Forum menu
30 section tyres have no place on a car in the UK, but for some reason there’s a certain proportion of the population that like big, heavy, expensive, easily damaged, uncomfortable wheels with a sliver of rubber around the outside.
But they look good and that is all that matters I guess. Nobody driving on the road actually needs massive wheels, massive discs, 30 section 300+ wide tyres. How are all those things helping when the maximum speed you can do is 60mph?
Nobody really needs a car with over 100bhp for same reasons so not really sure what people are doing with their 500bhp cars either.
Modern cars are much better than older cars. They drive better despite being bigger and heavier because of things like low profile tyres, big brakes. Big brakes are not for stopping power but brake fade. When was the last time you had to manage brake temps in a car. I remember my first car and having to manage brake temps but these days just not a problem. Also traction control, ESP and clever diffs all use brakes so you need the capacity to manage all that and braking.
Mate of mine had an MB a while back and took his to a MB commercial van/truck dealer for servicing and repairs. A lot cheaper than car dealers and all authorised MB work. They helped diagnose a gearbox issue for several hundred pounds instead of several thousand that the car dealership wanted. Unfortunately the gearbox was knackered but saved a lot in establishing that.
Big brakes are not for stopping power but brake fade.
Seriously, brake fade driving around on the road. Again what exactly are you doing to get brake fade?
I hardly ever use my brakes (backed up by how often I need to replace pads) as I drive at correct distance behind cars and stick to speeds around the speed limit.
Last time I got brake fade was descending Hardknott Pass in an early 1990s Fiat Regatta. The fact that I've not had it since kind-of proves wobbliscott's point.
OP - Is there any possibility of returning the vehicle and exchanging for something else, if it's a relatively recent purchase? Perhaps paying a "restocking fee" or something?
Bigger brakes (rotors) also give better stopping power. Bigger rotors also allows for bigger callipers and more (and bigger) pistons, which allows for bigger pads which means less heat.
Okay, whatever. You all seem sure that you need you massive brakes and wheels and I will leave it at that as not something I will ever understand as I hardly ever touch my brakes.
I suspect the previous owner had a large boat and spent the last 8 years towing it around hence your shagged gear box / engine / suspension. Nice looking car though - am sure you will get your money back.
How many miles? How much did you pay for it?
Okay, whatever. You all seem sure that you need you massive brakes and wheels and I will leave it at that as not something I will ever understand as I hardly ever touch my brakes.
The heavier the car the bigger the brakes you need to stop it in an emergency. My i3 electric BMW is 1.4t and has teeny tiny brakes (due to regenerative braking), but if you have to stop in an emergency, especially if you've just been accelerating, they are quite scary. My 330 touring on the other hand almost has the ability to upend itself if you stomp on the brakes .
Brake size needed less to do with weight more to do with engine power output. Most average brakes will stop a car once from 70mph but twice in a row? Three times? More engine power potential means more need to repeatably dissipate energy. A small car with big power still needs big brakes.
Back on topic there's an extended diag tool you can get for Mercedes 'iCarsoft MB V2' slightly more than info than a standard OBD reader, cost about £126. Will get error codes from various modules which can be generated before engine light comes on. Not quite the same as the dealership system but I still used it to diagnose, replace and reset a sensor issue. Can read gearbox module I believe.
I agree gearbox should be smooth and responsive. Cars with stop-start system recommend oil changes at very low 40K intervals - this is about the only job I won't take on and had an indy do for me.
It sounds shagged, reject it.
Most average brakes will stop a car once from 70mph but twice in a row? Three times? More engine power potential means more need to repeatably dissipate energy. A small car with big
power still needs big brakes.
That is the part I am not getting but guess I don't drive like you. Why are you stopping from 70mph three times in a row to the point that brake fade becomes an issue? Drive at correct distance and you never need to slam on brakes unless some sort of emergency, having to stop in quick succession for 3 emergencies is never going to happen is it?
Drive at 70mph, deer runs out ahead of you. Quickly get back up to 70mph, another deer runs out ahead of you. Quickly get back up to 70mph and jeez, where the hell are all these deer coming from.
More engine power potential means more need to repeatably dissipate energy
More weight means more need to repeatably dissipate energy. Yes there are situations, like on a race track where acceleration leads to a significant increase in KE and a more powerful car will increase its KE faster, but weight is a more determining factor for most road cars. Repeatedly slowing from 70mph on a motorway is going to cause a far greater buildup in heat from a heavier car than from simply having more power.
Hi @molgrips I have a 2011 C350 estate AMG Sport which although a class down (yours based on the E class chassis) has many similarities.
The AMG bit is just trim, body kit and wheels. The Sport bit gives you "sporty" suspension.
1. Wheels. When I got my 911, I changed from 17 to 18. The difference in ride quality was massive. My Merc runs 18, Next time it needs tyres I will look out for a set of the 17 wheels.
2. Um mine is not at all rattly or creaky.
3. I think you have the same 7G gearbox as mine with paddle shift and sport mode. I absolutely HATED the gearbox at first (coming from a manual 911). I always though it was in the wrong gear and wouldn't go when I wanted it to! However the more I go used to it the better it got, and I actually think it matches the car perfectly now. I never use the paddles, just the sport mode. I've stopped trying to drive it like a manual 911. After 18 months I think the gear box is the best bit of the car!
4. Probably brand of tyre or alignment. I run Bridgestones.
5. Hmmmm
6. Hmmm tried a different phone?
7. Can't help with that
8. I'd say no, mine hasn't missed a beat except rear blind spot radar sensors failing. This generation they got the quality back up. You'll have random electrical failings for sure.
@molgrips I appreciate that this car was a bit of a distress purchase but I think you've probably bought the wrong car for what you want.
CLS is the 'sporty' version of the E-class for a starter. Anything 'AMG Sport' or similar badged, other than a proper AMG version, means big wheels, bodykit, and usually measly engine spec. Hence it bangs and rattles and has made the interior start to rattle.
I'm not sure whether CLS shooting brake is on coils or Airmatic at the rear - all E- estates are Airmatic.
Gearbox is the 7g-tronic, it should be absolutely [i]excellent[/i]. Perform the gearbox adaptation/reset procedure as detailed above.
You may also have run flats, as I don't beleive CLS has a spare wheel well like the full size W212/W213 E-Class. As you are complaining about Tyre Roar/Noise I'd bet they are rock hard Continentals are Bridgestone. You want something nice and soft and comfy and quiet, Dunlop/Goodyear or Rainsport 5's
Regards Bluetooth, you need to check what version software you have, it'll ne NTG version XXX.
NTG 5 and above (IIRC) should have full Bluetooth A2DP streaming from your phone.
Is it a liability? Kind of depends on the condition and how its been looked after.
Again, I remember the story and how it was a distress purchase but if you wanted a Mercedes of that generation (and you should) you should have bought a W212/W213 'Kombi T-model (estate). Its all about the specs, as two cars of the same platform (which yours, and mine, fundamentally are underneath) can feel very very different.
6 cylinder engine. And not an AMG line, in fact as un-sporty as possible. I have an actual sports car for that. Mine took some finding but had the right engine (not a rattyl 4 pot), Avantgarde not AMG-lite so 17s, square setup too so can be rotated front/rear unlike the 18 and 19 options. Spare wheel. Comfort Seats. Airmatic. Its fast, very torquey, incredibly comfy and quiet. And MASSIVE inside! A facelift W213 model would have been similar price to the CLS.
You may also have run flats
It's pretty easy to check tbh, it'll say on the tyre!
It’s pretty easy to check tbh, it’ll say on the tyre!
Yeah, but only in code such as SSR, ROF, EMT, DSST, Etc.
6. I can’t get Bluetooth audio to work from my Samsung phone. It plays but then seems to keep jumping back to the start of the track after 6 seconds. Anyone else have this?
Gonna need more detail than that. What music player app are you using? Have you tried a different one? Does it do it with all of them? What about streaming?
8. Is it a liability with expensive failures waiting to happen?
To keep you in the manner to which you've become accustomed? (-:
One thing I will add which I don't think has been mentioned yet: you have a 30-day right to reject the car if it's bought from a dealer / trade. If you are considering rejecting it, I'd be very wary of having someone else work on it first as they could argue that you were implicitly accepting the car in doing so.
Seriously, brake fade driving around on the road. Again what exactly are you doing to get brake fade?
Making progress in true STW style
Well we're on holiday now so it'll have to wait til we get back. I'm not sure about it. I mean there are things to like - it's a big estate which is handy, it is good to drive and it has auto levelling rear suspension. Most of the miles will be motorway so it'd be good for that.
However I just drove 15 miles, 5 on lanes and 10 on A road and got 35mpg. Ok so there are roof bars on but that's still crap. It got 50 coming back from the dealer.
I might just hand it back. I need to get a specialist to look at it and if there are mechanical issues that would help I might get them fixed under warranty. If the dealer says 'they're all like that' then I'll be less impressed. It was 13k with 80k miles on, and if there's no advantage to the premium nature then I could do better elsewhere.
I thought it was expensive but the plushness would be worth it, but I'm not seeing it.
The tyre noise seems better now I've got the alignment done (which took 3 goes at Kwik Fit).
...I dream of 35mpg! 🙂
However I just drove 15 miles, 5 on lanes and 10 on A road and got 35mpg. Ok so there are roof bars on but that’s still crap. It got 50 coming back from the dealer
Is that with passengers and a load of holiday gubbins too?
Seriously, brake fade driving around on the road.
If you are getting brake fade on public roads you're driving like a complete **** and are a public menace.
Is that with passengers and a load of holiday gubbins too?
Two adults, two kids, nothing else. I'd have expected 45 in the Passat at least on that trip.
If you are getting brake fade on public roads you’re driving like a complete **** and are a public menace.
Or going down a big hill loaded up.
Or going down a big hill loaded up.
Just like on a MTB - Don't drag your brakes. Let it speed up, brake, let it speed up, brake. That way they can cool between hits.
I've only ever experienced brake fade on a track with a heavy car and crap single piston brakes (I'm looking at you e92 M3!) trying to keep up with others.
As posted above, smaller alloys / bigger side wall tyres / non run flat's will help the ride. Yours will be an AMG line and may have harder suspension.
The gearbox may be a G-tronic 7 or 7+ and should be fairly smooth and quick shifting, however gearbox oil changes are optional on service plans (I had mine done on my E350 cdi) and I bet yours hasn't had a change. The 7+ gearboxes were definitely a bit smoother though.
The good news is that the 250cdi engine is meant to be very reliable. One of the taxi drivers that I used to take to the airport - when I used to get on airplanes - had a E250cdi S212 with over 400K on it.
They are big heavy cruising sort of cars and should be comfy / smooth not crashy. It depends on models though, I never found the S212 seats that comfy.
Seriously, brake fade driving around on the road. Again what exactly are you doing to get brake fade?
Have you ever crossed roundabout city (Milton Keynes)? Brake fade can happen at legal speeds around 3 junctions from the end.
Two adults, two kids, nothing else. I’d have expected 45 in the Passat at least on that trip.
But it is a very different car - you can't compare the two. A fully-laden 200bhp vehicle (twin turbo too I believe) was always going to use more fuel than your old Passat.
If you are getting brake fade on public roads you’re driving like a complete **** and are a public menace.
Hang on a second before you get your knickers in a twist, was anyone actually getting brake fade?
I thought someone just said modern cars have bigger discs than old ones - and that's why we don't get it.
This place sometimes.
Mate... have you ever bought a car that wasn't a dog?
Maybe you should allow another member of the Molls household to do the vehicle purchasing?
One of the kids, perhaps?
Still... the 'what's wrong with it now?' threads should keep us all entertained until you get rid of it and buy your next stinker 🙂
Most average brakes will stop a car once from 70mph but twice in a row? Three times
Ah it's safety feature for driving like a twit.
I was avoiding saying what binners has eloquently put just now...
Mate… have you ever bought a car that wasn’t a dog?
Yes.
Anyway just did about 40 miles in mostly A roads and on the way back from town I got 42mpg which is more like what I'd expect. I did the reset procedure (without removing the key) and it's a bit better but I am not sure if it's just better roads or what. I will try again with removing the key to see if that makes a difference. Apparently it varies between models. The car seems to be getting smoother, and it's fairly likeable on the open twisty roads now. Although it wasn't one of these cars where you end up going faster than you think - I ended up doing 50-55 but it was still enjoyable. Its the first time I drove it at speed without the boot full since I got the alignment sorted and it seemed quieter and better generally.
One thing I did notice was slught kangaroo-ing whilst trundling around a car park in 1st.
Anither thing I noticed doing a couple of overtakes is that it doesn't feel as quick as I thought it would. It's meant to be over 2 seconds quicker than the Passat so I'd expect to be a little more impressed. These things might point to an engine problem rather than a gearbox one. If for example there's a small boost leak it might explain those symptoms, but I wouldn't see smoke because it has a DPF.
Have you any plans to take it all apart yet?
Or will you wait a few weeks before setting off down that route?
Don't forget to take plenty of photo's and keep us all updated 🙂
Brakes are a safety feature - who would want a less effective safety feature?
That's like having airbags that don't inflate very quickly!
My car is rated to tow 3.5 tons (and I actually tow 2.5 tons) - the brakes need to be sized so that they can stop that kinetic energy.
Have you any plans to take it all apart yet?
**** no. I'm done with that. There's a chance I may swap wheels or something like that, or smarten up the interior, but I'm not getting involved again. Its a curse. You listen for every tiny noise, and you want to do everything because it's there and you decide it needs doing. And given I made a few mistakes I start to worry if the noises are because of a mistake I've made. It's frankly awful, and it leads to me doing stuff to the car the day before a holiday which is insanity. So no.
I’m not getting involved again.
Hallelujah..... He's seen the light!!
(Re the car.... Isn't there a cooling off period if you've not been allowed to test drive it?)
Seriously, if you're not happy with it and you feel there is a legitimate reason to get shot, do it! You're probably never going to be happy with it so why try and convince yourself otherwise? Frankly I'd have told them where to go and just hired a van when they said no test drives, it's been allowed for a few months now so there isn't any excuse.
it leads to me doing stuff to the car the day before a holiday which is insanity
Nah sounds fine to me. Of course it's just discs and pads on mine but still...
One thing I did notice was slught kangaroo-ing whilst trundling around a car park in 1st.
Mine took a lot of getting used to. From a stop you have to be really gentle on/off the throttle or you end up kangarooing.
Mine is the C350 3L petrol with a 7g+ box. It has over 300bhp and I get mid thirties MPG. Yours should be much much much better than that.
Apparently I can only return the car in the 30 days if there's something wrong with it. The online selling regs don't apply as technically I test drove it. For about 3 miles, but still.
It would seem to me to be well worth getting the gearbox serviced /oil change. Often neglected I believe.
They aren't run flat tyres as far as I can tell.
Apparently I can only fit 18s rather than 17s. Might be worth doing.
Apparently I can only fit 18s rather than 17s. Might be worth doing.
That would be even slimmer rubber for cushioning though?
What you are after is a smaller rim size and deeper tyre wall size. Our Ovlov rides on 225 50 17's vs Seat on 215 40 16's. The Seat is noticeably more crashy and noisy....
The idea is that bigger rims on the same car come with thinner tyres. According to the handbook the specified tyre sizes are 30/35 on 19s and 40 on 18s.