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Sports version too firm?

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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 12:51 PM
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C180
Sports version too firm?

Hi all,

Is the ride on the Sport model too firm for daily use? According to several reviews, e.g., whatcar, autoexpress, complain that it has a firm ride. Does it get better when the Sport suspension is switched off?

Thanks
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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 12:57 PM
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how do you switch off the sport suspension?

and Id complain its too soft for my daily driving haha
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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 01:03 PM
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Lots of opinions here, wish my C300 Sport had the ride of the Luxury. Actually bought the Sport based on the driving impressions of the Luxury. Maybe the software of the Agility Control could be changed?
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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 01:05 PM
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Another round of ICE
Originally Posted by dayzman
Hi all,

Is the ride on the Sport model too firm for daily use? According to several reviews, e.g., whatcar, autoexpress, complain that it has a firm ride. Does it get better when the Sport suspension is switched off?

Thanks
Oh, gosh, not at all...not even close to a concern. Ride quality is just fine, especially if you swap out the original equipment tires, designed more for fuel economy than ride or handling. But, if you like floaty, by all means drive the Luxury model. I drove my cousin's, and was surprised how different and soft it was....made me feel older than I am!
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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 01:39 PM
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C180
Originally Posted by Mixedfruits
how do you switch off the sport suspension
Doesn't this button let you switch it off?
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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 02:05 PM
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Another round of ICE
Originally Posted by dayzman
Doesn't this button let you switch it off?
Not all Sport models have that feature. Mine is simply on steel springs, with no advanced chassis electronics. I have not seen Advanced Agility Control, but that may be what you are showing us? In that case, I cannot comment on the Sport setting, but an unoptioned Sport model suspension calibration is just fine for daily use.
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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 02:40 PM
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I would prefer a stiffer suspension , when in sport mode it does get tighter but by no means is it to harsh a drive for daily motoring .
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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 05:07 PM
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If you get that agility control, sport mode, you can definitely feel the suspension difference. On cruise, I think the sport model still feels like a floater. Compared to a 335i lets say, its nice to be able to skate rather than that firm feel all the time.
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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 05:23 PM
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Really? Sport mode? Harsh??

what was your last car, a rollys royce phantom?
If you think the sport mode rides harsh id like to know whats been cradling your *** for the last few years.
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Old Apr 9, 2011 | 10:50 PM
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Originally Posted by killerg
Really? Sport mode? Harsh??

what was your last car, a rollys royce phantom?
If you think the sport mode rides harsh id like to know whats been cradling your *** for the last few years.

LOL, I know what you mean Killerg, I still have my 99 Corolla.
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Old Apr 10, 2011 | 12:47 AM
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2011 C 300 2001 E 430
I have a 2011 C300 Sport and I used to drive a stock 04 Porsche C4S. The MBZ C 300 rides like a dream compared to the rock hard ride of the Porsche. In the Porsche you could not drive several hundred miles not feeling like you just got out of a washing machine. I think the ride in the C 300 Sport is perfect, just a little stiff for control, yet soft enough that you don't get beat up.
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Old Apr 10, 2011 | 02:32 AM
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All depends on the roads you drive on surely ?
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Old Apr 10, 2011 | 04:33 PM
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Just test drive the car and judge for yourself. Everyone's opinion on "firm" will differ.
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Old Apr 10, 2011 | 05:51 PM
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I do find the sport suspension on the C300 too firm. Perhaps it has to do with the poor road surface here due to the harsh Canadian winter (lots of unevenly repaired potholes). I do love my C300, and have been looking at ways to improve the ride. Have tried different tires, but to no avail. I recently asked my mechanic if the springs could be changed to those in the Luxury model, but he wasn't able to give me a clear answer. Ideally I would like to have a "switchable" suspension, but in Canada that is not offered on the 4Matic version.

Has anyone else looked at this?

------------------------------

Hi all,

Is the ride on the Sport model too firm for daily use? According to several reviews, e.g., whatcar, autoexpress, complain that it has a firm ride. Does it get better when the Sport suspension is switched off?

Thanks[/quote]
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Old Apr 10, 2011 | 05:57 PM
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Another round of ICE
Originally Posted by Aarpee
I do find the sport suspension on the C300 too firm. Perhaps it has to do with the poor road surface here due to the harsh Canadian winter (lots of unevenly repaired potholes). I do love my C300, and have been looking at ways to improve the ride. Have tried different tires, but to no avail. I recently asked my mechanic if the springs could be changed to those in the Luxury model, but he wasn't able to give me a clear answer. Ideally I would like to have a "switchable" suspension, but in Canada that is not offered on the 4Matic version.

Has anyone else looked at this?

------------------------------

Hi all,

Is the ride on the Sport model too firm for daily use? According to several reviews, e.g., whatcar, autoexpress, complain that it has a firm ride. Does it get better when the Sport suspension is switched off?

Thanks
[/QUOTE]

Can we assume you are running 17" tires? Did you try Conti DWS tires? Also, did you drive a Luxury model, because if that is the feel you are looking for, it will take more than springs to achieve.
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Old Apr 10, 2011 | 06:05 PM
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c350coupe, Gencoupe R-spec
i dont think the ride is to stiff at all, then again before i had my c350 i had a slammed 350z
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Old Apr 10, 2011 | 07:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Sportstick
Oh, gosh, not at all...not even close to a concern. Ride quality is just fine, especially if you swap out the original equipment tires, designed more for fuel economy than ride or handling. But, if you like floaty, by all means drive the Luxury model. I drove my cousin's, and was surprised how different and soft it was....made me feel older than I am!
Recently I spent a few days in a 2010 C300 Sport dealer service loaner on Michelin MXM tires and in comparison to my C300 Lux I thought the ride was just fine and I liked the slightly flatter cornering but on fast freeway ramps the car oversteered very noticeably. Easily recoverable but certainly less grip than my own car on 18" Bridgestone RE-050A tires. Which are down to about 6/32 tread depth at 26K+ miles.

My conclusion is that the tires make more difference than the Sport suspension. My car was factory equipped with the usual Contis which were removed before delivery.
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Old Apr 10, 2011 | 07:10 PM
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Another round of ICE
Originally Posted by RLE
Recently I spent a few days in a 2010 C300 Sport dealer service loaner on Michelin MXM tires and in comparison to my C300 Lux I thought the ride was just fine and I liked the slightly flatter cornering but on fast freeway ramps the car oversteered very noticeably. Easily recoverable but certainly less grip than my own car on 18" Bridgestone RE-050A tires. Which are down to about 6/32 tread depth at 26K+ miles.

My conclusion is that the tires make more difference than the Sport suspension. My car was factory equipped with the usual Contis which were removed before delivery.
Possibly, although you may have been experiencing a 17" Sport (base content loaner car) versus your 18" Luxury, so there may have been another confounding factor which, in this case, made the models seem more equal for ride comfort. Tires unquestionably make a significant contribution to impact harshness, but depending on how much compliance he is seeking, he may not be satisfied until he achieves a 17" Luxury ride, which would change springs, shocks, antisway bar thickness and bushings, all of which also affect harshness.
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Old Apr 11, 2011 | 12:30 AM
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Originally Posted by LDL2010
LOL, I know what you mean Killerg, I still have my 99 Corolla.
high five. i have humble beginnings and i still cant get over parking the c3 on the street so the corolla still gets lots of action
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Old Apr 11, 2011 | 12:33 AM
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Originally Posted by dayzman
Doesn't this button let you switch it off?
nope lucky
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Old Apr 12, 2011 | 03:59 PM
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Yes, I am running on the stock 17" Conti Pro-Contact tires. I did try switching to Michelins, but the ride got really noisy and rough. Haven't tried the Cont DWS yet. Someone suggested switching to 16" wheels, but the dealer nixed the idea. Apparently the larger calipers and rotors cannot be accommodated in 16" wheels.

Does anyone know of an adjustable aftermarket suspension kit for the W204/4Matic sports model?


----------
Can we assume you are running 17" tires? Did you try Conti DWS tires? Also, did you drive a Luxury model, because if that is the feel you are looking for, it will take more than springs to achieve.[/quote]
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