JHZR2,

I did not follow your tire wear description very well, but it may be a wear pattern called "cupping" which can occur if the tires were statically balanced and need a dynamic balance. Static balancing can work ok if the weights are distributed on both sides of the wheel, but dynamic balancing, where the tires are put on a machine that spins them, is more accurate. A recent thread about a Hunter balancing machine brought out a lot of technical details of tire balance and vibration. You can find this thread by doing a search on the subject of vibration or tire balance.

The problem with your cluster sounds like a ground problem. Take the cluster out and find the ground wire and clean it up, reinstall the wire and make a good connection. There are others who have had this problem and can give good "virtual experience" to you. Or do a search on the subject of instrument cluster grounding.

Hope this helps, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)