Idle Vibration
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 48
Likes: 3
2011 CLS550
Idle Vibration
Hey guys. Just picked up my CLS. I knew it wasn't perfect but it's a beauty that I couldn't resist. Overall, its in great shape. All the electronics and airmatic seems to be working properly.
HOWEVER;
there is a vibration (not so much a shaking, but a steady humming vibration) at idle, particularly when in drive. sometimes in park it doesn't do it at all, sometimes it does. making this hard to diagnose.
As I said, it is nothing crazy, and you can't hear much from outside the vehicle. But inside while seated, it can feel pretty strong.
Whether it happens in park or not, it seems to change it's tone/frequency when shifting into Drive. Therefore I can assume it's related to the transmission or drivetrain linkage.
Just checking if this is common, and what the first things to check would be.
It seems to go away when driving at any speed, and is only noticeable at idle at stop lights or in park/etc.
thanks!!!
HOWEVER;
there is a vibration (not so much a shaking, but a steady humming vibration) at idle, particularly when in drive. sometimes in park it doesn't do it at all, sometimes it does. making this hard to diagnose.
As I said, it is nothing crazy, and you can't hear much from outside the vehicle. But inside while seated, it can feel pretty strong.
Whether it happens in park or not, it seems to change it's tone/frequency when shifting into Drive. Therefore I can assume it's related to the transmission or drivetrain linkage.
Just checking if this is common, and what the first things to check would be.
It seems to go away when driving at any speed, and is only noticeable at idle at stop lights or in park/etc.
thanks!!!
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 48
Likes: 3
2011 CLS550
Giving this some more thought - I'm thinking it could be as simple as motor/transmission mounts. I will replace these come spring/summer and update this thread. Anyone have any suggestions on which to buy?
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From: The Netherlands
2005 CLS55 AMG W219 C219
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2008 Mercedes c350
Hey guys. Just picked up my CLS. I knew it wasn't perfect but it's a beauty that I couldn't resist. Overall, its in great shape. All the electronics and airmatic seems to be working properly.
HOWEVER;
there is a vibration (not so much a shaking, but a steady humming vibration) at idle, particularly when in drive. sometimes in park it doesn't do it at all, sometimes it does. making this hard to diagnose.
As I said, it is nothing crazy, and you can't hear much from outside the vehicle. But inside while seated, it can feel pretty strong.
Whether it happens in park or not, it seems to change it's tone/frequency when shifting into Drive. Therefore I can assume it's related to the transmission or drivetrain linkage.
Just checking if this is common, and what the first things to check would be.
It seems to go away when driving at any speed, and is only noticeable at idle at stop lights or in park/etc.
thanks!!!
HOWEVER;
there is a vibration (not so much a shaking, but a steady humming vibration) at idle, particularly when in drive. sometimes in park it doesn't do it at all, sometimes it does. making this hard to diagnose.
As I said, it is nothing crazy, and you can't hear much from outside the vehicle. But inside while seated, it can feel pretty strong.
Whether it happens in park or not, it seems to change it's tone/frequency when shifting into Drive. Therefore I can assume it's related to the transmission or drivetrain linkage.
Just checking if this is common, and what the first things to check would be.
It seems to go away when driving at any speed, and is only noticeable at idle at stop lights or in park/etc.
thanks!!!
hello, I currently picked up a Cls, what ended up being the problem?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 48
Likes: 3
2011 CLS550
I have yet to track it down. Sorry, this forum is very slow moving. I am going to give the transmission a flush this spring and see if it helps. I hear that a bad torque converter or simply under-lubricated transmission/TC can be the cause of some vibrations, so that is my next to-do item.
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CLS 400 4Matic
Any solution yet ?
I have yet to track it down. Sorry, this forum is very slow moving. I am going to give the transmission a flush this spring and see if it helps. I hear that a bad torque converter or simply under-lubricated transmission/TC can be the cause of some vibrations, so that is my next to-do item.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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Hey guys. Just picked up my CLS. I knew it wasn't perfect but it's a beauty that I couldn't resist. Overall, its in great shape. All the electronics and airmatic seems to be working properly.
HOWEVER;
there is a vibration (not so much a shaking, but a steady humming vibration) at idle, particularly when in drive. sometimes in park it doesn't do it at all, sometimes it does. making this hard to diagnose.
As I said, it is nothing crazy, and you can't hear much from outside the vehicle. But inside while seated, it can feel pretty strong.
Whether it happens in park or not, it seems to change it's tone/frequency when shifting into Drive. Therefore I can assume it's related to the transmission or drivetrain linkage.
Just checking if this is common, and what the first things to check would be.
It seems to go away when driving at any speed, and is only noticeable at idle at stop lights or in park/etc.
thanks!!!
HOWEVER;
there is a vibration (not so much a shaking, but a steady humming vibration) at idle, particularly when in drive. sometimes in park it doesn't do it at all, sometimes it does. making this hard to diagnose.
As I said, it is nothing crazy, and you can't hear much from outside the vehicle. But inside while seated, it can feel pretty strong.
Whether it happens in park or not, it seems to change it's tone/frequency when shifting into Drive. Therefore I can assume it's related to the transmission or drivetrain linkage.
Just checking if this is common, and what the first things to check would be.
It seems to go away when driving at any speed, and is only noticeable at idle at stop lights or in park/etc.
thanks!!!
i am having a similar issue with my CLS 350 2019 and was searching everywhere online to find a reference. This topic is the closest to what i am experiencing.
After my major service of 60k i got the car with a slight if vibration that you cant feel much hut ar the same time you cant ignore or deny. It happens when idle if i put the car on drive, also when speeding i there is a slight of turbulence.
went back to my mechanic, and they noticed the tensioner is moving abnormally. So we changed the belt tensioner, engine mounts and also gear mounts to make sure all is well.
unfortunately i still experience same slight if vibration and i know it’s there as it moves through my body in the whole car.
i am not sure what is the issue or what to do now, that i started to doubt my self, as the mechanic and everyone around him are saying the car is totally fine.
but i feel when highly speeding it’s bot smooth like before.
have you reached to any conclusion with your car
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 48
Likes: 3
2011 CLS550
Hi Omar;
I am currently in the process of doing a transmission fluid/filter change, hoping that this will solve or alleviate the vibration (I believe it is transmission or torque converter shudder)
Unfortunately, due to someone at the assembly factory over-torquing the drain bolt on the pan, I had to order a new pan which won't arrive until monday. so my car is up on Jack stands in the garage until Tuesday when I will hopefully be able to let you know if this has helped the issue at all.
I can't say for certain what would be your issue, but mine is definitely drivetrain related as it only happens under load and at certain RPMs
I am currently in the process of doing a transmission fluid/filter change, hoping that this will solve or alleviate the vibration (I believe it is transmission or torque converter shudder)
Unfortunately, due to someone at the assembly factory over-torquing the drain bolt on the pan, I had to order a new pan which won't arrive until monday. so my car is up on Jack stands in the garage until Tuesday when I will hopefully be able to let you know if this has helped the issue at all.
I can't say for certain what would be your issue, but mine is definitely drivetrain related as it only happens under load and at certain RPMs
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From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
Assuming you have the 4.7liter - it is kind of common and not at all an issue (unless it bugs you). In our car it FINALLY went away....well, turned out it went away because we needed new motor and trans mounts. The only time I ever felt it was if I rested my knee against the door. When I asked the shop about it their suggestion - and it worked was to increase the idle RPM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 48
Likes: 3
2011 CLS550
^^ oddly enough, the problem went away at idle. I posted this two years ago when I first purchased the vehicle so since then it has sort of turned into a different problem. I am positive it is not motor mounts. Not sure why it idled like that when i first got it, other than perhaps it not being driven in a while and it was sort of shaking off the rust, so to speak.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 48
Likes: 3
2011 CLS550
(sort of copy pasted this reply from another thread, mods don't ban me lol)
Finally finished the tranny fluid project after tons of setbacks. Dropped pan, new filter, gasket, cleaned magnets, etc. pumped in about 5-6 quarts of new fluid and let it warm up and level itself out, spitting out the excess.
shudder basically eliminated. I am OCD so i know the RPMs it used to happen at, and there is minor rumbling around those margins, but I imagine doing a drain/refill again after another few thousand miles would make it even better. I would say it's 90% after doing it just once. I did add some friction modifier (anti-shudder) but that may not have been necessary.
Change your Transmission fluids guys!!!
Finally finished the tranny fluid project after tons of setbacks. Dropped pan, new filter, gasket, cleaned magnets, etc. pumped in about 5-6 quarts of new fluid and let it warm up and level itself out, spitting out the excess.
shudder basically eliminated. I am OCD so i know the RPMs it used to happen at, and there is minor rumbling around those margins, but I imagine doing a drain/refill again after another few thousand miles would make it even better. I would say it's 90% after doing it just once. I did add some friction modifier (anti-shudder) but that may not have been necessary.
Change your Transmission fluids guys!!!
Last edited by Dokuji; Jan 29, 2025 at 03:33 PM.
