bobhbenz

At Highway speed weird vibration, you can even hear it...I had all 4 tires road forced balanced, still the same. So I went back to dealer this morning and test drove three other 2016 c-300's, all with different style tires, Pirelli/Conti, they were worse than mine, When I purchased this junk box I never road tested on highway, or I would have never bought it. The answer from the MB master tech is I guess it's a characteristic of the car, pretty lame for MB. I just can not believe that this is normal, anybody out there in MB world that can help please do... I should have bought the new a-4

ManiacGT

Can you describe the noise and feel of the vibration? Rapid, slow, speed dependent, felt through seat, steering wheel, loudness of sound, type of sound etc otherwise it could be anything...

Mike5215

It sounds like the tires have "set up", meaning they developed a flat spot while sitting. Which is why every car at the dealer did the same thing.

Flat spots usually resolve with heat (driving) in the first few miles though. A set of non run flats, which have a more pliable compound and sidewall would probably cure all, and they ride better and last longer than the run flats.

bobhbenz

Mike5215, I understand about flat spots, but we drove 20 miles or more with the dealer cars, on I95. They were just all constant vibrations..
ManiacGT, the vibration is low harmonic sound and feeling, and at two second intervals, and last for two seconds, felt in the steering wheel and floor boards, speeds of over 60 mph, I even put car in neutral at speed, still did it. I guess Im going to a speed shop next to have it checked out.

Mikey53

Broken belt on a tire perhaps?

Mike5215

If you raise the passenger headrest fully, with nobody in the passenger seat, does it shake in rhythm with the vibration? Does it get worse with more speed or come on at a certain speed? I'm presuming stock suspension, stock wheels with the factory offset, no spacers or hub rings.

Have the shop look for a blown motor mount, collapsed tranny mount, bad U joint (or flex disk...not sure which the 205 has).

I'd also ask the dealer to allow service to bring in a used or loaner 205 and "borrow" the wheels for your car, and go for a ride with the lead tech before the swap and after. I had a similar issue with a 220 and that really sold the tech on the idea there was something wrong with the car.

Do it an axle at a time...fronts only then test drive, etc.

ManiacGT

Sounds like it could be howl from the tyres, are they run flat?

bobhbenz

yes conti run flat tires

ManiacGT

Does it sound like this?

bobhbenz

Mike4215, Sounds like a lot of work on my part, for a brand new car with less than 1,000 miles on it. But I'm going to get to the bottom of this.
ManiacGT, Yes but comes and goes, with the shacking also in the video

ManiacGT

That is tyre noise... So proceed to push your dealer to change out tyres and or wheels until it's resolved. I get it if I listen really carefully but it's very quiet on mine.

MASSC450

I run two sets of wheels/tires on my 2015 C300 Sport 4Matic...stock 19" Pirelli RFT on the stock staggered 19" AMG wheels (Summer), and the stock 18" Conti A/S RFT on the stock staggered 18" AMG wheels (Winter), and I've noticed the 19" Pirelli RFTs flat spot on chilly Spring mornings. After 10 minutes or so of driving the vibrations are gone.

AMG_BUFF

So, this vibration is occurring in your vehicle and in all of the other C300s you test drove from the dealer's lot, correct? Does the vibration only take place when the car is in motion or does it happen sitting still? One other question - were all the test drives done on the same stretch of highway?

Mike5215

Yeah it sucks but what's the alternative? You'll get creamed if you try to unload it now. Wheel/tires are the number one cause of vibrations but not intermittent (pulsing) ones.

bobhbenz

amg_BUFF Yes the other c-300 did vibrate, IN motion...I drove on same highway in all different lanes and speeds, I'm going back to dealer tomorrow to drive every c-300 they have in their LOT, I told them to make sure they all have proper air pressure and petrol...it might take me 4 hours but I WILL get to the bottom of this issue, I also went to a different dealer 50 miles away...and test drove a 2016 c-300 sport with 19" wheels, for a 10 mile ride... shake rattle and roll also...

Mike5215

I'm not sure if I've been really lucky or what. I had a C300 base loaner on 17" for two weeks. Then I drove a C450 on 18, a C450 on 19, a C300 Sport steel on 19, a C300 Sport AirMatic on 18, a C450 on 18", a base on 18" steel, then another C450 on 19, and then one more extended test drive overnight on a third C450 on 19".

Not so much as a wobble in the steering wheel or seat from any of them. My C300 on air came with 18" run flats, no issues, and I've had two non run flat sets of tires, no issues.

You can't find a C that doesn't have vibration problems and I've never driven one that has. Are you taking a tech out on the drives, and have any of them confirmed they feel what you're describing?

bobhbenz

Mike5215 yes Master tech confirmed that its vibrating/shimmy also, sort off pushed me off saying it's the characteristic of the car.

Mike5215

Feeling it primarily in the steering wheel then?

bobhbenz

Mike5215, yes wheel and I also here it. brummmmm,,,brummmmmm, brummmmm, brummmm, brummmm, I'm ready to drive it off of a bridge

lbowroom

I've driven at least a half dozen 2016 C300's loaners. Nothing has ever flagged my attention like what you describe. Sure you're not a bit overly sensitive?

My dealer has over 200 C classes on the lot if you want to drive them all.

bobhbenz

lbowrrom, now You sound like the Master tech, and all the salesman, a $45,000+ vehicle should be perfect don't you think? r u sure you don't work for MB.

Mike5215

Did your C do it on the test drive?

lbowroom

If it was just your car I'd be with you. However, you claim every C-Class you drive is as bad or worse. Statistically it's unlikely that the collection of cars you drove are different than the handful of cars I've driven. Therefore I conclude you have developed an extreme sensitivity to a condition not many can discern.

No MB sponsored conspiracy. As to perfection, my car has been in numerous times for all kinds of little flaws. Most repaired but my dash still isn't as rattle free as I think it should be.

bobhbenz

Your conclusion is wrong we just swapped out all four wheels still vibration there master tech is looking into front end and power steering problems I will update when I get car back on Tuesday may 31st

lbowroom

At the risk of further angering you, swapping wheels and still feeling the vibration is consistent with my theory. When you swap a part or change an alignment that cures the problem and differentiates your car from all the others, that's when I'm wrong.