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I purchased a new 2024 S500L a few weeks ago and it hasn’t been a good experience so far. From the moment I collected it, the car creaks and rattles over any sudden bump or pothole in the road.
The noises are coming from the rear of the car, and seem to be concentrated around the rear seats / doors. It’s hard to tell if it’s related to the door seals, the door latches, or door/seat trim. I should note that the sounds emanate from both sides of the car, in this same location. I’ve attached a photo showing where it sounds like the noises are coming from.
The fact that the sounds are the same on both sides of the car is particularly strange.
The car has the rear executive package so it has the rear bench seat but with individually adjustable left and right seats.
The dealer has so far tried a couple of very tame fixes, including padding out the trim on the rear parcel shelf, removing the headrests to rule them out as a cause, and greasing the rear suspension components.
These haven’t helped at all and the dealer is not keen on just guesswork and taking the interior apart (probably as if they break anything, Mercedes won’t pay for the repair/replacement of any damaged trim parts).
I have also tried thoroughly cleaning the rear door seals, without success.
Have other owners experienced creaks / rattles in this area and managed to source the cause?
I purchased a new 2024 S500L a few weeks ago and it hasn’t been a good experience so far. From the moment I collected it, the car creaks and rattles over any sudden bump or pothole in the road.
The noises are coming from the rear of the car, and seem to be concentrated around the rear seats / doors. It’s hard to tell if it’s related to the door seals, the door latches, or door/seat trim. I should note that the sounds emanate from both sides of the car, in this same location. I’ve attached a photo showing where it sounds like the noises are coming from.
The fact that the sounds are the same on both sides of the car is particularly strange.
The car has the rear executive package so it has the rear bench seat but with individually adjustable left and right seats.
The dealer has so far tried a couple of very tame fixes, including padding out the trim on the rear parcel shelf, removing the headrests to rule them out as a cause, and greasing the rear suspension components.
These haven’t helped at all and the dealer is not keen on just guesswork and taking the interior apart (probably as if they break anything, Mercedes won’t pay for the repair/replacement of any damaged trim parts).
I have also tried thoroughly cleaning the rear door seals, without success.
Have other owners experienced creaks / rattles in this area and managed to source the cause?
Didn't hear a rattle in the marked spot reported on the W223 forums.
Usually with dealerships, if one isn't helpful, switching to another one usually yields better results.
My 2024 does the same thing. It sounds like maybe it’s the seat recline mechanism? Planning on having the dealer look at it. Only happens on particularly sharp bumps.
My 2024 does the same thing. It sounds like maybe it’s the seat recline mechanism? Planning on having the dealer look at it. Only happens on particularly sharp bumps.
Yeah it’s certainly coming from that area. Incidentally, I drove the dealer’s 2024 S class demonstrator a few days ago and it does the same thing. It’s definitely not normal, I’ve been in other older W223s and they were silent. Sounds like they’ve had a batch of bad parts.
My 2024 does the same thing. It sounds like maybe it’s the seat recline mechanism? Planning on having the dealer look at it. Only happens on particularly sharp bumps.
Originally Posted by ndevlin
Yeah it’s certainly coming from that area. Incidentally, I drove the dealer’s 2024 S class demonstrator a few days ago and it does the same thing. It’s definitely not normal, I’ve been in other older W223s and they were silent. Sounds like they’ve had a batch of bad parts.
Interesting, second and third case (all on this thread) reported on the forums ever, I wonder if this only affects the 2024 model year.
My 2024 does the same thing. It sounds like maybe it’s the seat recline mechanism? Planning on having the dealer look at it. Only happens on particularly sharp bumps.
Yes the sharp bump element is exactly my experience. A sunken drain cover, or a misaligned expansion joint on the road. Those kind of sudden height changes trigger it. Unfortunately my city's roads are covered in these kinds of defects, so the rattles are constant.
Yeah it’s certainly coming from that area. Incidentally, I drove the dealer’s 2024 S class demonstrator a few days ago and it does the same thing. It’s definitely not normal, I’ve been in other older W223s and they were silent. Sounds like they’ve had a batch of bad parts.
My 2024 does the same thing. It sounds like maybe it’s the seat recline mechanism? Planning on having the dealer look at it. Only happens on particularly sharp bumps.
Is that the only creek and rattle you have so far? I just got a headrest rattle that I live with and a very rare dashboard rattle that I haven’t heard in over six months.
Is that the only creek and rattle you have so far? I just got a headrest rattle that I live with and a very rare dashboard rattle that I haven’t heard in over six months.
In my case yeah it’s the only significant one. I do think the tilting front passenger headrest design has the potential to rattle. But nowhere near as annoying as whatever is going on in the rear seats.
Is that the only creek and rattle you have so far? I just got a headrest rattle that I live with and a very rare dashboard rattle that I haven’t heard in over six months.
Thats it. My seat also creaks some but that happened to my 222 also and they fixed it with felt.
Do you have the power rear seats? I wonder if it’s the same noise. I thought it was the passenger headrest at first too
In my case yeah it’s the only significant one. I do think the tilting front passenger headrest design has the potential to rattle. But nowhere near as annoying as whatever is going on in the rear seats.
I had a headrest rattle or seat rattle in the front passenger seat. The dealer replaced the headrest among other things to no avail. I traded the S class last Friday for the new e 450. Really like the car and the annoying rattle is now gone. Hope the dealer can isolate your issue and fix it.
I managed to connect with one of the lead engineers involved in the development of the W223 via LinkedIn, who has promised to look into the issues that the MY2024 is currently presenting. I'll update this thread if I make any progress.
So did I, but the Hankooks that came on mine were not foam filled. Foam filled tires doesn't make them ride softer though.
I understand it doesn't ride softer, it does ride quieter. Anyways, ya no run-flats is always a solution/mitigation to excess noise problems. Other than insulation and sound deadening materials as well as sound dampening of course.
I understand it doesn't ride softer, it does ride quieter. Anyways, ya no run-flats is always a solution/mitigation to excess noise problems. Other than insulation and sound deadening materials as well as sound dampening of course.
But this rattle isn't caused by tire noise, its caused by vibrations that come up into the cabin from road imperfections.
This car is so well isolated from the road noise that I have a hard time believing that foam filled tires would make a big difference. On a less insulated car perhaps. I replaced the Hankooks with Pirelli P7 A/S 3s.
But this rattle isn't caused by tire noise, its caused by vibrations that come up into the cabin from road imperfections.
This car is so well isolated from the road noise that I have a hard time believing that foam filled tires would make a big difference. On a less insulated car perhaps. I replaced the Hankooks with Pirelli P7 A/S 3s.
I managed to connect with one of the lead engineers involved in the development of the W223 via LinkedIn, who has promised to look into the issues that the MY2024 is currently presenting. I'll update this thread if I make any progress.
My car has come to the attention of senior management at Mercedes in the UK and in Germany. They are taking the car in again for further investigation. Hopefully I get some answers and a fix as I really like the car otherwise.
One idea I had was the rear power seat mechanisms themselves. Excess play in the motors or linkages. Guess I’ll find out soon.
My car has come to the attention of senior management at Mercedes in the UK and in Germany. They are taking the car in again for further investigation. Hopefully I get some answers and a fix as I really like the car otherwise.
One idea I had was the rear power seat mechanisms themselves. Excess play in the motors or linkages. Guess I’ll find out soon.
That is what it sounds like to me, like its in the linkage of the rear seat control mechanisms...
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