Steering sensitivity - hard / soft

[mattyfish16]

Hi All,

Does anyone have an issue with the above on their E350? im not sure whether this is in my head or not, but my 2010, can sometimes feel very heavy eith in comfort mode or sports mode but in other times it works like a peach, nice and light.

Ive had it on the same roads, in the same conditions and the steering has reacted differently. Its done about 93k now, isthis something I should look into further, maybe a power steering pump or fluid change? Its just had a dealer service.

Thanks

 

[st13phil]

Sounds like a fault somewhere. The level of assistance is speed sensitive, but I've never noticed any random changes in assistance. Would suggest getting it looked at.

 

[mattyfish16]

Thank you

 

[mattyfish16]

Ok so im ashamed to say that there wa sno power steering fluid in my car, or certainly not enough... that was the short version, here Is the long version.

Having had my car bought from a Mercedes dealer with full Mercedes service history, I assumed that on the services all levels would be checked etc. I had a service 2 weeks a go from a main dealer, and oh know, wait whats this, they forgot to put fluid in the power steering. More interestingly there is no where for the power steering fluid to go and so what baffles me is, how long has it been like that. Yes the feeling on the steering has often baffled me but for one second I did not think that it was the fluid, due to me having the last 3 services done with a dealer, since I bought the car from them.

So, they offered me a 25% discount on my next service as a good will gesture. I'm not happy with that in all honesty, and i'm waiting for someone to come back to me and explain to me how on 3 services something like this can be missed.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[Wheelsnuts]

Makes you wonder what else they missed or failed to do.:fail

 

[gIzzE]

Well at least it is sorted.

Sounds like a fault somewhere. The level of assistance is speed sensitive, but I've never noticed any random changes in assistance. Would suggest getting it looked at.

I don't think it speed sensitive, it is just on a variable rack.

It takes big turns from dead centre and as you turn it more the turn tightens.

A very weird system that was dropped on the facelift.

This shows how it takes a lot of movement just off centre and less as it reaches the end of the rack....

 

[mattyfish16]

That's interesting, thanks for the post.

It does make me wonder what else they have missed though, and that was my point to them..... who knows. Still waiting for a response off them

 

[st13phil]

I don't think it speed sensitive, it is just on a variable rack.

It's actually both, i.e. variable ratio rack and speed related variable assistance.

Thanks for the photo of the variable pitch rack