Vibration in gear while stopped - SOLUTION
Well, let me share MY SOLUTION.
I purchased my 2010 C350 4Matic from it's first owner last fall with 105,000km, and have since put over 10,000km on it myself. After many months of growing frustration with my car, and countless hours of reading forums of others sharing the same symptoms, yet unable to find a clear solution, I was ready to sell the car. Until...
My mechanic put my car up on the hoist, first checking the rear (transmission) mount. He removed the bolts and mount altogether, and had his foreman sit in the cabin with the car running and in gear. The lack of support from this mount did not seem to alter the symptoms whatsoever, and the mount did not appear cracked or damaged. He re-installed and carried on.
Next, he went to the front of the car. With his jack placed under the oil pan, he began lifting the entire weight of the engine off of the front two mounts. And again, with his foreman sitting in the cabin, the car was placed in and out of gear. VOILA, the symptoms had instantly vanished and surely - once the jack was lowered again - the symptoms returned. This way he was able to isolate that the vibration I was experiencing was the result of aged motor mounts. Although they didn't looked cracked, damaged, or leaking from the outside - clearly the age of the car and the mileage caused them to compress just enough to cause the vibration.
With any 4Matic, replacing the two front hydraulic motor mounts is a labour-intensive job. Expect even a competent mechanic shop to quote you 8-9 hours labour + parts. Living in western Canada, my total altogether came to $1,100 at a private shop. That being said, it is worth EVERY PENNY. The difference is night and day, so drastic that I can hardly tell the car is running now - even in gear.
For all of you out there sharing the frustration, I hope this helps point you in the right direction!
Cheers,
Adam Schmidt
Transmission mount eased the vibrations and made them barely noticeable but I guess in 1 year I'll have to replace the engine mounts as well.
As per the OP, how dramatic is dramatic? For me, I mean, yeah, it's SLIGHTLY better in neutral...but we're talking 2 shades of grey here. My car is still in warranty, so if I can get something fixed...I will, lol.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Engine-Motor-Mount-Lt-Rt-Mercedes-Benz-Lemforder-OEM-S550-C300-CL500-2pc-New/271935416986?fits=Year%3A2008%7CMake%3AMercedes-Benz%7CModel%3AC300%7CSubmodel%3A4Matic&hash=item3 f509d2a9a:g:4bEAAOSwDNdVsSYC&vxp=mtr
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I am going to do my own transmission mount and flex disc replacement this summer but doing engine mounts maybe too much of a pain to do myself when the time comes.
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I was hoping I could get away with not having to but we'll see. I am just buying parts throughout the winter and will tackle the flex discs, tranny mount and drive shaft bearing and carrier during the summer. Mine is a 4-matic so my trans mount is a lot larger than a rear wheel drive variant.
I want to actually remove the drive shaft and replace the end bushings also since I am in there. I hope those are not hard to change or stubborn to remove.
Last edited by Colin G; Feb 7, 2018 at 05:24 PM.
I was hoping I could get away with not having to but we'll see. I am just buying parts throughout the winter and will tackle the flex discs, tranny mount and drive shaft bearing and carrier during the summer. Mine is a 4-matic so my trans mount is a lot larger than a rear wheel drive variant.
I want to actually remove the drive shaft and replace the end bushings also since I am in there. I hope those are not hard to change or stubborn to remove.[/QUOTE
The transmission mount is very easy to do, I also have a the 4matic. Honestly I winter my car and its about to hit 250k and the driveshaft bearing are still fine when I checked them at 230k. The mount I did at 180k and it was still ok, no cracks. My flex shield are stick stock at 250k and they weren't cracked when I checked them but I will be changing those this summer, not that its vibrating or anything, if you car is low mileage and the bearings and flexplate still looks good I would leave it.

Cool, that's good to hear! What brand did you use and how much did it run you? Anybody know of any good alternatives to OEM?
Cheers KP
Cheers KP
I'm not sure but they do look like a pain to replace them. I'm glad mine, with over 250k, are still solid without any movement. Replace the transmission mount so there is less strain on the engine mount and they will last longer.
there's a shaft that connect with driver axle, that shaft whith a bering conect to the gearbox and goes throw the oil pan then to the axle...
My opinion bearing strong steel sits in aluminum pan and in time start to make space ....
I change front axle and shaft still shakes but less ,but to be like new need to change also the pan.
This is the difference between 2wd and 4wd 4matic ,that's why I never had issues on w221 2wd
On the second picture 7 and 8 goes throw first picture,so in my opinion to resolve this issue less that 200 usd fist check this don't make my mistake changing engine mounts and all that I read on different forums because you could face a 2000 usd mistake
there's a shaft that connect with driver axle, that shaft whith a bering conect to the gearbox and goes throw the oil pan then to the axle...
My opinion bearing strong steel sits in aluminum pan and in time start to make space ....
I change front axle and shaft still shakes but less ,but to be like new need to change also the pan.
This is the difference between 2wd and 4wd 4matic ,that's why I never had issues on w221 2wd
On the second picture 7 and 8 goes throw first picture,so in my opinion to resolve this issue less that 200 usd fist check this don't make my mistake changing engine mounts and all that I read on different forums because you could face a 2000 usd mistake
If you have any play on that driver side bearing where the axle goes in, change it as soon as you can. This bearing should be inspected if the car is over 10 years old or has over 150k on it. I've seen a few horror stories where the bearing seized up and destroyed the oil pan housing resulting in a very expensive repair when all you needed is a 30$ bearing. It can be prevented with diligence and checking that bearing for play.
Well, let me share MY SOLUTION.
I purchased my 2010 C350 4Matic from it's first owner last fall with 105,000km, and have since put over 10,000km on it myself. After many months of growing frustration with my car, and countless hours of reading forums of others sharing the same symptoms, yet unable to find a clear solution, I was ready to sell the car. Until...
My mechanic put my car up on the hoist, first checking the rear (transmission) mount. He removed the bolts and mount altogether, and had his foreman sit in the cabin with the car running and in gear. The lack of support from this mount did not seem to alter the symptoms whatsoever, and the mount did not appear cracked or damaged. He re-installed and carried on.
Next, he went to the front of the car. With his jack placed under the oil pan, he began lifting the entire weight of the engine off of the front two mounts. And again, with his foreman sitting in the cabin, the car was placed in and out of gear. VOILA, the symptoms had instantly vanished and surely - once the jack was lowered again - the symptoms returned. This way he was able to isolate that the vibration I was experiencing was the result of aged motor mounts. Although they didn't looked cracked, damaged, or leaking from the outside - clearly the age of the car and the mileage caused them to compress just enough to cause the vibration.
With any 4Matic, replacing the two front hydraulic motor mounts is a labour-intensive job. Expect even a competent mechanic shop to quote you 8-9 hours labour + parts. Living in western Canada, my total altogether came to $1,100 at a private shop. That being said, it is worth EVERY PENNY. The difference is night and day, so drastic that I can hardly tell the car is running now - even in gear.
For all of you out there sharing the frustration, I hope this helps point you in the right direction!
Cheers,
Adam Schmidt
K.








