little vibration

[tom270]

Hi guys,

just joined as have bought a lovely 2003 E270 Cdi elegance, just what i was after, lovely lovely car.
i might be being jumpy here, you know how it is when you buy a new car, no radio on looking and listening for every noise etc, especially after reading all of the reviews/ forums etc!!

The only thing i can pick up on is a small vibration through the steering wheel at 1200 rpm when 'coasting' to slow down and a very small noise, only happens very shortly, it feels like the power steering??
gear changes are flawless both up and down.

cheers
tom

 

[Tinkerer]

Hello Tom,
I have had a similar problem on my E220cdi for the past 2 years sometimes worse than others. Once when coasting down hill I thought that the wheels were going to come off! I have suspected the injectors as it does get better sometimes when I put injector cleaner in the fuel but recently it does sound more metallic and I am thinking about the engine mounts. The other reason for letting the injectors off the hook is that it goes like a train and gives me over 45 mpg. Really will have to crawl underneath and have a look ............. sometime!

 

[pikeface]

Tom , I realise this is now a year on but did you identify the problem as I have exactly the same thing. ?

 

[Tinkerer]

Hello Pikeface, don't know about Tom but I ended up changing both the MAF and EGR valve, I don't think in retrospect that there was anything wrong with the MAF but even after cleaning the EGR the problem persisted I think because it was not sealing off when it should have been closed. 90% of the time now it is OK and NO limp mode but I still get the 'shudder' at about 1200-1500rpm on a neutral throttle and have given up on trying to diagnose this further. I did have to have it put on STAR originally to find the problem. HTH

 

[pikeface]

Tinkerer, below is the post that I started the other day trying to get help on it. Since this I have read threads on engine mounts that could also be the problem. Does this describe you issue ?

Could anyone please help ?
I have recently purchased a 2003 e270 with 78K on the clock(immaculate full Merc history). I have become aware of a slight vibration at 1200 rpm and have now found the threads relating to the Valeo issue that others have suffered. I have approach the trader that I purchased it from and he has said he will take a look. His initial reaction is to flush the gearbox. I don't hold out too much hope, that aside I think I need to prove to him and for that matter that the problem is related to the radiator leak. So, I live near Dover in Kent and was wondering if there are any recommended garages that could perform the tests and if positive, provide that information for me to present to the trader. Obviously speed is of the essence here because I have only had the car 2 weeks. I also think that the vibration is relatively small and I may even have trouble demonstrating it to the trader.

HELP !!!!!!!!

 

[Tinkerer]

Yes it does but I have had the problem for 2 - 2.5 years and at one point decelerating down a hill I literally thought the wheels were going to fall off (interestingly it always stops if you are able to put your foot down), it was that bad hence STAR hence EGR valve change. Also during all this time I have not lost any coolant so do not think it is the radiator problem. Might be engine mounts but then I think I would have it all the time and not on the intermittent and changeable basis as now. There was a lot of soot in the intake manifold when I took the EGR off, I cleared as much as I could but chickened out of removing it for a good clean. Other than that I do have some evidence of rodent damage to some of the cables under the bonnet but if it is this then, as you say, it did not demonstrate during the STAR test.
The only garage that I am aware of down south is Prestige cars in Horndean, bit of a trek but may be worth it, Olly advertises on this forum in the members offers by traders section.

 

[pikeface]

Thanks Tinkerer, I had thought that the loss of coolant would be evidence of the problem. But because I have only had the car 3 weeks it may not show up.

Just another thing that I have identified is that when the vibration occours in the steering wheel, if you feel thw gear shift there is no vibration there at all. I would have thought if it was gearbox related it would be present on the gearstick.

I am leaning towards the engine mounts at the moment but will do further investigation.

Please let me know your thoughts on the gearstick showing any signs of vibration.


Jeremy

 

[Tinkerer]

I have never noticed any vibration on the gear shift and no vibration in the steering wheel either, if I were you I would lean towards a good Indy as it sounds like brakes or wheels to me.