StanNH

As stated earlier, I do not have a wind noise problem with my August build C300. The car is quiet, and the only time I have ever heard wind noise is when driving through heavy crosswinds ... and even then it isn't particularly intrusive.

Wind noise or not, the real question is why MB has never publicly addressed this issue. There must be enough complaints going through the dealers that the company should be aware that there is at least some issue with the door or window seals. A simple statement to the effect that they are aware and investigating the problem, and/or working on a solution, would certainly go a long way towards calming owners down and maintaining some loyalty to the brand.

This consistent policy of not acknowledging real problem areas has not made many PR points for MB. The announcement of a recall, campaign, or TSB seems to be the extent of their customer support. With this wind noise issue, even if they just said they had received some complaints and were looking into the matter so that a fix could be developed, the complaints would settle down as those affected waited for the solution. Keeping everyone in the dark, all the time, is a strange way of dealing with your customer base. At least let the dealers know, so they can handle customer complaints in an intelligent manner. "They all do that," should not be an acceptable company policy.

Glyn M Ruck

Thanks for that. So this is a fitment problem of some sort across many of the plants on some cars, Germany, US & SA now. Benz had better get to the bottom of it. On W204 it was a mirror problem & some rear door fitments.

BoboPolo12

Early Jan 2015 Alabama build here. I have noticeable wind noise above ~45mph on both the driver side and front passenger side. Now, I can't hear the passenger side when I'm driving, but my passenger can and vice versa. It is definitely louder than any non-convertible car I've been in.

Stan - interestingly, the Boxsters notoriously had a relatively high pitched whistling sound coming from the side mirrors.. not sure about the 2013 though, I've never driven that model year.

StanNH

No wind noise problems at all on my 2013 Boxster .... unless the top is down.

kellens

StanNH, I hope yours stays on quieter side. Once you guys finally thaw from winter and get swings of warmer temperatures and cooler weather it might become more than just with crosswinds.


I think your point is right on. For Mercedes or dealers to say they haven't heard of this flaw and it being addressed makes them sound like idiots at best.

A fix is possible. We can send people to the moon. They have access to a wind tunnel, right?

991GT3

I just took delivery of my 2015 C300 last week with a January 2015 production date, it has a lot of wind noise and just noticed the misaligned rear bumper

ThompasMB

I have no wind noise in my S205. It is built in the beginning of November. But I have instead a very loud noise from the tires. I will analyze this more when I put on my summer tires.

c21bill

Ambient road noise on mine runs from low to mid 60db but when I move the meter next to the upper front corner of the side windows the reading jumps to low 70's. The ambient reading alone is not an acceptable level on cars of this price point. This is not a subjective issue but a real issue on some builds and MB needs to start addressing it.

miketc

Would somebody post a video or sound track on the wind noise? I like to know what it sounds like.

El_Ucca

Open your drivers side window slightly and there you go. Mine sounds exactly like that.

floridadriver

I'd have to agree. Unsure how to record it or I would. It's identical to driving in car with door very slightly ajar or window cracked open at the front/top third.

Vihzel

Do you guys know if dealers will allow you to test drive the exact car that you want in order to test the wind noise? I would hate to have a C-class that has such a glaring wind noise problem.

MASSC450

Newb question...

Has anyone who is experiencing wind noise checked the window to see if it's seated fully in it's track? Maybe it's just a power window adjustment?



When I take delivery of my new C300W4, I will definitely be conducting a major walk-around & taking a test drive before signing papers!

floridadriver

You can test drive whatever you like. Some cars seem more airtight than others, but some reporting it doesn't show up for a little while. It's an issue likely to affect you IF you're sensitive to this noise until they (or someone smart from this board) comes up with a fix....and historically a fix comes but can take a while. in W204 it wasn't free, required purchasing new wing mirrors.

Vihzel

Gah that is right. Hmm... well hopefully someone will figure out a solution before I really have to decide whether or not to purchase the car. The gamble itself is a huge turn off right now. My only other car that I've had (Infiniti G37 Coupe) had excessive wind noise, and I definitely don't want to get a near $50k MB that has the same problem.

kellens

Yes, checked that. No issues there. They kept the car 3 days and put in new door seal too.

I don't want to sway you from the car, if you love it you should get it unless you're sensitive to wind noise, your test drive won't help much. Mine was passable until a couple weeks went by and some temps in 70s and back to 30s, and some crosswinds. I check the weather and if windy, wearing earbuds when I drive now. My dad of 60 drives it sometimes and reports it's the loudest wind noise car he's ever been in. He just triple checks the door and windows every time to see if closed, and turns down his hearing aid.

UKDriver

Jan 2015 build...not windy at all. Road noise due to 19'' run flats on steel suspension but nothing i can't live with.

Interesting though...when I went on my test drive last Oct the car was very windy... still ordered it cos i loved it so much... as it's a lease car and only have it for 2 years wasn't too concerned. Big bonus that is quieter than before and a lot quieter than my bmw x3...

i know that i have now tempted fait and after 2 weeks of driving it will start to get windy!

rex5

just bought brand new C300, March 2015 build. Didn't drive on highway for first few days then when I did I was thinking the car had been built wrong.

Sounds like the windows are wide open when you are at 50 or above. Below 50 not a peep. At 55 to 70 sounds like never ending whooshing. Even the radio does not drown it out. Sounds a lot like a sail of a boat or flag that keeps being battered by the wind.

Dealer says this is normal and there is no fix. It is distracting and makes you feel anxiety and there is no way I could have my family in the car for a road trip for 2 or more hours hearing this loud wind constantly.

I will be returning the car. Cannot fathom how Mercedes could put this on the market with this major problem. I suspect it is something to do with how they are put together in the Alabama factory. The reviewers all drive them in Germany and no one has mentioned this in any review.

ManiacGT

Wind noise only just audible in my s205 (March 15 build). It's quite audible in cross winds/a windy day that's enough to move your car/you have to steer against the wind. Only stands out to me because the rest of the car is so quiet. Road noise on poor surfaces aside.

StanNH

My March, 2015 built C300 Sport replaced my August, 2014 built C300 base. Wind noise levels are exactly the same .... none even at high speeds, but audible in heavy crosswinds. I had wondered if the Sport trim might have some effect on this issue, but it does not.

Has anyone taken their car to a body shop to have the wind noise problem independently checked out? Many shops are pretty good at finding and fixing wind noise problems.

After two 2015 C300's, I am certain this level of wind noise is not normal. Tire and road noise levels should be higher than any wind noise level. I don't know if it's a problem with the side mirrors, the windshield, the seals, or the door fitment itself, but it is definitely not normal and should not be accepted as such by any dealer's service department or owner.

AAN

Mine January 2015 built c300 is very quiet, except in crosswinds. It doesn't bother me that much, but it is louder than my old C class, and especially my recent rental in Europe, Reanault Megane. It was the quietest car I ever drove, unbelievebly so. It is possible to build a quiet car and Mercedes is not doing a good job here.

ManiacGT

This is the case for me, road noise far exceeds wind noise unless its a particularly windy/cross wind day.

BlackjackM

Read the forum a little more- has nothing to do with Alabama. Good luck with your next vehicle.

c220w205

I can hear a flutter around 100-130 and it does not change until I am above 200 km/h then I have a whistling sound.
Unfortunately this car deserves better at it is an excellent Autobahn killer...

NYC-Style

Oct build...wind noise and it's very apparent with radio playing at normal volume. Between this and my power steering going out this week due to a needed software update...and I just hit 5k. I'm guessing that MB is waiting for someone to be killed before they notify new owners that there is an update to prevent the power steering malfunction...buyers remorse is setting in!!