PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

JamesDean · #48 02-05-2013, 08:55 AM

Well I took it down to the dealership Saturday. Here's an update:

The service manager was very receptive and attentive. He asked questions and listened to what I had to say and seemed genuinely interested in helping out and not just throwing money at the problem. He said when he got in that morning he talked to the alignment techs about the problem and said that they suspected there might be steering slop or a worn component and that they would check it out but not do any work that was not approved or required (i.e would not align the car is something is bad etc).

I told them about my past experiences with other shops and he said that, in fact, they get a lot of alignment business because other shops simply can't or won't do the alignment or do it , but do it poorly, etc.

The wanted $129 plus fees, taxes, etc for the alignment should the techs/mechs say that thats what was needed. I OK'd that and they threw in a complimentary car wash.

They closed at 4pm that day. I hadn't heard a call and we decided to head back down around 315 or so as we'd told them that I needed the car back for Monday. The car was still up on the rack, I could see someone working on it. Another manager said that we should just hang loose, it might take some time. It wasn't until around 430 did I get the car back.

I forgot to ask for a before-after sheet, it was a half hour after close and everything was closed/off. I'll was going to call back yesterday but didn't get around to it.

So far the alignment has been a good improvement over the old. The car tracks well, with minimal need to compensate.

Hopefully this makes sense:
With the previous alignment, the road surface curvature/warp/etc would be directly translated into the steering wheel and cause me to have to compensate often. With the new alignment this curvature is translated into the suspension. I can feel the road surface with the front end but it does not effect my steering like the previous. The car does not feel like its being pushed all over the road. Steering is more predictable and such.