Road Noise in '93 190E 3.2

[ejsharp]

I just bought a 1993 190E with 87,000 miles and I am getting a lot of road noise... particularly from the rear of the cabin... as though the sound is comming through the back seat and trunk area. I also hear the exaust eventhough the exaust system does not leak.

I am used to my '87 300E and the cabin is quiet. Can anyone tell me why the 190 is so noisy as compared to the other mercedes?

Is there sometning I can do to muffle the noise?

[suginami]

I don't think Mercedes ever sold the 190E with the 3.2 liter, six cylinder engine.

I suspect you have a 190E 2.3.

[deanyel]

You could put more sound insulation under the back seat, and possibly some behind the back seat. And you could put the car on a lift and spray with undercoating, although this can cause some longer term problems. I don't know if a 190 is supposed to be noisier than a 124 - never heard that before - someone should know.

[ejsharp]

Yes... I am hopeing someone can tell me if the 190 lacks the padding of a 300. If so can I pad the car and if so what can I use?

[Duke2.6]

My 190 is quiet as a tomb. Is the exhaust system OE or OE equivalent? Was the car ever rear-ended?

Why did the owner sell it?

Duke

[psfred]

Oh, lots of things can make "road noise"! Bad links on the rear suspension, collapsed and torn rear subframe mounts, bad diff mounts, torn rear door gaskets, missing water shields between door panel and door frame (that sheet of plastic keeps out an incredible amount of noise!), holes in the floor, etc.

I would start by doing a good inspection of the rear suspension. The rubber bushings in the rear links must all be intact, no shredded rubber, steel sleeve centered. Worst offenders are the torque link (upper diagonal, inside end goes) and thrust link (lower carrier to frame in front), usually squeaks when bad, too). The four subframe mounts must not have cracks, and the diff mounts behind the diff on the subframe must be centered and not move much when you jack on the diff.

Shock mount rubber must be good and not too tight.

The worst offender for "road noise" on rough pavement is the torque link, causes terrific drumming just like exhaust or rough road.

Check the sway bar mounts on the ends (the links) and the frame mounts. If you can see space between the mount and sway bar, the bar will drum terribly.

Then you need to check out the front -- strut mounts must not have cracks, tie rods must be good, ditto for drag link, steering damper good, ball joints OK.

Finally, don't neglect the exhaust hangers! If they are old and streched, the exhaust can drum on the body, causing terrible "road noise" that vanishes when you put new hangers on.

And last, the exhaust may, in fact, NOT be in good shape! MBs are VERY quiet -- if you hear any boom at all at idle, you at least have a bad set of internal baffles, or worse, holes in the pipes. Terrific noise.

Peter

[suginami]

I'd also suggest looking at your motor mounts.

Collapsed or worn-out motor mounts can transfer a lot of vibration and engine noise into the passenger compartment.

[mctwin2kman]

My 190 is quite, or was until I cut the Medicine Box out. There is sound deadening padding under and behind the rear seat check and make sure it is still in place. Also there is a thin carpet in the trunk on the back of the gas tank. The trunk could have used a little moreinsulation but you can buy something like dynomat to fix that and make the trunk lid sound a little more solid. Check the door panel plastic as well.