Hello everyone. So my endeavors with Lexus failed and am seeing if an E Class might work for me.
My ls460 required too much work to fix it from vibrating so I sold it.
I was recommended the E class as people said it was very smooth and quiet. It also need to be free of vibration especially in the steering wheel.
Not sure if there are any Tinnitus sufferers out there but I was wondering what people thoughts are on the subject.
I could go to a w212 also but theres not much difference I believe. Right now Iv been stuck at home since may and really need to get on the road.
Anyones help is much appropriated.

 

A large percentage of men over age 40 have tinnitus. It’s not an unusual condition.

The only brand quieter than a Lexus is Bentley or Rolls Royce. An E-Class is not a therapeutic treatment for tinnitus.

 

Right on thanks. I was told the E class was like riding on pillows, is that true? The ES350 I checked out was relatively quiet but harsh and firm suspension and vibrated.
Other the the Lexus LS series the Lexus would be a better choice?

 

I don’t see posters on this site describing the E-Class as riding on pillows.

 

My E400 has a "firm" ride, bordering on "harsh." If I ran over a partly used match book (remember those?), I'm pretty sure I could tell you how many matches were left based on the thumping the car makes.

My last car was a 2001 Lexus LS430, and it was far quieter and smoother riding than my E400. I imagine that an E350 or such, with the air suspension would be smoother (mine has steel springs), but I am pretty sure the LS Lexus would be quieter and smoother.

Now, if you compare an E-Class to an ES350, it might be a close comparison. The Lexus LS is far smoother and quieter than the ES, as the ES is built on the Toyota Avalon chassis.

In today's car market, I don't know what car to suggest for smooth/quiet ride, unless your budget is nearly limitless. On the other hand, I have driven rental Camry's that were pretty decent, but far from luxury cars.

 

Rats well maybe I shouldnt have sold the LS, but it needed 4,000 in repairs and who knows how much after that. But I could have my guy at auction find a LS430 maybe. The ES350 I test drive sucked it was such a harsh ride. I guess I got bad info on the E class.

 

So, I had an E Class wagon and was operating it for a while with trans and engine mounts needing to be replaced. It was a 2007.

I had about 235000 on it. I also developed tinnitus about this time. My ENT basically rejected the idea that it could develop from vibration. Who knows. As someone above said, it isn’t the car. Im old enough and have been exposed to noise to get it

bottom line any new Mercedes from C class up is smooth enough and quiet enough that you should not be looking for a Bentley quiet of anything less than a Bentley

And generally, tinnitus is more pronounced in quiet. That’s why doctors often recommend white noise makers to assist with acclimating to the condition.

My two cents on this

 

OP drive a newer S-class. The cars with airmatic are smooth. AMG ABC equipped cars are not as smooth. The Maybach models are very quiet and smooth.

 

You probably want one with the luxury option, not sports. Luxury should have a softer ride, the sport models typically had lowered suspensions and a harsher ride. My E350 didn't have the sports suspension and after replacing struts/springs/shocks, it's been pretty smooth, at least for me. My 2008 E350 has the sports suspension but it's a harsher ride. I also have 245/45/17 tires on my 2011 and the 2008 has 245/40/18, the lower the sidewall of the tire, the harsher the ride. Probably the early W211 which came with 55 series tires were even smoother. But don't go looking to Mercedes for cheaper maintenance costs, that only happens if you can DIY or have a cheap indy that isn't close to dealer rates. Probably would have paid 2-4x more at a dealer if I didn't have a good indy that didn't charge Mercedes rates plus these forums are great for figuring out problems to save you a lot on diagnostic fees.

 

Thats good to hear about the E class luxury model, its called that for the name? Maybe theat was the issue with the E350, sports suspension which both the Benz and Lexus had an option for.

Interesting my ENTs said vibration couldnt be the cause of Tinnitus getting worse. And yea you dont want it too quiet but you need protection from passing motorbikes.

Oh Id never go to the stealership. I found a nice e class wagon, 08 I think. I could have my guy look for a E class but do I have to ask for the luxury model?

 

An E-Class with Airmatic is a great ride, very cushy and responsive. However, vibrations are also a factor of maintenance of the rest of the car...engine and trans mounts, Giubos, bearings, pully's and belt, engine wear. In my opinion, an S-Class would be even better.

 

so, as a Lexus wand e class owner…you have given up a quiet car in need of 4000 in repairs and are looking at what is perceived as a harsher ride (owned an older and newer e) and absolutely more expensive. Any old or auction car will need at least much, imo, to be vibration free, you need thousands in potential new parts, per corner.

good luck.

I hear the ringing and drown it with engine powerrrrr

 

You'd be amazed at how tires can make a difference in cabin noise. Basically, lower tier tiers are louder. Top tier tiers are the most quiet.

Also, if you are looking for sound insulation, maybe consider the S-Class. The W220 S-Class models from this generation are around the same price if not cheaper due to the fact that their styling isn't as popular. The W221 cost more because of the looks and it's newer. Just know that the cars with adjustable suspension (Active Body Control (ABC) and Airmatic) will cost a good bit to maintain. So, if you go that route, maybe budget for a coilover conversion. But, if you can find one without adjustable suspension, you'll be good (not sure if they exist).

That being said, Mercedes of this age (W211, W220, W221) are getting long in the tooth and need work. Easily manageable if you wrench in your garage. Costly if you don't.

+1 to the LS430. I had one and LOVED it. They are a cult car now, so prices are higher than you might expect, especially for black or silver. If you are in it for the ride, beige will probably be least expensive.

 

Oh, and let me guess: It was your front control arms that went out on your Pre-2010 LS460. Right?

If so, it should have been like a $2,000 fix at the dealership and less at an indy.

 

Severe tinnitus sufferer and former W211 owner. I’m going to repeat a lot of things for emphasis and offer a few new ones.

Most W211 (2003-2009) cars have a lot of miles on them. The engine and transmission mounts are the primary sources of vibration and low frequency noise. Expect to replace them as they make a big difference. Cars of this vintage often need suspension and subframe bushings, too.

One notable quality of the W211 is NO WIND NOISE AT ALL. Performance enthusiasts complain that Mercedes steering wheels DON’T transmit information about the road surface to the driver. Driving at 80 was indistinguishable from driving at 35.

In the luxury models, there is not much that happens outside that gets into the passenger cabin — except tire noise. Tires, tires, tires. 16 inch tire models are both quieter and ride better than those with 17 & 18 inch wheels. Soft rubber compound tires, which generally have a lower mileage rating, tend to be quieter. The premium touring tires are much quieter than the eco-friendly tires. The quietest, best riding tire I have ever used was a 186+ MPH (Y) rated all season touring tire. I suggest buying tires at a dealer that allows a 10-30 day trial period where they can be exchanged for a different type if not satisfied.

The 2003-2005 W211s have M112/M113 engines. The 2006-2009 W211s have M272/M273 engines. The older ones have a bit less power, but are smooth as silk. At 80+ MPH, my 2003 W211 with M112 V6 was so smooth and quiet that every passenger would fall asleep as soon as we hit the highway.

Good luck and I hope that heard of angry crickets doesn’t keep you up at night.

 

I’ve been without my W211 wagon now for 3 months as I await an EQB. I LOVED that car BUT I spent days and days and $20,000 + maintaining it from 105k to 250k on the odometer. I wouldn’t repeat that process while having two jobs as I do

I must agree that the car is amazingly quiet and to me, has awesome road feel at 90 + in sport mode. My other car is a souped up 328i manual and so the my are the pleasant ends of a spectrum.