Viper98912

I own a 2005, and one of Mercedes' (and german cars in general) signatures is the solidity of the door when you close it; the "thunk".

Well, my rear doors are fine and the driver door thunks, but when closing the passenger door it sounds more like a lightweight, misaligned clunk. Doesn't sound like a Benz should.

Before I start taking apart my door, does anyone have any opinions on fixes?

I'm leaning towards checking:
1) Door alignment (although seems fine) or looseness
2) Lock alignment and tightness (although seems fine)
3) Door seal
4) Something loose inside the door

Glyn M Ruck

The 203's doors don't thunk quite like older Mercs but they are not bad. Does something rattle in the door? If all is tight inside the door it's usually just lock adjustment vs door seal.

SunnyRayToronto

Try spraying silicone lubricant onto the rubber door seal. Rub it in to all the folds. This will ensure your rubber door seal are moist & flexible and will form a tight closure.

LILBENZ230

My doors thunk pretty nicely all around.

krisv420

If i have my driver window down.. and i close the door pretty hard sometimes i hear the glass rattle or something.. should i take the door apart and look?? it doesn't bug me.. but it may in the summer.. don't know if something is loose

OneOfaKindTrini

My back doors hardly open lol.

Glyn M Ruck

I still remember the first Autocar road test on the W203 - They loved it (C320) - their only negative comments - " please put the thunk back in the doors" & "close up the gaps around the peanut headlamps"

How soon we forget just how an older Benz doors thunked. The 204 feels almost Japanese.

LILBENZ230

I don't have much experience with old Benzes.. But go slam the door of a 2004-2008 Acura TSX and see what happens. The TSX is a great car, but the door sound is so tinny.. The rational me knows that this is just a sound, it doesn't really have any significant meaning. That my 2005 C230's doors thunk more solidly than a 2005 TSX's doors means nothing - the TSX has even better side impact ratings.

Glyn M Ruck

Yes - Honda have always had a very light feel. Something they are changing in there latest offerings for greater appeal in Europe. Now they have the weight penalty to contend with.