Highway Stability/Sway
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Joined: May 2018
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C240
Highway Stability/Sway
Greetings all, first post here. After putting about 150k on two different BMW 530/E39's, owning a 2013 X5 and beloved my 1988 BMW M6 I've just added a pristine low mile CPO 2014 C300 W204 Sport/AMG package, which I drove back about 300 miles last night. (Goal being to get a normally aspirated six cylinder in a premium car while I stool could). I had test driven two and found the handing very compliant but was very surprised at what I'll call body roll/lack of stability last night bringing her home. And, yes, I've read plenty of threads on the car's handling including comparisons to BMW and know that they are very different cars. However, I did had a tough time getting used to the body rocking in either direction with its tilt sway with the slightest touch to its steering. Just found difficult to control. So, independent of me getting more acclimated to this car (which for now will be my wife's daily driver), I'd appreciate any productive comments/thoughts, particularly concerning potential minor mods, i.e. stiffer sway bar bushings/kit, sway bar perhaps in rear, etc. It runs the common Conti Extreme Contacts (which I'm not too fond of) that all these cars seem to have, which are brand new in the rear, 9mm thread depth on the front. Just checked and rear tires are inflated to 37 lbs, fronts are 35. Thanks guys.
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From: Milwaukee, WI
2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
handling wise they are pretty good, wider tires make it great.
your tires seem a bit overinflated to OEM spec, which should say on your drives side door handle. Usually for OEM its 30 front 35 rear, could be a bit bouncy for that reason.
your tires seem a bit overinflated to OEM spec, which should say on your drives side door handle. Usually for OEM its 30 front 35 rear, could be a bit bouncy for that reason.
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Joined: May 2018
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C240
I will try CJG's higher pressure - I believe the door label did spec a 40 plus number for the rear. Dealer just did replace the rears before I purchased it, this car does ride softer/better than the two that I test drove.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Seattle
2016 C300 4MATIC
Check the numbers inside the gas filler door. Not the ones in the door frame.
These pressures work great. And, my numbers are when hot, not cold. 10+ miles of freeway in the summer.
These pressures work great. And, my numbers are when hot, not cold. 10+ miles of freeway in the summer.
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2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
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2019 S560, 2015 Honda Civic Hybrid
I have not driven the Sport model, but after a year and a half with my C350, I am not very impressed with the suspension and steering. The springs and shocks are extremely stiff and make the car rock and bounce, particularly in the back. Meanwhile, the steering is very light and has almost no feel, a weird combination with the aggressive springs and shocks.
I've made some headway by changing to Koni FSD shocks. These really calm down the rocking and bouncing, but I wish now I had changed to C300 standard springs at the same time. No idea what can be done with the steering, I wonder if the AMG cars have better steering and perhaps it would be possible to change to an AMG steering rack to get some feedback and road feel.
I've made some headway by changing to Koni FSD shocks. These really calm down the rocking and bouncing, but I wish now I had changed to C300 standard springs at the same time. No idea what can be done with the steering, I wonder if the AMG cars have better steering and perhaps it would be possible to change to an AMG steering rack to get some feedback and road feel.
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Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Canada
A car
I have not driven the Sport model, but after a year and a half with my C350, I am not very impressed with the suspension and steering. The springs and shocks are extremely stiff and make the car rock and bounce, particularly in the back. Meanwhile, the steering is very light and has almost no feel, a weird combination with the aggressive springs and shocks.
I've made some headway by changing to Koni FSD shocks. These really calm down the rocking and bouncing, but I wish now I had changed to C300 standard springs at the same time. No idea what can be done with the steering, I wonder if the AMG cars have better steering and perhaps it would be possible to change to an AMG steering rack to get some feedback and road feel.
I've made some headway by changing to Koni FSD shocks. These really calm down the rocking and bouncing, but I wish now I had changed to C300 standard springs at the same time. No idea what can be done with the steering, I wonder if the AMG cars have better steering and perhaps it would be possible to change to an AMG steering rack to get some feedback and road feel.
Regularly drive well above the PSL, and with the sport model, my beef is the suspension is too hard, but it sure doesn't bounce and sway on the highway.
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2019 S560, 2015 Honda Civic Hybrid
Go over a moderate dip or rise in the road and the rear end will practically stuff you into the headliner, that's what I meant by 'bouncing', sudden vertical motion. Or drive over a speed bump in a parking lot and your head will be whipped from side to side, again sudden motion imparted to the driver. Just too hard springs and shocks.
When I changed to FSDs, I tried to compress an OE rear shock against my workbench and it took almost my entire body weight to make them move. Way too hard.
I'd really like to try a C63 to see if the steering is better. Do the regular C models use electric steering, could that be a factor in the lightness and lack of feel?
When I changed to FSDs, I tried to compress an OE rear shock against my workbench and it took almost my entire body weight to make them move. Way too hard.
I'd really like to try a C63 to see if the steering is better. Do the regular C models use electric steering, could that be a factor in the lightness and lack of feel?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,448
Likes: 283
From: Canada
A car
Go over a moderate dip or rise in the road and the rear end will practically stuff you into the headliner, that's what I meant by 'bouncing', sudden vertical motion. Or drive over a speed bump in a parking lot and your head will be whipped from side to side, again sudden motion imparted to the driver. Just too hard springs and shocks.
When I changed to FSDs, I tried to compress an OE rear shock against my workbench and it took almost my entire body weight to make them move. Way too hard.
I'd really like to try a C63 to see if the steering is better. Do the regular C models use electric steering, could that be a factor in the lightness and lack of feel?
When I changed to FSDs, I tried to compress an OE rear shock against my workbench and it took almost my entire body weight to make them move. Way too hard.
I'd really like to try a C63 to see if the steering is better. Do the regular C models use electric steering, could that be a factor in the lightness and lack of feel?
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 473
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From: SF bay area
C300 sport
Go over a moderate dip or rise in the road and the rear end will practically stuff you into the headliner, that's what I meant by 'bouncing', sudden vertical motion. Or drive over a speed bump in a parking lot and your head will be whipped from side to side, again sudden motion imparted to the driver. Just too hard springs and shocks.
When I changed to FSDs, I tried to compress an OE rear shock against my workbench and it took almost my entire body weight to make them move. Way too hard.
I'd really like to try a C63 to see if the steering is better. Do the regular C models use electric steering, could that be a factor in the lightness and lack of feel?
When I changed to FSDs, I tried to compress an OE rear shock against my workbench and it took almost my entire body weight to make them move. Way too hard.
I'd really like to try a C63 to see if the steering is better. Do the regular C models use electric steering, could that be a factor in the lightness and lack of feel?
This is my biggest gripe with the C300. I go over a highway bump and I'm bouncing up and down, I go over a small dip on a corner and now my head is swinging like a bobble head. I have been itching to try an eibach sway bar and Bilstein B12 pro kit, but I don't know how much longer I'd want to keep the car.
