My 85 300D has new (expensive) tires and a well tuned engine and you can barely feel it shift. Road noise is low and the engine purrs like a kitten. The new chain and valve adjustments and new mounts and rehung exhaust(my custom design with a special Heavy Spring flex arm that comes off the transmission to replace the steel bracket Mercedes uses --took it off an EDG that was scrapped at work) exhaust make a difference. I also replaced the rubber thingies on the pilot shaft. and stuffed wads of noise killing insulation into my dash when I remounted it.)The car runs like its fresh off the line.

However I have no hood blanket. Having spent quite some $$$ on this car this year, I have to turn off the faucet sooner or later...the tires, believe it or not, were my best sound reducing item. Road noise is very very Low.

Would a hood blanket make that much a difference?