Pre facelift (A238) W213 4x4, juddering when cornering at slow speed

[Chris-net]

So I'm now the proud owner of a pre facelift a238 w213 cabriolet.

We are fortunate enough to have a horse show driveway and park our cars parallel to our house so when I leave I have to turn full lock left to straighten before exiting onto the street.

I notice that there is a juddering noise coming from the front of the car, its like its not gripping and being pushing forward despite the steering at lock or approaching lock. I have noted similar out on the road when turning left or right at T junctions or doing 3 point turns,

Is this normal?

This is my first 4 wheel drive car I've owned, but I've driven a few before & don't recall noticing this type of thing except I think on a Jeep Cherokee ltd back in the 90's.

Do other 4x4 e-class w213 owners experience the same thing?
is there something wrong with this vehicle?

I'm guessing its likely an issue with the dif.

My rear wheel drive S212 has never exhibited this behaviour, neither has any other vehicle I can think of as I park the a238 where I've always parked for the last 10 years and never note this issue,

any comments welcome.

 

[Blobcat]

All right hand drive Mercedes 4x4’s do it to a greater or lesser extent unfortunately. Mercedes answer is all season tyres

 

[mioba]

Go back to the garage where you got it from

 

[richlumb]

As @Blobcat said some 4 matics suffer tyre skipping @Woodleigh doesn’t have a problem on his W205 and I don’t have an issue on my X253, I opted to use all seasons so I didn’t have to mess about with tyres in winter but never had a problem with summer tyres before. I’d definitely go for all seasons tho if your having skipping issues

 

[Chris-net]

Thank you guys

At pace it is not perceivable, it’s just slow speeds which got me wondering about a potential limited slip dif thing.

This car has some unknown to me lansomthing front passenger tyre, the other 3 are Yokohama’s.

They look like summer tyres, all have good tread but looked like they where slicks at 1st glance.

I’ll have a moan at the dealer anyway, but if it’s a known thing then I’ll deal with it it.

Car is under warranty so I can take it up with Merc st service time. If it’s an issue I’m sure the local dealer would like the warranty work if applicable.

 

[Woodleigh]

As @Blobcat said some 4 matics suffer tyre skipping @Woodleigh doesn’t have a problem on his W205 and I don’t have an issue on my X253, I opted to use all seasons so I didn’t have to mess about with tyres in winter but never had a problem with summer tyres before. I’d definitely go for all seasons tho if your having skipping issues

True Rich, my W205 4MATIC is on its second set of Cont runflats on 19" multispoke and its first set of 18" Pirelli run-flat winters and never had and never had crabbing or skipping with either tyres.

PS: Mercedes Benz will say it's a "Characteristic" if you complain. Think about checking the tracking and changing the tyres. As @richlumb says, Mercs will probably suggest All Seasons.

 

[Chris-net]

A Google has found some related information from Mercedes about it

Outside temp was 7c this morning

The annoying Mercedes tyre skip when cornering or maneuvering by SPR Autos of Stockport

A customer spoke to us about his Mercedes w123 estate after being off the road for some time, he's had the car from new and it needed some SPR Autos TLC.

mercedescarservicing.co.uk

Fpace jags have this issue too

https://www.fpaceforum.com/threads/ssm73888-low-speed-manoeuvering-front-tyre-skip-jump-phenomenon.44257/

 

[richlumb]

A Google has found some related information from Mercedes about it

Outside temp was 7c this morning

The annoying Mercedes tyre skip when cornering or maneuvering by SPR Autos of Stockport

A customer spoke to us about his Mercedes w123 estate after being off the road for some time, he's had the car from new and it needed some SPR Autos TLC.

mercedescarservicing.co.uk

Fpace jags have this issue too

https://www.fpaceforum.com/threads/ssm73888-low-speed-manoeuvering-front-tyre-skip-jump-phenomenon.44257/

It’s all down to the rubber Chris , I’m using Vredestein at the min and mine runs really good on them

 

[Chris-net]

I used to run the vredestein ultrac‘s on my w203 and loved them, tried them on my w212 but prices and convenience pushed me back to michelins or Bridgestone.

which vredesteins are you running?

tyres can be a minefield, I‘m considering replacing the unknown front left for a new yoko but I’m feeling the need to be a bit frugal after the huge outlay and doesn’t make much sense replacing 2 tyres with good tread for 2 new ones at the moment. If I let them wear naturally I’ll be open to Vredesteins again.

I’m still honing in my feel for the car (size, driving position, speed & 4x4 etc are all very different to the s212 e250), and tyre skipping feels like it’ll cause excess wear anyway. Will be interesting to see what kind of mileage I get from what’s on there. I assume the shoulders will melt like pizza cheese on the fronts like the other 2 Merc’s i’ve owned.

4 wheel drive does feel a lot different, but then my golf gti turbo (when I had it) was fun in a very different way to the a45 loaner I had for a week many years back which felt like a rear wheel drive but planted & the s212 feels very ‘safe’ in all conditions including sudden snow but of course once it’s moving. I’m assuming 4matic+ will let me at least move once we get snow.

sports+ is a different beast I will take my time to acquaint myself with

 

[Benz17]

I used to run the vredestein ultrac‘s on my w203 and loved them, tried them on my w212 but prices and convenience pushed me back to michelins or Bridgestone.

which vredesteins are you running?

tyres can be a minefield, I‘m considering replacing the unknown front left for a new yoko but I’m feeling the need to be a bit frugal after the huge outlay and doesn’t make much sense replacing 2 tyres with good tread for 2 new ones at the moment. If I let them wear naturally I’ll be open to Vredesteins again.

I’m still honing in my feel for the car (size, driving position, speed & 4x4 etc are all very different to the s212 e250), and tyre skipping feels like it’ll cause excess wear anyway. Will be interesting to see what kind of mileage I get from what’s on there. I assume the shoulders will melt like pizza cheese on the fronts like the other 2 Merc’s i’ve owned.

4 wheel drive does feel a lot different, but then my golf gti turbo (when I had it) was fun in a very different way to the a45 loaner I had for a week many years back which felt like a rear wheel drive but planted & the s212 feels very ‘safe’ in all conditions including sudden snow but of course once it’s moving. I’m assuming 4matic+ will let me at least move once we get snow.

sports+ is a different beast I will take my time to acquaint myself with

If you get the four wheel alignment done properly, the front shoulders shouldn’t get abnormal wear.

My current car purchased in 2019, haven’t yet had any abnormal wear to front or rear 20’s. Have had the alignment checked twice by wheels in motion in Chesham, who are one of the experts in the field, and especially with mercs. Would be worth a drive there, if they are not too much of a distance.

If the car is set up properly then one should not in theory get abnormal wear.