One thing to check before proceeding -- are either of the left-side wheels hotter than the right after a drive? I wonder if a brake pad is rubbing / dragging.

If not, here's my 10p worth: find a local tyre factor that does 4-wheel tracking checks and alignment, and ask them how much it will cost for the check and any remedial action.

Then notify the supplying dealer (the salesperson who you dealt with and the service manager) that you are not satisfied with their explanation of the car's road behaviour, and that you believe there is a fault with the car. Tell them that you want a 4-wheel alignment check done on the car.

If they refuse to do this, say that you will take the car to the tyre factor and do the test yourself. If that shows any anomalies or need for tracking correction, tell them you will bill the dealer for the cost of the test and remedial action.

No car should pull to either side. It's normal for them to drift gently down a camber but there's a clear difference between that and actually pulling.

Good luck.

I was given exactly the same response to my request for someone to look at my new SLK just before Christmas. I got no further than talking to the sales man on the phone and decided pressing the matter further was going to be a pointless exercise and waste of my time.

In the SLK it's not that bad - noticable for sure. Like you I was concerned about tyre wear.

Having read your post I'm half minded to call into the dealer and complain about it in person. If I get the same "they all do that sir" line again I'll ask them to put it in writing and agree to fund the replacement of my front tyres if they show excessive signs of wearing unevenly in a few months time, along with rectification of the fault.

Other than this my experience of dealing with Mercedes staff at my local dealer was a pleasant one.

To get the 4 wheel alignment checked you need to find a dealer or depot with a Hunter rig. These are expensive kit so not even some main dealers have them.

If you try another car make sure it has the same size tyres as yours.

Cars with wide low profile tyres will often follow the camber and any undulations quite strongly. This can be quite disconcerting if you've never experienced it before.

Nevertheless, your car should still run true on a flat car park.

I'm on my third Merc and have never heard of this, suggest you contact the owners club for advice.

Neil,

I have a C180 Edition 125 auto saloon bought March 2012 [new November 2011].

I have exactly the same problem of the steering pulling to the left at all times.

At the first service in November 12, I raised this as a fault needing correction. I was told "They all do it. There is no unusual tyre wear, so there is nothing wrong, and no action to be taken." [Mercedes, Cheltenham]. I made the same points as yourself, but they insisted they were right. I have also written to MB-Milton Keynes, where I bought the car. I had no reply. Perhaps a letter to MB, Stuttgart would get further information.

By the way, "breaking" in your email should be "braking".

At Cheltenham, I also discussed cruise control braking. When in cruise control, the system allows you to accelerate to overtake. When you take your foot off the gas, the MB cruise control activates the brakes to return the car to the set cruise control speed. This is, in my view, not a desirable feature. It wears the brake linings to no useful purpose and by braking when not required wastes fuel. The brake lights, just after overtaking, probably confuse other motorists too. The VW cruise control does not do this. After accelerating to overtake, lifting off on the gas allows the speed to decay until the set cruise speed is regained. Surely this is what a Mercedes should do?

I can understand that the "Speedtronic" system would brake the car so that the set "never exceed" speed is not exceeded, but this should not happen with cruise control.

Will let you know if I get any more on this from MB.

Regards, Kitzbilder.

My C250D 2012 does this also

I was also told it follows the contours of the road

I have yet to try it in a flat space, but I also agree its worse when you step hard on the gas

please keep us updated on how you get on

Hi Neil

I am also plagued with the same problem with my new 2013 C200 which has been there from the day I picked it up. I have had two W204 C class Mercs before, a 2008 and a 2010 model, neither of which pulled. I brought it back twice and like you was told that this is normal. In fact they gave me another car with less than a 1000 kilometers to run for a week and sure enough the pull was there although slightly less. I spoke to the service guy who told me that he would bring the tracking to the limit to try to ease the problem, but to no avail. I had the car drived by two trouble shooters from Mercedes who told me that the problem was all in my mind.

This insistance that this is normal beggers belief as the third time I had it back they gave me a new VW Polo and guess what?, no pull..!!. I am completely disilusioned with the brand and can assure Mercedes that they have lost a customer because as soon as I can afford to replace this car the next will certainly not be a Merc.

I will be interested to hear how Mercedes UK treat you as their Irish distributers are so far less than impressive.

Peter

I've not known of this fault on a Mercedes. Why not ask the owners club if this is a known fault? You could ring one of the indies who specialise in Mercedes, Protech at Kingsclere is very good.

I have just bought a C 250 CDI AMG Coupe 62 Reg and yes it pulls to the left, it has been back for an all wheel alignment check and a geometry check and still pulls to the left. Now the MB dealer is going to fit new tyres and see what happens and another geometry check, if that does not work it will get changed for another.

Never had this on a Merc, try the owners club, they know most things Merc on there and can maybe offer some insight.