RE: Mercedes tyre 'skipping' - official statement

RE: Mercedes tyre 'skipping' - official statement

Author
Discussion

thebraketester

14,192 posts

137 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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Well thats bks. IMO its a front geometry issue, and Merc will struggle to fix it economically which is why they are denying there is a problem

. I cant remember If i mentioned it before but I occasionally get a similar thing in my car, but its due to running more negative camber on the front than "OEM spec" the tyres lose a certain amount of their contact patch when on full lock.. Its nowhere near as bad as the videos I have watched of the mercs.

Cyb3rDud3

198 posts

225 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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My tyre at 4,500 miles. Just a comfort issue and not a safety issue my arse. Come on Mercedes, stop ignoring us.

BTW This is a great page, owners are writing a message to Gary Savage, CEO Mercedes-Benz UK. Some quite moving stories from real owners and how this is affecting them.

https://www.mercedescrabbing.org/dear-gary-savage-...

havoc

29,924 posts

234 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
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My wife's just seen the video - she's asked if you've got a washing machine running in the boot?

In all honesty MB UK cannot continue fronting this out - it's an utter joke!

Cyb3rDud3

198 posts

225 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
quotequote all
havoc said:
My wife's just seen the video - she's asked if you've got a washing machine running in the boot?

In all honesty MB UK cannot continue fronting this out - it's an utter joke!
ROFLMAO It does sound like a pair of jeans with marbles in the pockets in the washing machine.

VGTICE

1,003 posts

86 months

Friday 17th February 2017
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Nice example of how it looks like on a C7 Corvette

https://youtu.be/dx3Vojkzkh8?t=3m1s

stain

1,051 posts

209 months

Saturday 18th February 2017
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Multi-storey car parks must be fun

Cyb3rDud3

198 posts

225 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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With thanks to Daba from glcforums.com




24 February 2017


For the attention of Market Area Directors, Sales Directors, After Sales Directors, General Managers, Sales Managers, After Sales Managers, CSU Managers


Dear Colleague

Further to our interim update last week, we are now able to provide a more detailed technical explanation regarding this issue.

Due to the positioning of the front axle differential on right hand drive cars, the steering position differs very slightly compared to left hand drive models. When the steering is on full lock this steering angle difference can result in the front tyre skipping sensation. This is more pronounced during cold weather and when larger wheels and low profile tyres are fitted.

We can assure you that our technical specialists, as well as independent experts such as DEKRA, concur that the cars remain completely safe to drive.

Fitment of All Season tyres counteracts the sensation. We are therefore securing sufficient stocks of these to provide to customers who find this uncomfortable.

· Mercedes-Benz Cars UK will contact GLC customers who have already registered a Compass complaint:
• Customers with 17”, 18”, 19” and 20” tyres will be offered a set of All Season tyres (once available) and fitment free of charge
• For GLC 43 AMG customers who have cars with 21” tyres, a 21” All Season tyre is not currently available. We will offer these customers the option of taking 20” wheels and All Season tyres, or waiting for 21” All Season tyre availability

· We would ask you to please do the same for GLC customer complaints that you have received and managed locally or for any future GLC complaints about this issue until further notice

· Please also take the following action for customers who have ordered their car but have yet to take delivery, and for future customers of existing dealer and pipeline stock until further notice:
• Please make sure they are aware of this characteristic.
• Customers proceeding with delivery have the option to take All Season tyres as soon as they are available or to wait and change to them if/when they experience this sensation in Winter 2017/18.
• For customers who do not wish to take delivery of their GLC with summer tyres, please offer a courtesy car until the All Season tyres are available for their car.

For all the cases above concerning provision and fitment of All Season tyres, please submit a goodwill claim against damage code 2113800.
We will provide updates concerning any interaction we have with your customers, together with availability of the aftermarket All Season tyres and the logistics process involved.

Yours faithfully




David George Sally Jones
Sales Director Customer Services Director
Mercedes-Benz Cars Mercedes-Benz Cars


Emma Passmoor

Customer Services MBuk




I'm glad there have been a few of us who didn't listen to the internet arm chair experts all saying it is normal and don't know what the fuss is about. We campaigned because we know it is not normal, because we have had many vehicles that do not do this, including many great Mercedes Benz vehicles. As I said before, more fool to those who accept it as normal, I wonder whether you put your claim in now wink

Anyway, still lots of questions to be answered, heck my car is an exception. It also feels to me like a workaround for what is essentially a mechanical issue. But hey at least Mercedes has acknowledged it now that they've done something different on these vehicles and it went wrong.

VGTICE

1,003 posts

86 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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Cyb3rDud3 said:
I'm glad there have been a few of us who didn't listen to the internet arm chair experts all saying it is normal and don't know what the fuss is about. We campaigned because we know it is not normal, because we have had many vehicles that do not do this, including many great Mercedes Benz vehicles. As I said before, more fool to those who accept it as normal, I wonder whether you put your claim in now wink

Anyway, still lots of questions to be answered, heck my car is an exception. It also feels to me like a workaround for what is essentially a mechanical issue. But hey at least Mercedes has acknowledged it now that they've done something different on these vehicles and it went wrong.
It is normal, I almost shat myself yesterday when my non German whip with 16 inch wheels skipped on full lock in the rain as if it lost one wheel. Mercedes "fixed it" by simply offering grippier tyres with more give compromising performance side of things. Which is pointless in a school run bus like GLC anyway.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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Cyb3rDud3 said:
I'm glad there have been a few of us who didn't listen to the internet arm chair experts all saying it is normal and don't know what the fuss is about. As I said before, more fool to those who accept it as normal, I wonder whether you put your claim in now wink
Here are some examples of cars which you have no interest in owning, thanks to your powers of mechanical perception,

  • Lotus Esprit
  • Porsche Boxster/Cayman
  • Corvette C7 Stingray



Cyb3rDud3

198 posts

225 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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Great thanks for the tips smile

So it is so normal that Mercedes just changes essential parts on 10,000+ vehicles? It is so normal that Mercedes instructs their dealerships to put everyone in courtesy cars until those parts are available if they so wish (will be interesting if everyone accepts). Seriously some of you guys are still sticking with that this is normal?

Well I'm already in my courtesy car since last Wednesday. I was given a GLE 350d which is just like my GLS was totally smooth and totally tyre skipping/crabbing/whatever you want to call it free. I guess that is abnormal going by the standards of some of you on here?

Most peculiar to read those responses. I'm glad many of us who campaigned on this have higher quality standards.

jimmybell

583 posts

116 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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Cyb3rDud3 said:
Some quite moving stories from real owners and how this is affecting them.
Moving? Affected them? This is tyre skipping due to geometry and lack of grip, not small children dying. Have i missed something?

Tony Mac

10 posts

86 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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jimmybell said:
Moving? Affected them? This is tyre skipping due to geometry and lack of grip, not small children dying. Have i missed something?
Read the story of Paralympian Mick Beard and watch Rehan's video, not to mention the sleepless nights after spending £50£ on a car that I personally am too embarrassed to take friends and family out in.

https://www.mercedescrabbing.org/dear-gary-savage-...

To a car geek on PH it's just a bit of crabbing, live with it is the response. To someone who has dreamed of owning a new luxury MB, saved hard, found what appears to be the ideal family car. To then find its a juddering, bouncing and embarrassing car that depresses you every time it's driven off the drive - it's a moving experience that is not normal or acceptable

This is my view - sure it will differ to others

Tony

Jimmy Recard

17,540 posts

178 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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I would describe it as many things. 'Disappointing', 'frustrating', 'unacceptable'. Not 'moving' rofl

VGTICE

1,003 posts

86 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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Jimmy Recard said:
I would describe it as many things. 'Disappointing', 'frustrating', 'unacceptable'. Not 'moving' rofl
Touching?

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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jimmybell said:
Cyb3rDud3 said:
Some quite moving stories from real owners and how this is affecting them.
Moving? Affected them? This is tyre skipping due to geometry and lack of grip, not small children dying. Have i missed something?
No, you've got some non-technical people who are throwing up a fuss over something perfectly normal.

MB have done the right thing here I suppose, a few sets of tyres will sort it, and buy some decent good will from customers. Good excuse to wear the old ones out too. biggrin

Cyb3rDud3

198 posts

225 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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You lot are just unbelievable. Heck even pistonheads themselves experienced it and found it worthwhile to report on. As did other in the motoring press, and as does Mercedes. Yet you still go against it and now are nitpicking on words used to describe how people feel about it.

Well more fool you. I rather be classed a non technical person who doesn't know what he is talking about in a perfectly smooth car, than a fool who thinks it is normal to experience this. Truly quite remarkable how some convince themselves that a violently shaking vehicle is normal.

VGTICE

1,003 posts

86 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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Krikkit said:
MB have done the right thing here I suppose, a few sets of tyres will sort it, and buy some decent good will from customers. Good excuse to wear the old ones out too. biggrin
But did MB really sort it out or just covered it up. If it really is design flaw then simply changing tyres to those that will eliminate skipping will mean that suspension components are going to wear out quicker than they should. This would piss me off more than some tyre noise.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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Cyb3rDud3 said:
I rather be classed a non technical person who doesn't know what he is talking about in a perfectly smooth car, than a fool who thinks it is normal to experience this.
You stick with your "perfect" VW Golf, we'll stick with our "faulty" sportscars. driving

Oh what fools we must be.

generationx

6,644 posts

104 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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My new Giulia does this at very low speed, on full lock on cold days. It's the first car I've had that does it and the dealer mentioned it on handover. No biggie, the positives far out way that negative.

jimmybell

583 posts

116 months

Sunday 26th February 2017
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tbh this thread - for me - served to confirm my suspicion (and the garage's claim) that the suspension geo, coupled with tyres that don't perform well under 10 celcius are likely to skip when at full lock, and that the noise i've noticed on my c63 is not a broken/worn component.

If this issue had been proven (or suspected) to cause excessive suspension wear, or rub tyres, or cause any other issue that might cost the owner.. then sure, pursue further with Merc to cover your costs but i didn't see that from anyone (though i did see someone's linked a picture of their tyre....no idea why).

EDIT: post below - now i know why.



Edited by jimmybell on Sunday 26th February 14:59