diff --git a/tests/e2e/drag-layout.e2e.ts b/tests/e2e/drag-layout.e2e.ts
index 32db2c6..1d19a17 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/drag-layout.e2e.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/drag-layout.e2e.ts
@@ -536,82 +536,6 @@ test('a capture-lost drag with no usable coordinates keeps the last applied widt
   await page.mouse.up()
 })
 
-/* ── issue #248: HMR center-column replacement must be re-located ────── */
-
-test('bottom panel re-locates a center column replaced deep inside #root (issue #248)', async ({ page }) => {
-  await page.goto(BASE_URL, { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' })
-  await expect(page.locator('#root > *')).not.toHaveCount(0, { timeout: 90_000 })
-  const sidebar = page.locator('[data-dsh-better-sidebar]')
-  await expect(sidebar).toBeAttached({ timeout: 90_000 })
-  await dismissOnboarding(page)
-  await expandSidebar(page, sidebar)
-
-  // Open the bottom panel; it must become visible with the center column
-  // measured (its right edge tracking the column's right edge).
-  const bottomExpand = sidebar.getByRole('button', { name: 'Expand bottom panel' })
-  await expect(bottomExpand, 'the toggle cluster must offer the bottom-panel expand button').toHaveCount(1)
-  await bottomExpand.click()
-  await expect
-    .poll(async () => {
-      const value = await page.evaluate(() => document.documentElement.style.getPropertyValue('--dsh-sidebar-height'))
-      return value !== '' && value !== '0px'
-    }, { timeout: 90_000 })
-    .toBe(true)
-
-  const probe = (): Promise<{ visible: boolean; drift: number } | null> => page.evaluate(() => {
-    const el = document.querySelector('[data-dsh-better-sidebar] [data-dsh-bottom-panel]')
-    const col = document.querySelector('#root [data-slot="conversation"]')?.parentElement
-    if (el === null || col == null) return null
-    const panel = el.getBoundingClientRect()
-    const center = col.getBoundingClientRect()
-    return {
-      visible: getComputedStyle(el).visibility !== 'hidden',
-      drift: Math.abs(panel.right - center.right),
-    }
-  })
-  await expect
-    .poll(async () => {
-      const p = await probe()
-      return p !== null && p.visible && p.drift <= 8
-    }, { timeout: 30_000 })
-    .toBe(true)
-
-  // Simulate the HMR re-render: the shell swaps the center column node
-  // DEEP inside #root (a mutation the old childList-only watcher never
-  // saw — #root's own children don't change), first with a zero-size stub
-  // (mid-teardown), then with a re-created column of different geometry.
-  await page.evaluate(() => {
-    const col = document.querySelector('#root [data-slot="conversation"]')?.parentElement
-    if (col == null || col.parentElement === null) throw new Error('center column not found')
-    const stub = document.createElement('div')
-    const slot = document.createElement('div')
-    slot.setAttribute('data-slot', 'conversation')
-    stub.appendChild(slot)
-    col.parentElement.replaceChild(stub, col)
-  })
-  await page.evaluate(() => {
-    const col = document.querySelector('#root [data-slot="conversation"]')?.parentElement
-    if (col == null || col.parentElement === null) throw new Error('center column stub not found')
-    const fresh = document.createElement('div')
-    fresh.style.width = '300px'
-    fresh.style.height = '200px'
-    const slot = document.createElement('div')
-    slot.setAttribute('data-slot', 'conversation')
-    fresh.appendChild(slot)
-    col.parentElement.replaceChild(fresh, col)
-  })
-
-  // The locate chain (subtree watcher / html-style watcher / 1.5s retry)
-  // must converge on the new column within a couple of seconds; the old
-  // code kept observing the detached column and never recovered.
-  await expect
-    .poll(async () => {
-      const p = await probe()
-      return p !== null && p.visible && p.drift <= 8
-    }, { timeout: 15_000 })
-    .toBe(true)
-})
-
 /* ── issue #258: the bottom panel must not flash full-width after a width
       drag release ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */