Help! Hit a kerb and only bought my car 2 weeks ago

[adilhk84]

Hi there, I recently bought a CLS 320 (2 weeks ago) and being my first Mercedes I am very sad to report the following - please help!

I hit a kerb yesterday when parking (as the road is narrow and I needed to mount the kerb), I think I was doing 5-10mph max, as I was slow, and then mounted the kerb at a slow speed, the driver side wheel made a noise when mounting. After I drove off again on my journey, the car now makes a noise between 25 - 40mph which sounds like I am running a flat tire and it is coming from the wheel, almost a rotating sound which I can feel under my feet. I called out the AA who said there was no puncture or damage to the wheel, but advised me to get my wheel's aligned. I took it to Kwik Fit this morning and got them aligned, the mechanic said they were out, but this has not fixed the problem, and after that wheel alignment, I think my car is veering to the left. I don't know what it could be. My steering wheel does not vibrate at all, it simply sounds like I am running a flat.

Any idea's what this could be as I recently bought the car (2 weeks ago) and am really upset, that a stupid mistake has ruined my weekend! Any thoughts on what it may be will be appreciated.

*1 person has told me I need to get my wheels aligned using hunter wheel alignment pro Southall Discount Tyres firstly to fix to Kwik Fit debacle, and secondly that this should hopefully solve the problem.

Someone else has said I have a buckled wheel - is this really expensive to repair?

 

[adilhk84]

R.e.

Also can you please recommend a decent garage to take it to, or would you suggest I take it to MB in park royal?

 

[danr]

After a routine service the MB dealer once advised me that due to wearing the edges on the front tyres I should get the tracking looked at. I tried to get Kwik Fit to do as I had the car in to them for brakes and they refused. They said that with Merc's they couldn't get it right, they had too many customers come back with issues and instead suggested I go to a dealer.

I'm not sure if that's due to the incompetence of one workshop or the entire chain but maybe you should consult a dealer or good independent specialist to check the tracking.

 

[219]

You could have trapped a mudflap or some other underbody part which is now rubbing - best have the car checked at a proper MB workshop rather than the 'song & dance' merchants .

 

[Burger]

From personal experience of many cars over many years I wouldn't let Kwik Fit or ANY high street chain anywhere near my wheel alignment. Heck, I'd have to be in a real hurry or even desperate to let them fit tyres. I have NEVER had a satisfactory outcome. Also, it's no good just looking for shops that have fancy equipment because the knowledge of how to use it, interpret the results and apply them to your vehicle is easily as important as the equipment.

As suggested, check you haven't trapped a mudflap or knocked some completely unrelated piece of trim. Basically make sure there's no other part of the car scraping on the wheel/tyre.

Regards,

 

[Cen]

Could you have created a flat spot on the tyre whilst mounting the kerb? A flat spot can make such a noise and can even sound like a wheel bearing as gone?

Just a shot in the dark

 

[Stratman]

This is the place to take it to.

Many on here won't take their car anywhere else for alignment and Tony posts on here with invaluable advice. Chesham isn't too far from West London and will be worth the trip.

 

[kamalpatel12448]

This is the place to take it to.

Many on here won't take their car anywhere else for alignment and Tony posts on here with invaluable advice. Chesham isn't too far from West London and will be worth the trip.

Second that, see the man in the picture from the link and it will be

 

[dalmiester]

Could be wheel bearing?

 

[adilhk84]

Hi Guys, you have all been great and very helpful! Took the car to the local tyre specialist's who found a nail on the inside of the tyre! It was repaired and that awful noise has now gone. It ruined my weekend, but glad it is now sorted. On another note, I just noticed (actually was told by the tyre shop) that the previous owner had 3 different makes on the car (2 Pirelli's at the back, one front continental and another cheap brand on the drivers side) I was advised to get the drivers side changed to continental, as while the pirelli's are fine as a pair at the back. The front two should also match. Silly me not making a big deal about this when buying the car as I didn't think it mattered?! I've ordered the matching continental sport tyre for the drivers side, and including fit & VAT it should come to about £160.

Is he trying to fleece me? I am really taking an interest in trying to understand my car fully, as with my previous car (a megane) there was no pride in ownership :|

Once again thanks for all of the advice guys - you really did help, so that when I went to the shop at least I came across as if I knew what I was talking about.

 

[wheels-inmotion]

On a lock the collective chassis strength is reduced unfortunately.

You need the full geometry measured not just the toe angle, it's probable the OSF camber has been displaced but before you worry this is not end of days, you just need good diagnostics and a adjuster bolt or two fitted.

Edit: seemingly you have a puncture, AA where spot on then!!

 

[adilhk84]

That's the AA for you!!!

 

[cazyp]

Personally I'd say the tread depth on each of the front tyres is more important. So both ideally should be replaced. As for make the choice is endless although many like to keep the same brand that the car was originally fitted with.
Personally when driving private hire taxis I've found mid range brands such as infinity to be as good in the wet and for general driving as premium brands.

 

[danr]

Do a quick Google for Autoexpress tyre group tests.

Over the last few years they've found that the premium tyres generally come out on top. Not in all categories or all brands.

The mid market brands often give them a run for the money though (echoing crazyp's comments) and on a cost basis I think quite easily beat them.

The cheap far eastern budgets are horrendous.

I recall one review but can't remember the brands. However the gist was that if you're car had their top wet choice (one of the big brands) and you had to stop in rain on the motorway at 70mph then you better hope the car behind didn't have their bottom tested Chinese brand. As by the time you'd stopped they would still be going at 30mph!

 

[Fizzer]

From personal experience of many cars over many years I wouldn't let Kwik Fit or ANY high street chain anywhere near my wheel alignment. Heck, I'd have to be in a real hurry or even desperate to let them fit tyres. I have NEVER had a satisfactory outcome. Also, it's no good just looking for shops that have fancy equipment because the knowledge of how to use it, interpret the results and apply them to your vehicle is easily as important as the equipment.

As suggested, check you haven't trapped a mudflap or knocked some completely unrelated piece of trim. Basically make sure there's no other part of the car scraping on the wheel/tyre.

Regards,

The trouble is even if you take it to the dealers you may not know who is doing the work.. My Mercedes dealers (Macclesfield) has a tyre "technician" on site permenently.... and he is a Kwik Fit employee (to be fair he does seem to know his stuff, and has worked on my car a couple of times).

 

[Burger]

The trouble is even if you take it to the dealers you may not know who is doing the work.. My Mercedes dealers (Macclesfield) has a tyre "technician" on site permenently.... and he is a Kwik Fit employee (to be fair he does seem to know his stuff, and has worked on my car a couple of times).

I gave my dealers one chance to give me a straight steering wheel and they got it absolutely spot on. Time will tell if they got the alignment right at the same time but as the car doesn't pull or drift abnormally they can't be that far out. Normally there is only one place I would take any of my cars for such work - RGC in Camberley. However, from many peoples comments I also wouldn't hesitate to take it to Black Boots.

I'm sure Kwik Fit and the other tyre chains do have some knowledgable people who actually care about the work they do but they're rare enough for me to know beyond any doubt I would never take my car to them for anything other than supplying me new tyres. Even then I would take the car immediately to RGC or similar for alignment and wheel balance etc.

I stand by what I said as it's from a lot of experience and many trials (and errors)... If you care about your car NEVER let Kwik Fit or any other high street chain touch your wheel alignment.

Regards,

 

[jefrs]

On the MB the car "knows" where the steering and wheel position is. So if the car is going in a straight line, and the steering is cocked, the the ESP/gubbins assumes you are supposed to be turning and promptly hammers the brake on one side to correct it. Try explaining this to the spanner monkey who fits the tyres as to why the steering wheel must be dead level, they don't believe you.