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This article is great and explains what the acoustic film actually does and how it works. I have the acoustic package on an E400 wagon, and am glad I got it. The car is much quieter than anything I've driven in the past which I hope is due to the package (which in addition includes additional sound insulation in the body/doors etc. One thing I did notice: there is no laminate in the rear quarter windows after the C pillar, nor in the rear window. Surprisingly, 1st thing I noticed was reduced heating by sunlight.
^Thank you. I presume your folks' windshields with the PAF code have the word "acoustic" on the bottom corner where the part number and such is?
MB windshields with the acoustic foil are not labeled with the word "acoustic". The side windshields have the label "XI" (see photo) but the front windshield does not have this mark.
In my E300 all of the side windows are labeled (6 total) and neither the front nor rear windshields are labeled. The standard sunroof has no markings whatsoever.
In my E300 all of the side windows are labeled (6 total) and neither the front nor rear windshields are labeled. The standard sunroof has no markings whatsoever.
Thanks. I wonder if it's because Mercedes has deemed it not necessary due to the thickness of said windshields or if they just all have it.
My front windshield definitely has the IR laminate. There are 2 small visible rectangles without IR protection so that transponders can work. Cars without the PAF package have a noticeably different windshield.
SAVE YOUR MONEY!! The only difference is that the two front doors have thicker glass,
other then that it’s not worth the money and I know what I’m talking about considering I had a 2018 E300-4matic without the alleged
Comfort Package which is supposed to be a quieter car, well it’s not and I used a decibel meter to check it and the dbs. we’re exactly the same.
Doc
The only difference is that the two front doors have thicker glass,
Actually, that's not true. The acoustic comfort package for the E-class consists of:
- Laminated safety glass with acoustic and infrared foil for the front windscreen and the side windows
- Thickening of the fleeces in the doors additional +10 mm (10 mm is standard)
- Carpet in back compartment with significantly increased base weight
- Supporting beams with additional acoustic membrane and addtional sound insulation measures in the cross beams of the driver's seat, in the air channels in the rear and on the B-pillars
- Rear shelf with increased base weight and additional insulation
The laminated safety glass with infrared foil used to be in the rear window also (in the W213 sedan, not in the S213 wagon), but from MY 2019 in Europe that is no longer the case (probably due to WLTP certification reasons). I'm not sure how that is for the US.
It's true that opinions about the effectiveness differ, but the main consensus amongst users is that it does make a difference. How big the difference is also depends on the rest of the configuration (wheel-size, panorama roof etc.). And perceiving sound is rather a subjective matter....
'19 E450 Wagon (Selenite Grey & designo macchiato nappa and '15 E350 Wagon Silver w/ Black MBtex
Originally Posted by ua549
My front windshield definitely has the IR laminate. There are 2 small visible rectangles without IR protection so that transponders can work. Cars without the PAF package have a noticeably different windshield.
Could you help me locate where these two IR responders are placed? I purchased a preowned E wagon with the acoustic package. The windshield was replaced, but I think it was replaced with a standard windshield. How can I tell the difference?
Could you help me locate where these two IR responders are placed? I purchased a preowned E wagon with the acoustic package. The windshield was replaced, but I think it was replaced with a standard windshield. How can I tell the difference?
take a flashlight and shine it at an angle, the IR mesh is a very pale copper colored film. I have been trying to replace my windshield for over a month. They have sent three incorrect windshields to date. Extraordinarily frustrating. Twice they sent the heated version, not sold in the US, the third time they sent the correct windshield without the IR and broken! UNBELIEVABLE. Its like a parade of morons!
MY main concern is will the option cause my car to have the effect of the s550 in the photo attached.
The s550s have purpleish front and rear windshields, and greenish side windows. They are pronounced after window tints even more.
Im not a fan of that purple and green effect. My worry is this option will cause that.
Can someone please confirm.
I have the acoustic package on my 2021 GLE450 and I don't see any purplish or greenish hues on any of my windows. I went for a couple hour drive yesterday on an interstate doing 75-80mph and the quietness was amazing, much quieter than my 2018 Audi Q7.
Interesting. In my 2020 manual, the lower of the two black boxes is absent. Only the upper box is illustrated. Difference between model years, perhaps?
I am deciding on ordering my W213 with the Acoustic Comfort Package.
I definitely would benefit from the extra interior silence, considering I live in a busy city.
My concerns are the following:
I know the Acoustic Comfort Package provides you infrared absorbing and laminated glass for the windshield and rear windows...
Does it play any roll on the back windshield?
I am not a fan of the purple color effect you get once you tint the rear windshield on an S class, the E class usually does not have that effect. By having the Acoustic Comfort Package, will my rear windshield have a different color with or without window tints from other E classes without the Acoustic Comfort Package?
I have that option on my 2019 E300-4matic and the rear Windows don’t have the membrane that the front windows and windshield have. I will say my car’s interior is as quiet as an “S” class but in all fairness I need to add I changed the OE tires from Runflat to non Runflat and it does make the car noticeably quieter. I test drove a 2021 E class without the Acoustic package and it is as quiet as my 2019 with the Acoustic package. So, before you shell out $1,100 for the Acoustic package, test drive one without it, it may suit you just as well.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Two things:
1. SO many on this board will heap praise on what they have and poo-poo what they don’t.
2. We all have different standards and a lot is based on what vehicle you had previously. If you have been driving a 1984 Corvette with the Z51 Performance Handling Pkg., most ANY MB will feel as though it rides like an S Class and is just as quiet.
My wife drives a 2019 E450 Wagon with the Acoustic Comfort Pkg. and I can tell you that it makes a WORLD of difference. I have driven S Class sedans for many years, currently driving a 2020 S560 and our E450 Wagon is almost as quiet. Actually, if it were not for the exhaust note and a bit more road noise, I believe it would be just as quiet. BTW, both cars ride on Bridgestone QuietTrack, non-RFT.
1. SO many on this board will heap praise on what they have and poo-poo what they don’t.
2. We all have different standards and a lot is based on what vehicle you had previously. If you have been driving a 1984 Corvette with the Z51 Performance Handling Pkg., most ANY MB will feel as though it rides like an S Class and is just as quiet.
My wife drives a 2019 E450 Wagon with the Acoustic Comfort Pkg. and I can tell you that it makes a WORLD of difference. I have driven S Class sedans for many years, currently driving a 2020 S560 and our E450 Wagon is almost as quiet. Actually, if it were not for the exhaust note and a bit more road noise, I believe it would be just as quiet. BTW, both cars ride on Bridgestone QuietTrack, non-RFT.
I too have a 2019 E300-4matic sedan with the acoustic package and non Runflat Michelin tires and it’s as quiet as an S class. Having said that, I recently drove a 2021 E class sedan and even without the acoustic package it’s just as quiet as my 2019 with it. Perhaps MB realized that the W213 was a little too noisy for a $65-$70k car and added some additional insulating material to the standard car starting with the 2021 models. In any case if you buy a 2021 test drive it, you may not need to pony up
another $1k.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by 1guitar
I too have a 2019 E300-4matic sedan with the acoustic package and non Runflat Michelin tires and it’s as quiet as an S class. Having said that, I recently drove a 2021 E class sedan and even without the acoustic package it’s just as quiet as my 2019 with it. Perhaps MB realized that the W213 was a little too noisy for a $65-$70k car and added some additional insulating material to the standard car starting with the 2021 models. In any case if you buy a 2021 test drive it, you may not need to pony up
another $1k.
You may be right on the newer car being better insulated. However, good luck to anyone wishing to test drive a new E with Acoustic Comfort. The dealers don’t order it on cars for stock, so finding one is just about impossible. If one values a quiet cabin, even if the difference may now be less than it once was, what is $1,000.00 on a new E? I say go for it and get the Air Body Control while you are at it. It makes for a marvelously cushy ride.
funny, for me the air body control was the biggest mistake and waste of money on my car
there is absolutely no difference between this and regular suspension.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by Egonvdv
funny, for me the air body control was the biggest mistake and waste of money on my car
there is absolutely no difference between this and regular suspension.
So, if I got you right, I believe what you are saying is this:
MB offers Air Body Control, Active Body Control (ABC), E-Active Body Control (EABC) and Magic Body Control (MBC) on the various models, but there is absolutely NO difference in the way the vehicles ride, handle, perform, etc. It's just a way to charge more money for the exact same
models, and to make them more expensive to maintain & repair when out of warranty.
Did I get it right? I do wonder though, how so many others, myself included, seem to find great value in these sophisticated suspensions? I mean, how can we feel the differences, to the point where we are willing to shell out many thousands of dollars for them? How can that be??? Do you think maybe they
are putting drugs in our Air Balance Packages?
You may be right on the newer car being better insulated. However, good luck to anyone wishing to test drive a new E with Acoustic Comfort. The dealers don’t order it on cars for stock, so finding one is just about impossible. If one values a quiet cabin, even if the difference may now be less than it once was, what is $1,000.00 on a new E? I say go for it and get the Air Body Control while you are at it. It makes for a marvelously cushy ride.
Just test drove one with the Acoustic package. Local dealer has at least 2 on the lot. Finding an E450 Coupe is a different story here.
So, if I got you right, I believe what you are saying is this:
MB offers Air Body Control, Active Body Control (ABC), E-Active Body Control (EABC) and Magic Body Control (MBC) on the various models, but there is absolutely NO difference in the way the vehicles ride, handle, perform, etc. It's just a way to charge more money for the exact same
models, and to make them more expensive to maintain & repair when out of warranty.
Did I get it right? I do wonder though, how so many others, myself included, seem to find great value in these sophisticated suspensions? I mean, how can we feel the differences, to the point where we are willing to shell out many thousands of dollars for them? How can that be??? Do you think maybe they
are putting drugs in our Air Balance Packages?
no need to be patronising here. this is MY opinion. ( and i've owned 4 new MB's so far, so i think i have some experience)
And not that i need to defend myself but there are MANY people that share my feelings.
google this forum and you find a thread from a fellow Dutchman who experiences the exact same "problem"
and who had a long discussion with his dealer to try and fix it.
At the end of the day, do you want the quietest best riding car you can have? If so, then these suspension and acoustic packages are worthwhile. Even if its a small difference. If those particular characteristics aren't that important to you, then don't buy them. Me? If I'm ordering it I'm going to get those options.
My S560 doesnt have MBC, but had I special ordered it I would have spec'ed it. Again...why not?