E350 - wheel/suspension geometry

[Richard65]

Can anyone point me in the direction of stock settings for wheel alignment. I have just been for a check and adjust using a Supertracker machine (this was at one of the big tyre/exhaust/brake centre places which will be nameless and I went there only because my independent garage's equipment is not calibrated). When MB told me about the uneven wear at recent service they were not interested in checking and said that it was probably under inflation - it isn't, and just wanted to replace the tyres. Supertracker operative first input the wrong vehicle information and then corrected it when I told him after seeing the read out but when I asked for information about the readings neither he or the manager seemed to know the difference between negative and positive and told me the camber was positive when it was clearly negative on the read out. Only when I pointed this out did they look slightly confused and agreed with me. The short version of this is that on both front and rear tyres both sides wear on the inside edge where the rest of all the tyres is perfectly even in wear. They have adjusted the toe-in front and rear but say they can't adjust the camber or caster. But honestly I'm still not sure if they had the correct settings or if they knew what they were doing.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

We have a local ‘go to’ outfit with a good reputation who use a Hunter alignment setup so probably a good idea to find out by recommendation where your equivalent is. Camber bolts are available from MB I bought some last time I had my car aligned but you need to find a good place to take the car to

 

[LostKiwi]

Sadly wheel alignment is one of those things where there are a lot of cowboys claiming to know what they are doing.
I had a very similar experience with s well known chain who first if all set the car up as a 230 when it's a 129 (totally different geometry and design) then tried to tell me caster and camber weren't adjustable (when on an r129 they are). I spent the next hour instructing the 'expert' on how to do it and wouldn't let him take the car off the ramp until I was satisfied the job was done correctly.

The best place to go is Wheels in Motion. They have a superb reputation, know what they are doing (they work on high-end track cars including LeMans specials) and carry castor and camber bolts in stock. They aren't cheap but once it's done you know it's right.
Avantgarde near Bristol also know what they are doing and if you want somewhere nearer try asking @alexanderfoti at AMF - he's a Mercedes independent specialist but I don't know if he does wheel alignment.

 

[Larkone]

WIM - +1 I only take my cars there as they have always solved any alignment and adjustment issues where others have consistently failed

 

[Richard65]

Combined thanks to the three of you. Alex's machine is out of action but he put on the new tyres and I will continue to use him. I did ask this 'specialist' if they were able to do everything and had the parts and they said they had and I asked to watch in the workshop but they declined. They were pleasant enough but it's a pain when you know they're not up to it. I'll wait for Alex to fix his machine or go to Wheels in Motion. Anyone know if there is a link to the spec....like ESS for the service schedule? Have taken up the missing transmission fluid change with MB because I'm convinced they should have done it at 5 years or 77,500 whichever is first and they can't point me to the transmission model ref which excludes mine at 5 years which is why they didn't do it, instead insisting that I had to wait until 77,500.

 

[LostKiwi]

Just get Alex to do the transmission change.

 

[Richard65]

It's a sizeable sum on this, MB quoted £500 and although Alex is not as expensive he thinks the sump is replaced on this 9-speed box so maybe over £300 and if MB do it as part of the service plan I can spend £300 on other things.

 

[Wighty]

It's a sizeable sum on this, MB quoted £500 and although Alex is not as expensive he thinks the sump is replaced on this 9-speed box so maybe over £300 and if MB do it as part of the service plan I can spend £300 on other things.

Try this link for your gearbox schedule buddy
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr...als.html/RK=2/RS=XggzVm2TEhke4cfFLkhJwHYacbs-

 

[Richard65]

Thanks Wighty but that's a 2013 service schedule and the Service Booklet in mine is the 2014 version and shows a fluid change at either 31k/3 years or 77,500/5 years. See attached and my VIN shows this engine and transmission spec. I'm not trying to be a nerd, just want to know what the correct service should be. It doesn't indicate any other fluid change variation and it wasn't done at 3 years so seems to me it should be at 5 years?

Engine #: 642852 41 686636
Variant: A 642 010 95 08
Transmission #: 725001 00 033670

 

[Wighty]

Thanks Wighty but that's a 2013 service schedule and the Service Booklet in mine is the 2014 version and shows a fluid change at either 31k/3 years or 77,500/5 years. See attached and my VIN shows this engine and transmission spec. I'm not trying to be a nerd, just want to know what the correct service should be. It doesn't indicate any other fluid change variation and it wasn't done at 3 years so seems to me it should be at 5 years?

Engine #: 642852 41 686636
Variant: A 642 010 95 08
Transmission #: 725001 00 033670

Sorry buddy , I hadn’t spotted that it was 2013 .