2007 Mercedes-Benz C300: Creaking Wheel

Damn. I was really hoping Mercedes had worked out their quality issues on the new C-class.

I think I would be more annoyed by that hideous looking steering wheel than the groan, although both would make me not enjoy driving everyday.

Haven't you guys had issues with the power steering column since the whole dust-storm incident with Scott? It could just be an issue with the power steering fluid needing to be replaced. This is not an issue I have heard about surrounding the new C.

By the by this post is kind of misleading. The only other significant quality issue you guys have had was with a faulty rear moonroof sunshade. A rear door-lock plunger coming loose and the rubber pad on the emergency brake coming off are hardly real quality issues. However they are irritating on a "luxury" car.

similar issues to what was faced on the Aura. The wrap up on that car was unkind to say the least. We shall see if the C gets similar treatment. I would think the owners of the C would be even more critical of quality issues considering its high price relative to a car like the Aura.

I never really see the new C-Class on the roads near me, but yesterday, I saw one. It looked like a C300 Luxury Model with the hood ornament on the hood, rather than the grill like yours.

Honestly, it looks kind of odd. The front looks fine, but the rear has odd proportions, and just looks plain awkward.

Personally, I would never buy a Benz because of past quality issues, and the whole "snob factor".

This steering wheel further clarifies my fears of MB.

This is definitely not an issue thats plagued many of the new C's. And I'm not sure why you feel the need to sound like something is broken every time you enter the vehicle but whatever...

mercedesfan,

not real quality issues? of course they are!

I've had steering-column-groan-at-low-speed on a Civic and a Camry.
I believe the fix on the Camry was improved lubrication technique and lubricant to the part of the steering column going through the firewall.
Had a tsb for it. Had the tsb done and groan never came back.

Too bad the Merc is too new to have a tsb to tell techs how to fix it the definitive right way.

ew... that wheel is disgusting! Blah... I think I'm going to go throw up.

1487 - How is a groaning noise similar to the steering column falling apart and feeling things through the wheel?

Mercedes-Benz: the brand people love to hate on. This issue pales in comparison to the GM issues they've had.

With that dust storm, it's most likely something like a lubrication issue. Maybe have it checked out by your local MB (that doesn't suck) dealer?

I'll have my shop do it if you want to drive it all the way to NorCal.

cheslin, it is unfair to lump all GM vehicles into that category. Their Aura was pretty crappy but that doesn't seem to be the norm, the Enclave had that big power steering issue but that doesn't seem to be the norm either, and the CTS has been without issue. GM and Mercedes-Benz are the two brands people love to hate on this blog, we cannot turn on each other! :)

ctpax: real quality issues in my book make a vehicle inoperable or dangerous to drive. These kinds of quality issues are owner-caused. I agree they shouldn't be happening in a $40,000 car, but they are quick fixes related to the suppliers MB has chosen rather than the car itself.

"1487 - How is a groaning noise similar to the steering column falling apart and feeling things through the wheel?"

They also complained about a groaning noise. The steering column housing came apart. Don't act like the steering mechanism disintegrated or even stopped working.

I agree with MB fan that this is hardly significant. What happened to being concerned about problems that affected the use of the vehicle? This is an annoyance that needs to be investigated, not a reliability problem. When the Fit lost a reverse gear I didnt see as much protesting. That my friends, is a reliability issue.

I can see the commercial now.
"Chevy Tahoe. Drives like a Mercedes after 100,000 miles."

They replaced the entire steering rack on the Aura and the car was out of service for a very long time - this is a groaning noise. Chill with your "all non-US cars are garbage" party until they figure it out.

Are we really going to start the Aura steering column arguments again? lol. There is no point in debating whether or not it was a serious problem or whether it "stopped working" - I only say this because 100+ posts didn't solve it last time.

I'm glad Edmunds has long-term test on Mercedes. More I read about them, more I realize how Mercedes is over-priced and over-rated; oh yeah, including their dealers.

"The only other significant quality issue you guys have had was with a faulty rear moonroof sunshade. A rear door-lock plunger coming loose and the rubber pad on the emergency brake coming off are hardly real quality issues. However they are irritating on a "luxury" car. "

On a $12,000 car they would be irritating. Visiting the dealer that many times for a new car in the higher price range of the C would piss me off (my sub $20,000 cars never went back to the dealer once for anything). But I guess that is why they have such fancy waiting areas :)

"Chevy Tahoe. Drives like a Mercedes after 100,000 miles."

That makes it sound like the Tahoe drives like a Mercedes with 100,000 miles on it not the other way around.

It seems that Edmunds hates any Mercedes model. I think it's enough with the bashing, just get rid of the car if you don't like it anyway.

Now I am becoming one of those people who I get angry with commenting a bunch of times on a single blog. So I apologize in advance.

tmanz, the C300 has been to the dealer for unscheduled service only three times, and all for the faulty moonroof. Any other minor issues were addressed at the car's one service visit. Thus "visiting the dealer that many times" is a misnomer.

The issue with edmund's C isn't a plethora of problems, but that the only time they ever write about it is when there is an issue, thus skewing perception.

lol, i currently own MB 2007 SLK 280 and it has no major issue yet. i had to bring it to dealer for minor issues(center console broke, CEL was on once...) but overall quality was great. and i am sure 07 C-class has great quality as well.

and recently my g/f's Acura 06 TSX had to replace steering rack under warranty because of same issue like this article.

it's not mercedes benz.... let's not blame them.

"It seems that Edmunds hates any Mercedes model. I think it's enough with the bashing, just get rid of the car if you don't like it anyway."

by that logic they hate most of the cars (and maybe they do). Generally these posts are where they put the little gripes that come up when driving the car. If there is one thing Edmunds has taught us is that all cars have problems and even the most reliable brands can have big problems. We've also learned that just about any time a problem is pointed out the comments will lean towards "(insert current car here) is junk, they just can't build them right."

"been to the dealer for unscheduled service only three times"

That is still more than I'd want to deal with for a new car in less than a year. My 35 year old Datsun doesn't get worked on that much :)
My days are busy enough that working in trips to the dealer sucks. Although, I guess I'm just too picky because I often see reviews of cars that are refered to as being pretty much problem free that were in at the dealer to get things fixed several times.
Also if all the visits were for the same problem that would grate on my nerves.
I guess it also depends on how close the dealer is to you. The nearest MB dealer is an hour away so that makes it way worse here.

tmanz, don't get me wrong. I didn't say it like that because they'd critised the C300 or stated the issues. Just read through the C300 blog, almost every post is about a complaint. Let's say the car is full of problems, OK, isn't there even some anecdotes (even some neutral or useless ones!!) to tell about this car?? This is what they do for every other car, but not for the C. It just seems like a witch-hunt.

"They replaced the entire steering rack on the Aura and the car was out of service for a very long time - this is a groaning noise. Chill with your "all non-US cars are garbage" party until they figure it out."

I dont make sweeping statements about cars from a particular part of the world. I leave such nonsense to people like you. I want to know if the C300s wrap up will be as negative as the Aura's. The car was out of service for a long time because their dealer apparently couldnt figure out the issue. There is no way the average person is going to let their car stay in the shop for 2-3 weeks to get a noise investigated. When you have a fleet of 20 cars you can do that however.

"There is no point in debating whether or not it was a serious problem or whether it "stopped working" - I only say this because 100+ posts didn't solve it last time."

There is no debate. It did not fail. Just because certain people WANT to debate something doesnt mean there is an actual point to argue about. Thats like debating the presence of gravity.

"It seems that Edmunds hates any Mercedes model. I think it's enough with the bashing, just get rid of the car if you don't like it anyway."

Same thing I said about the Aura. They dont seem to have an issue with problems on Hondas or the GTR though.

"The issue with edmund's C isn't a plethora of problems, but that the only time they ever write about it is when there is an issue, thus skewing perception. "

That seems to happen with certain cars. Meanwhile other cars get tons of posts filled with driving impressions or road trip updates. Aura didnt get that and it appears C300 wont be getting that.

A sunroof rattle or squeak is NOT a major issue that requires immediate service. As we all know IL will take a car in for repairs at the drop of a dime. Most owners do not have that kind of time. Unless my car experiences a significant mechanical or electrical failure I would not rush in for a warranty repair. When the car needs an oil change I will have the issue addressed just like most working owners. The fact that the C300 has been in 3 times for the same annoyance doesn't mean it HAD to go in for those repairs.

Ugh... Mercedes. 'Nuf said.

My 2005 Crossfire SRT-6 with just 24000 miles on the ODO had a broken lock actuator vacuum module, a busted Intercooler Pump, a check engine light on at least once, an annoying engine tick and on... and on... and on... it just makes me sick thinking about how much can POSSIBLY be wrong on a car in such few miles. And my '06 Escalade? Yea it's chugging along fine at 85000 miles. 85000 *hard* miles (knock on fake wood).

That car is basically for all intents and purposes an SLK32 AMG underneath.

I've never been a HUGE fan of Chrysler, but the Mercedes influence only made it worse. I have many more fun Merc stories... there isn't enough room to type in this box.

Get a BMW.

Wow a lot of people have bad experiences with mersedes. i'm afraid to buy one now because my friend says the wheels stop turning when you get to a stop light. That's scary.

So playdrv4me you hate Mercedes despite never owning one? A Crossfire is hardly representative of the brand. With that car the platform and switchgear from the first generation SLK was sourced to Chrysler and then they were allowed to do what they wanted with it.

I am sorry if you know of people with bad experiences with Mercedes models but I can assure you with complete certainty that is not the norm. I have a friend whose 330i blew its entire engine due to improper valve timing at 11,000 miles and had to be scrapped. I have a co-worker whose 545i suffered a similar fate with its engine basically destroying itself due to a sudden loss of lubrication at 22,000 miles. Even with these experiences I really like BMWs and wouldn't hesitate for a moment to buy one. You should never write a brand off for a handful of lemons.

*MERCEDESFAN* (as if that isn't obvious), I'm sorry to be the one to break it to you but Chrysler was never given any sort of "carte-blanc" to "do as they wanted" with the SLK. The entire assembly process began AND ENDED in Germany with the only difference being that the SLK chassis was sent to Karmann for final assembly of body components. And regardless, the quality factor shouldn't be any different anyway, it's a product that in one way or another is associated with them, produced by them, or distributed by them.

I suppose you also want me to believe that the engine, transmission, Intercooler pump and vacuum pump are "Chrysler Specific" parts from special "b-stock" bin right?

Fact of the matter is, Mercedes cars from a LONG lineage (though definitely the most recent ones are the worst garbage, my 2003 E500 fully included) are known for making even the simplest repairs difficult. Unlike BMW, which for the longest time kept the mechanical bits of their cars relatively simple, Mercedes has made a habit of creating redundancy and overcomplication. Some examples that stick out... The infamous evaporator fiasco on W140 and W124 cars (only beaten by the Cadillac N* in labor time) and the redundant dual battery system in my 2003 E500 which makes even something as simple as a battery replacement more complex than it needs to be.

This isn't a handful of cars, it's an entire idealogy and piss-poor management.

even if u guys had gotten the C350 like a sain person, u still could have spent ur money more wisely by getting a 335

playdrv4me there is no need to get angry, it is very possible to have a civilized discussion about this. I am not denying your experiences, but you are mistaken in your understanding of the Crossfire.

The car was first previewed in 2001 with no plan on producing it. Due to positive public response Zetsche decided that it would be good to go ahead with the project. After consulting Mercedes-Benz it was decided that due to cost restraints and Chrysler's poor financial situation it would make use of the first generation SLK's chassis and mechanicals despite that car being larger. All were retuned by Chrysler for use in the Crossfire and complete manufacturing was outsourced to Karmann. So you are correct the mechanicals in their basic form are straight from the Mercedes-Benz parts bin, but they were all heavily revised for Crossfire use by Chrysler.

You are also correct that Benzes are terribly over-complicated. I fully restored a 1969 280SE 3.5 so believe me I understand that, but the mechanicals are not that complicated. The electrical systems are a nightmare, but the mechanicals are pretty simple and solid. You are right that it is an ideology, but I personally love it. As a mechanical engineer I respect that the company does not cut corners (not that BMW does in any way). Management has not been poor, in fact the company has remained incredibly true to its mission since the beginning. Jurgen Schrempp did his best to destroy the company from 1995-2005 and that was poor management, but he was the exception not the rule.

The average new vehicle has over 100 problems per vehicle per JD Power Inital Quality Study. This INCLUDES the beloved Japanese makes that people think are so reliable. EVERY car has small issues, they are annoying but they don't indicate major quality problems.