A rather rough ride
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Joined: Feb 2021
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2021 GLC 300
A rather rough ride
My two day new GLC 300 with Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season run flats rides quite rough. I don't recall my test drive a few weeks ago being so rough and jarring over bumps and bad pavement.
I know run flats give a rougher ride but, I don't know if its the vehicle, the tires or a combination of both. I took all four tires down to 34 psi but it still rides rather harsh. Any facts or opinions out there?
I know run flats give a rougher ride but, I don't know if its the vehicle, the tires or a combination of both. I took all four tires down to 34 psi but it still rides rather harsh. Any facts or opinions out there?
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Joined: May 2017
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From: Trumbull, CT USA
Mercedes-Ben GLC300 4Matic
I believe a lot of it probably coming from the run flats. I have seen some people go down as low as 32 psi on the tires to help soften it up. Mine was delivered at 42 and bringing down to 37 or so was enough of a difference for me, though I will say I drove at 42 and a very firm ride for a while so maybe thats why it was so noticeable. Did the one you test drove have the same size and Pirelli's on it? Even when I went to non RFT i noticed the ride was much improved but still what i would consider to be on the firmer side.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
I had a GLC 300 loaner for three days while my C63S was getting its Service B done and a couple of other things. Firm or rough is not how I would describe the GLC by any stretch of imagination. Floaty and wobbly are the words that come to mind, but I guess we all have different expectations and points of reference, but I would probably get seasick after a while in a GLC. I did have to adjust the tire pressures the next day, because they were all over the place. Don't remember what tires it had, but pretty sure they were RFT. It was a pretty basic optioned model. Is this car the same you test drove? If not, make sure they removed the shipping blocks. If you see bright colored plastic pieces in your springs, then they forgot to remove them. Wouldn't be a first. Otherwise, the GLC has 2-way dampers and it automatically selects a firmer damping when it senses higher cornering forces to reduce body roll, but for normal driving the dampers are in the comfort setting. I suppose there could be a malfunction with the dampers.
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Joined: Jan 2019
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From: Palm Beach, Fl
2016 S550 sport, 2018 GLC300, M3, Zo7, 2021 Sierra Denali
I have a 2018 GLC w/ new Scorpions from being a CPO. Its the tires. Because they are brand new I figured I'd wait till they wear out to make the change to a non run flat-- as in Michelins. I hate them and have the same complaint, I dont know if I can wait. My S class had the same issue only louder too, with the Goodyear run flats. I switched to Michelins and it was a HUGE upgrade in ride quality. My wife is not complaining in the GLC but I notice everytime I drive it. I already bought the spare and jack from a GLE and am ready for Michelins. Check the psi as if its high it only exacerbates the issue. Its the tires.
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2021 GLC 300
I am enthusiastic on driving. I also have a 2021 BMW X3 M40i which is quite a performer. I don't consider GLC a performance SUV and want to to ride a little plusher. I' going to yank the run flats and put some good all season Michelin's on. I yanked them off my X3 too.
Last edited by cbebmb1; Feb 8, 2021 at 08:41 AM.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Not quite. I'm guessing you haven't been in a current generation AMG, but I'm obviously not comparing the GLC to my AMG. I also regularly drive normal cars. My wife has a VW Beetle, which I drive regularly among other normal commuter cars. It drives comfortable w/o being floaty and wobbly. A comfortable ride doesn't mean the body has to sway like a sail boat in the wind, or nose dive and squat every time I slow down or accelerate.
Last edited by superswiss; Feb 7, 2021 at 09:07 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2021
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2021 GLC 300
Yes I have been in a AMG recently. I tried real hard to like the 2021 GLC AMG 43 before I decided to purchase the BMW X3 M40i. I test drove the AMG 43 several times trying to like it. Mercedes interiors are nicer than BMW's but, the driving dynamics of the BMW (in my opinion) were better. It was quicker, smoother and handled better than the AMG 43. I just did not like the stiff jarring ride of the AMG43 and the excessive turbo lag. Perhaps the AMG 63 is better. I am liking this new GLC 300 though.
I think the ride will improve when I dump the run flat tires.
I think the ride will improve when I dump the run flat tires.
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Joined: Oct 2018
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From: Washington DC
No more MB:(
Yes I have been in a AMG recently. I tried real hard to like the 2021 GLC AMG 43 before I decided to purchase the BMW X3 M40i. I test drove the AMG 43 several times trying to like it. Mercedes interiors are nicer than BMW's but, the driving dynamics of the BMW (in my opinion) were better. It was quicker, smoother and handled better than the AMG 43. I just did not like the stiff jarring ride of the AMG43 and the excessive turbo lag. Perhaps the AMG 63 is better. I am liking this new GLC 300 though.
I think the ride will improve when I dump the run flat tires.
I think the ride will improve when I dump the run flat tires.
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W220
I had a GLC 300 loaner for three days while my C63S was getting its Service B done and a couple of other things. Firm or rough is not how I would describe the GLC by any stretch of imagination. Floaty and wobbly are the words that come to mind, but I guess we all have different expectations and points of reference, but I would probably get seasick after a while in a GLC. I did have to adjust the tire pressures the next day, because they were all over the place. Don't remember what tires it had, but pretty sure they were RFT. It was a pretty basic optioned model. Is this car the same you test drove? If not, make sure they removed the shipping blocks. If you see bright colored plastic pieces in your springs, then they forgot to remove them. Wouldn't be a first. Otherwise, the GLC has 2-way dampers and it automatically selects a firmer damping when it senses higher cornering forces to reduce body roll, but for normal driving the dampers are in the comfort setting. I suppose there could be a malfunction with the dampers.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Right, other markets have a choice of two optional suspensions including the ultimate AIR BODY CONTROL suspension. The USA only gets what Mercedes calls the AGILITY CONTROL suspension, which has 2-stage dampers that change their damping rate based on suspension travel. A lot of suspension travel makes them firmer, but the driver has no control over it. Other suspensions like AIR BODY CONTROL have continuously adaptive dampers so they adjust to the road at a much finer degree and the driver can manually select between Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes. The air suspension can also adjust ride height, which is the other issue with the GLC in the USA. My understanding is US spec SUVs ride higher because to qualify as a light truck they need to have a minimum ride height. In Europe, the same SUVs have a lower ride height generally, so that reduces some of the excessive body movement. I understand OP didn't like the ride of the GLC 43, and as somebody else said above, the 43 models don't give you the true AMG experience, but the GLC 43 and 63 have the air suspension, albeit sport tuned for sure, so not necessarily everybody's cup of tea. The 43 tend to be tuned strangely, though. I've read many complaints about the suspension tuning in the various 43 series models. The 43 give an AMG flavor, but still have one foot in the regular MB models, for example they still come with RF tires, whereas the 63 don't have RF tires, so getting rid of the RF tires will definitely improve the ride.
Last edited by superswiss; Feb 8, 2021 at 01:52 PM.
