E Class (W213) steering wheel vibration and slight noise

[DUFC]

Received my 2018 E Class back from the local MB dealer after a recall to fix/replace the steering rack.

Driving home at circa 70 on dual carriageway there was a slight but unpleasant vibration and a bit of noise too.

Subsequent road test with the dealer service rep confirmed my own experience with the issue. The car has been in the dealership for over a day now while they try to work out what the problem is. Hoping to get it back tomorrow.

Anyone else had a problem like this?

 

[como]

Not had the recall yet but mine is 2017, so not sure if affected.

 

[DUFC]

Thanks Como, car is still in the dealership. They are scratching their heads. Did a search on other sites and there has been something similar elsewhere (USA I think) but it seems rare and they didn't appear to fix it there either. Fingers crossed they do manage here.

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Have all 4 wheels been rebalanced ? Might be worth doing, if only to eliminate the cheap and obvious

 

[DUFC]

Not had the recall yet but mine is 2017, so not sure if affected.

Have all 4 wheels been rebalanced ? Might be worth doing, if only to eliminate the cheap and obvious

My car was registered 31/3/19 so may not be much younger than yours Como.

Thanks Greenmanslk. As I understand it the wheels have been balanced and the alignment also checked. I'll hopefully get a full rundown later today.

 

[DUFC]

That should read 31/3/2018!

So, local MB dealer staff scratching their heads. Obvious stuff like wheel balances and alignment checked. They've played about with the rack and it actually seems a little better - but the problem is still there. Road tests indicate a specific stretch of new dual carriageway brings the problem to the fore. They are going to install a new rack on another E Class next week and conduct before and after tests to see if they can replicate the problem. Will update when I hear what has transpired.

 

[Ghost84]

I had a similar issue and it was the tyre had a twist in it...

 

[Ghost84]

When you get the vibration is it at 30mph ? and if you power through and get to 70/80 does it go away ?

 

[DUFC]

It manifests itself between 70/80 (77 in fact). Twisted tyre? I'll mention that.

 

[Ghost84]

I had the issue at low speeds and when I had the conti tyre replaced it went away...

 

[DUFC]

Ghost84, can I ask - was it one tyre and if so how did they identify it?

 

[Ghost84]

It was when I took it into quickFit that they said the tyre was twisted so the alloy may have a twist in it. Replaced as I have a second set of the same alloys and it fixed it straight away.

 

[DUFC]

Update....local dealer replaced the steering rack on another similar-age E Class, undertaking road tests before and after. The same vibration issue arose with the new rack on that car too. Another customer with an SL reports similar vibration. Collective wisdom is that certain road surfaces cause this vibration though obviously it was not experienced before the new racks were fitted. The local dealer acknowledges the problem bur has no solution. Next step appears to be for me to contact MB Customer Service. Anyone else having issues?

 

[DUFC]

So, a further update.....have just had my winter wheels fitted with the hope that this would impact positively on the vibration problem. Unfortunately the issue is still there. The technician who accompanied me on the test drive after the wheel fitting could actually see the steering wheel vibrate. This is not a major vibration, just at an irritating and unpleasant level. Await further action from the local dealer who I know has already passed the issue up to the MB technical folks. Anyone else had a new steering rack fitted and found a similar problem arise?