Citation Driver

I did a search on this site for whirring sound from under the hood, and most comments were about pulley bearings. In my case it's internal to the engine according to my dealer. Took it in Wednesday and was told today (Fri) they dropped the pan and are checking internally for the source of the 'whirring' sound that follows the RPMs. Looks like it will be there 9-10 days if parts are ordered locally. (Didn't get an estimate if they need to get parts elsewhere.) I was told it would be an expensive repair for MB but not for me (warranty, yea.)

I've had suspension and brake repairs earlier under warranty. I've ever had a car that needed so much warranty repairs. Just underscores my conclusion that this is not a car to own w/o warranty protection.

I'll post again next week when they discover the source of the noise and the 'cure.' At least a loaner is in my garage for the time being.

Incorrect title- it's a 2013 C250

Citation Driver

After nearly a week, I've been told the transmission has been pulled. The service dept thinks a pump on the transmission may be the source of the noise. I recall someone on this forum had a similar problem where they replaced the transmission to fix the noise. If it's the pump, I still won't know until 3 more days at the earliest. The car only has about 21,000 miles on it. Doesn't speak well of Mercedes quality.

Citation Driver

Got a call from my MB Service advisor, today. The source of the noise as been identified and the defective part has been ordered from MB. It should arrive Monday for installation that day. With any luck I'll have my car back by Feb 2nd. It's been in the shop since Jan 21st, the longest time I've ever had a car out of service. Not a happy camper.

crater64

Can you please share the part name and number with us? Those of us with C250s may like to know for future reference. Thanks.

spyked

I'm sure it's frustrating. I have nearly 21k miles on my 2013 as well. No whirring sounds.

What part did they order? What is your build date? South Africa or Germany build?

Citation Driver

Car won't be out of shop until Feb 2nd at earliest. It was a South Africa assembled car in 2012. Initially a pump on the transmission was suspected. But finally they said it is the engine oil pump which is on order.
Last year both front struts were replaced. Radio and Nav display failed last year, but cam back to life a day later..strange.

crater64

Thanks for that. Late 2013 SA build here but will keep an ear out for the oil pump. Good luck with your repair.

ezshift5

........I have a noise. I would not call it "whirring". But again this is subjective. Sounds to me like the turbo.........more of a whine. But it could be the transmission.

As a prior poster implies: the factory warranty, the CPO 1-year unlimited miles extension, the costly optional available multiple year dealer warranty offering............

All of the above would tend to reduce anxieties...............

nice looking car tho'


ez

Citation Driver

After two weeks the new engine oil pump was installed and the noise is still present. Now they've ordered a new engine balance shaft (from Germany) and won't have an ETA for 2 days. What a piece of crap.
Anyone in TEXAS know when the lemon law kicks in?

I'm not waiting until the lease is up in a year to dump this thing for something reliable.

Citation Driver

The engine balance shaft reportedly arrived Monday, Feb 9 at my dealer. It's Wednesday and I have no word on the repair completion. It's now been in the shop over 3 weeks. The dealer did provide a better equipped loan car for my use.
Loan car observations: 18" wheels w/Parrelis (sp) were quite rough riding but had excellent traction wet and dry. The 2nd loaner had 18" Continentals which gave a more comfortable ride but traction was inferior.

[. QUOTE=Citation Driver;6318092]After two weeks the new engine oil pump was installed and the noise is still present. Now they've ordered a new engine balance shaft (from Germany) and won't have an ETA for 2 days. What a piece of crap.
Anyone in TEXAS know when the lemon law kicks in?

I'm not waiting until the lease is up in a year to dump this thing for something reliable.[/QUOTE]

Citation Driver

24 days and counting... The service rep called me yesterday that the balance shaft had been installed and the engine running...but the whirring noise was still coming from the front of the engine. They have given up at the local level and have referred the engine problem to MBUSA. The dealer is waiting to see what Mercedes wants to do with it. I won't know for several days what the "plan" is.
I've asked for the monthly payment to be waived and that might be possible. The loaner is nice but not equipped as well as mine. Appears 'German Engineering' may be a myth.

Skyline45

You hold your tongue sir!

Just because you have a lemon doesn't mean that's the case across all MB. Both MB's that I own have been extremely well engineered cars. Never any major or costly issue. With one of the cars having 209k miles on it. When I find myself having to drive anything else, there's always something... lacking.

Anywho, I hope your experience gets better. It seems it's always hit or miss with MB owners.. There's never an "in-between" owner. You either hate 'em or love 'em.

Citation Driver

Glad you've had good luck with your MBs. I've had two and only the current one is a fail. Lately I've been trying out a number of cars to find a replacement for my wife's Volvo S60 when the lease ends in April. After each test drive I get back in my C250 and find it drives better than any new ones I've just tested. But I haven't been able to drive mine since Jan 21st since the dealer has it in the service shop, so the bloom is certainly off this car for me.
How much of the problem is MB quality and how much is the service dept's failure to find and fix the problem is hard to say.

Skyline45

I would have to say a lot of it could be where you take it. I refuse to take either of mine to the stealership. If it's something I can't fix, I take them to one of the two master techs in my area that own their own shop. Way cheaper, and seems to always run better after I get it.

However like I said before, it seems to be hit or miss as far as the actual car is concerned. There are several horror stories on this form even.

polar13

I had a very similar noise. Dealer first told me it was normal, then thought it was trans pump, then finally replaced the idler pulley and belt....voila noise gone. I am betting this is your issue (especially since your noise is in the front of the engine). Simple fix.

Citation Driver

Dealer checked idler pulley and belt, dropped the transmission and checked the pump there, replaced the engine oil pump and lastly the balance shaft. LOts of $$ of MB money have been spent chasing this. Their last guess is it may be the timing chain rubbing somewhere. In reality, they are clueless. I fear the engine area will be a real mess by the time they are done.

Citation Driver

Well, a MB service guru checked out my engine and couldn't find the source of the problem noise. Soooo, now the engine is out of the car and MB is going to install a complete new engine for the car. No date yet when that takes place. I wonder how that affects the warranty? My lease expires next January.

MDMercedesGuy

Not to segue the thread, but you mentioned brake work under warranty. What did you have done on it? I've got sticking back brakes that they can't seem to find a cause for.

Citation Driver

On a test drive the service tech heard scraping and rattling noise from rear parking brakes w/o brake application. He found the parking brake shoes touched the inside othe brake disc bowl. He replaced the brake shoe retaining springs with updated black retaining springs. He also installed an additional snap clip between the extension spring and the expansion lock to fix excess play.

I did not have the car in for brake noise. It was there for clunking noise up front, for which they replaced the front struts.

chezman998

hi I have just solved my wirring noise on the front of my merc .or shall we say it cured its self timeing chain snapped.so there is your problem ,we looked at everything removed belt noise still there as I had a misfire on tickover so was advised to fit new loom auto electrician said he could not go any further until new loom fitted so he did that went for test drive came back and said misfire cured and then it went with a bang,so bought another engine and fitted it,but misfire still there,im pissed and I have changed everything