C Class owners only......

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DRIVER200

Active Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2016
Messages
812
Car
C43 AMG Estate
Have any C Class owners had confirmation from MB that their car will be covered by the 'tyre change' program to address the crabbing issue. I have spoken to MB CS and they said that the C Class was not covered and were very reluctant to speak about the issue in general!! Noticed on the HonestJohn website covering this issue that one C43 owner has said that their dealer contacted them to say that they are waiting for MB to test which tyres would be better for this particular model!! I have contacted my particular dealer who said that he has not changed the tyres on any GLC or C Class.... strange but true?
 
I didn't even know this had progressed this far. What models have they already agreed to change the tyres on?!
 
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I'm aware of the issue, I wasn't aware that MB had agreed to change tyres on some models
 
Dave.tam said:
I'm aware of the issue, I wasn't aware that MB had agreed to change tyres on some models
Click to expand...

If you ever have a spare hour to spend try phoning MB Customer Services and speak to them about this issue. They are a Master Class in how to deal with a problem without actually dealing with a problem!! Might be an idea to paint a door before you call them to give you something to look at while they waffle you to sleep......:thumb:
 
I have already spoken to my local dealership. They said that they're aware of the issue, but at that time, the only direction MB had given them was to get the waiver signed for all new GLC models, which the salesman refused to do.
 
Its possible that the effect is not so marked in saloon and estate C class/ E class 4MATIC models. Slightly different suspension, ride height, steering rack /arm position, tyre size/aspect ratio etc. Certainly don't seem to have generated the same volume of complaints on this forum [ maybe elsewhere??]as the GLC models?
 
grober said:
Its possible that the effect is not so marked in saloon and estate C class/ E class 4MATIC models. Slightly different suspension, ride height, steering rack /arm position, tyre size/aspect ratio etc. Certainly don't seem to have generated the same volume of complaints on this forum [ maybe elsewhere??]as the GLC models?
Click to expand...

Maybe but MB are changing out tyres on C's because of this 'characteristic' so they are obviously aware. What concerns me most is the inconsistency of MB dealers to deal with this in a unified fashion as it seems some will change your tyres no problem but others dismiss you as last weeks news. Disgraceful really.
 
Well my C250 hasn't Had any issues at all, but my A250 has.
 
Dave.tam said:
How does that link help? It just says that MB refuse to fix the problem. I thought there had been some headway where MB HAD been offering to change people's tyres because of the issue?
Click to expand...

I think you need to read it again and you will see that SOME owners have been offered replacement tyres to address this 'characteristic' but alas SOME MB dealers are refusing to go down this road. Have copied a couple of quotes from the HJ entry below which will give you some idea.

stephen Mack on 29 March 2017 C43 CAB.
I also have just been informed there is a free set of all weather tyres ready to be fitted to my car at my local Mercedes dealership in Newcastle well done Mercedes.
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e6bf76c7d7c356d528988aceb5478afc
milomaine on 30 March 2017
Do you know what make/size of tyre they have ready for you? I have a c43 coupe and yesterday I received an email from my dealer saying that Mercedes are still testing for the best tyre option for the c43.
 
Thanks, I didn't read all the comments too. I thougth you were guiding me to the article itself.

So it seems that some dealers are trying to keep their customers happy out of their own pocket then.
 
Exactly the point I was thinking of making. Folks need to distinguish between the officially MB UK sanctioned GLC tyre swaps for which there is documented evidence from MB UK posted on here, and ad hoc undocumented gestures by individual dealerships to aid customer satisfaction borne at their own expense. Until someone can come up with similar documentation from MB UK headquarters that covers all ordinary 4matic C Class vehicles, owners are still going to be subject to apparently somewhat variable attitude of their local supplying MB dealership surely ??
 
I'm going to speak to my local dealer again. My issue is with my A250, not a C or GLC, but it still has the same issue. Last time I spoke to them, they were well aware of the issue, and they knew it was across multiple vehicles, and not just GLCs.

Can someone point me towards where the official tyre swap has been documented for the GLC please? There's far too information posted for me to read through it all.

Thanks in advance
 
Dave.tam said:
I'm going to speak to my local dealer again. My issue is with my A250, not a C or GLC, but it still has the same issue. Last time I spoke to them, they were well aware of the issue, and they knew it was across multiple vehicles, and not just GLCs.

Can someone point me towards where the official tyre swap has been documented for the GLC please? There's far too information posted for me to read through it all.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Here is a copy of the letter in the same HJ article which assume was sent out to ALL MB dealerships in the UK.

Dear Colleague

Further to our interim update last week, we are now able to provide a more detailed technical explanation regarding this issue.

Due to the positioning of the front axle differential on right hand drive cars, the steering position differs very slightly compared to left hand drive models. When the steering is on full lock this steering angle difference can result in the front tyre skipping sensation. This is more pronounced during cold weather and when larger wheels and low profile tyres are fitted.

We can assure you that our technical specialists, as well as independent experts such as DEKRA, concur that the cars remain completely safe to drive.

Fitment of All Season tyres counteracts the sensation. We are therefore securing sufficient stocks of these to provide to customers who find this uncomfortable.

· Mercedes-Benz Cars UK will contact GLC customers who have already registered a Compass complaint:
• Customers with 17”, 18”, 19” and 20” tyres will be offered a set of All Season tyres (once available) and fitment free of charge
• For GLC 43 AMG customers who have cars with 21” tyres, a 21” All Season tyre is not currently available. We will offer these customers the option of taking 20” wheels and All Season tyres, or waiting for 21” All Season tyre availability

· We would ask you to please do the same for GLC customer complaints that you have received and managed locally or for any future GLC complaints about this issue until further notice

· Please also take the following action for customers who have ordered their car but have yet to take delivery, and for future customers of existing dealer and pipeline stock until further notice:
• Please make sure they are aware of this characteristic.
• Customers proceeding with delivery have the option to take All Season tyres as soon as they are available or to wait and change to them if/when they experience this sensation in Winter 2017/18.
• For customers who do not wish to take delivery of their GLC with summer tyres, please offer a courtesy car until the All Season tyres are available for their car.

For all the cases above concerning provision and fitment of All Season tyres, please submit a goodwill claim against damage code 2113800.
We will provide updates concerning any interaction we have with your customers, together with availability of the aftermarket All Season tyres and the logistics process involved.

Yours faithfully




David George Sally Jones
Sales Director Customer Services Director
Mercedes-Benz Cars Mercedes-Benz Cars


Emma Passmoor

Customer Services MBuk
 
In other words RH drive cars have compromised steering geometry.

None of this is rocket science. Why has it taken so long for a company with the resources of MB to come forward with an explanation. The designers must have known the RH drive model would be compromised when the car was still on the drawing board.
 
DRIVER200 said:
Maybe but MB are changing out tyres on C's because of this 'characteristic' so they are obviously aware. What concerns me most is the inconsistency of MB dealers to deal with this in a unified fashion as it seems some will change your tyres no problem but others dismiss you as last weeks news. Disgraceful really.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong I am not saying there isn't a problem for 4matic RHD C class owners. Far from it. Its just that there seems to have been no official acknowledgement or sanctioned tyre fix for these models from MB UK headquarters in writing as yet? I was merely speculating when I say the problem may not be so marked/noticeable in the C Class, hence perhaps the lack of response from MB "IF" they have received fewer complaints from owners so far.:dk:
 
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Dave.tam said:
I'm going to speak to my local dealer again. My issue is with my A250, not a C or GLC, but it still has the same issue. Last time I spoke to them, they were well aware of the issue, and they knew it was across multiple vehicles, and not just GLCs.

Can someone point me towards where the official tyre swap has been documented for the GLC please? There's far too information posted for me to read through it all.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Unfortunately the steering and drivetrain arrangements are completely different in the A [ CLA, GLA] Class. A primarily FWD architecture coupled to an electronically controlled central differential situated at the rear of the car in 4MATIC cars , means that although the effect experienced may be similar they will originate from different engineering causes. I believe I read somewhere of recalibration of the software controlling the central diff may help but can't find it at the moment sorry. :(
 
Yeah, see all this makes no sense to me at all. I'm not an engineer or maths wiz. All I know is that in our A250 on 19" wheels, we get the tyre skipping. It's very off putting, very loud and very annoying! I had a look at the tyres themselves and they've lost a hell of a lot of tread, I presume because they've been continuously dragged sideways whilst on full lock during the winter months.

I know nothing about the mechanics of why this happens, and it's never happened on any other car I've owned, and I've owned a fair few.

I'm going to speak to my dealer again to see if they can update me further.
 
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