Cocca

Greetings all. I have a 2011 E550 4matic w/36k miles. I just searched "grinding noise", but didn't come up with much. Under a thread titled "Common Problems", I learned that faulty engine mounts may cause a grinding sound.

In any event, I searched and fell short. So, after driving 20 miles this morning on the highway, I got off the exit, stopped at a light, then heard it. The sound is as if a piece of metal component is dragging on the roadway - that's what it sounds like. I stopped. I looked underneath, but nothing was dragging.

So, what's making this scraping/grinding dullish metalic sound while I'm going about 10 m.p.h.? I can hear it w/the windows up from inside the car. With the windows down it's louder and coming from underneath as described above and most likely front of the car. I'm thinking trans/transfer case or the brakes? No warning lights are on. Brakes only have 2k miles.

Thank you much as always.

Cocca

Is this the answer?
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...nsmission.html

Transfer Case Bearing Noise?

noka

Sticky brake caliper perhaps?

KEY08

Check very carefully in the front wheel well area for a lose fender liner that may be scrapping your tire. I have had this happen on an earlier MB I owned and it drove me nuts. It was worn down from rubbing on the tire and I had to completely replace it.

Arrie

Most likely the transfer case bearing issue.

Cocca

Update:
I got in the car that same evening. Rolled forward and it still made the same noise. Then, I drove in reverse for approx 20ft, put it in Drive again and the noise stopped and hasn't started again. No noise at all.

mleskovar

I bet KEY08 is right. Backing up just reset the liner and it will catch again.

Arrie

I still think it is the issue with the Transfer case that has been talked about in another thread.


Going reverse changes the direction of axial force that is generated by the helical gears. If there is an issue with a bearing this can temporarily set the bearing in correctly but if my thinking is right the noise will return.

Cocca

Hasn't done it since..... I'll advise of the source once I take it in for scheduled service.

Alex.currie44

I would ask to see the ATF and any residue on the magnets in the pan which means you might have to be there when it is serviced. The filter is an enclosed metal container so cutting it open is tricky without contaminating it requires a good hand.
If there is bearing failure and metal is spallng it will show up.

Cocca

2 weeks later and it still hasn't repeated the sound . . .

I'm due for service w/in 30 days. I'll see what the dealership says and update.

gdinerio

I literally had this same thing happen to me this morning on my MY11 E350 4matic. I was driving to work, mostly all highway driving. I arrived at my office where there is a gate to enter, I slowed down to swipe my badge to enter. Upon releasing my foot from the brake I heard this scraping noise, which i initially thought was the gate opening. Upon driving further at a slow speed i realized it was the car making the scraping noise. I came to a complete stop after i heard the noise for a bit then started driving again and didn't hear the noise anymore. I am curious as to your findings here, I am inclined to take the car in but not sure if they'll be able to replicate.

Alex.currie44

My dealer service guy, a few days after we found nothing following a service including a transmission service in which we looked closely for metal in the filter and fluid which would indicate bearing failure, indicated that they have had issues with rocks getting jammed in odd places causing odd noises which eventually fall out and the noise mysteriously disappeared.

gdinerio

Thanks for the reply here, i'll be more attentive to see if it comes back. Your explanation seems logical to me being that the roads have lots of loose asphalt/rocks from the plows, coupled with I have experienced zero symptoms of something being wrong with the vehicle.

As always appreciate all the feedback received.

D-5

I heard the same metal grinding/scraping noise on my 2015 c63s last night. I was pulling out from street parking and immediately I heard the loud noise. The first time that came to my mind was there's a metal can caught underneath the car so I stopped (the noise stopped) reversed the car (the noise came back) then I got out of the car to check for any debris caught underneath but there was none. I drove off the noise didn't come back that night.

Chitown W212

Did anyone find a solution or cause for this? I'm having the exact same issue. It only makes noise at really low speeds when I'm accelerating or decelerating usually around 5-20 mph. No noise that I've noticed at higher speeds and no difference in performance or driving. I had a transmission flush and fluid change 2 months ago and have driven around 3000 miles since then with no performance issues. The mechanic didn't notice any metal buildup when he serviced the transmission.

CHARLIE17457

Any luck?

pierrejoliat

I read somewhere in this forum a few years ago that there was a "hack" for this, don't know if it works.

put car on lift, let all wheels hang, deploy emergency brake fully, put car in drive and raise RPM to NO MORE than 800, put car in reverse and do it again, no more than 800 rpm. If I remember correctly, the guy said he had fixed numerous cars this way, something about reseting clutch discs/ bearings in the transfer case.

I think Arrie's on the right track.

Might be worth a try?

MJBURTON23

Appreciate this is a massively old thread now but I stumbled across it when my car experienced the exact same issue today with my C300.

Anyway long story short I took it to the garage right away and they said a stone was caught in the brakes that was causing the noise/issue