Mercedes steering left 'for safety'.

[CK369]

I've long been a BMW man, so thought I'd give my friend's 19-plate C class a spin to see how they compare. One of the first things I noticed was that the car pulled to the left, so I suggested she take it in for an alignment check. On doing so, her Merc dealer told her that the cars do that 'for safety'.

Every car I've ever driven has been designed to drive straight and true. Is this just BS from the dealer, or some Merc quirk I've not come across until now?

[Geffg]

Not drove a Mercedes’ recently but couldn’t imagine it’s a safety feature. How is a car pulling to the left safe?

[cjb44]

CK369 said:

I've long been a BMW man, so thought I'd give my friend's 19-plate C class a spin to see how they compare. One of the first things I noticed was that the car pulled to the left, so I suggested she take it in for an alignment check. On doing so, her Merc dealer told her that the cars do that 'for safety'.

Every car I've ever driven has been designed to drive straight and true. Is this just BS from the dealer, or some Merc quirk I've not come across until now?

Usual cannot be bothered attitude of a main stealer plus the fact it was a woman.

[super7]

Normally pull left due to the camber of the road…. More noticeable with big wheels and tyres….

Understeer is built in for safety….

[trevalvole]

CK369 said:

Every car I've ever driven has been designed to drive straight and true. Is this just BS from the dealer, or some Merc quirk I've not come across until now?

My ex-Merc dealer Merc specialist says they are set up for the camber on German roads, which differs from that on British roads. As standard, it probably isn't possible to adjust it, however on various Mercs you can buy (from Merc) a bolt/plate kind of assembly that allows you to adjust it to suit British roads - I think there's a picture of one somewhere in bolidemichael's E500 Reader Cars' thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[JD2329]

Common Mercedes issue.
Excellent article explaining why and potential ways of sorting it:

https://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/mercedes-pulling...

[Ron240]

I have a 2021 Mercedes and on a flat road it tracks straight ahead when I take my hands off the wheel. My previous Merc was a 2020 model and it was the same.
I do not know how bad the OP's experience was but my car is proof that they don't all do that.

[AlBondigaz]

This was quite noticeable on my 2012 E500 so I took it for a Hunter alignment- they couldn’t fully adjust it out until they added different camber bolts (I think that’s what they are called) supplied by a Merc main dealer.

It drives much better now.

Our 2018 E220d does the same but it’s not as noticeable so haven’t bothered fixing it.

LHD Mercs tend to drive better than the same model in RHD in my experience.

[SmithCorona]

JD2329 said:

Common Mercedes issue.
Excellent article explaining why and potential ways of sorting it:

https://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/mercedes-pulling...

That absolutely used to be an MB trait right through to the early 2010s, the more recent models don't really have this. Certainly not a w205 C Class. Which 100% needs an alignment.

[The Stiglet]

JD2329 said:

Common Mercedes issue.
Excellent article explaining why and potential ways of sorting it:

https://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/mercedes-pulling...

This was 100% my experience. I recently took my W212 E63 AMG to them (now called Blackboots-Team Protyre) and my car now tracks straight on UK roads. They did tell me that if I go to the continent that it will pull right with the new set up so something to be aware of. The cars are originally set up for continental cambers, not UK, hence the 'pull.'

As an aside, I had them check the balance on each wheel, new tyres had been fitted by a 'specialist' before I bought the car. Low and behold they were miles out; I had felt a vibration at certain speeds so my hunch was the wheel balance.

My overall experience of the service was great and I would recommend them to the OP if you're struggling with similar issues.

[Dewi 2]

My Mercedes originally pulled left. In fact during the test drive, I remarked about it and the salesman said it is quite normal.

I swapped the front wheels over, just in case it might be a tyre related fault.
Result, hands off steering wheel and perfectly straight.

Obviously road cambers will unavoidable contribute to pulling.

[Ron240]

Dewi 2 said:

I swapped the front wheels over, just in case it might be a tyre related fault.
Result, hands off steering wheel and perfectly straight.

Did you check first that the tyres were not directional?

[Dewi 2]

Ron240 said:

Dewi 2 said:

I swapped the front wheels over, just in case it might be a tyre related fault.
Result, hands off steering wheel and perfectly straight.

Did you check first that the tyres were not directional?

Obviously with directional tyres you are stuck, unable to try that simple test.

Wonder if directional tyres, are purely a money spinner for the motor trade, selling more tyres ?
I have never had them (and manage to stay on the road). -