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Is this acceptable?

8K views 50 replies 10 participants last post by  jmc 
#1 ·
Two weeks and a bit since I took delivery of my 2021 AMG CLA 45S. Still in the mandated run-in period (clocked up 1100kms this morning, getting close to the magic 1500!). Issue is that I have discovered two very distinct 'rattles/vibrations' in the cabin, one from the notorious drivers side B pillar seat belt tensioner, and the other a real rattle from the passenger door card or passenger side dash/vent (not sure exactly where, I am having trouble pinpointing it). I took it in to the Stealership and the mechanic came for a drive with me, but in the short run we had, I could not replicate it. He was nice enough, but you could tell that he was pretty sure it was just another grumpy old Merc driver having a whine about something most people wouldn't notice. I just think at this inflated price point, there should not be ANY rattles/vibrations from the cabin of a modern vehicle, am I expecting too much? I am happy to keep taking it back to them until they have fixed it. I'll keep you posted once they have attempted to rectify the issues.

Funny story... my dear wife, on her first drive with me just after I took delivery was asked what she thought... 'I liked the old one better, it didn't rattle like this one... how much did you pay for this again?' I let that slide. Next corner I turned she loudly exclaimed 'that indicator noise is very loud and annoying, and sounds cheap'. That was the straw that broke this camel's back 'How on earth would you know what an indicator sounds like, you drive a bl**dy BMW!!' Deathly silence until we returned home :cool:.
 
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#41 ·
I have a couple of frustrating rattles on my dash and it is one of those annoying things where it bothers me but wonder if I’m just picky!
Part and parcel of owning a car... no matter how tight the car is made, eventually those cabin rattles from the dash and trimmings, will start to show.
 
#43 ·
If you look at how the cars are assembled it makes it more obvious why these cars rattle (and cars in general). The CLA interior is just a bunch of plastic parts snapped together. Lots of parts are NOT screwed together. It's just plastic clips that slide into holes into the piece it connects to. So basically you need to chase all these rattles with felt tape to stop things from moving.
 
#46 ·
I must be!

2014 Audi A3 TDI owned from new 56000 miles and no rattles
2017 Audi S3 owned from new 54000 miles and no rattles.

That Audi is no more or less budget than the CLA… and in fact my Ford Ficus before that had no perceptible rattles either and that was a budget company car.

I must clarify that I am referring to perceptible rattles that are audible under normal driving conditions.

As with anything there are always bigger things in life to worry about than these “problems” but I can understand the frustration felt.


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#47 ·
I must be!

2014 Audi A3 TDI owned from new 56000 miles and no rattles
2017 Audi S3 owned from new 54000 miles and no rattles.

That Audi is no more or less budget than the CLA… and in fact my Ford Ficus before that had no perceptible rattles either and that was a budget company car.

I must clarify that I am referring to perceptible rattles that are audible under normal driving conditions.

As with anything there are always bigger things in life to worry about than these “problems” but I can understand the frustration felt.


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Good for you that you have the luck of the draw with all your cars... most common people generally don't...

There is the difference between a rattling jalopy and one that exudes the occasional or not so readily audible rattle.

Honestly, even if the rattle is perceptible, unless it becomes such a nuisance , I won't let it "rattle" my soul (pun intended). It's definitely the right of anyone who wants to achieve utopia level of a rattle free car, jeez... I want the utopia of my house without any leaks or the water heater breaking down after > 10 years... Nothing wrong with wanting that... question is, is it really realistic to expect that...

I have owned > 10 different cars over the years, and I kid you not... not one of the cars is without a rattle , after > 5 years of ownership. And the spread is over german cars, swedish cars, and american made. They were not rattling jalopies, but definitely an occasional squeak or rattle creeps up during the driving ... I was like some of you , much younger then, it frustrates the heck out of me... "I paid good money for it, why are there rattles!!!" ... but as you age, you learn to take things for what they are in this world... imperfect...
The minor rattles or squeaks should not be "rattling" our souls, too much things in life to be appreciative of and chill on... JMHO
 
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#49 ·
I also partly agree with Mav. However, to put this in perspective, I am older, I have had a lot of vehicles over the many years I have been driving, and none of them 'rattle' like this one does. I am not talking about the minor vibrations or other noises you hear from every vehicle, I am talking about the rattling 'outhouse door in the storm' noises that are emanating from the door cards and the B pillar, noise that even the MB service agent acknowledged as a model issue, but have yet to rectify (I am about to book in for my third attempt at rectification). I took Rabbi Rob's sage advice he provided a couple of years ago on this forum - "just turn up the volume on the radio", which of course works to a point. The problems start when the wife or my kids are in the car and the first thing they say is how noisy the rattles are, it is hard to justify, "... but it has a hand built engine!" just doesn't carry any weight. I do love this car, the depth of this engine grows on me every day I am on the road, and I am also very accepting of its quirks, I guess it is more a case of simple frustration with the overlooked quality issues that should be easily rectified. I don't want to start another forum war, I think it is important to understand we all have different views, opinions, and expectations of these things. At the end of the day, if I can get my banging outhouse door fixed, this AMG, to my mind, would be the best vehicle I have ever owned.
 
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#50 · (Edited)
Hey i feel you pain

I came from an audi a3 to my CLA

I have owned many cars. Over 30 and i can categorically say the CLA has been the rattliest one I have ever owned.

My Audi had double the mileage and was twice the age of the CLA and did not have a single rattle

I was the same it was embarrassing letting people into the car.

They were like why is it so rattly?

I then went and borrowed my missus base mini cooper and it was driving bliss. Not a squeak rattle nothing... how it should be and its 50% value of the CLA
 
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