Mercedes-Benz V-Class – extensive Ultra soundproofing including dashboard

Mercedes‑Benz V‑Class is one of those vehicles where a premium focus automatically raises expectations for high acoustic comfort. But its large body, expansive side panels, long floor and pronounced wheel arches create many paths for noise from the tires, suspension and the surrounding environment to enter the cabin. For this particular vehicle the customer didn’t want just a partial improvement but the maximum possible solution. He chose our Ultra package — the most extensive and effective soundproofing we perform at Ahifi, a solution that through its scope, materials and level of workmanship represents the absolute pinnacle of what is currently possible on the Czech market.

The Ultra package naturally uses the most effective Comfortmat materials in multiple layers, whose composition we choose according to the specific location, its construction and the type of noise we need to eliminate. The correct combination of materials matched to the character of each body area is a decisive parameter for effective soundproofing. For this job we completely soundproofed the floor, the front and rear inner wheel arches, all doors including the large sliding ones, the rear body section, the roof, the dashboard and the hood. We also treated the wheel arches from the outside so that tire noise is suppressed as close to the source as possible. Additionally, we focused on the dashboard.

The difference between standard soundproofing and the Ultra program also lies in the details. We systematically address interior plastic parts, pillars, cavities, reinforcements and the contact points between individual parts where rattles, resonances or other unwanted noises can occur. For the V‑Class this approach is particularly important given the interior size and the number of large trim panels. Each such part is therefore treated not only in terms of noise damping but also to prevent future squeaks and to calm the interior when driving on rough surfaces.

This installation also included complete soundproofing of the dashboard — one of the most demanding tasks in vehicle soundproofing. After removing the dashboard we gain access to the areas through which noise from the engine bay, front wheel arches and the front part of the body penetrates the cabin. Thoroughly treating these areas complements the soundproofing of the floor, dash and wheel arches and creates a comprehensive barrier in the area from which the occupants perceive a large portion of operational noise. At the same time we address all joints and contact surfaces of the dashboard to minimize future rattles.

We also verified the result of this job with before-and-after measurements, which we captured in our YouTube video. At highway speed we achieved a noise reduction of 5.2 dB on this Mercedes‑Benz V‑Class. That is an exceptionally high value that clearly demonstrates how far the acoustic comfort of such a large vehicle can be improved with truly thorough soundproofing. It’s important to remember that the decibel scale is logarithmic. A difference of 5.2 dB does not mean just “a few percent less noise.” In this case it represents more than a threefold reduction in noise compared to the original state. In practice that means a much quieter cabin, substantially less noise from tires, suspension and the surroundings, and overall far more refined travel.