Palmateer

My wife has owned her 2005 C240 sedan for several weeks now, and is complaining that the suspension sometimes makes the car feel "like you are in a boat." I test drove it, and agree with her that at times there seems to be an excessive amount of lateral compliance in the suspension. I did some research through car reviews.


My wife’s "boat" comparison seems to be supported by this excerpt in Car and Driver, January 2001:

"Where's the muscle toning? The body rises and falls on the suspension, long excursions up and down, all the time up and down. Steering inputs are followed by quick, tippy roll angles. The moves are way too nautical for a sports sedan."


Another Car and Driver review, October 2002:

"In the hills, our C-class went all wobbly. Its body weaves and dips and bobs and rolls and dives and squats whenever you start working the contact patches. It sure distracts the pilot, who's bombarded by warnings of imminent tip, roll, and general mayhem when no such crises loom."


Has anybody else on this Forum noticed this? Does having the sports package fix these problems? Can anything be done (like adding strong roll bars) with a car that came without the factory sport package?

dal dahele

ive got the sport pack on my c class, i had a loan car from the dealer without this option and when it was on the motorway it felt very instable

e1000

Why is Car and Driver testing the 240 which is sold as a luxury model only as a Sports Sedan? I test drove both the C350 Sport (which I bought) and the C350 Luxury and can tell you that they are completely different vehicles. The sports sedans do not feel the same at all. There are extensive suspension differences sutch as a lower stance, stiffer spings, stiffer shocks and much larger and wider wheels. I would say adding the 17" staggered wheels and tires would be a good start. Look on ebay for either the C7 wheels or the 17's found on the newer Sport Sedans.

BTW - if you read the IS350, 330i, C350 shootout, they comment on how well the C350 handled among it's peers. Although it didn't post the best numbers, it could definitely hold it's own among the competition. Besides the larger engine, a C230 Sport has the exact same suspension as the C350

Palmateer

Thanks for the reply. Car and Driver went ahead with the test after complaining that MB failed to furnish a sport model for the testing.

YoYiTo

I have a '02 c240 w/ sport pkg and it feels way more stable in turns compared to my '92 325i. I never noticed the car wobly in hard turns. I've been driving the car hard in turn lately.

e1000

oh, heh - well, I guess that's a good reason. My apologies. It may be easier to trade the 240 for a 230 SS, sounds like it will suite you and your wife better.

anonymouse

Are you sure cause E36 325i's are like go-karts and extremely predictable in the twisties. And my 06 can't even begin to take curves like my old 92 325i used to

ctC230K

roll bars? lol, please tell me u mean sway bars! :p

e1000

Your 1992 E36 325i had a curb weight of 2866lbs. 2006 C230 SS come in at around 3,400lbs I believe. I bet if you took 650lbs out of the C230 SS it would be MUCH MUCH better in the twisties. Not an excuss but safety requirements and luxury upgrades have added a lot of weight over the years.

anonymouse

I know I know - she may be a lil portly but I luv my fat baby

Outland

A good place to start is"why did you buy it?"


I actually find this whole thread kinda funny...in several ways. And you have an 05? The 05 240, all C Class cars actually, handle considerably better than the original version, which in itself was pretty good.

Palmateer

Ok, sway bars it is.