OneThinkingGuy

New S......manufactured 10/13. A virtual concerto of harsh rattles. Too many to even address. Deep in dashboard; both rear doors; rear belts; passenger motorized window shade. 357 miles on the vehicle now. "Beyond first class," the brochure states. "The best car in the world." Often stated. Hardly, I say. Spent quite a bit of time trying to identify where these rattles are emanating from. I should not have to ask friends to try to identify these sounds. Thus, I am making video recordings and will place them on You Tube. Challenging, humiliating. Age 67: I've owned many of these cars.....none ever quite like this. The S is not ready for prime time. I have suggested that my dealership collect the car and deliver me another, while they rip it apart. No confidence that it's fixable. I'd like my money back.....or a newer S or another model. Let's see Mercedes corporate step up to plate on this.

DaveVY

Not good, sorry to hear.

Hope your dealer can quickly identify and correct the issues and use some of their customer service fund from MB to try to make things up to you.

Diesel Benz

Perhaps a result of too high demand for the model, they are trying to get too many cars out of the production line per day? A pity even if these issues were resolved properly, hopefully they can fix your car.

OneThinkingGuy

Thanks for your support. Nice idea Dave, in theory. I have heard about the good faith fund from MB. Fortunately (or unfortunately for MB), I really have no interest in "compensation" for my time at this point in my life. Quality time is all I seek. "Ease" for me is Walter's Mercedes Benz picking up the car at my home and replacing it. MB is playing to the wrong demographic for this car by expecting to make any of us happy by "gifting" us during the "Beta run." I really did not sign up and pay retail to be part of their in service. Peter

E Classy

this is disappointing to read. but thanks for sharing. my one and only complaint with my factory ordered w212 is the rattles/noises inside the cabin, whether from vibrations or road inconsistencies. i have decided to "live with it" (it actually comes and goes) but it is in fact a driving distraction and an embarrassment while having guests along for a ride. agree that your situation is amplified by price point and marketing materials.

sounds like it's time for an assembly process deep dive / scrub. they shouldn't keep churning these vehicles out with loose bits across the interior.

Chucky300

I'm bringing in my car because my seat clicks everytime I turn. I'm not a thin guy but this is my 4th S Class and I've never had a click in my seat.

Also - they positioned the seatbelts so close to the center divider - anyone with large hips makes the seat belt rub against the center console - creating a gritty noise.

skrontz

Welcome to the first model year!

My 2010 S550 developed some minor rattles recently, and the dealer has been utterly useless in trying to fix them. I will keep bringing it in until they get them all, but it all boils down to wrapping everything they can in felt tape and hoping the rattles go away eventually. No systematic troubleshooting whatsoever.

OneThinkingGuy

It's me again....haven't driven my S for 5 days....yep, it can be a rattle trap....but it is a fine driver. Cannot imagine where one goes from this. Got to correct the multitude of various creaks and rattles though, or Benz will have to take it back. Love the car in all other way. P

lsdreem

From what I understand that fund allows the dealership an allowance to do things for the customer to keep them satisfied. I think it is great being that they had not before. For instance cover the costs for things not covered under warranty, cover labor costs for installs, even things such as $250 gift card to a steakhouse.

It is much like at the Ritz Carlton where every employee has a $400 allowance to use as they wish for guests. The ladies at the club lounge bought my daughter a nice outfit for her birthday during a stay.

It is unfortunate that after only 300+ miles you already feeling this way about your new car. It doesn't sound like anything short of a refund will satisfy you.

I don't hear these rattle noises or clicks in my seat (I'm sure I will after reading this post). This is my third S-Class and in a few years I will likely be driving my fourth.

Perhaps I'm the target demographic (early 30's) that plays music so loud that I don't hear all those noises

It's a good thing you didn't buy a ferrari or lamborghini because I've had way more issues with my 458 and aventador than I've had with any of my S-class.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you get all those rattles sorted out so that you can enjoy this great car.

cjf_moraga

That is distressing to hear... I would never buy a model in its first year on principle, but for an S-Class I would expect more QA and this sounds unacceptable for a $100K+ vehicle. My 2nd year in w221 S600 has always been pretty much rattle free, even after 6-years, so I am kind of glad I decided to wait out the early year of the w222.

Chris

Jason B

Did you previously own a last gen s class? The w221?

And did you know about these bulletins?

LI91.12-P-057916 DEC13 – Noises may occur when adjusting individual rear seats, dealer will install felt material and lubricate.

LI91.10-P-057914 DEC13 – Contact between upper rivets and inside backrest cover may cause noises at in area of front seat backrests, felt material will be installed to internal rivets

LI91.40-P-057018 SEPT13 – 212, 176, 242, 246, 204, 117, 222 creaking noise from left or right front seat belt height adjustment mechanism, replace belt height adjuster.

OneThinkingGuy

Responding Jason.......previous S two generations ago, and a few more. Last large car was a '2013 7 series. Great car......and....and.....not a single rattle. Miss it....but I must say the S drives/rides beautifully and my dealership, Walter's, in Riverside, Ca. is superlative, particularly the sales manager, Steve Desko. He is the nicest, the most customer oriented guy you can find in a dealership. The rattles seem to come and go.....in so many different places. When all of them are active together, it's like "Carmina Burana" time. Or a discordant piece by Sondheim! All of which I love.....but not when this music has a life of its own! Will need to get out of this car.

Khan28

Sorry to hear that. Nothing more frustrating than working your a$$ off to earn the nice things you have only to find out it's not what it's supposed to be especially after shelling $100k for it. I had a rattle when going over bumps but it turned out to just be the jack that got loose in the spare wheel compartment. Re-positioning it took care of that problem and my my 8 year old poor man's C280 Benz is completely squeak and rattle free on the nastiest of roads.

I'm sure the squeak issue is because it's an early build. It's no excuse however for MB to put out an unready product. I hope you can get a new one, just knowing a technician is ripping into a car that should be build rock solid hurts and I didn't spend a dime on that car

aypues

lemon it. CA is good this way. I lemon'ed a Lexus GS450H for rattles. They'll buy it back if it's not fixed after 3 attempts.

OneThinkingGuy

It's not good at my age to forget a car or two that one owned! Bad sign.
I owned a '12 CLS 550 (year of change), right out of the box. Also from Steve Desko at Walters. Perfect car. Never a single issue....no creeks or rattles....and that "coupe" had frameless windows. Wish I still had it, actually. High styled....a bit too "showy" for me. Separately, I think the style has been diluted a bit by the new CLA 250, which is, IMO, actually better looking because of its smaller proportions. Sorry to stray....I'm a "car guy." Cars & architecture!

Back to my S: 450 miles now....rear passengers last night....Burm. on...Not exactly enjoyable having three other guys spending 15 minutes debating about extraneous noises. Conclusion: "this entire car is noisy, from the frame upward." Definitely the passenger side window shade; the full right side of the dash (with glove box empty, open or shut); passenger rear belt; both front seats, with massage on.....and a wierd intermittent creeking from other areas. Poltergeist? I am being tortured? The wrath of the republican administration against same sex marriage????? I thought I was doing a good thing!! p

Jason B

Very interesting. So you never had a 07-13 S class? I feel the 10-13 was a vault on wheels, very similar to the W140 (princess Diana car)

SB_NYC

2010 W221 was a rattle city after 40k miles. Front seat plastic frames squeaked like crazy. Headrests too. Otherwise, not a single real mechanical or electric problem after 75k miles (when sold).

torontowino

Sorry to hear of your plight. Nothing bothers me more than squeaks and rattles. I have a 12 CLS550 and must say it is near perfect. Not one single rattle etc. I initially lusted after the new S class but truth be told I love the CLS so no rush to change.

Kratos-TM

Man, I hope little gremlins like this don't plague me, because I took that risk at buying from a dealer out of state. And I won't have a lot accessibility in getting them fixed. Pretty sure my local dealer will say "Screw you, drive it back to where you bought it."

Jason B

Any dealer should warranty that car. It's brand new.

Kratos-TM

You don't think there will be any hard feelings?

SB_NYC

Ofcourse not. They are just sales and service. They don't make the car themselves. You have a right to have the car as good as new while under warranty.

Kratos-TM

Ok, thanks guys.

Chucky300

Last three S Classes I purchased.

W140 Fletcher Motors / Mercedes Benz of Chicago
W220 Glausser Motors / Mercedes Benz of Denver
W221 Mercedes Benz of Dallas

All were serviced by Mercedes of Manhattan without a problem ever, no matter what.

Ended up getting the W222 from Manhattan because there was no reason not to.

Kratos-TM

In hindsight, there was no reason not to go to my local dealer either. Just should have done it regardless of how "comfortable" I am with them......because whether I like it or not, I'm gonna have to go to them for any service issues. Just the nature of the beast.


But I must say dealing with Ashley from Houston North has been a real pleasure so far. She answered all 50 of my emails within 30 seconds. She makes me feel comfortable. Is there any value to that???.....feels like it though.