I have just recently joined this forum and found a few instances of people experiencing C classes pulling to the left. Last year I purchased a 2 year old C240 Avantgarde from MB in Colindale. On the initial test drive I felt the car pulled to the left but was assured by the sales person that "all Mercedes pull to the left!". A few weeks later whilst washing the car I found it had an incorrect size tyre fitted to the front left. Although the car did not have or require an MOT, I was told by an independent mechanic that it would have failed on this thus making it unroadworthy. So much for the multipoint check MB blag on about, this along with a string of other issues had been checked and approved by them in all the paper work they gave me. So check your tyres because they don't!
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C class pulling to the left
- Thread starter tajsingh
- Start date
teky
Senior Member
the tyre probably made the drag worse than it should be, go back to the dealer and let them reimburse the cost of the tyre if you paid for it and have them carefully check all tyres and wheels they will do this gladly because of embarrassment because its a very serious matter it could have killed and is just not good enough from a dealer to allow this to happentajsingh said:I have just recently joined this forum and found a few instances of people experiencing C classes pulling to the left. Last year I purchased a 2 year old C240 Avantgarde from MB in Colindale. On the initial test drive I felt the car pulled to the left but was assured by the sales person that "all Mercedes pull to the left!". A few weeks later whilst washing the car I found it had an incorrect size tyre fitted to the front left. Although the car did not have or require an MOT, I was told by an independent mechanic that it would have failed on this thus making it unroadworthy. So much for the multipoint check MB blag on about, this along with a string of other issues had been checked and approved by them in all the paper work they gave me. So check your tyres because they don't!
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #5
Hi Teky,
No chance of the dealer getting embarrassed, when I told them about it they did not seem too bothered. In the end after numerous arguments and escalating it to Head Office they changed the tyre. However, I had no confidence in the ?comprehensive pre-sales check? which they conducted as the car had a number of flaws, e.g. electric seat not functioning, missing first aid kit, etc. All these items had ticks in the boxes on their check sheet. When I asked them to re-do the check they wanted to charge me for it, but I eventually got them to do it for free. Only to find when my car was returned a few days later, that the full tank of petrol was empty, more worryingly, there were various brackets and clips on the rear seat, when I asked where they were from, no one had a clue! At this point I gave up with them.
No chance of the dealer getting embarrassed, when I told them about it they did not seem too bothered. In the end after numerous arguments and escalating it to Head Office they changed the tyre. However, I had no confidence in the ?comprehensive pre-sales check? which they conducted as the car had a number of flaws, e.g. electric seat not functioning, missing first aid kit, etc. All these items had ticks in the boxes on their check sheet. When I asked them to re-do the check they wanted to charge me for it, but I eventually got them to do it for free. Only to find when my car was returned a few days later, that the full tank of petrol was empty, more worryingly, there were various brackets and clips on the rear seat, when I asked where they were from, no one had a clue! At this point I gave up with them.
Trading standards...
You pay for the multipoint check in the price of the car. If they haven't carried out the check, which they obviously haven't, then you didn't get what you paid for.
I'm sure your local trading standards would be more than happy to help you with this matter. After all, you pay a premium to buy from a dealer, you should expect nothing less than the best.
You pay for the multipoint check in the price of the car. If they haven't carried out the check, which they obviously haven't, then you didn't get what you paid for.
I'm sure your local trading standards would be more than happy to help you with this matter. After all, you pay a premium to buy from a dealer, you should expect nothing less than the best.
The SL320 I bought, 1 year old also had a pre-delivery check, but I soon had to return for damaged catalytic converters, non functioning Xenon light and alrm with missing keys.
I had tried to get a discount on the car, but they wouldn't give me one saying that the pre-delivery check was expensive for them. Rubbish...
I had tried to get a discount on the car, but they wouldn't give me one saying that the pre-delivery check was expensive for them. Rubbish...
squealinneil
Senior Member
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- Jun 26, 2004
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Anyone from MB HQ ever read this stuff?
Do you think anyone from MB UK head office ever reads these BBs? If I worked in HQ & saw the level of complaints about dealers, with the same names popping up on different boards again & again, I'd have to conclude the service end of the biz is letting the co. down.
Do you think anyone from MB UK head office ever reads these BBs? If I worked in HQ & saw the level of complaints about dealers, with the same names popping up on different boards again & again, I'd have to conclude the service end of the biz is letting the co. down.
pulling left - fixed
I had the same problem on a 2001 C240
I argued with Mercedes for 2 years. Had it looked at by 4 Mercedes dealers and also paid for an RAC inspection. Mercedes gave me all the normal rubbish about camber, tyres etc nut RAC reported it was a problem. Mercedes HQ told me to bugger off and my supplying dealer got closed down so I had nobody to fight.
Anyway, to cut a very long story short, I found another chap with the same problem and he put me in touch with a bloke at Mercedes HQ (in service) that knew how to fix the fault.
I gave his name to my local dealer and it GOT FIXED.
I will try to find the name of the contact and dig out the invoice for the parts. There were some "replacement bolts"
As a result I feel that Mercedes service stinks and I will never buy another one. I have purchased 2 brand new cars from them and will never do it again. I have also inforced a policy in my company and taken Mercedes off of the company car list.
Please visit http://www.rantz.co.uk and post your comments about this issue.
Thanks
I had the same problem on a 2001 C240
I argued with Mercedes for 2 years. Had it looked at by 4 Mercedes dealers and also paid for an RAC inspection. Mercedes gave me all the normal rubbish about camber, tyres etc nut RAC reported it was a problem. Mercedes HQ told me to bugger off and my supplying dealer got closed down so I had nobody to fight.
Anyway, to cut a very long story short, I found another chap with the same problem and he put me in touch with a bloke at Mercedes HQ (in service) that knew how to fix the fault.
I gave his name to my local dealer and it GOT FIXED.
I will try to find the name of the contact and dig out the invoice for the parts. There were some "replacement bolts"
As a result I feel that Mercedes service stinks and I will never buy another one. I have purchased 2 brand new cars from them and will never do it again. I have also inforced a policy in my company and taken Mercedes off of the company car list.
Please visit http://www.rantz.co.uk and post your comments about this issue.
Thanks
- Banned
- #10
This is quite a common problem with the W202 Model
Firstly check that it's not just the road camber making the pull.
You need a proper 4 wheel alignment. There are some modified bolts available so if caster or camber are out, they can be adjusted.
W202 part no is A202 330 018
W210 part no is A210 330 018
Firstly check that it's not just the road camber making the pull.
You need a proper 4 wheel alignment. There are some modified bolts available so if caster or camber are out, they can be adjusted.
W202 part no is A202 330 018
W210 part no is A210 330 018
Hiharbour said:I had the same problem on a 2001 C240
I argued with Mercedes for 2 years. Had it looked at by 4 Mercedes dealers and also paid for an RAC inspection. Mercedes gave me all the normal rubbish about camber, tyres etc nut RAC reported it was a problem. Mercedes HQ told me to bugger off and my supplying dealer got closed down so I had nobody to fight.
Anyway, to cut a very long story short, I found another chap with the same problem and he put me in touch with a bloke at Mercedes HQ (in service) that knew how to fix the fault.
I gave his name to my local dealer and it GOT FIXED.
I will try to find the name of the contact and dig out the invoice for the parts. There were some "replacement bolts"
As a result I feel that Mercedes service stinks and I will never buy another one. I have purchased 2 brand new cars from them and will never do it again. I have also inforced a policy in my company and taken Mercedes off of the company car list.
Please visit http://www.rantz.co.uk and post your comments about this issue.
Thanks
Did you ever remember the name of the guy at HQ? Would appreciate the name. Thanks
R
MOHDW211
Active Member
I'm having the same problem with my w211.
Pulling severely to the left.
Spoke to dealer who will do 4 wheel alignment for 200 plus vat.
However my non-mbz dealer will do it for 65 plus vat.
You do not need mbz to fix it. Make sure the dealer uses a proper machine like
This is a message i got from a forum member
Hi,
You don't have to go to Mercedes to get alignment done. What you need is a garage that has the correct wheel aligner. Because they are about £17K, there are not many. The machines you are looking for are mainly made by Beisbarth, John Bean or Hunter/ProAlign. You should get a print with before and after settings.
In my garage we charge approximately £60. This pays for the 1st hour. Normally the alignment can be done within this time. After the 1st hour we change to normal hourly rate of £35. Sometimes we need to use wishbone/camber-caster bolts. These are extra.
The machine we use is a John Bean 901 (the dog's danglies).
I would expect that there will be garages in your area that use the proper equipment charging similar amounts?
Just stay away from garages that still use the old laser, string or light aligners, e.g. the likes of kwik fit.
regards,
Job
hope that helps
Pulling severely to the left.
Spoke to dealer who will do 4 wheel alignment for 200 plus vat.
However my non-mbz dealer will do it for 65 plus vat.
You do not need mbz to fix it. Make sure the dealer uses a proper machine like
This is a message i got from a forum member
Hi,
You don't have to go to Mercedes to get alignment done. What you need is a garage that has the correct wheel aligner. Because they are about £17K, there are not many. The machines you are looking for are mainly made by Beisbarth, John Bean or Hunter/ProAlign. You should get a print with before and after settings.
In my garage we charge approximately £60. This pays for the 1st hour. Normally the alignment can be done within this time. After the 1st hour we change to normal hourly rate of £35. Sometimes we need to use wishbone/camber-caster bolts. These are extra.
The machine we use is a John Bean 901 (the dog's danglies).
I would expect that there will be garages in your area that use the proper equipment charging similar amounts?
Just stay away from garages that still use the old laser, string or light aligners, e.g. the likes of kwik fit.
regards,
Job
hope that helps
MSG2004
Senior Member
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- Jan 1, 2005
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- Kent
- Your Mercedes
- MB C Class 180k Se Auto Avtg Saloon.
I had this problem on a 10 month old mb, c class, w203.
The car was making a light clonk as well.
The dealer had the car for around 2 weeks in all. Replaced some link arms i think and some type of bush.
No it's not the road camber it is a fault.
My steering is still a couple of degrees of centre going striahgt, but i'm putting up with that.
my car drives straight with no hands on the steering in a level area, that is a car park.
When the car had a fault, the car even pulled to the left in a level area with no hands on the steering. please make sure the area is clear and drive slowly and you wilol soon find out. Btw, the car will eveventally pull left/right - as long as it does not keep on pulling left, then it is ok..
Put your car to the test - check air pressures, etc - should drive straight on a level area.
The car was making a light clonk as well.
The dealer had the car for around 2 weeks in all. Replaced some link arms i think and some type of bush.
No it's not the road camber it is a fault.
My steering is still a couple of degrees of centre going striahgt, but i'm putting up with that.
my car drives straight with no hands on the steering in a level area, that is a car park.
When the car had a fault, the car even pulled to the left in a level area with no hands on the steering. please make sure the area is clear and drive slowly and you wilol soon find out. Btw, the car will eveventally pull left/right - as long as it does not keep on pulling left, then it is ok..
Put your car to the test - check air pressures, etc - should drive straight on a level area.
I encounter the same problem with my C class coupe. My MB dealer has looked at the car many times and came to the conclusion that it is down to the ultra sensitive steering on this car. I really do not know whether I buy this and gradually I have learnt to cope with the pulling.
With breaking noise and all the other electrical issues surrounding this car, my experience with it so far has been a little disappointing . My W210 however, nearing its 10th birthday is still playing the reliable work horse.
With breaking noise and all the other electrical issues surrounding this car, my experience with it so far has been a little disappointing . My W210 however, nearing its 10th birthday is still playing the reliable work horse.
Ramius
Senior Member
I had the "pulling" on my car when I bought it. I went to a local garage I know and explained the issue and expected tracking to be the offered solution.
To my supprise the two front wheels were swapped over and the guy, someone I know quite well said " there you go that'll drive straight and true now"
I drove off and still to my disbelief the car runs true as he said.
Apparently due to the weight of these cars as the tyres wear the left will wear a little differently due to the camber on the roads. Swaping the tyres side eliminates it......worked on mine!
To my supprise the two front wheels were swapped over and the guy, someone I know quite well said " there you go that'll drive straight and true now"
I drove off and still to my disbelief the car runs true as he said.
Apparently due to the weight of these cars as the tyres wear the left will wear a little differently due to the camber on the roads. Swaping the tyres side eliminates it......worked on mine!
