Newbie question: busy/harsh ride

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Jan 11, 2015 | 09:48 PM
  #1  
Hello everybody,

I'm new to the forum as well as MB and would like to tap into the experience of the community:
I just bought a 2010 E550 RWD with the Sport Package. It has 52k miles on the odometer. The tires are all season tires. They are in good shape.

When I took it for my first ride today, I noticed a rather harsh ride over small bumps and obstacles. The suspension was set to comfort. The air temperature was about 17F.

Now I wonder if there's an issue with the suspension or if the combination of cold temperature, low profile all season tires, and sport suspension are to blame for a noisy and busy ride. I find it unlikely that a suspension wears out free after just 50k miles. All four wheels behaved the same way.

Any ideas or feedback are appreciated.
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Jan 12, 2015 | 12:08 PM
  #2  
moved to W212 section...
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Jan 12, 2015 | 12:32 PM
  #3  
Welcome, assuming you have 18's there is only so much (little) the little amount of a 40 series sidewall tire can absorb.

Low profile tires/big wheels look awesome, nobody can deny that. The ride has to suffer greatly though for the look.

This is the reason I'm hesitant to put 19's on once it's time for new tires.

I doubt there is anything wrong with your suspension though.
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Jan 12, 2015 | 12:51 PM
  #4  
Quote: low profile all season tires, and sport suspension are to blame for a noisy and busy ride.

Yes.


Another reason I went with 17" wheels on mine and was happy to get rid of the 19"s on my BMW.
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Jan 12, 2015 | 03:24 PM
  #5  
OP, congrats on the purchase. I have the luxury 2010 E550 which came with 245-45R17 tires and I even find it a little harsh on sport mode with more sidewall than you have. Comfort mode is a little better but if you want to float then go to +1 mode.
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Jan 13, 2015 | 05:43 AM
  #6  
Thanks for your replies!

I dropped the car off at a service center to have it checked out. They also pointed to the wheels and tires as the source for the noise. Some noise seems to come from the front end - to be checked out.

They also are looking into the leaking air suspension (after 12h parked, the car sits on its rear tires). I hope to learn more today when they finish the diagnosis.

The car being from Florida has no traces of rust, looks very good underneath, much better than the typical 5 year old car in Upstate NY.
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Jan 14, 2015 | 07:55 AM
  #7  
LOL, look at the distance from rim to pavement, this is sport with OEM stiffer springs, 18" rims and replacement-size all-season Continental tires. No way you're going to get an armchair ride.
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