Wheel / car vibration issue.

[Billy Big Roy]

Since the day I test drove my Mercedes pre purchase, to post purchase collection on the 7th December, the car has had a vibration going through the seat, arm rests and steering wheel.

Its been back to the supplying dealer 4 times, the last time they had it for over 2 weeks and I've took it to an independent tyre specialist twice as well.

To cut a long story short, there Technical guy diagnosed that the rear N/S wheel was buckled, so replaced it. The tyre fitting centre found a flat spot on the front O/S that is still there, and it was felt that this was not the problem. I have a video that I sadly can't post up, but believe me, it looks a problem.

I was asked down to test drive the car before collecting it, and on the test drive could feel the positive difference from the rear wheel being replaced, but there was still "something" no right.

It was agreed that the tyres would be replaced as the ones fitted were budget, and a number of the wheels had multiple weights fitted as pictured. The new tyres cured this, made the car feel smoother and more planted, but again there was still "something".

All of this has been going on since the 7th December. The car has been back with the suppling dealer on and off since this date for weeks at a time, and I am now losing faith in the dealer and the brand.

After the new tyres had been fitted and the issue still there, I swapped the new rear wheel with the front and off I went down the road.

The issue was fixed! I couldn't believe it was finally fixed. I emailed the dealer, the technical team sending them the video of the buckled wheel and my findings. This was Thursday.

I've heard nothing back bar "I'm now looking in to this".

I've asked them to replace the wheel, and offered to have swapped over.

My car has 19" 7 spoke - twin spoke wheels. The tyre profile is like a rubber band. Why they felt the buckled / flat spot front wheel wasn't an issue is beyond me, but at least I've solved the issue.

Has anyone else had this issue?

 

[flowrider]

Yes, when i bought my ML350 the supplying dealer eventually replaced all 4 alloys and tyres due to vibration issues experienced at 60mph and above. Took them a while to do it though and multiple visits to the dealers workshop.

 

[oigle]

At least you have fixed it. Wonder why the flat spot occurred? Be worth keeping an eye on the offending wheel/tyre. Any shake under brakes?

Ian.

 

[Billy Big Roy]

At least you have fixed it. Wonder why the flat spot occurred? Be worth keeping an eye on the offending wheel/tyre. Any shake under brakes?

Ian.

No, nothing Ian, but I'm going to replace the damaged wheel.

 

[Rotorhead500]

I'd remind them that they believed one distorted alloy was an issue, which yielded some improvement, and then ask them their logic for dismissing the second distorted alloy as being a contributory factor.

 

[HaydnM]

Since the day I test drove my Mercedes pre purchase, to post purchase collection on the 7th December, the car has had a vibration going through the seat, arm rests and steering wheel.

Its been back to the supplying dealer 4 times, the last time they had it for over 2 weeks and I've took it to an independent tyre specialist twice as well.

To cut a long story short, there Technical guy diagnosed that the rear N/S wheel was buckled, so replaced it. The tyre fitting centre found a flat spot on the front O/S that is still there, and it was felt that this was not the problem. I have a video that I sadly can't post up, but believe me, it looks a problem.

I was asked down to test drive the car before collecting it, and on the test drive could feel the positive difference from the rear wheel being replaced, but there was still "something" no right.

It was agreed that the tyres would be replaced as the ones fitted were budget, and a number of the wheels had multiple weights fitted as pictured. The new tyres cured this, made the car feel smoother and more planted, but again there was still "something".

All of this has been going on since the 7th December. The car has been back with the suppling dealer on and off since this date for weeks at a time, and I am now losing faith in the dealer and the brand.

After the new tyres had been fitted and the issue still there, I swapped the new rear wheel with the front and off I went down the road.

The issue was fixed! I couldn't believe it was finally fixed. I emailed the dealer, the technical team sending them the video of the buckled wheel and my findings. This was Thursday.

I've heard nothing back bar "I'm now looking in to this".

I've asked them to replace the wheel, and offered to have swapped over.

My car has 19" 7 spoke - twin spoke wheels. The tyre profile is like a rubber band. Why they felt the buckled / flat spot front wheel wasn't an issue is beyond me, but at least I've solved the issue.

Has anyone else had this issue?

Yep I had this on my 211 / 320 diesel

I must have been to the tyre garage 10 times & felt a fool for keep going back, on the 10th time I stood next to the tyre fitter while he did it, bolted it up to the machine & pulled the guard down then started to talk to his mate, straight away I could see the wheel was buckled & pointed it out to him.

Anyway new wheel later the problem was much better, but still not as it should be, something was still there, you could feel it through the car

In the end in turned out to be the propshaft centre spine, so warn was it at 100k the tail would knock on the inside of the other half of the prop.

Managed to obtain a second hand prop with 27,000 on it, transformed the car.

Because these engines create so much torque this can be a common problem

 

[LostKiwi]

You don't say where you are but Northampton Welding can straighten bent alloys.

Three of mine on the 210 were bent and it's now fine.

 

[HaydnM]

Min

You don't say where you are but Northampton Welding can straighten bent alloys.

Three of mine on the 210 were bent and it's now fine.

It was a few years ago, don’t own the car now, but it was more to highlight the fact people with rear wheel drive cars need to think about prop & centre bearings

 

[JBell]

After the new tyres had been fitted and the issue still there, I swapped the new rear wheel with the front and off I went down the road.

How would this work on an E400???? The rears are considerable larger than the fronts, you need to check you actually have the right wheels in the right place!!!!!!