MOT Results Confusion

Jimbo1959

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My car passed it's MOT two days ago with a couple of advisories. Apparently the front wheel bearings have a little play in them.

When appraised of the results and the possible implications of this discovery, I asked if the bearings could be adjusted to remove the play, the tester replied that their Mercedes specialist was looking into it and would report back asap.

(
Background :- The front brake discs and pads were replaced almost a year ago along with all the slides and bushes in the front calipers to prevent any further vibration under heavy braking. The Mercedes specialist is the guy who diagnosed and completed the work on the car.

Result :- vibration cured for almost 10 months.)

So, the specialist comes in and when I ask about the play he replies that "they all have play but, that's not what I'm concerned about."

He goes on to explain when he was doing his test drive, he noticed that when the car was driven in "sensibe mode", there was no vibration discernable, however, when the car was used to make progress, once the brakes had warmed up there was a definite, slight vibration upon brake application which, confirmed my experience and findings.

When I ask him, "is this related to the play in the bearings?" again, he thinks for a couple of seconds and replies that the play is a characteristic of these cars and in his opinion not a worry. He then explains that he thinks that, because the discs that were replaced, with non genuine Delphi parts which, despite being acknowledged as quality parts, are basically just not up to the job.

He then takes me out to show me a discoloured slightly grey/blackish band approx, 1" in diameter spreading out from the hub centre and explains that, in his opinion, the Delphi discs just aren't man enough and recommends that I refit O.E. Mercedes ones in their place, the upside being that it will cure the vibration and more importantly from my perspective, last a little more than 10 months.

Now, I trust this guys work and professional opinion, however, I was wondering if anyone else has replaced their front discs with a known performance brand like, Brembo or whatever basically and not had any issues?
It's not that I don't trust O.E. stuff, it's the bl**dy horrendous price that accompanies their purchase.
Being a tight git, (Scottish, Paisley man, only one step down from an Aberdonian, lol), if I can get a recommendation from a club member, I may be able to source quality ones through work at a more pocket friendly price.

I apologise for the length of this novella and hope that you all have a read of it anyway, cheers chaps!
 

LostKiwi

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In my experience OE from Grangemouth were little different in price to pattern parts.
 

malcolm E53 AMG

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As above fit OE especially if you like to drive enthusiastically now and then. Shop around for prices I bought discs and pads from my local MB dealer at a good discount because they had them on the shelf, if they have to order them in it’s very likely you won’t get much of a discount. One or two MB dealers advertise parts on eBay so always worth a search and as above Grangemouth are worth a try
 

bembo449

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I fitted a set off ebay with Apex pads a couple of years ago , no issues at all , these are the drilled disc type
 
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Jimbo1959

Jimbo1959

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I fitted a set off ebay with Apex pads a couple of years ago , no issues at all , these are the drilled disc type

Can you remember what make they were at all?
 
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Jimbo1959

Jimbo1959

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As above fit OE especially if you like to drive enthusiastically now and then. Shop around for prices I bought discs and pads from my local MB dealer at a good discount because they had them on the shelf, if they have to order them in it’s very likely you won’t get much of a discount. One or two MB dealers advertise parts on eBay so always worth a search and as above Grangemouth are worth a try

I think that's my problem, I do like to drive enthusiastically and, a bit more than occasionally. :D

The expression :- "drive it like you stole it" sums me up tbh. :oops::rolleyes:

Fortunately where I live, there are lots of great roads around. :D:D
 

sonic

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Find this had to believe but I am no expert. Now I can afford OE, thats what I fit. But for 30 years of my motoring life I filled what I could afford & never had a problem.
 

flowrider

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MB don't make brake discs, they used to buy in ATE discs but I don't know who MB uses now.
 
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Jimbo1959

Jimbo1959

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In my experience OE from Grangemouth were little different in price to pattern parts.

Alistair, I Googled MB Grangemouth to get their phone number and address, what's the drill when you phone to order? Do I just say I'm a member of the forum and ask for a quote? Do we have a contact name or is it just ask for the parts deptment?

I had thought of getting my works branch in Falkirk to double check if there was much of a difference in the price quoted, I can certainly get them to collect the discs for me and drop them into my work in Paisley.
Just a shame that we are not sure what make they are.
 
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Jimbo1959

Jimbo1959

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Find this had to believe but I am no expert. Now I can afford OE, thats what I fit. But for 30 years of my motoring life I filled what I could afford & never had a problem.

I have heard of this type of issue or, variations on the theme, as in differences in work life of a disc, depending on the pads make and composition.
I suppose you pay your money and take your chances. Buy cheap, buy twice, as my Dad used to say.
That's why I thought I'd ask for some input.
 

noonboots

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Even the best quality discs and pads can suffer badly from one single journey that requires heavy braking. Heavy use on new brakes is a death knell to them. People often overlook any bedding in procedure.
Anyway my point is it's not always about how much you pay and for what it's worth I have only used and fitted Apec brakes for the last 10 years. Never a problem, even in my V6 Alfas and now in the SL.
 

KennyN

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I can certainly get them to collect the discs for me and drop them into my work in Paisley.

I am surprised that any decent aftermarket disc would have an issues with even spirited driving on our congested roads , track days possibly but not commuting on public roads.

MB Grangemouth are Arnold Clark so they can deliver them to your closest AC dealership.

I got my CLS front discs + pads from Grangemouth and picked them up from AC Renault in Hillington.

IIRC the discounted OEM price was similar to ECP for their discs and pads so it was a no brainer to go for the MB ones.

Kenny
 
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LostKiwi

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Alistair, I Googled MB Grangemouth to get their phone number and address, what's the drill when you phone to order? Do I just say I'm a member of the forum and ask for a quote? Do we have a contact name or is it just ask for the parts deptment?

I had thought of getting my works branch in Falkirk to double check if there was much of a difference in the price quoted, I can certainly get them to collect the discs for me and drop them into my work in Paisley.
Just a shame that we are not sure what make they are.
Yes that's pretty much the deal. Phone the parts department, mention you're a member on here and they'll quote you a price.
 
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Jimbo1959

Jimbo1959

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I am surprised that any decent aftermarket disc would have an issues with even spirited driving on our congested roads , track days possibly but not commuting on public roads.

MB Grangemouth are Arnold Clark so they can deliver them to your closest AC dealership.

I got my CLS front discs + pads from Grangemouth and picked them up from AC Renault in Hillington.

IIRC the discounted OEM price was similar to ECP for their discs and pads so it was a no brainer to go for the MB ones.

Kenny

Tbh it’s taken them just over 10 k to show up this vibration and that’s with “spirited” (but legal) driving every day. My biggest concern is that there is an underlying issue which has not been considered before involved. Sticky calliper pistons etc.... that’s why I decided to ask on the forum, you guys are a mine of useful information with far more MB experience than I have. I didn’t want to be caught out by a “characteristic” that I was unaware of.
Oh as an aside, most of the roads I use are not particularly congested, hence the reason I use them, lol. So I have a little more opportunity for spirited driving, conditions permitting, than those stuck on busy main roads. Cheers for the info about AC Kenny, sounds like they operate a similar system to my work with inter branch stock transfers.


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00slk

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They probably source them from any manufacturer who can supply them at what price MB are willing to pay, like all car manufactures :shock:
 

noonboots

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With regard to the wheel bearing play, we are dealing with testers that have rarely seen cars with taper roller bearings on the front. They're used to front wheel drive bearings that have no play.
Slight play in the bearings will not cause any brake vibrations. I think you've given us the cause of your problem with the "spirited driving".
 
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Jimbo1959

Jimbo1959

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Even the best quality discs and pads can suffer badly from one single journey that requires heavy braking. Heavy use on new brakes is a death knell to them. People often overlook any bedding in procedure.
Anyway my point is it's not always about how much you pay and for what it's worth I have only used and fitted Apec brakes for the last 10 years. Never a problem, even in my V6 Alfas and now in the SL.

I agree that some folk do overlook the bedding in procedure however, I assure you, I'm to much of a tight git to do that.
No point in throwing good money after bad, or another one of my Dad's favourites, "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".
I am that OCD fella that likes to do the job properly. ;)
 
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Jimbo1959

Jimbo1959

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With regard to the wheel bearing play, we are dealing with testers that have rarely seen cars with taper roller bearings on the front. They're used to front wheel drive bearings that have no play.
Slight play in the bearings will not cause any brake vibrations. I think you've given us the cause of your problem with the "spirited driving".

I don't understand why my spirited driving should be the cause, I always warm up and cool down properly.
I had a similar problem once before on another car (VW Group) and it turned out that the caliper was the problem, I fitted a new unit and the problem was resolved.
I asked on the forum mainly due to this being my first Mercedes and I wanted to tap into the experience of other owners/users, just in case I was missing out on some characteristic of the car.
It's beginning to look like new calipers and discs may well be the treatment required.
 

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