squeaks & rattles
 

I'll rate my cars:
91 CE rates a 9: slight noice drivers seat or armrest when I lean on armrest, no big deal

97 cougar v-8 rates a 7, plastic ashtray rattles(for sale 40,000miles like new) want to but another MB Trade????

97 dodge 3500 4+4 rates a 10 no rattles

71 Mark 111 continental, rates a 8 occasional rattle under dash when cold. (best car I have ever owned)

Thanks, great web site, thanks to everyone who makes this work!!

2004 Honda S2000 is a 10, no squeaks even over rought road with the top down.
2000 MB E430 is a low 2, squeaks on the driver side from the very first month, dealer could not fix it after several attempts.
1994 Lexus LS400 is a 10, no squeaks after 10 years and 130k miles.

1997 E420 - I give it a 8.5, there is a minor clicking at the rear passenger door that can be annoying, I think I may have it fixed though.

1997 Sable - 9.5, really no rattle or squeeks.

2003 Explorer - 10, too new to make any noise.

just rating my most used cars:

MB 9.5 - the driver's seat squicks sometimes
Mustang 6 - right now maybe even 5 - the handbrake button has been driving me up the wall lately-no big bumps needed, the little map light sometimes and then just dash etc..plastic here and there.

2000 C 230 K. rate: 10, no squeaks or rattles anywhere.
Used to have this annoying noise coming from the passenger seat, but resolved the issue when I divorced her. :D

Since everyone is giving a little more detail- I will post more details on my cars:

90 Lexus LS400 - is still 100% squeak and rattle free, even over large bumps and railroad tracks. Occasional "ticking" sounds from the leather seats when I hit a sharp bump- such as a gap in the pavement- such as a bridge when both front tires hit the bump at the same time if I am at lower speeds. Rear seat was removed for strut installation and perhaps it was not properly re-installed. Pretty impressive considering the car is 14 years old and has 226,000 miles. Rating = 10

98 Ford Taurus - has occasional rattles. Mostly from the front passenger door panel when braking. I have bad brake rotors and something there is shaking. It may be the door lock rattling in the panel. Occasionally a "pop" from the dash on some bumps. Some suspension "thumps" and occasional rattles from other door panels. Good I guess, considering it has 246,000 miles. Rating = 6

92 Buick Park Avenue - mostly rattle and squeak free. There is sometimes a rattle on the top of the dash from the black cover toward the windshield. Sometimes a rattle around the cluster area on certain bumps, but this may be the same one I am hearing near the top of the dash toward the windshield. I will have to investigate it. This car has 153,000 miles. Rating = 8

89 Pontiac Safari wagon - has occasional rattles over some bumps. Recently an annoying squeak from the top right area of the instrument cluster area- like two pieces of plastic making contact. Some other interior areas making rattling noises- not uncommon for a 80s GM car. This car has 165,000 miles. Rating = 6.5

I guess the rattling on older cars is common- considering they have typically been exposed to the sun for many years. The heating and cooling of the interior probably cause panels to loosen, or no longer fit tightly as they once did. I would also guess that some of the interior materials shrinken on a older car- therefore causing more rattles and is not necessarily directed to the actual build quality of a car.

I have however- heard NEW cars rattling. I test drove a 2003 Toyota Corolla, with 10,000 miles- and it had some interior "pops" over larger bumps. This is totally unacceptable for a new car- especially a Toyota. Japanese car quality car has really went down over the past few years.

I will now rate my parents cars:
Moms: 1997 Oldsmobile Acheiva - 123K miles. Occasional rattles/pops from the instrument panel and door panels over sharp bumps. Rating = 5

Dads: 1988 Nissan 4WD truck - 250K miles. NO squeaks or rattles from the instrument panel. Occasional rattle from the driverside door lock/window mechanism- due to bad door hinge and slamming of the door. Rating = 9
1963 VW Beetle (sunroof model) - unknown, as I have never ridden in it. :D

My '88 190E 2.6 developed a weird "creak" in the right C-pillar back in about 1991/2 while it was still under the warranty. After some discussion with the dealer they said they could fix it. I know they removed the headliner, but they were coy about the actual fix. In any event, it was fixed and has never reoccured.

Anyone else ever experience this on a 201?

At this point with only about 73K miles I would have to rate it a 9. It would probably be a 10, but I am running 205/55ZR-15 Dunlop Sport 8000s on 6.5" 300E wheels, and they are definitely thumpier than the OE 185/65s, but the improvment in grip and steering response is worth it.

I once had a rattle that sounded like it was originating somewhere behind the LH dash air outlet, so I did some disassembly and didn't find anything obvious. I later determined that it was the damned garage door opener that was rattling against the hard plastic on the door map pocket.

That was worth a big DUHHHHHHHHH!!!

Duke

rattles....
 

Boy, seems like every car rattles here and there, I'll add my own.

85 190E, more or less rattle free, but there are a few noise issues, however not consistent, other then the wheel bearing thump, but that's exterior. Interior has a lot of hooks broken off, and used to make alot of noise, some good glue and lube fixed all that up, the seat makes some noise once in a blue moon and on sharp turns sometimes I hear something flex, other then that, I would rate it as an 8.

My dads 94 Plymouth Acclim: If you can find something in it that does not rattle squeak, creak or tick, you are good :) As for me, I want my parents to ger rid of this thing and get a 300E.

xp

The front seats in my 300E sometimes squeak a bit. I think it's the plastic seat frames themselves.

Other than that she's as quiet as a churchmouse.

My Dad's old POS Ford Taurus wagon squeaked and squealed like a stuck pig. I hated that car. What a piece of utter crap. When you went over 100 Km/h with the windows up, it sounded like you were in a wind tunnel. The Benz is utterly quiet, even at 180 km/h...;)

'93 W140 S500 - a buzz /zizz from the roof area - possibly the sunroof? Apart from that - 130k miles and its silent.

Squeeeks
 

'97 E320.....no squeaks @ all.....10

'96 Saab 9000 CS....no squeaks @ all (really!!)....10

'96 Saab 900 SE...squeaks and rattles nastily (more GM influence than in the 9000)...prolly about a 6

I will give a rating on the cars I have had over the past couple of years- all of which are now sold:

1993 Toyota Camry LE V6 4dr- 100% rattle and squeak free. Interior 100% quiet and it had 212K miles. Very impressive. However, this was a 1-owner, ALL highway, well-cared for miles. Rating = 10

1991 Honda Accord LX 4dr- mostly rattle free, no squeaks. I had an occasional "pop" from the radio trim over some sharp bumps. Otherwise very quiet, aside from some road noise. This car had about 185K miles. Rating = 9

*as a side note- my aunt had a 91 Accord LX she bought new. When she traded it in- when it was 4 years old (90K) it was still 100% rattle and squeak free*. Rating = 10

1989 Honda Accord DX 2dr coupe - mostly rattle and squeak free. Rating = 8.5

1994 Chevrolet Lumina 4dr- had some rattles/squeaks here and there. Mostly from a door panel if I recall. Although exterior- this car had some rattling from the rear struts, due to bad mounts, until I had them replaced. This car had 164K miles. Rating = 7.5

1995 Chrysler Concorde 4dr - this car also had a few rattles/pops over sharp bumps- nothing major, but was some noise there. As far as road/wind noise went- this car was quiet. It only had 93K when I sold it. Rating = 8

1972 Buick Electra 225 Custom 4dr- this car was mostly rattle free. This was a "pillarless" (no B-pillar) hardtop sedan, so it had some rattles at the doors latches, but nothing that new door seals would not have fixed. Dash was still rattle and squeak free. I wish I had of kept this car. Rating = 8.5

OK, I can now post now that I've stopped laughing at Manny's....1985 380SE, EVERY DOOR has a squeeking, crackling coming from the wood trim rubbing against the panel vinyl. For this, the interior gets a 5/10. What's the fix here? Silicone spray? Remove panel and tighten/replace clips? Furniture polish?

The rest of our cars:

Subaru: 9/10. When very cold outside it's got some creaks and squeaks, but goes away when the interior warms. The passenger sunvisor was some sort of slight squeak over expansion joints.

190E 2.6: 8.5/10. Also best when warm inside. Front seats have a few squeaks, otherwise amazingly tight for a 13-14 year old car.

Mazda: 0.00000000000000000000000000001/10 The car was pretty tight until about a year ago, then it just started to develop one rattle after another. Now the squeaks threaten to drown out the radio!

I was only kidding of course.
Been very happy with my marriage for the last 34 years. ;)