Interior Rattling
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2016 AMG GTS; 2024 GLE 63s AMG
Interior Rattling
Hi All - I have a 2023 S500 that was purchased new and is less than 6 months old. Whenever the car goes over road surfaces that aren’t perfectly smooth, and/or when bass heavy music plays, a terrible rattling noise emanates from the overhead controls (sun roof controls, interior light area, silver overhead grill surround). The sound can be accurately replicated using bass test videos on YouTube and occurs between 40-45hz. The noise goes away when I push up on the overhead control surround. It sounds incredibly cheap and more akin to a 20 year old beater rather than a $130k S class. Other than taking the car to the dealership and having them keep it for god knows how long - any recommendations to remedy?
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From: Costco
2025 AMG GT63, 2023 S500, 2022 GLE53
You have my sympathies. Rattling is my number one pet peeve. It just destroy the entire ambience and feel of any new car.
That area rattled in my GLE and the dealership couldn’t find or fix it in the first attempt. It takes a good tech to both take the time and effort to pinpoint it and then fix it. Unfortunately, the dealership is probably your only recourse.
That area rattled in my GLE and the dealership couldn’t find or fix it in the first attempt. It takes a good tech to both take the time and effort to pinpoint it and then fix it. Unfortunately, the dealership is probably your only recourse.
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Joined: May 2022
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S450 4Matic
Hi All - I have a 2023 S500 that was purchased new and is less than 6 months old. Whenever the car goes over road surfaces that aren’t perfectly smooth, and/or when bass heavy music plays, a terrible rattling noise emanates from the overhead controls (sun roof controls, interior light area, silver overhead grill surround). The sound can be accurately replicated using bass test videos on YouTube and occurs between 40-45hz. The noise goes away when I push up on the overhead control surround. It sounds incredibly cheap and more akin to a 20 year old beater rather than a $130k S class. Other than taking the car to the dealership and having them keep it for god knows how long - any recommendations to remedy?
Had my dealer look at it. The technician removed the unit, put some tapes on (the kind with fuzzy felt on one side, tape on the other), reinstalled it, and things have died down since. At least, in that specific area, it did.
I agree that this is a job for your dealer.
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Joined: Mar 2020
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From: Philadelphia area
2022 - S580 and 2019 Porsche Carrera S Cabriolet
Take it to the dealer. They will work on it (and probably resolve it) if you are forceful in your complaint. These rattles are issues they are accustomed to.
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S450 4Matic
The plastics are probably the culprit. Plastics screak and rattle. It is what plastics do.
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From: Occupied Palestine
2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore and 2024 Jaguar F-PACE SVR
Headliner (in back near tailgate) on my new $100K EQE rattles when going over uneven surfaces too. I have to agree with OP that it make the car feel cheap. It's a pity because the car drives really well. It's just I have to drive over railroad tracks every day and it's ruining my serenity. Still not sure if I'm going to give the dealer a chance to fix it or just trade it for something that doesn't rattle.
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From: Costco
2025 AMG GT63, 2023 S500, 2022 GLE53
I ended up dumping my 2022 GLE with under 2k miles because of issues, including many rattles that were not fixed after multiple visits within a few short months of purchasing.
I absolutely despise going to the dealer for unscheduled visits. I would rather go to the dentist. There’s just something about having to drive there, sitting and waiting in the drop off lane behind 10 other sorry saps, then waiting another 30 minutes in the lobby for your advisor, even though you arrived 15 minutes before your appointment, then leave in either an Uber or a piece of crap loaner and watch them in the app park your car in the back lot for two days doing absolutely nothing. Goodbye POS car.
I absolutely despise going to the dealer for unscheduled visits. I would rather go to the dentist. There’s just something about having to drive there, sitting and waiting in the drop off lane behind 10 other sorry saps, then waiting another 30 minutes in the lobby for your advisor, even though you arrived 15 minutes before your appointment, then leave in either an Uber or a piece of crap loaner and watch them in the app park your car in the back lot for two days doing absolutely nothing. Goodbye POS car.
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From: Occupied Palestine
2025 Maserati Grecale Folgore and 2024 Jaguar F-PACE SVR
LOL, well, it's more pleasant than going in for a colonoscopy anyways. Part of the reason I bought an EV though is no scheduled maintenance for TWO YEARS! Woohoo! And then the reality set in that my Mercedes isn't built any better than my previous Korean car.
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Joined: Feb 2023
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My 8 year old LS has not rattled once. I think the difference is simply an abundance of anti-rattle material, as should be the minimum expectation in a luxury vehicle.
The dealership should make it right, but out of warranty it should be fixable with anti-rattle tape. Not that I would start pulling panels myself..
The dealership should make it right, but out of warranty it should be fixable with anti-rattle tape. Not that I would start pulling panels myself..
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Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Birmingham, AL
2019 S560, 2022 Audi S8
Hi All - I have a 2023 S500 that was purchased new and is less than 6 months old. Whenever the car goes over road surfaces that aren’t perfectly smooth, and/or when bass heavy music plays, a terrible rattling noise emanates from the overhead controls (sun roof controls, interior light area, silver overhead grill surround). The sound can be accurately replicated using bass test videos on YouTube and occurs between 40-45hz. The noise goes away when I push up on the overhead control surround. It sounds incredibly cheap and more akin to a 20 year old beater rather than a $130k S class. Other than taking the car to the dealership and having them keep it for god knows how long - any recommendations to remedy?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Birmingham, AL
2019 S560, 2022 Audi S8
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Joined: Jun 2023
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GLC 300 4MATIC AMG Sport / 2024 BMW ALPINA XB7
Huh ... Wait, what?! There's rattling in the S-class? I thought the S-class, S/GLS-Maybach, and G-wagons were immune from rattling. As a prospective owner in the next year or so, this is especially alarming for me. I am very accustomed to the Mercedes wood panel creaking as 100% of the panels creak in my GLC. I just thought that would disappear at the flagship level - not sure why, but I thought I was being reasonable to assume so. I don't remember quite hearing any rattles on my friend's then-new 2018 S63 Cabriolet that I drove , so I hope it doesn't affect all the units that roll off the production line. Our 2017 TLX and 2020 X7 M50i - (both having every option possible so as to ensuring highest quality material, if that's relevant) - are both impeccable in their fit and finish. To top it all, our 2005 Odyssey EX-L with nearly 200k miles has zero rattles ... zero.
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I ended up dumping my 2022 GLE with under 2k miles because of issues, including many rattles that were not fixed after multiple visits within a few short months of purchasing.
I absolutely despise going to the dealer for unscheduled visits. I would rather go to the dentist. There’s just something about having to drive there, sitting and waiting in the drop off lane behind 10 other sorry saps, then waiting another 30 minutes in the lobby for your advisor, even though you arrived 15 minutes before your appointment, then leave in either an Uber or a piece of crap loaner and watch them in the app park your car in the back lot for two days doing absolutely nothing. Goodbye POS car.
I absolutely despise going to the dealer for unscheduled visits. I would rather go to the dentist. There’s just something about having to drive there, sitting and waiting in the drop off lane behind 10 other sorry saps, then waiting another 30 minutes in the lobby for your advisor, even though you arrived 15 minutes before your appointment, then leave in either an Uber or a piece of crap loaner and watch them in the app park your car in the back lot for two days doing absolutely nothing. Goodbye POS car.
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From: Costco
2025 AMG GT63, 2023 S500, 2022 GLE53
No, it has no rattles, it is tight as a drum, thank you, but you’re missing the point of my post as it had nothing to do with my S500. It was centered entirely around the fact that I hate rattles in general, it ruins the entire experience of a car—especially an expensive one—and that I despise trying to get them fixed even more. And, by inference, I feel sorry for him.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
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No, it has no rattles, it is tight as a drum, thank you, but you’re missing the point of my post as it had nothing to do with my S500. It was centered entirely around the fact that I hate rattles in general, it ruins the entire experience of a car—especially an expensive one—and that I despise trying to get them fixed even more. And, by inference, I feel sorry for him.
Member
Joined: Jun 2022
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2022 S580 Land Boat
Hi All - I have a 2023 S500 that was purchased new and is less than 6 months old. Whenever the car goes over road surfaces that aren’t perfectly smooth, and/or when bass heavy music plays, a terrible rattling noise emanates from the overhead controls (sun roof controls, interior light area, silver overhead grill surround). The sound can be accurately replicated using bass test videos on YouTube and occurs between 40-45hz. The noise goes away when I push up on the overhead control surround. It sounds incredibly cheap and more akin to a 20 year old beater rather than a $130k S class. Other than taking the car to the dealership and having them keep it for god knows how long - any recommendations to remedy?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 31
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2016 AMG GTS; 2024 GLE 63s AMG
Hi there - I apologize for not updating this thread. I took the car into the dealership and the service advisor was able to hear the rattling right away, which is always good. Nothing worse than insisting something is there but when going to show someone it vanishes. I left the car with the dealership and received a call the next day informing me that an "interior clip" on the overhead console had failed and that a new overhead console was being ordered. They swapped the overhead console and the rattling has disappeared. My advice would be to make sure the service advisor/tech is with you and can hear the noise you're referring to.
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23 S580 Executive
No rattling for me, very quiet in there. Now if you want to talk about cheap stuff squeaking when you touch it, I've got plenty of that. Looks good in there, but it's a house of cards and the illusion is shattered as soon as you touch something.
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Joined: Jun 2022
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2022 S580 Land Boat
I feel like I really drew a bad card with this car. From the very beginning there was constantly something preventing me from enjoying the car and feeling that it’s worth its price tag.
Member
Joined: Jun 2022
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2022 S580 Land Boat
No sir, just got busy with life. Still PO’d though, probably more so. Especially after I told my service advisor about all the issues and how I never saw any of this in well over a dozen Lexus vehicles owned between me and my wife, he told me “perhaps Lexus would’ve been a better fit for you”. So there you have it, the car is fine, I’m just unable to appreciate MB greatness 🤣
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