E320 steering judder

[John Bowles]

Last July we collected the E320 from Germany and drove it back with a heavy wheel judder at 60 miles 2,000 rpm. The dealer was informed of the problem and we were told it would be sorted at the PDI.

Since then the car has been back to the dealer numerous times with the promise that it will be resolved, all they did was to send it across the road for a wheel balance which did not solve the problem.

The dealer's engineers agree that there is a judder in the steering, but the funny thing the engineer from Mercedes Milton Keynes head office could not see anything wrong.

The dealer replaced the wheels and tyres but the judder was still present. So they had yet another go with the help of an Engineer from Milton Keynes. They have now said that the steering dampers have been adjusted. The judder isn't visible but the steering is lumpy and harder when turining right or left.

Another dealer asked what dampers? He said they are integrated in the steering and that my dealer should not have tampered with the unit.

Does any one with an E320 have a similar problem?
Can anyone tell me if the dampers can be adjusted?
Can anyone E-mail me a steering column/dampers diagram please?
To: eclassmerc@hotmail.com

 

[The Editor]

Hey John,

Can't help you with the judder prob I'm afraid but just curious to know what the whole Stuttgart pick up experience was like?

Was it worthwhile? I'm thinking of doing just that when I order my E-Class and interested to know peoples opinions.

Thanks

Mark

 

[turnipsock]

It looks like the first dealer has adjusted the steering tension thing on the box. This will make the steering heavier or lighter. I'm not sure what their reason for doing this was unless to mask the problem. You do need some special tools to set this up as you have measure the forces on the steering wheel.

Putting on new wheels and tyres also seems a bit daft...why not just put the rear wheels on the front to rule out that avenue?

You maybe want to get the wheels balanced on the car, I haven't seen this service advertised much recently. (After this, you will need to put the wheels on the car in the same position every time)

 

[shrekky]

To adjust the dampers will only mask the problem,if the steering is juddering,it obviously suggest the that something isn't working right or is starting to seize up,worn track rod ends and balljoints can have the same effect,might not be any play in them,dont mean they are worn,just might not be rotating properly in its cup,failing that you just start to move onto the serious things like the steering box itself or even the power steering pump,but thing is,dont stop hounding them to fix it.........coz it can only get worse and could prove expensive for you.........as i found out,new steering boxes can be a couple of thousand pounds to buy new

 

[John Bowles]

Danke

Thank you for your reply, much appreciated.
I will keep you posted on progress.