Grau E350

I had a new 2010 E3504m that had P1 & P2 packages. It was a very nice car with sports package and it was plagued with some electrical gremlins and rattles from the hood, to the dash, to the rear sunscreen. Even the windshield seemed to be "too tight" leading to rattles. The dealer didn't help much. None of the serious rattles were ever taken care of.


Later I traded for a 12 E3504m. Both of the cars had the sports package. This car immediately from delivery had a rattle in the driver's door and rattle in the dash. I didn't keep this car very long. I purchased an ML350 a year before that had it's share of rattles, but not nearly as bad as the 2010.


How is the latest iteration of E-classes? A wagon really has my attention vs. another SUV. I really hate rattles--and given the cost of an MB to begin with and with it's "German" Reputation, have things gotten better?


Thanks!

joeyza

My 2013 E350 luxury is solid as granite. Slamming into potholes up and down 95 every day (60 miles each way commute) and the only noises I hear are the quarters that are in the coin tray. I haven't heard so much as a squeak, vibration, or rattle. And, that is with the music off as I enjoy the silence from time to time.

thenew3

My 2013 E350 wagon has the following rattles fresh from the factory:
1) Rear cargo cover makes a metallic rattle noise
2) Top of driver door window frame rattles. (solved by lowering and raising window an inch until next time you open/close door)
3) Driver and passenger seat belt height adjuster rattles
4) Driver seat bottom creaks over speed bumps
5) Engine makes loud rattle for 5 to 10 seconds on warm start (known issue, there is a service bulletin on this, will get it fixed next visit).

Overall it makes a lot more rattles than one would expect in a $65k vehicle. My C300 on the other hand is rattle free after nearly 3 years and it cost nearly 1/2 less.

aprevo15

Mine is 2013 E350.

I seem to get a bit of rattle from the cup holder cover on a very hot day. But once the inside cools down from the AC it stops rattling.

fintail

I've had my car a little over a year now. I got it in cold weather, and didn't notice any noises at delivery. But as spring began, the rear deck started to snap crackle and pop. I took it in a few times to remedy it, with mixed results - it still makes noise, but less than before. Over the year, thanks to some sketchy roads, harsh runflats, and overly harsh "sport" suspension, a few more quirks have came up. At maybe 50-70mph on rough highways (some roads around here are paved less than smoothly, perhaps for wet or icy traction), there's a harmonic vibrating noise coming from somewhere in the rear, maybe in a door. Every now and then I'll get a seat creak or a faint pop from the far forward dash area, too. None of this is anything the radio can't drown out, but I think it does reveal some possible design flaws - overly tight interior trim gaps that don't allow for heat-based expansion, and tires + suspension that don't match. On a positive note, I don't notice any noise from pano nor from the console area.

aeroconfigs

Squeaking from the sunroof when it closes. By the light and sunroof switch, there's an annoying high pitched squeak when hitting small bumps. When it's cold, the seat creaks on bumps and bounces. Something in the rear deck squeaks from time to time. I'll see if I can get these fixed if the wood trim ever comes in.

mlallix

I have a c207 from new and i creaks and rattles so much! The pano used to rattle but i greased the hell out of it and doesn't rattle much now, except on a cold day. The seats squeak like mad from any small movement to speed bumps. Told Mercedes about it and the dealership manager told me if i wanted a car that doesn't have defects, rattles or noises coming from it then i "should have purchased a rolls royce instead". I was livid! lol. Imo, mercedes are not pulling their weight when it comes to quality checks.

beshannon

My 2014 E350 is rock solid, no rattles, squeaks or other strange noises.

mlallix

So was mine when i got it...within in couple months i started to notice the issues.

BeachBunny

Felt tape. There's about 4-5 lbs of the stuff inside my Infiniti. Took the dealer close to 100,000 miles to get rid of every last rattle, but they did. Now at 212k miles and no rattles.

extremetm

I had several rattles in my newly purchased 2010 E350. Took it to the dealer for a transmission service. While there he found a sensor hose was disconnected. He put it back and my car is as quiet as can be.

I'm thinking the hose caused a rough idle which caused the rattles.

BTW, I'm new the the group and this is the first MB I've ever owned. It's like driving a piece of heaven.

Arrie

SERIOUSLY???!!!

extremetm

Which part of my statement are you both questioning and shouting at?

pamiboy

First of all.... Congratulations on getting your first Benz, welcome to the family. It's a lovely car. Enjoy it for as long as you can.
Who else (apart from Arrie) are you mentioning as "both"?

dbldpr

No rattles at all, but you hear humming on certain roads. Could be tires or just bad roads. Made 2500 mile trip and loved the car. Could not ask for a better riding car.

Arrie

I have it a bit difficult to believe that your car had a sensor hose loose and that was found just by chance during a service visit without it causing the CEL to lit up. And I also find it difficult to believe that engine could run so rough that it makes the inside of the car rattle. That's all.

PeterUbers

All three of my 2014 e class cars had rattles... It's plastic and metal, it's gonna rattle

wanderfalke

My 2014 E class is very quiet for now. Peter what set of circumstances led to owning three 2014's.

pamiboy

I would let Peter answer that for you but you could start with part 1.

PeterUbers

E550 #1 solid for 2000 miles and then center cluster plastic vibration, then left door ticking ... Never cared about it because I was hating the transmission ... Waiting for buyback

E550 #2, same center cluster vibrations mild, and steering column ticking and gauge cluster rattle over bumps... Again, didn't care as harsh shifting in trans led me down same pathway

E63s... Diffuse plasticky vibration from center console, worse in cold, intermittent from steering column ... I love the car too much too care, every car I've owned and own has rattles

Over the years I've surmised three things:
1. All cars rattle to some degree
2. Some people don't hear them, while someone else in the SAME vehicle will perceive them... It's a hearing thing ... One persons ears don't pick it up for whatever reason
2. Cars "shake loose" over time, this is just a physics property/principle I think, no expert here, but vibrations make structures rattle over time
3. The same robots assemble the same parts, but parts are made at different times in different plants and some will cause a car to rattle, some won't, translating to a quiet experience for some, and not for others
4. Often times it's not worth the endeavor and frustration hunting for the small rattles but the big ones can ruin the driving experience for the neurotics
5. Whether you spend $40k or $500k, these are STILL the same alloys, metals, and polymers from planet earth and an engineered structure exposed to roads and the structure can eventually rattle. Ergo spending more money doesn't guarantee fewer rattles, just guarantees a bigger let down when the rattles do occur .. Early or late in ownership
6. Some people refuse to acknowledge the rattles that are there for posterity
7. The radio drowns out most rattles and therefore some that claim no rattles actually never turn their radio off and drive in a quiet cabin to actually hear them
8. The radio cures most rattles

Trancebolt

Very true.
So many of the sound issues are relative to your list.
Forgot one though, and i read it on this forum first, somewhere

"Once you get rid of the loudest noise, the next loudest noise BECOMES The loudest"

Often a neverending quest, I use the radio often but still like to seek and destroy any clatter or click I can find; It truly does do something to you once you conquer a sound or two. YOu drive for a week or two without even noticing its gone and go "whoa thats why it feels so much better"

So albeit physics or nature, cheap build or inevitable breakdown of even a good build,
removing any unwanted noise made by your car will only make you happier, just make sure youre geared up to do it; if you plan to be an enthusiast

Arrie

Well, I just have to comment here. All cars don't rattle. I drive lots of rental cars and I must say none so far has rattled nearly as much as my E350 did as brand new. My current ride 2010 E550 with 15000 miles was the same and after 75 000 miles still is other than I fixed the worst rattle source, the center brake light.

It is very disappointing that a Ford Focus feels so nice to drive when it is super quiet compared to the E-class. It makes no rattles. Same with new Impala. I could buy one of each with the price of one E.

What comes to road noise the E falls short very badly against a lot of cars. My 2013 Chrysler Town & Country is quieter for road noise than my E550.

But MB did a great job with isolating the engine noise from the cabin as that I can barely hear. Sometimes wish could hear it more as when using the gear shifter paddles it is easy to over rev the engine when you can't hear it.

I think MB does this on purpose as it is absolutely clear they know how to make a quiet car. Just ride in a S and you know.

Johnny Rad

Lexus makes the engine sound nearly non-existent in a lot of their cars / SUVs.

While our E550 might be on the quiet side with light throttle, it's definitely there when you get into it more. When it does come on, I just wish it sounded bigger and badder.

I've never heard the NA 5.5L E550 motor, but I'd guess that it sounds like a proper V8 whereas our 4.6L TT doesn't.

Arrie

Yes, you can hear the 5.5 liter one when you step on the gas hard but you hear very little if low power is pulled from it like during normal driving you virtually don't hear the engine at all. In a city slow traffic this is a very quiet car other than the internal rattles inside. On highway road noise for this expensive car is just insane.

ss3964spd

I concur. Light throttle with the 5.5 generates very little sound, nor does steady state cruise. Large throttle input generates significantly more exhaust sound. For me this is exactly how it should be for this class of car and it suits my tastes and expectations; quiet when driven sedately, louder when putting the spurs to it. Although I do find the 212 E550 isn't as quiet at speed as my 211 E500, it isn't objectionable to me at all.

My '05 E500 was disappointing in that the exhaust never "sang". Ever.