Vibration

[steve.link]

Recently had to have an "airbag" fault repaired which required removal of the steering wheel. The car came back with steering wheel out alighment which the dealer claimed he could not fix unless he did a full steering alignment.
This has improved the problem but its still not perfect (which it was before the airbag fault) After this I had a wheel vibration which the dealer claimed was wheel balance. Wheels have been rebalanced at the dealers (twice) but ther is still vibration through the floorpan at 60mph which seems to move to the steering wheel at 80mph.

Car is going back for the 5th time on Monday! Any body had similar experiences - car is a W211 E320 only 5 months old and 8k miles.

Is it just that the dealer can'y do alignment/wheel balancing properly or is something else wrong?

Comments appreciated

 

[Flash]

Personally, I think it is related to the Stealer removing the steering wheel for sure. "IF" they have already done the wheel alignment then that indicates that they have NOT correctly carried out the alignment. Escalate to the Service Manager. My guesses are that if you were to go else where to a wheel alignment specialist then they would probably find that the alignment is still out hence your vibration. May also be worth checking if the steering wheel has been fitted correctly or if any adjustment can me made within the column hence the vibration. I hope that you did not pay the Stealer rates for the wheel alignment as the steering wheel never vibrated prior to the steering wheel being removed by the Stealer!

 

[kth286]

steve.link

I understand cars, BUT I do not understand your car's situation at all.

The idiot that removed the steering wheel probably had the road wheels turned slightly when he refitted the steering wheel, but he did not realise.

You obviously saw his mistake immediately you drove your car, and quite right too.

The person that you reported the problem too was obviously embarrased, and the cost of removing the wheel again was going to cost the dealer dear, and could not be claimed on the warranty, and would likely get the technician in trouble etc, hence the 'gobbledegook' about tracking.

You naively allowed them to mess up your suspension tracking and geometry and you now have a car that will be unstable due to offset steering, and will wear your tyres out in short measure.

There are very few experts in car geometry it is a specialist field.

But the garage needed a different cost code to allocate the job to.

You need to get the trade association/trading standards/solicitor involved to get your car back to it's proper safe condition.

Best of luck.

Regards

 

[Rory]

Have you owned the car from new, and is this being dealt with at the supplying dealer?

If so, I would ask for a meeting with the dealer Principal & tell him he's had more than enough chances to fix it, so now you'll reject the car and he can supply you with a new one.

 

[Flash]

From past experience the DP tends to backup the Service Manager - if getting no where with the Service Manager then the matter has to be escalated further to DC UK Customer Services BUT DC Cus Services UK tend to take the Stealer's side!!! If DC UK Cus Services fail to resolve this then next cause of action is escalate to DC UK Senior Management. I'm talking from very recent experience via this route and got the right results after a long "battle"!!!

Unfortunately, in the UK it is difficult to reject goods such as cars with DC UK/Stealerships once they are 6 months plus old unless involving solicitors etc. first and issuing legal proceedings!!!

 

[steve.link]

The problem is being dealt with at my local dealer who did not supply the car, but surely this is irrelevant. I am already dealing with the service manager and all the work has been covered by warrenty.

I

 

[Rory]

The problem is being dealt with at my local dealer who did not supply the car, but surely this is irrelevant.

You can only reject the car back to the original supplying dealer.

Does the Service Manager agree the car isn't right? If so, then I'd ask him to arrange a meeting with the dealer principal - this alone might spur him into more positive action. They should take the car away, give you a loaner (of a similar status) and not return your car until the SM signs off that it is properly fixed.

 

[sportyreptile]

Steve, they're a nightmare in Cardiff. If you want to get the four wheel alignment checked by an independant source I can recommend A+A tyres in Cardiff
Whittle Rd, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF11 8AT 029 2037 1808

They did my S class no fuss at at all.
Create holy hell with the dealer to put it right alternatively if they can't or won't help I use Stuttgart Garage in Pontypridd, they're excellent and know what they're talking about.

Stuttgart Garage
Unit 1 Factory lane
Graig
Pontypridd
CF37 1LH

01443 401838

speak to Kev.

 

[steve.link]

Steve, they're a nightmare in Cardiff. If you want to get the four wheel alignment checked by an independant source I can recommend A+A tyres in Cardiff
Whittle Rd, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF11 8AT 029 2037 1808

They did my S class no fuss at at all.
Create holy hell with the dealer to put it right alternatively if they can't or won't help I use Stuttgart Garage in Pontypridd, they're excellent and know what they're talking about.

Stuttgart Garage
Unit 1 Factory lane
Graig
Pontypridd
CF37 1LH

01443 401838

speak to Kev.

Thanks for the advice - but the car is only 5 months old and still under warrenty. They had the vehicle all day Monday and it came back exactly the same! To make matters even worse I now have 3 scratched alloy wheels, I assume from the removinga nd refixing of the balance weights. They have offered to touch them up by using a "mobile" scratch/dent repairer - I doubt this will be up to "Mercedes Standard" and I get corroded wheels come the winter!!

Got an appointment to see the Dealer Principle tomorrow - the joys of car ownership!!

 

[Flash]

They have offered to touch them up by using a "mobile" scratch/dent repairer - I doubt this will be up to "Mercedes Standard" and I get corroded wheels come the winter!!

Insist on brand new alloys...!!!

 

[COUPE FREAK]

Thanks for the advice - but the car is only 5 months old and still under warrenty. They had the vehicle all day Monday and it came back exactly the same! To make matters even worse I now have 3 scratched alloy wheels, I assume from the removinga nd refixing of the balance weights. They have offered to touch them up by using a "mobile" scratch/dent repairer - I doubt this will be up to "Mercedes Standard" and I get corroded wheels come the winter!!

Got an appointment to see the Dealer Principle tomorrow - the joys of car ownership!!

they should have used stick on balance weights,, on the inside of the wheel,, out of sight,, did they use knock on weights between the tyre & rim,, if so corrosion is guaranteed,,

 

[COUPE FREAK]

just wondering,, what was the air-bag fault,?? srs light on,??

 

[steve.link]

Got the car back on Friday after another 2 days in the workshop!

Yes they did use knock on weights and damage the rims.

However the good news - the car now drives as it should with no vibration and the steering is spot on.

The air bag fault was the SRS light on. It was caused by the senor on the steering column which apparantly counts the number of turns the wheel makes (not sure I understand why but thats what the service manager told me) and hence why the steering wheel was removed in the first place.

The damaged wheels look 100% perfect but I have told the dealer I will be back at the first sign of corrosion.

In view of all the hassell (5 return visits to the dealer) they repainted my rear bumper free of charge, that some kind person damaged in a car park.

 

[COUPE FREAK]

Got the car back on Friday after another 2 days in the workshop!

Yes they did use knock on weights and damage the rims.

However the good news - the car now drives as it should with no vibration and the steering is spot on.

The air bag fault was the SRS light on. It was caused by the senor on the steering column which apparantly counts the number of turns the wheel makes (not sure I understand why but thats what the service manager told me) and hence why the steering wheel was removed in the first place.

The damaged wheels look 100% perfect but I have told the dealer I will be back at the first sign of corrosion.

In view of all the hassell (5 return visits to the dealer) they repainted my rear bumper free of charge, that some kind person damaged in a car park.

sound's like they're giving you the full BS treatment,, dealers=pond life,,

but at least you're sorted now,,

 

[glojo]

Hi Steve,
I am pleased to hear you eventually got the problem sorted. I am no fan at all of anyone that screams to take matters up with outside agencies before the softly softly approach is tried. The loudest offenders always say they have tried softly, softly, but they then go onto shout!!! Same offenders, same shouting and no doubt they will all say the same thing again.

I agree that in theory it should not matter where you buy the car, but in the real world it does. I accept you may disagree and others might say the same thing. Buy any product cheaply on the Internet, then go to your local shop and ask the shop to carry out free warranty work? Am I correct in thinking the dealer might not get hte full costs back from the manufacturer??

HOWEVER.... once the dealer commenced the work then you are entitled to receive first class service, no excuses. The work was less than adequate and you were correct to take it back. I am totally 100% on your side, you were right to insist that they resolve the problem free of charge.

Coupe Freak is spot on regarding the weights, plus I would be fuming if they damaged the wheels and your right to monitor them but if in the future the wheels get kerbed, then you will be up the creek without a paddle.

John

 

[sportyreptile]

Glad to hear they solved your problems eventually. It grates though that you have to push hard to get the kind of service you would expect from a prestiege manufacturer network.

 

[Dieselman]

Yes they did use knock on weights and damage the rims.

Are the weights definately knock on or are they the new clip on ones which should be Ok for the wheels.

 

[steve.link]

The new weights are all "stick on" on the inside of the wheel so they are not visable at all. I think the weights on the outer rim look very ugly as well as damaging the wheel.

The originals were the clip on type as opposed to the old lead weights used on steel wheels and fitted with a hammer!

The damage was not severe so I think it was done by someone "levering" them off with a screwdriver - but the point is they should take care and use the correct tools.

 

[steve.link]

I agree that in theory it should not matter where you buy the car, but in the real world it does. I accept you may disagree and others might say the same thing. Buy any product cheaply on the Internet, then go to your local shop and ask the shop to carry out free warranty work? Am I correct in thinking the dealer might not get hte full costs back from the manufacturer??

Hi John,

The car is actually leased through my business so I can't dictate where the leasing company actually purchases the vehicle from. Having said that I aways use my local franchised dealer for service and repairs and expect a decent service.

This is my first MB and I have not at all been impressed by the after sales service provised by my local dealer at either of their two branches.

There was nothing at all wrong with the steering or wheels before they repaired the "SRS" fault! I guess MB will reimburse the cost of the SRS problem but I can't see them paying for wheel balance, wheel repairs, steering checks/alignment etc. Bottom line is this cost was caused because the dealer was incompetent in the first place.

Anyway, I think the car is supurb so lets hope it has no more problems

 

[glojo]

Hi Steve,
I fully understand and appreciate what your saying. I would go ballistic if a so called technician 'gouged' our wheels.

We all have to learn and it could have been a trainee or apprentice that committed this act of 'vandalism' but that is still no excuse whatsoever. When our vehicles are in the custody of any workshop we all expect it to be treated with kid gloves (I certainly do)

Happy motoring
John