A Question Regarding Alignment
 

2007 C280, 1500 miles; vehicle has drifted/pulled to the right since new. This is not a case of road crown affecting the vehicle's direction... the vehicle is truely drifting to the right.

Took the vehicle to M-B dealer for alignment check; dealer merely roadtested car (did not put it on an alignment rack) and stated that it was normal: that all Mercedes are set up this way, from the factory, that it is a safety feature: in the event the driver falls asleep at the wheel, the vehicle will pull off the road, to the right and not drift toward oncoming traffic. (BTW, also have a 2007 E320 CDI, 3500 miles, that has been neutral (no drift) since new. Must be a manufacturing flaw.)

I've never seen this safety feature mentioned by Mercedes, ever. Is this true.. or is the service advisor feeding me a load of BS?


When pressed, the service advisor further stated that there is a bolt kit for the vehicle, which will correct this right side drift... but installation of the kit may possiblely result in a left side drift and definite accelerated tire wear. Hmm, a Mercedes kit installed by a Mercedes dealer to eliminate a Mercedes safety feature...

Any comments? Time to find another dealer?

How are the tires? I would think even with only 1500 miles, if it is pulling as noticeably as you say then there should be at least a slight amount of uneven wear. Check the inner inch of the tire treads (towards the center of the car) to see if any feathering is occuring as this often happens with an improper toe-out adjustment.

If the alignment hasn't been checked, any explanation you've been given is just a guess. The only way to correct a pulling/drifting condition is to check the alignment, and proceed accordingly. The problem may be fixed by simply rotating the tires. MB warranty covers wheel alignment for 1 year/12,000 miles. You should remind your service advisor of this.

I have heard some good ones in my day but that would be right at the top of the list. What a bunch of crap. :eek: That car should positively not pull to the left or right. If they can't fix it go for your money back under the lemon law.

They must have a few identical models on the lot. Go for a test drive. Then you have evidence sitting right on their own lot.

Steve

When we bout our 97 new, the dealer gave us the same line of crap. Wore out the original tires in about 12000 miles. went to a respected alignment shop. He got it right. Tracks straighter than a locomotive and the tires last a long time.

ditto,dealer line of logic is load of crap,steering should be neutral.