Vibration after 100mph

[Maff]

Driving through Germany a few weeks ago I often went past 100mph and all was perfect, like a magic carpet.

However on the way back speeds over 100mph caused a vibration on the drivers side. If I drove to the right (transfered weight to the left side) the vibration goes away, transferring weight to the right made the vibration even worse, so it must be the drivers side.

Any idea's what it could be? Balancing, alignment, bent wheel??

Was going to take it to a tire shop as opposed to the dealers, do you think this is the best way forward??

Cheers, Matt

 

[Thmsshaun]

Sounds like a trip to the tyre dealers would be the best bet get them to re balance the wheel.

 

[SimonsMerc]

I would not take a CL65AMG to the tyre shop.

I would find the best AMG specialists in the universe and have them fix it.

Get them to pick it up via helicopter.

Are you hiring at the moment Maff?

-simon

 

[Thmsshaun]

A balanced wheel is a balanced wheel whatever the car.

 

[Tan]

How would anyone be able to test that they got the repair corect?

I'd look at dealers first, if you think its the wheels then could try swapping them to the other side to do a test.

 

[mark.t]

How would anyone be able to test that they got the repair corect?

I'd look at dealers first, if you think its the wheels then could try swapping them to the other side to do a test.

find a AMG/merc dealer in germany or alike on your next trip abroad to road test and repair they probably have more experience at these speeds anyway unlike our dealers get out clause of well you should only be doing 70 sir we can not comment on higher speeds ... or get them to test it at there track ..that will raise a few eyebrows

 

[Satch]

May just need rebalancing but take it to a specialist with on car wheel balancing facilities. That way the entire rotating mass (discs, hubs and driveshafts) are included.

However, might want to check that you have not got a slightly below par or leaking damper first. If seals are going to fail then can happen early on.

Check the tyres carefully on both sides for any signs of distress to the walls and uneven treadwear

 

[SG CL500]

if you think its the wheels then could try swapping them to the other side to do a test.

Err - the tyres are probably directional so if you did this a test may go slightly worse than expected...

I'd go for the balancing weight has fallen off - everything points to this (in my very limited experience). I would also go for the 'a wheel is a wheel' view and take it to a local tyre fitter - avoid the well known chains/franchises and watch them at work. Our local fitter is really good and very helpful (even been known to fix simple stuff for free) - even if you don't want them to fix a weight they should be able to tell you if the wheel is unbalanced, and the machinery they use is pretty standard and will be able to cope with speeds we're talking about.

I suspect that if you took it into a Merc dealer they would just farm it out to a local fitter anyway and you'd have no control over the process (?)

 

[Alfie]

Warranty issue. Straight back to a dealership.

Mercedes understand that their cars (particularly CL65's) are very likely to be used for cross Europe excursions and should therefore be able to resolve the issue for you.

 

[Flash]

Matt,

Take car down to Hughes of Beasonsfield - they got their own on site tyre facilites and I have dealt with them and they were good - ask for big tall Steve - guy with pony tail (his really good... and not the little short fat Steve - both of tyre guys are called Steve down there). They will not damage ur alloys as they either manually undo the nuts as I requested them to or use a socket on teh gun to prevent any spin marks (worse comes to worse they will replace anything they damage...). They will also do everything under warranty at no cost to you.

DONT take the car down to Greenoaks - they get a mobile tyre fitter to come in and do all their work and Greenoaks also damaged the alloys on our cars when tehy ha dto be removed for some work (which we then made them replace after a bitter battle...)

 

[Alps]

sounds like a balancing problem, have you hit any big potholes recently? if not your wheels should be ok, be carefull on which tyre shops you go to as well tho, as an earlier thread proves the tyre fitters arent always the cleverest of people!

 

[COUPE FREAK]

Warranty issue. Straight back to a dealership.

Mercedes understand that their cars (particularly CL65's) are very likely to be used for cross Europe excursions and should therefore be able to resolve the issue for you.

" particularly CL65's " ??,, why are they very likely to be used..??

 

[saorbust]

Balancing - get it checked in all three dimensions. agree re greenoaks - they are useless !

 

[wallingd]

Get them to pick it up via helicopter.

Sling it under a Chinook (I know what you mean really).

 

[SimonsMerc]

Sling it under a Chinook (I know what you mean really).

actually I meant the chinook...ship it to AMG in .de

 

[Maff]

Took the car in today and found the problem - front drivers side wheel is bent

Looks like the mammoth potholes in Hungary are to blame, and for the cost of a new alloy.

The chap spun both front wheels up on the machines in front of me and you can see the deformed on is slightly off round.

Seeing as it's only noticeable over 100mph ill leave it for now, unless it gets worse, or makes my 200mph runway days too nervous!!!

Thanks for your recommendations!

 

[BTB 500]

Blimey, I'm amazed you can deform a rim without it hitting something solid. I suppose ultra low profile tyres don't absorb much.

 

[C240Sport97]

Get the new alloy now ....

It's not worth the risk, plus it doesn't make sense for such a wonderful machine to have defective feet

Took the car in today and found the problem - front drivers side wheel is bent

Looks like the mammoth potholes in Hungary are to blame, and for the cost of a new alloy.

The chap spun both front wheels up on the machines in front of me and you can see the deformed on is slightly off round.

Seeing as it's only noticeable over 100mph ill leave it for now, unless it gets worse, or makes my 200mph runway days too nervous!!!

Thanks for your recommendations!

 

[SG CL500]

Not the same wheel as was run into when you took it to the garage recently was it?

 

[Maff]

Not the same wheel as was run into when you took it to the garage recently was it?

It is funnily enough, however we're pretty certain thats not what caused it as its out of shape in the other dimension, but might be worth the claim on her anyway for not looking where she was going