Steerig wheel vibration on new CLS 63 AMG

[prinkink]

Hello everybody,

I am new to MB and this is my first post to the forum. Previous cars over past 10 years have been mainly BMW.

Picked up my new CLS 63 AMG early Jan and was very happy until I recently did some long distance motorway driving. I was disappointed to discover a fine vibration through the steering wheel at speeds of 70mph plus. The vibration gets worse as you go faster (not gone too fast yet as still running it in) and you don't seem to be able to drive through it. Its not exactly a wobble, its quite subtle but it is definitely there and spoils the refinement of the car.

Thought I would ask around to see if this is a known issue with these cars as, due to a previous bad experience with my local Jag dealer, I am convinced that my local MB dealer will try to convince me that this is a "characteristic" of the car or will tell me that they are unable to find anything wrong with it.

Any suggestions, advice much appreciated.

 

[Carrsey]

I would first look at the balancing and get tyres checked incase a tyre has deformed.

 

[markjay]

I understand that you are asking C63 owners to confirm if theirs does the same, and I unfortunately can't help with that. But welcome to the forum.

 

[MoAMG]

Hello everybody,

I am new to MB and this is my first post to the forum. Previous cars over past 10 years have been mainly BMW.

Picked up my new CLS 63 AMG early Jan and was very happy until I recently did some long distance motorway driving. I was disappointed to discover a fine vibration through the steering wheel at speeds of 70mph plus. The vibration gets worse as you go faster (not gone too fast yet as still running it in) and you don't seem to be able to drive through it. Its not exactly a wobble, its quite subtle but it is definitely there and spoils the refinement of the car.

Thought I would ask around to see if this is a known issue with these cars as, due to a previous bad experience with my local Jag dealer, I am convinced that my local MB dealer will try to convince me that this is a "characteristic" of the car or will tell me that they are unable to find anything wrong with it.

Any suggestions, advice much appreciated.

I don't believe any of my cars are fitted with a steerig... Lol

Check the alignment and wheel balance at your local tyre shop/garage as a first step.

 

[davidsw]

Get someone to spin the wheels on a balancing machine before they remove existing balance weights .That should show if wheels are at fault.

 

[SavMan]

Take it back to the dealer and get them to fix it.

 

[WDB124066]

I wonder if it may be the tyres bedding in, or if it may have been sitting for a while before you bought it with small flat spots. From my understanding it is quite common for the wheels to go out of balance on brand new cars after only a few miles.

I agree 100% to get the Dealer involved. When they spin the wheels on the balance machine check the rim AND the tyre for runout in the lateral AND circumferential positions. MB have tolerances for max permitted runout and they are quite tight.

The other main reason to go to a Dealer is that their balance machine is more likely to be correct that a typical tyre shops balance machine, they are very sensitive and often go out of calibration. At the Dealer you have a far better chance of getting a decent condition good quality balance machine than elsewhere.

Just my 2p worth, hope it makes sense as a starter at least....

 

[prinkink]

Thanks for the feedback everybody.
Got the car booked in at dealers for this Friday and will post outcome shortly.

 

[Alps]

will probably be balancing, let them sort it

 

[markjay]

I think the OP was hinting that he did not believe it to be wheel balancing issue, he mentions the speed as being to high for typical balance-related vibration, and more crucially the fact that you can't drive 'through it' i.e. the vibration does not go away when the speed increases beyond the vibration point.

 

[Alps]

MarkJay, Either way the dealer will sort it, brand new car most likely still sounds like balancing issue, cant be bushes or loose bolts on a brand new car.

OP, Let us know what it is when its resolved!

 

[WDB124066]

Yes I thought that too MJ, but it always pays to start with the basics and go from there...

 

[prinkink]

MB dealer tells me that both front wheels are buckled and that I am liable for their repair at a cost of around £500 per wheel.
What a joke !! I've only done 1000 careful miles and can categorically state that I have not driven over anything likely to cause this sort of damage.
Needless to say, I am not very happy and have refused to take the car back until it is repaired free of charge.

 

[Alps]

Good luck, hopefully they will come through with the replacements.

 

[Trident3863]

Hi everyone especially Prinkink,

I wanna share some story that still make me headache, However I can cure some symptom and hope this can help you,

I just got brand new CLS 63 AMG from private importer in Bangkok THailand, and yes, I can sense vibration both on steering wheel and brake pedal in almost every speed.

I can't claim with that importer cause from I didn't think these importer can fix my car properly( they just import and sale) so I will try to fix it by myself,

Well, first problem is tyres not round cause from importer park it I'm showroom not proper and damage tyres structure, can see when you a little bit lift your can and spin the wheels by balancing machine, you will see tyres face moving( bouncing ) when rolling , so I change all tyres from Conti to PZero, nothing special with Pirelli, it just more easy to find in my country, wheels is fine just test it by remove tyres and spin it on wheel balancer and look at it.
Result : little better feeling

Second prob, is wheels alignment That I try, dramatically, it's relevant ( I don't think brand new car can have problem with alignment)

Result : much more better

Third prob, brake rotors, my car equipped Carbon ceramic brake, I check nuts( star lug nuts that attach CCM rotor disc with aluminium hub, it loose ,I don't know torque spec in order to tighten it, but I knew it loose from I can each nut un equally
, some nut 1round some half round. So I make it tight with medium torque.

Result :another medium better

Now I can eliminate 70-80% of vibration, my friend who didn't familiar with 63 amg car said he almost didn't feel the vibrate .

However, I decide to do the ultimatum move by ordering new set of CCM brake rotor and pads from UK,and yea it quite expensive, in Thailand , a set of CCM brake rotors and pads = 1 brand new Eco car. My friend said I'm mad but .... Yea I'm mad and didn't answer anything, only persons who pay 2X price for same platform car with regular CLS or C class, we need it hidden performance and won't compromise with "20% vibration" for sure!

I will update in 1-2 weeks after I got new rotors then install an try it .

Lastly, I would like to apologise with my wrong English , I'm no good in eng but trying to practice.

And hope this long message can help you some and good luck with your great CLS 63 new car! Please share if you got any 100% solutions from dealer.

Thanks

 

[Trident3863]

Another thing I have been done is balance wheel with new tyres that is "the Must" thing todo when change tyres, I think you guys knew it.

 

[WDB124066]

Any curb rash or damage to the tyres as one may expect with you buckling the wheels.

Reading between the lines is someone at the Dealership asking you to take it back in for another appraisal...??

Sometimes it is possible to have the wrong guy at the Dealership look at it and jump to conclusions. Ride with them, work with them as much as you can would be my advice, while standing by what you know to be the God honest truth.