R-Class (W251) Produced 2006-2013: R320CDI, R350, R420CDI, R500

NVH 09 R350

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Oct 25, 2009 | 09:53 AM
  #1  
cyeung65's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Q & R
NVH 09 R350

After putting on 2k miles on our new R class, the engine noise and vibration seems to be getting more intrusive - or maybe I am just getting more annoyed by it. There is an exhaust drone and engine vibration that is particularly noticeable at about 50 mph steady 6th gear part throttle on smooth asphalt.

Is this normal or is a there a fix like an engine mount or dampener that needs attention?

What are your impressions of the engine noise and vibration on your R class?
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2009 | 12:37 AM
  #2  
R. Reyes's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
R350 4-matic
smooth as glass and quite except for some tire noise. I do believe this was a problem with someone else's R as well. I would search and see if it got fixed.
Reply
Old Oct 28, 2009 | 07:48 AM
  #3  
cyeung65's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Q & R
Originally Posted by R. Reyes
smooth as glass and quite except for some tire noise. I do believe this was a problem with someone else's R as well. I would search and see if it got fixed.
Thanks - now I know I am not crazy. I could not find such a post with the search but seem to recall something like it. Please let me know if you find it.

Last edited by cyeung65; Oct 28, 2009 at 10:52 AM.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2009 | 12:31 AM
  #4  
ct_r500's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
R500
Originally Posted by cyeung65
Thanks - now I know I am not crazy. I could not find such a post with the search but seem to recall something like it. Please let me know if you find it.
Check the other site (benzworld) under this thread:
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2009 | 11:34 PM
  #5  
rosswell's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 279
Likes: 13
From: Western Canada
S320 GL350
Yes it's normal. ... I have the same intermittent thing and I've learned to ignore it - depends on outside temperature and usually during a warming phase while beginning a trip. It's probably exhaust related vibration and nothing to be concerned about. On mine it goes away after it's completely warm.

Same idea as the occasional quick shifts up or down at certain speeds while coasting...I've learned to drive differently to "help" the transmission know what comes next (since I don't have a PDK! like in a Porsche).

Cheers. Don't sweat the small stuff.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2009 | 12:03 AM
  #6  
VelociRaptor's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: the ML/GL/R assembly line
2005 C230 Kompressor
Thats one problem you run into in making such a quiet vehicle, any little thing that does make a noise is amplified by the quiet background.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2009 | 01:43 PM
  #7  
R. Reyes's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
R350 4-matic
Originally Posted by VelociRaptor
Thats one problem you run into in making such a quiet vehicle, any little thing that does make a noise is amplified by the quiet background.
+1
Reply
Old Oct 15, 2010 | 09:43 PM
  #8  
cyeung65's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Q & R
Ressurection

Nearly a year after posting this, I want to check to see if others have this same concern about engine noise.

The noise I am experiencing is not temperature related to warm up nor is it intermittent. I hear engine exhaust noise whenever I accelerate. Granted this is a quiet car, and any noise can be intrusive, but it sounds like it has hot rod mufflers on it. That's great for a sports car, like my Corvette, but come on, this is a 50K luxo barge.

I even had it checked by MB and they said all is well.

I have gotten used to the noise, but recently, I bought a new Q7 and it is quiet as the dickens. The R350 sounds like an 18 wheeler in comparison.

Are all R350s the same as what I am experiencing?
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 16, 2010 | 03:22 AM
  #9  
bzliteyear's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 2
From: SF
07 E63 06 CLK55 Cab 03 P-car C4S
My R500 engine accelerates fine but is not smooth sounding like typical V8, or even the newer 4.6 or 5.5 liter V8 - but dealer says normal...so Ive been living with it, but certainly don't think it should be this way...it sounds raspy, from 1500 rpm to about 3k rpm.
PL
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2010 | 01:24 PM
  #10  
lkchris's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 242
From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
If it's something fairly common, MB would likely have a DTB (dealer tech bulletin) on it. (Others call these TSBs)

Service advisors are not always aware of every bulletin.

For $18 for a 24-hr subcription, you can view all the DTBs there are. Also all the recalls, service bulletins, etc. Plus the equivalent of the entire service manual.

http://www.startekinfo.com

I subscribe and check it all prior to every regular dealer visit.
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2010 | 01:41 PM
  #11  
termite's Avatar
Member
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 141
Likes: 11
From: Mt. Sinai, NY
2013 E350 wagon cuprite brown; sold:2014 ML63; R500 Saks Edition; R500; more W124s than I can count
AFAIK there is no DTB or TSB on the M113 V8 being fairly noisy, but it is a pretty rough engine nonetheless; especially when it is cold. there have been a number of forum members who have reported exactly the same thing on their R500s and mine is no different....for all of that thrashing at low rpm's though, it is reputed to be a very long lasting engine w/ proper maintenance.
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2010 | 08:51 PM
  #12  
cyeung65's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Q & R
Originally Posted by termite
AFAIK there is no DTB or TSB on the M113 V8 being fairly noisy, but it is a pretty rough engine nonetheless; especially when it is cold. there have been a number of forum members who have reported exactly the same thing on their R500s and mine is no different....for all of that thrashing at low rpm's though, it is reputed to be a very long lasting engine w/ proper maintenance.
Any viewpoints on the 350 V-6 engine?
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2010 | 12:26 AM
  #13  
lkchris's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 242
From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
The early M272 V6 had a couple major problems

excessive oil consumption
failure of balancer shaft gear

Corrected in production
Reply
Old Oct 22, 2010 | 12:31 AM
  #14  
rosswell's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 279
Likes: 13
From: Western Canada
S320 GL350
Nice to revisit after a year ... Well, on mine to date there is no raspy rattle, only just some resonance noise when you slowly apply gas in a tall gear (at low rpm in 6th for example).

What I HAVE noticed is kind of neat (as I didnt notice it before) - but in the summer with the windows down, when I'm merging onto a high speed freeway (say around 140 km/h) using full throttle, it's as if there's an exhaust damper that opens up to allow blow-by that's not muffled - sounds like a race car but only under hard acceleration. (Think GTO with the vacuum actuated exhaust).

The resonance I spoke of above; could resonate other things as well. Haven't been bothered by it at all. However, anecdotally, when my car was new (I'm the second owner), the service dept. had it in for some warranty repairs that involved putting a shim plate in the exhaust to cure some rattles or noise.

All I've got - hope that helps. (I have the R350 V6 gas)
Reply
Old Oct 22, 2010 | 02:24 PM
  #15  
cyeung65's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Q & R
I wonder if there is such a bypass in the exhaust system. If there is, I would bank that the one on my R350 is stuck open.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:07 AM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE