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Hi. I recently upgraded from W203 to W204. It is C200, 2007 model.
My car feels very rough while driving on uneven roads. Specially when coming off the bumps, the rear portion feels very very hard and rear seat travellers are never comfortable. Front suspension is also harder than my old W203 but the rear is way too rough.
I have replaced all four shock absorbers with brand new Sachs aftermarket shocks. They issued those against my vehicle's VIN so I guess they are the proper/compatible part for my vehicle. But the replacement didn't make much difference to ride quality.
I got the front and back spring coils inspected and those are not damaged as the mechanic said.
Tyres are stock size from Pirelli only driven 5K. The car has been driven for 76K miles.
This car is basic package not the sporty one which they say is stiffer as compare to basic and elegance.
What can be done to make this car a comfortable ride? All inputs are appreciated.
Rough ride is not a usual complaint for the W204 chassis. My first thought is tires/wheels. Be sure you are following the pressure recommendations for your car.
Do you still have original size 205/55 R 16 91H tires? Or have the wheels been changed to maybe 17” or 18” diameter? Or have the tires been changed to 94H load range? Either of these could affect ride quality.
The tire type could also affect ride quality. Sport tires will ride more stiffly than touring tires. Run flat tires get ride complaints from many users. Pirelli makes all 3 types in your original size.
I took the sport tires off my 2013 C250 and the ride improved.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
The car is 15 years old. Unlikely, but you should also check all the suspension bushings in control arms, etc. Just because the Sachs shocks fit your car doesn't mean that they are OEM equivalent -- Sachs probably makes a "sport" shock. You should confirm that on their website. Other than that, don't drive on bumpy roads with passengers, though that will make the ride rougher for you.
Last edited by JettaRed; Apr 20, 2022 at 12:01 PM.
Rough ride is not a usual complaint for the W204 chassis. My first thought is tires/wheels. Be sure you are following the pressure recommendations for your car.
Do you still have original size 205/55 R 16 91H tires? Or have the wheels been changed to maybe 17” or 18” diameter? Or have the tires been changed to 94H load range? Either of these could affect ride quality.
The tire type could also affect ride quality. Sport tires will ride more stiffly than touring tires. Run flat tires get ride complaints from many users. Pirelli makes all 3 types in your original size.
I took the sport tires off my 2013 C250 and the ride improved.
Wheels are 16" 205/55 91V. Tyre pressure is 30 PSI.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
What part number was used for your shocks? Sachs makes a standard, sport, and comfort shock for the W204. You can look it up here, starting on page 441.
The car is 15 years old. Unlikely, but you should also check all the suspension bushings in control arms, etc. Just because the Sachs shocks fit your car doesn't mean that they are OEM equivalent -- Sachs probably makes a "sport" shock. You should confirm that on their website. Other than that, don't drive on bumpy roads with passengers, thought that will make the ride rougher for you.
Thanks for the tip. I'll ask the mechanic if he has checked control arms etc.
I am not sure about Sachs shocks. Waiting for other members' output on this matter. Maybe someone else has also used Sachs and we can gain from their experience.
Actually, it is kind of embarrassing, driving on bumpy roads with passengers in the back seat as they are always complaining about bumps hitting in their tummy/stomach LOL. And the driver can also feel these jerks.
What part number was used for your shocks? Sachs makes a standard, sport, and comfort shock for the W204. You can look it up here, starting on page 441.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I did and responded. I really didn't see anything that indicated your suspension was anything other than standard. Are you driving on dirt roads in the countryside? Or cobblestone roads?
I did and responded. I really didn't see anything that indicated your suspension was anything other than standard. Are you driving on dirt roads in the countryside? Or cobblestone roads?
No, not on the dirt or cobblestone roads. It gets really bad when I am driving over patches of asphalt road which have been damaged by heavy vehicles thus making the road an uneven up/down surface.
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