. IT IS STILL HAPPENING.
I live in Florida and have never hit a pot hole or been in an accident. What is going on???? Is it the rims, the tires (SO-3's), or something mechanical?
I'm almost to the point of putting the stock wheels back on because the ride feels and sounds so ****ty. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I figured it must be a wheel balance/alignment issue (car was also pulling to the right) So I take the car to the dealer on Fri. and have a front and rear alignment and balancing done. IT IS STILL HAPPENING.
I live in Florida and have never hit a pot hole or been in an accident. What is going on???? Is it the rims, the tires (SO-3's), or something mechanical?
I'm almost to the point of putting the stock wheels back on because the ride feels and sounds so ****ty. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 601
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From: NorCal - SF
Mercedes-Benz
hmmm. FWIW, I have a similar, if not identical, problem that I noticed the other day. I haven't noticed the vibration to that degree (dash/headliner), but, have definitely felt feedback via the steering wheel. I'm still on the stock wheels, but, I also have SO-3s. 
Banned
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,797
Likes: 2
From: Richmond Hill, Ontario
2003 E55 AMG
There are a couple of things that you could try:
1) Losen and re-torque all the lug nuts on your wheels. If they weren't torqued properly it could be a problem. You should be using 96lb/ft of torque on your wheel bolts. No more and no less.
2) Change the air pressure in the tires. The harmonics will change based on the inflation pressure. I would stabilize all the tire pressures at 40psi COLD first. Drive around and see how it feels. Then, drop 1 or 2 psi in the front and test. Repeat for the rear, re-test. Drop 1 or 2 psi in the front and repeat whole procedure.
3) You have warped rotors. Remove each wheel 1 at a time, and get a small level and lay it against the rotor. See if it shows level. This is highly unlikely because most times it is only evident during braking, but, in this case I would check all these things over just to be sure.
It could be a bad set of tires. Those S-03 tires are really heavy and have quite a bit of metal in the sidewall to maintain stiffness in case of a flat or low pressure. It is possible that something has delaminated??
If #1 and #2 above don't do anything, find a shop that has a ROAD FORCE Balancer and have them check the wheels & tires. This machine will tell you if you have a balancing problem. Either your wheels or your tires are off.
NOTE: On a regular balancing machine a defect in the wheel & tire may not be evident. Only a ROAD FORCE balancing machine will tell you 100% if you have a problem.
Good luck!
1) Losen and re-torque all the lug nuts on your wheels. If they weren't torqued properly it could be a problem. You should be using 96lb/ft of torque on your wheel bolts. No more and no less.
2) Change the air pressure in the tires. The harmonics will change based on the inflation pressure. I would stabilize all the tire pressures at 40psi COLD first. Drive around and see how it feels. Then, drop 1 or 2 psi in the front and test. Repeat for the rear, re-test. Drop 1 or 2 psi in the front and repeat whole procedure.
3) You have warped rotors. Remove each wheel 1 at a time, and get a small level and lay it against the rotor. See if it shows level. This is highly unlikely because most times it is only evident during braking, but, in this case I would check all these things over just to be sure.
It could be a bad set of tires. Those S-03 tires are really heavy and have quite a bit of metal in the sidewall to maintain stiffness in case of a flat or low pressure. It is possible that something has delaminated??
If #1 and #2 above don't do anything, find a shop that has a ROAD FORCE Balancer and have them check the wheels & tires. This machine will tell you if you have a balancing problem. Either your wheels or your tires are off.
NOTE: On a regular balancing machine a defect in the wheel & tire may not be evident. Only a ROAD FORCE balancing machine will tell you 100% if you have a problem.
Good luck!
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 665
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Originally Posted by eagleeye
I'm almost to the point of putting the stock wheels back on because the ride feels and sounds so ****ty. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Also, take a look at how much weight was added to each wheel. If one wheel has significantly more added weight than the others, I would have that tire rotated on the wheel and re-balanced.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 19
From: London, UK
No longer stock '06 E55, A3 3.2 Quattro, GLE 400d, R107 280SL, Golf Polo
Are those tyres run-flats ? If so I think it comes with the territory. If not could be faulty tyres, bearings(unlikely), wheel / tyre balancing. Think warped discs will only be felt at speed no ?
But I bet its SBC getting confused with the different tyre circumferences on the front vs rear wheels and trying to engage or do something silly ... ?
Rgds Steve
But I bet its SBC getting confused with the different tyre circumferences on the front vs rear wheels and trying to engage or do something silly ... ?
Rgds Steve
Last edited by stevebez; Nov 14, 2005 at 07:47 AM.
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 99
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From: Pacific Northwest
04 E500 Brabus Wagon
most likely tires
what Grumpy said is a good idea, and if that cures the problem, then its very likely F55 is right.
Maybe go to the Tire Rack web site and see if owners of that brand of tire are reporting similar problems?
Maybe go to the Tire Rack web site and see if owners of that brand of tire are reporting similar problems?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 5
From: Dallas, TX
W212 E63, Audi R8 4.2, Panamera S, Range Rover Sport GT
George,
Just saw this thread - I would try to take it to a Hunter GSP9700 and have them attempt the road force balance. I have not had this problem before with the S03 tire, but there is a first time for everything. Normally I have only heard of this humming problem with the Pirelli P Zero Nero.
I might try to set the pressure at 36 F&R also.
Let me know if I can help.
Just saw this thread - I would try to take it to a Hunter GSP9700 and have them attempt the road force balance. I have not had this problem before with the S03 tire, but there is a first time for everything. Normally I have only heard of this humming problem with the Pirelli P Zero Nero.
I might try to set the pressure at 36 F&R also.
Let me know if I can help.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 904
Likes: 3
2001 S500 Sport "Klaus"
haven't had a problem like this on the '55, but when i had conti's on the jag it was like driving a tractor. noisy, vibratory and generally for ****e. switched to goodyears (because i thought the tread pattern looked cool, and they're just a hair short of (and cheaper than) pilot sports) and that solved that and several other problems. ride quality and driving experience were greatly improved once i got off the conti's.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 368
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From: Friendswood, TX
'08 CLS63
Originally Posted by eagleeye
Put new 19"HRE's on last May. Gradually a strange and quite annoying oscillating, rythmic hum/vibration has developed which can be heard as well as felt through the steering wheel and the gas pedal when traveling between 40-50 mph. It disappears when I go above 50. It is also present at 15-20 mph but is of a slower frequency. IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS! It occasionally causes something in the dash or headliner/A-pillar to vibrate in an oscillatory manner as well.
I figured it must be a wheel balance/alignment issue (car was also pulling to the right) So I take the car to the dealer on Fri. and have a front and rear alignment and balancing done. IT IS STILL HAPPENING.
I live in Florida and have never hit a pot hole or been in an accident. What is going on???? Is it the rims, the tires (SO-3's), or something mechanical?
I'm almost to the point of putting the stock wheels back on because the ride feels and sounds so ****ty. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I figured it must be a wheel balance/alignment issue (car was also pulling to the right) So I take the car to the dealer on Fri. and have a front and rear alignment and balancing done. IT IS STILL HAPPENING.
I live in Florida and have never hit a pot hole or been in an accident. What is going on???? Is it the rims, the tires (SO-3's), or something mechanical?
I'm almost to the point of putting the stock wheels back on because the ride feels and sounds so ****ty. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
You said last may...you've got some miles on your tires...i bet between 7k and 12k on the fronts...check your front tires and they are probably "chopped"...kinda hard to explain...run your hand over the surface of the tire and i bet it isn't smooth. Since we can't rotate our tires, I've been told several times this will happen.
I had a total of 3 or 4 sets of tires on the S...when the tires were new the ride was quiet and smooth....with more miles, it got progressively worse...just the way you explained it...and it was just the front tires.
I bet a set of new tires up front will fix the problem.
My experience and my $.02 worth.
Good Luck!
John
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 422
Likes: 1
From: Florida
07 ML63; 05 E55 (sold)
Thanks so much guys for your helpful replies. I will try all the above and let you know what works. It is kinda scary when I think that I could NEVER sell my Beast in this condition. Hopefully a painless fix is in the mix.
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 791
Likes: 0
From: Monroe, Louisiana
SL 65 AMG and E63s AMG
I put my bet on tires. Look at the wheels and tires when balancing and if you percieve any wobble whatsoever it's an out of round problem.
I gave up on all brands other than Michelin b/o these problems. Contis, GY, BFG, Bridgestone all have quality issues.
Try changing the fronts to original first then if it still happens swap the backs then side to side to isolate problem tire.
I gave up on all brands other than Michelin b/o these problems. Contis, GY, BFG, Bridgestone all have quality issues.
Try changing the fronts to original first then if it still happens swap the backs then side to side to isolate problem tire.
