MojitoLoco

Well I'm now up too 280 miles on my new 2007 SLK 280 w/ stock 16"s. The ride seems to be rough most of the time varying from mild to harsh. I've been travelling this same stretch for 5 years in my C240 and indeed some stretches are rough but wow is the SLK w/ 16"s really this sensitive?

I'm running in Comfort mode as the manual reccommends for the 1k break in. The steering wheel doesnt vibrate, and the car runs pretty straight (w/o holding the wheel) even when mildly rough. It seems to be more rough in the front than underneath the driver. I've only had the car in my possesion 3 days now and only used it for commuting to work..the weekend is rolling up..going to drive it some more in better areas of town where the roads should be best kept.

Duo-Art

Check the tire pressures with a good quality gauge. There have been numerous reports of cars delivered with the wrong tire pressure. This could be your problem.

MojitoLoco

Hey Duo..it hit me as the post was uploading. The actual pressure was F28/R30 and the recommended pressure is F32/R35. I upped it too F31/R34, 1 PSI less for margin of error incase theres actually too much air. Now if I remember more pressure equals rougher ride but I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

B4TM4N

I have a set of the 16" rims and a set of the 17" rims and I can barely tell the difference. What I DO agree with is the ride IS rougher than a w203. The best test I find is when I turn out of my driveway everyday as there are speedbumps on my street. The C-coupe feels more like it floats on air, while I actually need to slow down on the SLK to avoid breaking my back.

Duo-Art

MojitoLoco, What type of tires are on your car? The SLK comes with several different brands.

MojitoLoco

its equipped with "michelin pilot". I noticed the ride is a little better with the psi set to 31/34 vs the off the lot setting of 28/30. The car at full stop sometimes shakes/vibrates a little and sometimes it seems to skip a gear in mode S which causes a jerk like if you skipped a gear with a manual shifter.

Duo-Art

The Michelin Pilot Primacy tires are harsh riding and noisy. I have them on my SLK. This was a criticism of them that I read about in a comparison test two years ago.

MojitoLoco

Thanks for all the replies, I went for a road test with the shop manager today and he concluded no issues. All the vibrations and shakes are said to be normal. I've only done about 350 miles so far, I'm sure I'll adapt to the ride quality soon.

N4PWJ

To be honest i quite enjoy the slightly harsh ride quality, makes me feel like im in a sports car. if i wanted smooth comfort i would have bought a 4x4 jeep.
you will get used to it, a i remember thinking how harsh it was, now im just used to it.
im a fellow 280 driver and just want 2 say enjoy ur 280!

MojitoLoco

I got to take it in to get teleaid activated, having issues with remote activation but otherwise I'm loving the car. Took it out this past weekend for a cruise around town with the top down; weather was perfect.

N4PWJ

fewer things give me a bigger smile!

phjbbu

More pressure = rougher ride? I could not fathom it'd be any other way. You did take a cruise in the car b4 buying it, right? These things are not boulevard cruisers but neither are they 4 wheels and a board. It's not wrong that any indivdual would prefer either extreme, but ... just like people...it is a tough request for ask anyone to change into something they are not.

MojitoLoco

Ofcourse I took the car for a spin around the dealership but the roads are much smoother in that area and I did not think about that. It took a couple of days but now I don't notice the ride being rough anymore, I was coming from a C-Class where the ride was dampened much more. It still has a strong vibration/shake when the car is first turned on after an overnight rest or long rest, say being parked all day at work but it only lasts about 1 minute and then smooths out; I'm told this is normal warming up of the engine, while I've never experienced such a phenonmenon (or atleast remember) in any other car before including my former 986 Boxster or Z3 it sounds plausible.

I've got to find a long term solution to my glove box issue but other than that I'm loving the car. I want too do the SmartTop module but I'm trying to hold off for 6 months to give the top a break in period though I may end up doing it before months end; such an essential feature . I'm also still looking for a place in Miami to get tints done; preferably using computer cut patterns.

Jayk

Hey Mojito,

Am I right in assuming that you have the stock suspension and not the Sports suspension?

Jordan

Ikarus

It's a matter of taste. I also had to get used to the ride quality of the 280, but not because I found it too harsh, but rather because it is softer than the one in my other car, which is an otherwise rather unsporty VW New Beetle GLS (great car, by the way). Same goes for the steering, which doesn't provide as much road feedback as the Beetle's. I would have gone for the sports package, but more than 4 grand extra seemed ridiculously expensive.

Ynot

Not as crazy as you think, you cannot get a body kit alone for $4,000, unless you want front and rear bumpers without side skirts lol (or if you are lucky to find a used body kit), that's w/o installation and paint. No wheels and stiffer suspension. Add it all up and it's a bargain. IMO.

Ikarus

The problem for me was that I don't don't care for the AMG body kit at all. The front part looks odd to me and I like the looks of a standard 280/350 much better. All I would have wanted is a firmer suspension and a more direct steering (which the sports package doesn't even touch, I suppose).

Ynot

Different strokes for different folks, I don't like the sharp lines without the kit, I prefer the smoother lines. If the 350 didn't have the AMG option. I might have stuck with BMW's. H&R coilovers or KW's is what you are looking for.

big SLK

imho, the $4000+ was well worth it over the base car.

if u are living in SF, i cant even imagine how anyone can
drive around with a LOWERed car.
if i lived in SF, i would get a smart car hehehe

jamesbond007

I'm coming off a CLK 430 Cab and I find the ride quality of the SLK350 very rough on bad roads. I don't think I'll keep the car for more than 2 years and will probably move on to an SL500. But the SLK is a lot of fun. I tend to avoid driving it in Paris because the road surface is just too bad for that car.
The CLK was such a smooth car....