noXor

Hey guys, I started my car after getting it back from the dealer and it was making this noise. Is this common? Please see the video:

aussie e55

what was it at the dealer for, sounds like lifter / tappet noise does it do only when cold or all the time. what brand & spec. oil did they use if in for a service. how do u like your hankook tyres thinking of a set for my C63.

noXor

it was at the dealer getting a fog light replaced. it is using the Mobil 1 5W40. It only has happened this one time.

I love the V12 Evo's they stick great!

aussie e55

once only strange if it comes back again grt it checked out as there is a known problem with lifters/tappets do a search, i think fix is sls parts. how are hankoks wearing

Mort

Sounds like lifter clatter to me. Did you check you oil level?

swagkingcole

I get this sometimes as we'll. what's the deal?

khmergod

Mine does the same if it hasn't been started or driven for a couple/few days. Probably dry lifters until it gets warmed up. Always disappears within a couple minutes or less.

Starky_

Bump..

So just now I was backing the car out for a car wash and noticed a louder than usual ticking noise. Last time I drove the car was Friday night and hadn't pushed it hard at all.

Checked oil level/coolant, everything was normal, nothing unusual since the last time I checked. Car is a '10 P31.

Heres a vid of the ticking noise, exact same as OP's:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bn8xkorybs...%20PM.mov?dl=0

Revved the motor a tiny bit and the ticking rate increased with RPMs, shut the motor off after a minute or so of ticking. Should I be worried or is it safe to drive? I've parked the car for much longer before in colder weather and don't recall hearing ticking.

EDIT: apologies for the ****ty iPhone 4 video

johnny--2k

I have had it a few times now myself, but goes away once warmed up. Wondering if I should take it in for the head bolt issue. Mine is CPO and I have about 11 months left on it.

rentzington

mine does exactly the same thing at cold start, just got the car and it was freaking me out.
My oil levels are fine, etc and it quiets down when its all warm (also a fair amount of belt noise)

I need to set an appointment for a 12v on the car thats loose so im going to have that checked as well.

it sounds like it's fairly normal for these cars

Starky_

UPDATE!

Drove for about 40 minutes to school, some hard pulls once the car was fully warm. Noise was gone when I arrived..will update again when I start the car up again.

Same situation here. I wonder if the ticking is common on FL models as well..

Da Bears

I have an E55 that makes that exact same sound. always makes it no matter cold/warm. service advisor says it's normal???

JimmyR

Only abnormal if it fails to go away after the motor fully warmed up.

AMG6.3

Does the sound go way after motor is warmed up? FYI - Your motor should not be making this noise, if anyone tells you differently they are full of crap.


I have a 2010 and does not make this noise even when the car sitting for several days. There is a problem.

ANico

I have had the same noise for the life of the car. ( 2 years ). It never happens when I go to get it serviced. Good news though. A rev head mate has now been able to stimulate it by taking it to about 1800 revs while holding it in second gear. I will be taking it back Mercedes service.

rmt52

I used to get this noise before they swapped out all of my cam adjusters. there's a tsb for it if I'm not mistaken. if you get access to startekinfo and use the TIPS tool, they have an audio clip for the bulletin that pretty much says if the car sounds like that even when warm, the adjusters need to be swapped out.

-Marlin-

I know this is an old thread, but still relevant to many of us. I wanted to share my experiences. I have an 11 (after head bolt change engine) and I have experienced the ticking 3 times. I believe it is related to the lifters not receiving proper lubrication due to low engine oil level. All 3 times, I checked the dipstick and found the oil level on the lowest mark after hearing the noise on cold start up. All 3 times, there was about 3000 miles driven since last fill to full level on the dipstick.

I document everything on my car and based on my experiences with this exceptional machine, I believe the ticking is related to a low oil level. It could be said that the car had a chance to lubricate the lifters after startup and drive when the ticking noise was realized. But all 3 times, the ticking noise was gone until I reached that low oil mark on the dip stick after approximately 3000 miles had been driven. I check my oil level by driving the car for 20 miles or more, getting it up to operating oil temperature of 215 degrees Fahrenheit, then letting it sit for exactly 10 minutes before pulling the dip stick to check the level on the marks.

I use 5w 40 Mobile One M spec oil.

FWIW

layzie12g

Its one of the cams eating through the lifter. We have had 2 through the shop in the last month. Costly repair. Get it looked at and repaired before you send all the metal to the bottom of the oil pan. In bad cases they have blocked the oil pick up.

If the noise is more like a failing timing chain tensioner noise it is the cam adjuster. If you have the ticking noise while the engine is running it is the cam/lifter issue. I just did cam adjusters last week on a car after another tech replaced all of the cams and lifters. It really sucks Benz doesn't want to make this right for its customers.

m a x i m u s

FYI, I had the tapping/clicking sound twice, about one month apart from each other, late last year. Dealer ended up replacing all the tappets. Hasn't happened again since, but like I said, it only happened twice right before I had it fixed.

m a x i m u s

Another FYI, I have had all of my cam adjusters replaced over the years as well. I asked my tech if not replacing a faulty cam adjuster causes any damage to my engine, and he said "no". Can anyone verify this? I'm just curious.

benzito63

Have the same problem with mine... was told by the dealer it was the lifter and it occurs with cold starts. Happened at around 8000k. Then just a few days ago (now at 42,000km) it happened again only for first couple mins. Dealer again said its within the realm of normal- likely trading my car in so not going to pursue it further unless I hear it again.

A buddy of mine took it to the head office mb after weeks of complaining, in the end he had all the tappets changed. I think i'd push the dealer if your warranty is coming to an end....

Stickstome2

Mine is doing the same thing but went away after warm up, it's sitting in garage for winter but I start it every other day . Then I heard it after a cold sitting start ,, drove it for a but and it went away , so is this bad?

Stickstome2

Should we be running a different oil viscosity for winter ?

C63vil

I took my car to the MB dealer last Thursday worried about the sound, it is Monday and they can't find the sound yet. My warranty is about to expire so I just want to get fixed that sound, despite, my friend told me that sound is common on these cars. But,mine is a P31 and that issue should be fixed already.

I guess I will stop worrying about that sound.

roadtalontsi

run 0w40 it helps with the cold - that's your best bet to prevent the lifters from sticking. p31 package has nothing to do with your lifters man.