Harsh Ride on 2009 C350
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C350
Harsh Ride on 2009 C350
Hi all, I've had a brand new 2009 C350 for three weeks now. It drives very different from my previous car (2005 C230)--in terms of looser (some would say more responsive) steering and harsher ride.
I touched on the steering elsewhere.
Question I have for people--Has anyone else noticed that the ride on the C350 is harsh...i.e. you feel every bump and crevice in the road? My car has the 18'' AMG wheels---When I went to my dealer about this issue, they said that the new sport suspension and the 18'' wheels are likely what are causing a stiffer, less comfortable ride.
I'm wondering if anyone else has felt this way?
Oh, and I just test drove a loaner 2008 C300----that drives MUCH more like my previous C230, firm steering and a very smooth, comfortable ride. I'm thinking that I unfortunately got some characteristics that other people would like in their cars (more sporty), but at the expense of comfort?
I touched on the steering elsewhere.
Question I have for people--Has anyone else noticed that the ride on the C350 is harsh...i.e. you feel every bump and crevice in the road? My car has the 18'' AMG wheels---When I went to my dealer about this issue, they said that the new sport suspension and the 18'' wheels are likely what are causing a stiffer, less comfortable ride.
I'm wondering if anyone else has felt this way?
Oh, and I just test drove a loaner 2008 C300----that drives MUCH more like my previous C230, firm steering and a very smooth, comfortable ride. I'm thinking that I unfortunately got some characteristics that other people would like in their cars (more sporty), but at the expense of comfort?
Last edited by stallion150; May 27, 2009 at 02:52 PM.
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From: San Francisco
C350
i test drove the c230 before i got the c350, i would say the c350 is a better ride, it dont feel as hard and heavy as the c230. but yeah i do feel bump because of the wheels. but the handling is pretty amazing very responsive.
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From: Toronto
2009 C300 4Matic
yea i tend to feel the smaller bumps and get scared cause you get that "damn i hit a pothole" feeling...
but when you look back at the bump it's usually nothing...
it does keep me paranoid tho when i drive i'm always swerving to avoid anything holes or bumps on the ground. :\
edit: driving the c300w4m (sports mode)
but when you look back at the bump it's usually nothing...
it does keep me paranoid tho when i drive i'm always swerving to avoid anything holes or bumps on the ground. :\
edit: driving the c300w4m (sports mode)
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C350
Yeah, when I drive i get that feeling that the car moves with every bump and fissure in the road....It doesn't seem to track straight like other smooth driving cars....like if there's a bump in the road, the car veers a bit. Does that sound familiar too?
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C350
I'm also beginning to think the 18'' AMG wheels are a big culprit in making the ride harsher....I'm wondering if I should drop town to 16'' wheels when these tires expire...though what sucks is i'll have to get new rims
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From: Toronto
2009 C300 4Matic
but yea im running amg 17's on conti's so i dunno if it's the 18" thing... and don't get my wrong the drive is quiet as hell and smooth for the most part... it's just those smaller bumps that give it a harsh drive.
and yes 16" would look terrible... like simplex said probably the actual tires that are the issue.
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C350
if you drive anything sport its going to feel like that. if you didnt like that feeling you should of got the lux instead of the sport. its like driving a porsche, it would feel bumpy to because of the sport suspension and the wheels. its normal.
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From: Davenport IA
C350
I thought there was a big difference when the car was in sport suspension mode (feel every bump but tighter handling) and with sport mode off (comfortable ride)
[sport suspension on/off on 2009 C300 C350]
... thats what everyone here told me :P
Is it still bumpy with the sport mode OFF?
[sport suspension on/off on 2009 C300 C350]
... thats what everyone here told me :P
Is it still bumpy with the sport mode OFF?
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C350
Yeah its still bumpy in comfort mode---what the MB technician told me was the difference between the two was in gear shifting and fuel economy, not so much about softness of ride.
I probably would have liked the luxury ride much more, but the sport model looks so much better..lol....I'm still a little uncertain, though, if the harshness of my ride is appropriate for the car (even though the technicians said they couldn't find any fault).
I probably would have liked the luxury ride much more, but the sport model looks so much better..lol....I'm still a little uncertain, though, if the harshness of my ride is appropriate for the car (even though the technicians said they couldn't find any fault).
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From: Charlotte, NC
Had: 1987 300TD, Had: 2004 C230 Sport Sedan, Have: 2014 E350 Sport, Have: 2019 S450
First, check your tire pressures.
Most dealers set way more pressure in the tires than the recommended pressures.
Dropping from 50psi down to the recommended pressures makes a huge difference in the ride quality.
Most dealers set way more pressure in the tires than the recommended pressures.
Dropping from 50psi down to the recommended pressures makes a huge difference in the ride quality.
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From: San Francisco
C300
^ When I first got my car the tire pressure was real high and made the ride feel a lot more uncomfortable then it should have.
Dropped down to the recommended psi and felt better right away.
But I also think the H&R coilovers made the ride seem more comfortable then the stock suspensions :P
Dropped down to the recommended psi and felt better right away.
But I also think the H&R coilovers made the ride seem more comfortable then the stock suspensions :P
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From: Davenport IA
C350
Yeah its still bumpy in comfort mode---what the MB technician told me was the difference between the two was in gear shifting and fuel economy, not so much about softness of ride.
I probably would have liked the luxury ride much more, but the sport model looks so much better..lol....I'm still a little uncertain, though, if the harshness of my ride is appropriate for the car (even though the technicians said they couldn't find any fault).
I probably would have liked the luxury ride much more, but the sport model looks so much better..lol....I'm still a little uncertain, though, if the harshness of my ride is appropriate for the car (even though the technicians said they couldn't find any fault).
I'm talking about the button that is on the dash, do you have it? it says 'Sport'
I just thought you had a canadian car for some reason... (US models dont have that on C350's)
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C350
That's the gearshift sport mode.... it's on the center panel in front of the armrest, right next to the gearshifter...
I'm talking about the button that is on the dash, do you have it? it says 'Sport'
I just thought you had a canadian car for some reason... (US models dont have that on C350's)
I'm talking about the button that is on the dash, do you have it? it says 'Sport'
I just thought you had a canadian car for some reason... (US models dont have that on C350's)
Hi len, its a US model. There's no button on the dash, its right next to the gearfshifer (says C->S).
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From: Davenport IA
C350
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From: S.F. Bay Area
2008 C300 Sport, 2010 RX350 AWD
stallion150, what brand of tires are on your 18" amg?? if it has conti sport contact3 on there, then they are summer tires and maybe the reason you are feeling your car rides harsh..
as far as steering wheel, it does feel light at first, but once you are used to the new feel, you will become much appreciate how precisely the control is..
as far as steering wheel, it does feel light at first, but once you are used to the new feel, you will become much appreciate how precisely the control is..
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From: Phoenix, AZ
2014 Ghibli S Q4 & 2008 C350
Hi all, I've had a brand new 2009 C350 for three weeks now. It drives very different from my previous car (2005 C230)--in terms of looser (some would say more responsive) steering and harsher ride.
I touched on the steering elsewhere.
Question I have for people--Has anyone else noticed that the ride on the C350 is harsh...i.e. you feel every bump and crevice in the road? My car has the 18'' AMG wheels---When I went to my dealer about this issue, they said that the new sport suspension and the 18'' wheels are likely what are causing a stiffer, less comfortable ride.
I'm wondering if anyone else has felt this way?
Oh, and I just test drove a loaner 2008 C300----that drives MUCH more like my previous C230, firm steering and a very smooth, comfortable ride. I'm thinking that I unfortunately got some characteristics that other people would like in their cars (more sporty), but at the expense of comfort?
I touched on the steering elsewhere.
Question I have for people--Has anyone else noticed that the ride on the C350 is harsh...i.e. you feel every bump and crevice in the road? My car has the 18'' AMG wheels---When I went to my dealer about this issue, they said that the new sport suspension and the 18'' wheels are likely what are causing a stiffer, less comfortable ride.
I'm wondering if anyone else has felt this way?
Oh, and I just test drove a loaner 2008 C300----that drives MUCH more like my previous C230, firm steering and a very smooth, comfortable ride. I'm thinking that I unfortunately got some characteristics that other people would like in their cars (more sporty), but at the expense of comfort?
I just upgraded to from the stock 17's to 18" C63 wheels. When I had the dealer install them they noticed my rear shocks were bad and replaced them. I think it's mainly due to new rear shocks that to me it seems the car drives smoother even with the 18's on. I won't know for sure until next winter when I put my 17's and snow tires back on.
All that said, I think my C350 drives really nice for what it is. It is way harsher than our Toyota Avalon was but much smoother than the BMW's I test drove before buying the C.
My complaint is that I wish it had better handling in the corners when going over uneven pavement.
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C350
Hey guys, thanks for the input! I'll check the tire brand out in a sec--but the C300 I drove as a loaner today was the sport model...I expected it to drive like my C350, but it was a completely different experience! I was definitely surprised.
I just checked the tires: They are the Contisport Contact 3. You guys think they are part of the issue? I'd love to replace them, but need to find tires of similar size that ride "softer"
I just checked the tires: They are the Contisport Contact 3. You guys think they are part of the issue? I'd love to replace them, but need to find tires of similar size that ride "softer"
Last edited by stallion150; May 27, 2009 at 07:35 PM.
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
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From: Southeast
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
I own a 2008 C300 with original rims and tires. For my taste, it rides a bit firm. It has the Michilin tires.
The 2009 C300 loaner I drove, road softer (the part I liked) yet seem less precise in steering. It has the Contra tires.
The 2009 C300 loaner I drove, road softer (the part I liked) yet seem less precise in steering. It has the Contra tires.
