S320 Judder above 70 mph

[ItalianTuneUp]

It's a funny sort of shudder/judder
It appears to start at the front of the car then progresses to my feet then up to my seat. It then clears and starts again
It's got me totally baffled????

Strange, it sounds like it could be 'vibration beat'.

The FFT - Page 21

Basically, when two or more frequencies drift in and out of phase, iirc.

Do you normally feel much vibration on the steering wheel / floor etc?

Could it be worn engine/gearbox mounts transmitting frequencies up through the chassis?

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

The wheels have been balanced twice now with no success
They are 20" AMG 5 spoke one has a slight dent in it but it balanced up with a bit of extra lead
I'm wondering if I should buy or borrow a set of wheels to see if the problem persists

From previous experience if a wheel was out of balance it would wobble constantly at a certain speed but you are able drive through this

No success? You mean that the balancer said the wheels are balanced, but you still experience the same juddering/wobbling?

From my previous experience, after a miscalibrated balance, I did not notice any wobbling/vibration etc when travelling around town, but as soon as I took the car upto motorway speeds, the vibration/wobbling was immediately apparent.

Good luck with this!

 

[Teshie]

Strange, it sounds like it could be 'vibration beat'. The FFT - Page 21 Basically, when two or more frequencies drift in and out of phase, iirc. Do you normally feel much vibration on the steering wheel / floor etc? Could it be worn engine/gearbox mounts transmitting frequencies up through the chassis?

I do think that this may be the issue, but how do I pin point it

 

[Teshie]

No success? You mean that the balancer said the wheels are balanced, but you still experience the same juddering/wobbling? From my previous experience, after a miscalibrated balance, I did not notice any wobbling/vibration etc when travelling around town, but as soon as I took the car upto motorway speeds, the vibration/wobbling was immediately apparent. Good luck with this!

Ive had the wheels balanced at 2 different tyre fitters?

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

I do think that this may be the issue, but how do I pin point it

Good question!

Does the judder/wobble only occur when the car is moving, or do you notice this even parked up with the car in neutral but with the engine running?

And is there anything you can do which guarantees the judder/wobble will appear? I think you said once in N it disappeared when the kids were in the car, but then with no kids it appeared again in N. If so, it sounds like weight load affects this. Maybe some vibrations are being transmitted to the chassis (from engine/gearbox/wheels?) and the severity is affected by load? Something like worn bushes perhaps?

Apologies if I'm not helping much, just brainstorming and trying ideas out.

Hopefully a mechanic here will be able to spot what it could be, better than me

You had the geometry/alignment done too?

When did this juddering/wobbling start, and did you have any maintenance/repairs/servicing done prior to that?

Sorry, just re-read your first post...you've only had the car 2 weeks, so this was probably already there when you bought it.

 

[Teshie]

Good question! Does the judder/wobble only occur when the car is moving, or do you notice this even parked up with the car in neutral but with the engine running? And is there anything you can do which guarantees the judder/wobble will appear? I think you said once in N it disappeared when the kids were in the car, but then with no kids it appeared again in N. If so, it sounds like weight load affects this. Maybe some vibrations are being transmitted to the chassis (from engine/gearbox/wheels?) and the severity is affected by load? Something like worn bushes perhaps? Apologies if I'm not helping much, just brainstorming and trying ideas out. Hopefully a mechanic here will be able to spot what it could be, better than me You had the geometry/alignment done too? When did this juddering/wobbling start, and did you have any maintenance/repairs/servicing done prior to that? Sorry, just re-read your first post...you've only had the car 2 weeks, so this was probably already there when you bought it.

It only does it above 70 mph till about 95 (on a private road obviously) it then clears I think Below 70 it's super smooth as it should be
I haven't had the geometry done as I don't want to start spending fortunes on a car I may be handing back

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

Geometry/alignment won't cost more than £50, probably less.

You could always ask the alignment guy to check the current setting to see if, in his opinion, the alignment is out. Correct alignment can make a huge difference to the feel of a car when driving, so I would be very tempted to have this checked out. You might be surprised at what they discover.

I presume the car hasn't been in any accident?

 

[Teshie]

Geometry/alignment won't cost more than £50, probably less. You could always ask the alignment guy to check the current setting to see if, in his opinion, the alignment is out. Correct alignment can make a huge difference to the feel of a car when driving, so I would be very tempted to have this checked out. You might be surprised at what they discover. I presume the car hasn't been in any accident?

£50???!! The last car I had checked, then adjusted cost me £128....Range Rover Vogue

I've been under the car and can't see any accident repairs and the paint is original

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

Well, I seem to remember paying about £50, certainly not more, iirc.

I expect MB dealer prices will be more than £50 though.

 

[Teshie]

The car runs straight as an arrow no pulling to the left or right also the tyres are wearing even

 

[LTD]

I had my S Class aligned on a Hunter machine. Definitely under £50.

I'd still suspect the rear suspension links.

 

[Teshie]

I had my S Class aligned on a Hunter machine. Definitely under £50. I'd still suspect the rear suspension links.

Is there asimple way to check the rear links

 

[Teshie]

Would there be suspension wear at 55k miles?

 

[Teshie]

Right I have further developments

I have changed all 4 discs and pads on advice from MB but shuddering is still there :-(

The MB mechanic who test drove the car with me said it could be the budget tyres on the front wheels?

He put the car on the ramp and checked all bushes and control arms...all OK!!

HELP!!!!

 

[Twistedmind]

Thought I had solved mine after I swapped out the front wheel bearings, sway bar links and top ball joints. But now the wobble has re appeared.

Pain in the ass. Thinking of stripping down the top wishbone mounts next !!!

The saga continues ......

Sent from my iPhone using MBClub UK

 

[Teshie]

I've contacted the dealership where I bought the car from and informed them I want the front tyres replacing, at their expense..........I'm waiting for their response???

 

[BlackC55]

I've contacted the dealership where I bought the car from and informed them I want the front tyres replacing, at their expense..........I'm waiting for their response???

Why don't you let them diagnose it? It must have a warranty.

 

[Teshie]

They aren't a MB dealer and unfortunately no warranty with the car:-(

 

[mannikon]

They aren't a MB dealer and unfortunately no warranty with the car:-(

If a dealer, they are legally obliged to sell you a car that is roadworthy and you have (in theory) six months to complain. A car that comes with cheap tyres wouldn't make it unroadworthy. Legally you're not supposed to drive over 70mph so you can't complain about something that only happens at illegal speeds ... Approach them and complain instead that the car feels unsteady and unsafe at 65mph? Get a free healthcheck at a main dealer and arm yourself with that if any problems show up. Be persistent and if not satisfied tell them you are rejecting the car and pursue that. Check if the dealer is a member of trade bodies, if they are, then trade bodies can act as mediators in disputes. If there is a fault, the onus is on the dealer to prove the fault was not on the car when they sold it as opposed to you having to prove otherwise. Good luck!

 

[Teshie]

If a dealer, they are legally obliged to sell you a car that is roadworthy and you have (in theory) six months to complain. A car that comes with cheap tyres wouldn't make it unroadworthy. Legally you're not supposed to drive over 70mph so you can't complain about something that only happens at illegal speeds ... Approach them and complain instead that the car feels unsteady and unsafe at 65mph? Get a free healthcheck at a main dealer and arm yourself with that if any problems show up. Be persistent and if not satisfied tell them you are rejecting the car and pursue that. Check if the dealer is a member of trade bodies, if they are, then trade bodies can act as mediators in disputes. If there is a fault, the onus is on the dealer to prove the fault was not on the car when they sold it as opposed to you having to prove otherwise. Good luck!

I've informed the dealer at every step of the process
When I bought the car I was aware that the brake discs needed replacing and so excepted it that way
The car had the shudder when I test drove it, but, in my ignorance, thought it was wheel balance...they said they would balance the front wheels before handover
I bought the car with full service history, as advertised, but have since found out,through checking, that this was not the case.
They are now pursuing the trader they purchased it from for compensation which they will pass on to me
Since buying the car I have carried out a full service and brake disc change at my expense (excluding gearbox fluid change, which is next on the list)