2020 V250d - Absolutely terrible road noise?

[BreadvanMatt2022]

Hi Guys, I need some advice. My wife recently purchased a 2020 low mileage V250d. We have had it for approx 2 weeks.
However, my wife now wants to trade it in again due to the terrible road noise. She came home yesterday in it with ear plugs on! We previously had a 2014 E-Class estate (with 200kms on the clock) which was so much quieter than this V-Class.
The road noise is fine on extremely good new Road surfaces. But one the surface becomes anyway worn, the road noise become really bad.

I'm thinking that it couldn't be the car. There is no way that Mercedes would sell a passenger car this much road noise and none of the many reviews I had studied prior to purchase mentioned this.
What I have noticed is that the tires are Goodyear eagle f1 asymmetric 3 (which I believe is a Run-flat tyre). SIze is 245/45/R18

Does anyone think that the RFT's could be the problem? I don't mind buying new non-RFT's but don't want to waste money if the tires aren't the issue.

Appreciate any thoughts....or experiences with this.

Thanks, Matt

 

[Blobcat]

@Wearsafoxhat has one, not heard any road noise issues about it.

Large rims, small sidewalls, run flats and concrete motorways all make for noise

 

[LostKiwi]

No experience of other run flats or V Class but the R class I have (which is the V Class predecessor) is astonishingly quiet even on 255/55R18 Chinesium ditchfinders.

Run flats have very hard sidewalls so I wouldn't be surprised if that's the issue. Is the ride a bit harsh and jiggly too?

 

[BreadvanMatt2022]

No experience of other run flats or V Class but the R class I have (which is the V Class predecessor) is astonishingly quiet even on 255/55R18 Chinesium ditchfinders.

Run flats have very hard sidewalls so I wouldn't be surprised if that's the issue. Is the ride a bit harsh and jiggly too?

Hi there Kiwi. The ride seems fine. A little harsh and not E-Class level of comfort but I didnt expect the V class to be as good as it is based on a Vito Van.
But the V class is expected to be a luxury car so I expected more.
But the road noise is very bad. When I drove it last week, at 120km/hr on a motorway, I kept having to turn up the radio so I could hear what the radio presenter was saying. Which doesnt make sense on such a new Mercedes.The mileage is only 9k.

 

[BreadvanMatt2022]

@Wearsafoxhat has one, not heard any road noise issues about it.

Large rims, small sidewalls, run flats and concrete motorways all make for noise

Thanks Blobcat for the reply. I'm leaning towards that it must be the RFT's. Not 100% sure if the Goodyears RFT's are standard on the UK V-Class?

(I also have a Renault Megane RS on very low profile tyres (non-RFT's) but even that is much quieter than the V-Class, which doesnt make sense).

I'm thinking of going up to my local tyre fitter on Tuesday to get his view?

 

[Wearsafoxhat]

Our V220 is quite noisy on bad roads (concrete motorways) and a little “crashy” over potholes, otherwise is a nice drive.

We have the 19” so expect a little less comfort, have 245/45 Conti’s fitted, not run flats. Currently running them all at 33psi but still experimenting with that.
The recommended 36 has worn, scrubbed the front tyres on the outer edges.

Ours came with the Conti’s from new (2019)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Wighty]

Thanks Blobcat for the reply. I'm leaning towards that it must be the RFT's. Not 100% sure if the Goodyears RFT's are standard on the UK V-Class?

(I also have a Renault Megane RS on very low profile tyres (non-RFT's) but even that is much quieter than the V-Class, which doesnt make sense).

I'm thinking of going up to my local tyre fitter on Tuesday to get his view?

What about investing in some sound deadening mat installation . Dynamat?

 

[LostKiwi]

Just been looking at the specs on your tyres and they have a pretty low noise rating of 69db.
The only ones lower are Goodyear Efficientgrip at 67db (in runflat).

Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 ROF Runflat - 245/45 RF18 100Y XL (*/MOE) RFT FP TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 69dB Car Tyres - MPV Tyres - People Carrier Tyres - 18" R18" - 245/45/18, 245/45RF18 <span c

Buy online cheap Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 ROF Runflat - 245/45 RF18 100Y XL (*/MOE) RFT FP TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 69dB

www.camskill.co.uk

Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear EfficientGrip Goodyear Efficient Grip ROF Runflat - 245/45 RF18 96Y (*RSC) RFT FP TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB Car Tyres - MPV Tyres - People Carrier Tyres - 18" R18" - 245/45/18, 245/45R

Buy online cheap Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear EfficientGrip Goodyear Efficient Grip ROF Runflat - 245/45 RF18 96Y (*RSC) RFT FP TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB

www.camskill.co.uk

I'm wondering if the problem is going from a quiet car to a van based vehicle your expectations were perhaps too high.

 

[BreadvanMatt2022]

Our V220 is quite noisy on bad roads (concrete motorways) and a little “crashy” over potholes, otherwise is a nice drive.

We have the 19” so expect a little less comfort, have 245/45 Conti’s fitted, not run flats. Currently running them all at 33psi but still experimenting with that.
The recommended 36 has worn, scrubbed the front tyres on the outer edges.

Ours came with the Conti’s from new (2019)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thank you for the reply Wearsafoxhat. This is very useful information for me. Gives me a baseline. My V-Class was imported from the UK only last month (into Dublin).

My guess here is the RFT's are not helping. The annoying thing is the tyres look very fresh and it is possible they were only changed prior to our purchase.
The motorways around me here (Dublin) are actually quite good but the noise is still much louder than I expected. I might mess around with the tyre pressures as you have done to see if that improves anything.
As I mentioned, I dont mind ditching the RFT's but I'd love to be sure that they are the problem spending the money to change all 4 tyres.

 

[BreadvanMatt2022]

Just been looking at the specs on your tyres and they have a pretty low noise rating of 69db.
The only ones lower are Goodyear Efficientgrip at 67db (in runflat).

Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 ROF Runflat - 245/45 RF18 100Y XL (*/MOE) RFT FP TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 69dB Car Tyres - MPV Tyres - People Carrier Tyres - 18" R18" - 245/45/18, 245/45RF18 <span c

Buy online cheap Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 ROF Runflat - 245/45 RF18 100Y XL (*/MOE) RFT FP TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 69dB

www.camskill.co.uk

Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear EfficientGrip Goodyear Efficient Grip ROF Runflat - 245/45 RF18 96Y (*RSC) RFT FP TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB Car Tyres - MPV Tyres - People Carrier Tyres - 18" R18" - 245/45/18, 245/45R

Buy online cheap Goodyear Tyres / Car / Goodyear EfficientGrip Goodyear Efficient Grip ROF Runflat - 245/45 RF18 96Y (*RSC) RFT FP TL Fuel Eff.: C Wet Grip: B NoiseClass: 1 Noise: 67dB

www.camskill.co.uk

I'm wondering if the problem is going from a quiet car to a van based vehicle your expectations were perhaps too high.

Hi Kiwi. 100% agree with you here. As the V-Class is very expensive, I just assumed it would be as quiet as our previous leggy E-Class (W212). But that isnt the case. I had watched countless Youtube video reviews and none of them mentioned excessive road-noise.
Plus I hadnt expected that I would need to keep raising the stereo so that I could hear what the newsreader was saying.

But you are right in that despite the leather seats, Carpets and other luxury items in theV-Class, the basic underlying structure is still a Vito Van (still a great car though)

BTW, thank you for the specs on the Goodyear RFT's. Its a bit annoying that they have a low Roadnoise rating as that makes it more difficult to justify changing them for non-RFT's.

 

[andys320]

I'm pretty sure the noise levels on tyres are external driveby ratings and may not necessarilly directly relate to noise in the cabin.

Having said that I have used many different makes of tyre and personally find Goodyear are generaly a quieter tyre, as are many Dunlops.

Agree that sidewall compliance makes a difference to comfort and noise, one of the reasons I run 16" 55 series tyres on my car.

 

[LostKiwi]

I'm pretty sure the noise levels on tyres are external driveby ratings and may not necessarilly directly relate to noise in the cabin.

Having said that I have used many different makes of tyre and personally find Goodyear are generaly a quieter tyre, as are many Dunlops.

Agree that sidewall compliance makes a difference to comfort and noise, one of the reasons I run 16" 55 series tyres on my car.

Yes they do relate to drive by but in my experience it seems to relate pretty well to interior noise as well.

 

[Gazwould]

 

[M80]

I've had Vito's and Viano's but not a V. We have a 211.
Viano's are an improvement on the Vito as you would expect.

The 211 walks all over the 2014 Viano for smoothness and quietness, even with the earlier 646, supposedly, less refined engine. The E class has superior sound insulation.
Imo to compete with the insulation of the E would be a hell of a task, one problem is you're pretty much sat on the engine. There is less opportunity to create insulation between it and the cab.
Then there is the discreet woo woo effect of the estate area of the larger mo mo. Less so when loaded with kit and passengers.

I wouldn't expect the V to ever compete with the E for that luxury feel.

Have you played with tyre pressures? I run mine a little under pressure.
How much difference perfect wheel alignment might make would be interesting.

Maybe you could test drive another for comparison.

 

[Droverunner]

I have a 2012 Viano (V6 diesel) so an earlier version of the V Class. I've just been on a trip since I saw your post and checked... with the radio on a voice station and set at a comfortable volume for 30/40mph I have to get to around 125km/h before I need to increase the volume. At speeds above this it gets much noiser. The noise is mostly wind and general noise on mine. I have standard 17" 55 profile Goodyears. We have two layers of extra carpet in the passenger area and the loadspace has an extra layer of dense foam under a very very heavy rubber backed carpet.

I do wonder if your noise is more a general combination of sources... particularly if you have a 4cyl... added to the stiff wall runflats... and perhaps your expectation is too much from it in this area. As M80 and LK are thinking really.

You may have one but it is surprising how much general/road noise goes if you have a loadspace roller cover pulled over as it isolates you from a large amount of the soundbox effect.

 

[BreadvanMatt2022]

What about investing in some sound deadening mat installation . Dynamat?

Thanks Wighty for the suggestion. I have never heard of this before. Is this difficult to do? Is it something I apply on the inside of the wheel arches?

 

[BreadvanMatt2022]

Thanks guys for all the great inputs and replies. It is very helpful. See attached some pictures of the car so that you understand the spec.
Car doesn't have the usual fitted floor mats. I might order them. Plus I wonder if the sunroofs are magnifying the acoustics also.

 

[Wighty]

Thanks Wighty for the suggestion. I have never heard of this before. Is this difficult to do? Is it something I apply on the inside of the wheel arches?

@Gazwould or @Larkone might have some input , I think someone did a thread on it .
Dynamat is only one make , I believe is under floor coverings wheel arches , maybe in a van anything in the rear that magnifies noise like the spare wheel well etc ?
Im sure someone will advise

 

[LostKiwi]

Dynamat is a dense flexible adhesive pad you can attach direct to panels to reduce resonance from panels. I comes in rolls or sheets and is similar to material manufacturers use.
Normally you'd fit it inside the vehicle under the carpets, inside door skins, behind panelling etc.

 

[M80]

Your floor covering is a dense foam of around 1" thick, additional floor mats would be of negligible insulation advantage.
I would expect the V to be an improvement on the Viano so worth considering if there is something not as it should be.
Are the tyre treads getting low?