BenzE

I'm loving my starmarked 98 E320 4matic, except for my lacking cd changer and an annoying little rattle in the driver's seat.

When stopping or accelerating, it feels like there is something loose rattling in the lower right of the seat back. Is this a chronic problem and could I maybe fix whatever it is myself, or should I just deal with it? Could it have something to do with the heated seats or the adjusting mechanisms and hence be covered by my warranty?

--BenzE

livetodrive

You ought to take the car back to the dealer and ask them if they will eliminate the rattle under the warranty. My guess is that they will gladly do it. I would recommend you ask a service technician to sit in the back seat while you drive to identify the rattle. Once they hear what you hear, they usually get to the source. Otherwise, you might get your car back with a note "Could not identify noise".

BTW, you can always add a 6-CD changer to the car. They fit in the trunk. The dealers have 'em.

kwhite130

I have the same problem with my seat. When I shift my weight the seat clicks. I here it because of a seat rail that was measured incorrectly on the engineering board.

This seem to be a common problem with 1998 E Class.

I'm taking my car in for service next week and I'm going to inquire about it and see if they will offer to fix it.

I'll let you know how I make out.





1998 E320 Smoke Silver 62k
1999 Volvo S80 Gray 47k

pakman

I have the same problem with my 98-e430 sport. Sounds like
a bottle or can rolling on accel/decel.
If anyone finds out what it is please post the fix.

kwhite130

My Benz went to the shop on Thursday. I really miss the car. They gave me a 2002 c320 loaner. Not a bad car but it's a far cry from my 98 e320. The service advisor call today and found a lundry list of thing wrong and said he's still not finished with the diagnostics. He mention getting starmark to cover the alternator,pully,tranny case,and a some other tranny related stuff.It sounds like he'll stick me for a new battery but that's ok as long as the warranty covers everything else. He mentioned a new seat rail for the popping noise,he wasn't sure if starmark will cover the seat rail. So far it looks like the Starmark warranty is one of the best warranty programs around. I'll let you know how it all turns out .

1998 E320 Smoke Silver 62k
1999 Volvo S80 Gray 47k
1987 Cadillac Eldorado Black 140k

Marstang

I too have noise from the driver's seat of my '98 E320. The first of the 2 noises was a "pop" that I could feel in my back when I accelerated, especially on a hill. My dealer replaced the seat adjuster 210-910-41-36 under Starmark warranty, which took care of the "pop". I also have a side to side "click" when I corner or maneuver in parking lots. When I complained about the "click", my dealer ran the seat through it's adjustment range (back-front-up-down), which actually seemed to help, but the "click" is still there. The car is going back to the dealer to replace the infamous fuel sender (gauge reads 7/8 when tank is full). The sender is backordered. If anyone has an idea what to recommend to the dealer, let me know, otherwise I'll post the dealer's findings after my next dealer visit.

Marty

Benz

Check your back bolts that hold the seat down....If you look at the rear bottom, near the frame it sits on....You will see a plastice cover....Pull the cover off and check to see if the bolt is tight.

cabby850

HI,

I have the same problem with my 97 E420 too.

Does anyone know how much it will cost to have them fixed as my car is out of warrenty.

THanks

Ed

zmirza

popping, clicking noise....

Very common problem in the E Class. I have a 97 E420 Sport and also have this problem. WEAK RAILS. They cost about 1200 dollars plus labor. Yes that is corrrect. Very common problem and if you car is out of 50K mile warranty then Good Luck Dealer is not going to fix it. For those who don't have this problem now guess what You will get it. I know people who have gotten their rails replaced noise went away for couple years and then came back. Benz knows about this problem but won't admit it.

So for those who don't want to pay $1200 do what I do brake and accelerate gently =)

dminter

Have had rails/seat frame replaced twice. Once upon delivery, once two years later (2000 e320). A chronic and extremely annoying problem for a car in this class. am saving all my records for the when they go the next time -- proof of a design/materials flaw.

michakaveli

Is there a risk that these rails can abnormally fail? I have this problem on my '97 E300, but with the radio usually turned on I never hear it...

dminter

In the beginning, I though maybe I was somehow misusing the seat - but that did not make any sense. I weigh 185 lbs, so that would not seem to cause anything unusual. Other folks with the same problem looked into it and say there has been no part number change - therefore no redesign. I'm hoping that the 2 sets of rails I had that went bad were just "bad parts." Time will tell.

Corp DL

Just bought my 99 E430; had it inspected before purchase and the only problem was the "loose" seat that pop's. The mechanic said it was properly bolted down so must be the defective design as indicated. As I've just bought the car and haven't seen the problem develop, is it anything that will worsen or will the rattle just stay as is? $1,200 seems rediculous to fix what is more of an annoyance!

cabby850

Until MB admits this problem and do a recall on all the W210, I suggest just turn up the radio and save the $1200.

Thats what I have been doing to avoid embrassing question from my passengers.

Ed

dminter

Not sure how the poping/clicking seat plays out over time, as I had mine done under warrenty (twice). I did find it to be quite annoying over time. You may want to try for a goodwill replacement.