Mike5215

Sorry for the hyperbole guys. I'm kinda in a bind. After driving thru 5 hours of freezing slop (in a 221 with ultra performance summer tires, BTW) I got to what has to be the tiniest little Mercedes store in the world, in Montgomery AL to check out a gorgeous C450.

I think due in part to the freezing temps and in part to the 19" run flats, the ride was very stiff. So stiff that after driving up from Florida and being tired from clenching my butt cheeks for half a day I was not 100% sure I was ready to buy the car there and then.

I told the dealership we would get a hotel room for the night and come back fresh in the morning to take the car out under better conditions. They insisted we take the C450 as a loaner, which I did.

So now the beautiful C450 is in valet parking at a swanky $158 a night hotel in downtown Montgomery and I need to make a decision by tomorrow morning.

My urgent question is, has anyone here swapped out run flats for regular summer performance tires and did that take some of the stiffness out of the ride?

If that's all it takes I may make a counter offer to the dealer taking into account the cost of the swap. They seem pretty eager to move the car.

Maritime

I'd leave it as it is, and enjoy it.

Mike5215

I'm not sure I would enjoy it is the problem. $63k is a lot of money to guess at. Other than the ride I love the car, but I could build a loaded C300 on AirMatic for that money.

Just wondering if anyone has swapped out the run flats and what kind of difference did it make.

Maritime

I have 18 inch run flats and love the ride. It's a C, so stiff is what you get.

Mike5215

Drove a C300 on 18" at the same store and it rode fine. Nowhere near as stiff. Maybe tomorrow morning I'll get a chance to warm it up and stretch it out a bit. Conditions here were miserable so I didn't want to push the car and end up in the guardrail.

Maritime

Oh, as these guys aren't far from Vance, see what they say about the c43, and which specs will change.

Aladdin2016

The C450 on 19" run flats is a rough ride. Here in Texas the weather has been between 85 and 30 and the ride hasn't changed its still rough. Next set of tires I'm getting non run flats and a sealant kit.

rbrylaw

Here you are Mike. I wondered what the outcome was. There are threads here where people have swapped out the MOE RFT's for non. The only thing you'd need to worry about is getting a flat. At a minimum you'd need to have a compressor and a can of fix a flat onboard at all times. What would happen if you asked them swap out the 19s for 18s. The standard tires on the C450 are after all 18" not 19".

Maritime

My 18's are as smooth as a baby's behind.

rustycruiser

Throw a gauge on them and see what the pressure is too. Maybe they are at 42PSI or something. Is it the 19s, or the 450 suspension? Do they have a 300 on 19s, or a 450 on 18s?

Mike5215

I know. I'm such a pain in the *** I'm sick of listening to myself at this point. It's a lease, so the OE needs to be on the car when I return it. They have two other C Class in inventory. It's a really small store. I did take out a 300 on 18" and it rode fine. If the 450 rode like that or close to it on non run flats that would be fine.

rbrylaw

I don't think there's any reason they can't swap out the 19s for 18s. They want to move the car. You're in the drivers seat, so to speak.

Maritime

But will it handle as well?

RTX

I sense that you'd be happier with a loaded C300 - is that accurate?
Changing from run flats on the C450 won't make much of a difference (ride stiffness wise), the difference is mostly in reduced road noise, and that gives some sense of comfort.
I assume you drive on normal roads (not on closed circuits/tracks), driving with run flats is key (even if you could call MB-Fix-Me-Up service) - This still takes time; you could miss a meeting or a dinner date (sorry I had a flat) - Who says this in 2016?

Maritime

Or nap time with the kiddies-can't miss that.

BenzC400

I have a loaded C400 with AIRMATIC and 19's. The ride is great, smooth. I considered trading for a C450. I test drove a C450 on 18s and the ride was noticably rougher. So much so, that it was unacceptable to me. I was looking for a relatively fast car with a smooth ride. I decided to keep the C400.

Mike5215

Grant Hummel

I'm incredibly pleased with my Airmatic C300. No--it doesn't ride like an S-class due to the shorter wheelbase, and yes some of the larger potholes are still pretty jarring with the 19s and summer tires...BUT it's smooth as silk on the highway and it wafts over most surfaces.

Would it be nice to have the extra power of the 450 and the fantastic exhaust note? Absolutely. But I daily drive and spend plenty of time in traffic and live in the city...where I'm not really going to be making much use of the 450.

Anyway, if ride comfort is what you're looking for, Airmatic is the direction you should go IMO, sacrificing the power and sportiness of the 450. That's my two cents.

I wouldn't consider the trip to Montgomery a complete loss if this is the conclusion you come to--consider it time well spent given the duration of a lease.

Happy car buying!

Mike5215

Exactly. The dealer was great and they have my deposit, so I placed an order for an AirMatic in my colors, and my options, on a car already scheduled to be built 3/11 in Alabama. I'll either come back up or meet them halfway.

inhartwetrust

How many times do you expect you will go back to the C450, and then back again to the C300, before you actually make the move?

Mikey53

A minimum of 3 times based on posting history.

Maritime

Occupational hazard.

Mike5215

Huh? I'd like to point out that I'm not indecisive as much as impatient. I've known all along the car I really want, but I hate waiting for a build. So I keep finding existing cars that are close enough and then trying to make them work. The 450 had the perfect colors, trim and wheels. The performance was an extra benefit. I finally just surrendered and ordered the car I should have ordered a month ago.

rbrylaw

So, you ordered what exactly?

Mike5215

Essentially the exact same build I had originally planned to order out of Tampa, but based on the ride and noise on the 19" I played it safe and went to 18". I think the last build had black leather and Linden but again based on the car in Montgomery I went Crystal/Black Ash. Other than that, same fully optioned car. Build was $60,800 and change. ($3k less than the 450 and a lot more options.)