rd122481

I have a '96 C220 and it vibrates like all hell! I could get a better ride from a Peterbuilt! Anyways...the car just came back from the mechanic, he said it was the motor mounts so I told him to go ahead and replace them but the car still vibrates like hell. The tires are good (no bubbles or anything) so I don't know what to do. It's going back to the mechanic on Friday a.m., but I'm running out of patience...I want to sell the car and buy a Honda or something. Anyways...the car only has 78.5k miles. Any advice on what could be the culprit? This was my first Mercedes (bought for me by my Grandfather who buys BMW's for himself) I think this one will be my last!

040mercedes

Well, let me be the first to say that starting off a topic like "mercedes sucks" in a "Mercedes Forum" is not the smartest way to get answers for for your question. I can guarantee you that I won't be the last one to comment on that one. As for your vibration issue, you need to be more specific about it. Such as, does it only vibrate when you are driving? Or idling? Both? Be more specific about the nature of the vibration and then we can shed some light on the situation. What kind of tires are you running on? Just because there are no bubbles does not mean that they are fine. They could be the wrong speed rating, belts could be seperated etc. They could even be off balance. In the meantime, lighten up, mercedes is a very nice, reliable car, everyone has trouble with their car from time to time. Besides I can tell you from experience that Honda is not nearly as good of quality as mercedes.

RunInColorado

I agree with 040, there could be a million things that could cause the vibration. Give us some details and I am sure you will get some help. As for the Honda, I have know alot of people that would disagree with anyone who says they are reliable.. but thats just my 2 cents.

ricerokets4life

the new mercedes needs work but your 96 should be relatively OK

trbo2nr

I had something like this some time back and I had two warped rims. How they
got that way, I don't know. Before I found the problem, I had gone through computer spin balance, alignment. The road force balance caught the faulty
rims. Now it's smooth... Good luck.

rd122481

Thanks for input fellas. And...you are right, Mercedes does not suck . I just get so frustrated because my Acura and Prelude never gave me any trouble and I modded the heck out of them. Anyways, I have 17" chrome AMG's (I think they're Aero's or something) w/ Falken Ziex ZE512 (235/45/17 W-speed rating). The car vibrates at 1750~ and 2800~ rpm in park (while standing still). It also vibrates at any speed while driving, it increases in severity, but only to a point. Oh...the car also "wanders" just a little.

rd122481

Also...what Hondas did you guys have? I had a Prelude VTEC and I sprayed a 80-shot with an NOS dry kit and never had any trouble(for a year and a half). The kid I sold the car to totaled the car but took the drivetrain and put it in a civic and he's still raping muscle cars for fun.

proform

davis449

Wow, this scenario seems so familiar. My 95 C 280 has about 80K on it and I had the same problems you had, except my vibration wasn't as strong as you're describing, but nonetheless still there. I took it in to MB of San Antonio to get a transmission problem addressed (this turned out to be a vaccum control valve issue that my previous dealer most likely BROKE the month before when I took it to them to address a shifting problem and didn't want to admit), and they found a **** load of stuff wrong with my car. They replaced my steering shocks, my front lower control arm bushings, AND my motor mounts. THANKG GOD FOR STARMARK! All in all I believe I got, total, about $2500 worth of work done. So anyone of these could also be your problem. I hope this narrows it down a bit for you.

cil254

My first reaction would have been to change mechanic rather than car...

RunInColorado

Had 3 friends with Hondas which they hated, 2 with an accord and 1 with a civic. They always had problems with them and got rid of them before 100k miles. I personally think that I would stay away from them, but again thats just me (I have only driven them, not owned one).

As for other issues with the car, I had a 190 that would do the same thing, but it was because it had been parked (by my father) either with low tire pressure or against a concrete curb and then left for a month or so (I was out of the country at the time). The steel belts in the tires ended up being bent and tires had to be replaced. A tire alignment might also help. Those are just my ideas.

I also have mine serviced at some place other than the dealer. With the 190 it was rare to come from the dealer without a 1k$ USD bill, now the 190 comes home with only a couple hundred charged instead (still using genuine parts etc). The dealer always overcharged and ended up replacing things that did not need to be replaced. My C230 has yet to need service (25K miles on it and was just serviced by previous owner). Hope this helps every one.

Euro94C280

wow.... dude i am a mercedes tech. and 10 ppl a day come to my shop adressing this same problem, your tire has to be wrong rotation direction, guaranteed, and for saying mercedes suck.... what kinda f*&^ing idiot are u? Mercedes benz are above all the very richest , nicest reputation out of any automobile anywhere..dont just open your mouth and talk about stuff u have no idead about thanks?, and for them being junky and honda being better?, i have a 2003 c230k, a 94 c280 , stage 2 renntech charger, full amg kit, and a 76 240d.... and the 240 has.. yes this is true......319k miles on it and ive never been broken down or any quirks with it.. best car i or any one that i know had ever heard of.. diesel mercedes are sooo beyond the best running car in the world... it even puts subarus to shame..

RunInColorado

I must also add diesel last forever! the 190 is a diesel and barely has problems, minus some things that are going on it (But not bad since its a 86'). My mother use to have a 240D. I swear that was the slowest benz ever made. To pull out on the freeway you needed at least 2 miles of clear space. There is a mountain on I-77 in Va that we had to turn the air off, put the hazards on, and move to the truck lane just to keep 35mph! All in all great cars though!

040mercedes

Okay, I think he learned his lesson when he admitted to being wrong, everyone gets pissed when their car is doing something that can't be explained. I can believe the tires being mounted wrong because they are directional may effect the way it drives, but that still doesn't explain why it vibrates when parked. You already fixed the mounts, which should have been fine to begin with, so that leaves the drivetrain. It may be a long shot but, I would check the driveshaft, more specifically the flex joints. Those could be going bad. Both my Benz's had that problem but didn't make them vibrate. Still a good place to start. If that's fine, check your engine. Mine every once in a great while will chug and sputter thus making it vibrate badly. However my problem can be fixed by just shutting it off then back on. So vacuum leak somewhere maybe? I'll keep pondering....

pointman

then selll it and be on your way. bye.

deuxslow

I also own a 02 civic, and used to work mercedes dealer in so cal, and I drive my honda so hard, it has less problems then all the benz's that ever came in, I love mercedes but I think honda is built a just a little better, it's funny when someone pays a 120 grand for car (e.g. s55) that has to be taken in to the shop every other week. just my 2 cents.

sph17

That is a bit of an exageration is it not?

I lived in WV with an 83 240D that was rated at 67HP, and going up the steepest hill I never dropped below 40 MPH, but then again I had a manual 4 speed, and shifted down into 3rd.

RunInColorado

It was an automatic so it was just left in drive. At least it gave some of the truckers an ego boost! (A car was slower than some of them!). The 190D at least kept the speed limit on a hill (unless it was going around 100mph). Its only problem was climing a hill and trying to merge on some of the steeper on ramps. Ohh well, I guess those cars are the reason I appreciate the speed on my c230!

sph17

I also had a 86 190D with the 2.5L diesel. It had a lot more acceleration, and got about 37 mph on the highway (the 240D only got about 25 mpg). I remember going about 600 miles on a tank of fuel on one trip to Florida in the 190D. My 190D was a manual also.

RunInColorado

Yep, I can agree to the fuel economy. Even at avg of 90 mph it would get in the 30s! I comute about 30 miles a day so I miss the every 2.5 week fill up. Now with the C230 its about every 10 days or so. But I am looking at the new E320 CDI. Its not only efficient but also fast!

JDoggery

Yes, the new E320 CDI is pretty speedy. More torque. I drove one at a Mercedes driving event and was quite impressed. Then I drove the SL 500 and was like, forget about the cost of gas, this thing is quick, and fun to drive too.