Floor Mats for sound deadening? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

redassag00 · #1 01-05-2006, 02:07 PM

Hi Guys,
I just got back from the dealer, picking up a set of OE "Accessory Mats" for Rag Doll. These are the ones that go on TOP of the removable carpet pieces that have insulation under them. I installed them and came back to work. It seems to me that these mats have a remarkable sound deadening characteristic.

I have to say, that interior noise on the way back from the dealer was 40% lower than usual! At first I thought my hearing was going bad, but indeed, installing the new mats made interior noise significantly lower. Now time to do those pesky door seals!

Anyone have experience with lowered noise by putting in the OE Floor Mats? I was pleasantly suprised, but at 78 bucks for a set, I guess I should have expected them to! I know there are several members that have taken great steps to lower interior noise, and I'm going to start looking around at how to do that. She can be as loud as she wants on the outside, but in the cabin, I like it a little quieter than it is right now. Of course the new window regulator for the passenger front will help, as will door seals!

Dub

phidauex · #2 01-05-2006, 02:28 PM

I've actually got TWO sets of mats in my car right now.

When I bought the car, the PO gave me two sets of mats (not stock to the 300TD, but genuine mercedes, and they fit close enough), one clean, and one dirty. In the winter, I put the dirtier ones on top of the clean ones, to protect them. But it has the added benefit of quieting the cabin even more! Driving without carpets is really loud, driving with one set is quieter, and driving with two sets is even quieter still. My door seals are still messed up, and I've lost most of the stock sound deadening material on the firewall, but things are pretty good now.

peace,
sam

redassag00 · #3 01-05-2006, 06:19 PM

Hmm...two sets of mats huh? Sounds interesting.... I May have to procure a 2nd set. maybe aftermarket units and put them under the OEs and plastic on top of the OE to protect them!

phidauex · #4 01-05-2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redassag00

Hmm...two sets of mats huh? Sounds interesting.... I May have to procure a 2nd set. maybe aftermarket units and put them under the OEs and plastic on top of the OE to protect them!

Hey, why not? Stack'em up, I say! I'm a short man, so I don't have to worry about how high I raise the floor.

Just make sure they don't interfere with the pedals, of course.

peace,
sam

Hatterasguy · #5 01-05-2006, 10:30 PM

I didn't notice a difference.

I never understood why people put carpet ect over the floor mats. The point of the floor mats are to look good and protect the carpet. Why protect the floor mats? If you show your car just buy two sets and stick the perfect set in for the show. Other then that if you keep them clean they will last a few years before looking tired. I'll be going on my 3rd and last year for my currant OE mats, the drivers is getting tired I'll get another set this fall.

t walgamuth · #6 01-05-2006, 10:58 PM

the relatively flat mb mats (rubber) best. a thick carpet mat over the original carpets puts my heel up in the air too high.

tom w

redassag00 · #7 01-05-2006, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I didn't notice a difference.

I never understood why people put carpet ect over the floor mats. The point of the floor mats are to look good and protect the carpet. Why protect the floor mats? If you show your car just buy two sets and stick the perfect set in for the show. Other then that if you keep them clean they will last a few years before looking tired. I'll be going on my 3rd and last year for my currant OE mats, the drivers is getting tired I'll get another set this fall.

Well right now I ahve mats over the base carpet, which is what has sound deadening beneath it. I was talking about puting another layer between the base and the MB mats I just bought, and then plastic over the top layer...maybe thats a bit much....Its the Asian in me!! Next thing you know I'll be wrapping the Tex in plastic!

phidauex · #8 01-06-2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

I didn't notice a difference.

I never understood why people put carpet ect over the floor mats. The point of the floor mats are to look good and protect the carpet. Why protect the floor mats? If you show your car just buy two sets and stick the perfect set in for the show. Other then that if you keep them clean they will last a few years before looking tired. I'll be going on my 3rd and last year for my currant OE mats, the drivers is getting tired I'll get another set this fall.

The base carpet in my 300TD is pretty sad looking. Its not terrible, but its not that great either. The 'good' carpets are from a new mercedes, and look great. So I just pretend that the base carpet doesn't exist, and that the good carpet mats are the new base carpet. Then, to protect them, I put the 'not so good' mats over them in the winter. The not so good carpet mats are still pretty good, but they can get dirtier, and I don't mind.

So.. Two sets of carpet mats! Plus, it really does make a sound difference, at least in my wagon.

peace,
sam

Hatterasguy · #9 01-06-2006, 11:18 AM

I am not really familer with the W123. With the W126's their is about two inch's of foam behind the carpets. That seems to cut down on the sound a bit. When I was tracking down a water leak I had the carpets out for a few days and noticed a difference.

MB also covered the floor steel of the W126's in a very heavy almost cardboard like foam. Early version of the "quite steel" Ford is bragging about maybe? I have noticed this all over the W126.