The wheel on the front left (driver) on a Euro 190E 16v is about 1/2" farther back than the wheel on the right side. I seem to recall reading/hearing that this is designed this way so that the car tracks better on the cupped roads (higher in center and lower on the side of the roads). Up until now this has not been an issue. I have been running 215/40/17's on it. I am looking for new tires and the selections in this size is very limited. If I could run 45 profile I would have a much wider choice. Also, If I put 45's on it now the tire will rub on the left side.

So it the wheel supposed to be father back? I have not had any front end damage, last alignment was spot on. Ball joints are in good shape. What gives?

Thanks

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2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

If your tires are not even, fox them and get the 45s. I run 215 60 15 on mine and my suspension is lowered about an inch and I have no problems rubbing unless the alignment gets knocked out of wack.

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1990 190E 3.0L

The tires are even it's their placement that is not. Measuring from the center of the hub to the fender is different on each side. If I get 45's the driver side tire will rub.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

I think you have to be careful when comparing wheel position with body work. You are better off measuring from chassis points and comparing.

If you have a level flat surface a plumb bob and some chalk you can pick points on the car and mark the floor - label the drop points and then roll the car away to measure relative dimensions.

A bit of trigonometry and some head scratching will give you a very good assessment of the relative positions.

Good points to measure are

1) Ball joint centres
2) Control arm mounting points
3) sub frame mounting points
4) Centre of the differential
5) Centre points of motor mounts

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

What are the condition of the lower control arm bushings?

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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
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2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

half inch difference would be quite a feat - seems like the arm is bent on that side, the caster difference is very slight from left to right - you cannot notice it by naked eye.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

Try measuring front to rear on each side and see if you still find the difference. I have never heard of any car having a difference like this. I agree it would indicate something bent or very worn out.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Hmm. Never thought of that. I'll see if I can take some more measurements.

Thanks guys.

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

I found a print out of the last alignment on my car. When looking at the caster (I think that's the front/back placement) it shows

left : 9.42'
right : 10.12'

Would that account for the discrepancy I'm seeing? I have not had a chance to get it on jacks and measure.

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Quite possibly and if that's a measurement from awhile back the difference might now be greater as components are likely to be more worn

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Those look like the caster angles in degrees. They should be closer to equal, but if the car doesn't pull on a level road, it's okay.

Measure the wheelbase on both sides - between center of the stars on the center caps, car on a level surface. Both sides should be very close.

It would help if you scan and post the alignment sheet that shows all the data. You may not be interpreting the data properly.

Duke