Do you want to travel in a quiet Mercedes?
Discussion
The larger engined Mercedes cars (don't know about the recent 4 in line 2 litre turbos) have whisper quiet engines.
The predominant cabin sound is therefore road noise.
I have tried various different tyres on a W208 320.
The original Pirellis were dreadful. I think 74db rated.
Dunlop Sport Maxx were much better 68db rated.
However just for a change, although the same 68db rating, I tried Michelin Primacy 4.
The sheer quietness is finally what it always should have been. A delight now to even occasionally hear the subdued sound of wind noise.
The db rating is I think an external measurement, so it seems internally there can be variations.
Sports cars are fine with sound. Music from the exhaust, drowning out road noise from wide tyres.
With a Mercedes though, a peaceful ride is probably expected by most owners.
EDIT
I suppose I should have qualified my first line, to state petrol engines, although electric would involve the same circumstances.
For me, there is nothing more annoying than constant road noise.
The predominant cabin sound is therefore road noise.
I have tried various different tyres on a W208 320.
The original Pirellis were dreadful. I think 74db rated.
Dunlop Sport Maxx were much better 68db rated.
However just for a change, although the same 68db rating, I tried Michelin Primacy 4.
The sheer quietness is finally what it always should have been. A delight now to even occasionally hear the subdued sound of wind noise.
The db rating is I think an external measurement, so it seems internally there can be variations.
Sports cars are fine with sound. Music from the exhaust, drowning out road noise from wide tyres.
With a Mercedes though, a peaceful ride is probably expected by most owners.
EDIT
I suppose I should have qualified my first line, to state petrol engines, although electric would involve the same circumstances.
For me, there is nothing more annoying than constant road noise.
Edited by Dewi 2 on Saturday 26th November 18:45
Just to add...the road surface can make a massive difference to noise inside the cabin.
There is a dual carriageway near me and when driving along it regularly goes from loud to quiet on sections that have been resurfaced. In fact I am not even sure whether it is the resurfaced sections that is loud or the original, but the difference is quite remarkable.
There is a dual carriageway near me and when driving along it regularly goes from loud to quiet on sections that have been resurfaced. In fact I am not even sure whether it is the resurfaced sections that is loud or the original, but the difference is quite remarkable.
'Tell me about it' Ron!
Having spent thousands of miles on the OEM Pirellis, I became an expert with my decibel sound meter, as well as making sure that I had a full stock of headache pills in the car. They really were dreadful on the worst road surfaces.
You don't expect to be unable to hear a radio properly, on a dual carriageway at 70 mph in a Mercedes, whereas you could in a cheap Vauxhall Cavalier on the same road.
Using sound measurement at that time, the worst road surface for cabin noise, was a top coating of granite chippings. Use of that bodge seems to vary amongst different county councils. Clearly some do not use it at all. Homes close to those roads would also be adversely affected, not only the motorists. I think Dorset might be one example, as well as the Isle of Wight.
The best is an extra fine tarmac when new, used on some stretches of motorways. Think it has a trade name, It does create slightly more sound as it becomes worn.
The infamous concrete surface on the M25 in Surrey, is worse than ever now. Even my Michelin Primacy 4 tyres clank and groan there.
Greenmantle said:
Dewi 2 said:
The infamous concrete surface on the M25 in Surrey, is worse than ever now. Even my Michelin Primacy 4 tyres clank and groan there.
55palfers said:
superlightr said:
its an utter disgrace. Been like that since living memory. Is it just bare under road with no tarmac? Whats the story with it does anyone know?
Cheapest optionGreenmantle said:
I thought it was just me. Surely it is now time to replace it with tarmac.
The M54 is the same, it's cheap and lasts a lot longer than Tarmac without cracking.Sections of the M54 have now been replaced with Tarmac as houses have crept closer to the motorway so they needed to reduce the traffic noise.
BlimeyCharlie said:
I recently changed all four tyres on my car. Apart from the lighter steering, there was all kinds of noises I noticed on different sections/surfaces of familiar roads.
We want noise, but be don't want noise!
Won't miss the aquaplaning and heavy steering whilst parking.
We want noise, but be don't want noise!
Won't miss the aquaplaning and heavy steering whilst parking.
I conclude from that, you have an historic Mercedes without power steering and no Primacy 4 tyres.
Blame me, I should have posted earlier.
I still have an E30 BMW 320i. Made in 1984, with a 6 cylinder engine and no power steering, so I know what you mean.
With modern Mercedes cars, we have almost forgotten all about heavy steering when parking.
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