[delikanli]

My 300CE has been rescued from a friend's driveway, where it sat for about 8 years...Anyhow...After some irrationally expensive repairs, I started driving it around. At around 50-60 mph, going over bumps on the right side causes the steering wheel to shake so much that it feels like "OMG I am going to die." But, then, the vibration and unstability + shaking subsides, until you hit the next bump. Right side bumps seem worse than left side bumps. Besides the steering wheel, the rest of the car shakes underneath. Anyhow, this is totally not that secure, confident German touring experience. It seems fine on smooth roads with nice bump-free surfaces. Ride feels a bit bouncy. (Seems ok on smooth roads at around 40mph.)

Any thoughts on what may be causing this disturbance? I can hear someone saying suspension rebuild...

 

[jjcarr]

You really need to get under it and inspect the steering linkages and suspensions bits to know for sure. Undoubtedly the shocks are weak, but there is a linkage or something in there that is seriously hosed.

Get it on jack stands, and use pliers and a screwdriver to push/pull on the linkages (careful not to tear boots) to check for slop.

 

[sbaert]

Depending on how many miles on the car, your steering components could be about as done as a thanksgiving turkey. If not miles, it's the age that wears too. Most W124s are now 20 years old with some still running on the original stuff.

I'd check the ball joints at a minimum, but also replace the steering shock (easy, inexpensive fix) and see if that changes the behavior any. The steering shock is supposed to cancel out steering wheel feedback from potholes, bumps and the like. If the steering shock is gone, you're gonna feel everything coming back through the wheel.

 

[cbc atl]

Do not drive it again until it is repaired. You really could kill someone, yourself included. Especially at 60 mph if the wheel comes off. It happens...see:

If you do not know what your are doing have it towed to a repair facility.