usautocustoms

Do you happen to have a video/audio of the noise when you drive it? Mine is difficult to video since I don't get any creaking/cracking noise transfer cases usually make. I had a Cadillac SRX and it made this bad ticking/clicking noise when I would accelerate. With this car it feels different, but it is a different car. Curious to know what my mechanic finds today. Fingers crossed.

usautocustoms

With the amount of sales on w212 if this was a widespread issue, it would've been recalled. I don't think this should stop you from purchasing. Any car at any given day can have a problem, just test drive it as much as you can and don't be like me buying in excitement.

KEY08

My 2010 E550 4Matic has no transfer case issues whatsoever. I am at 56,000 miles of 50/50 city-highway. 4Matic issues are not common. The design may be awkward, and when it goes it may involve the full trans as well, but this is not a horror story as some think.

JEL

I don't think it will, especially since I'm going to do a CPO. With that said, however, Mercedes hasn't always been that great about recalls on known defects, such as the W124 A/C evaporator and the famous biodegradable wiring harness issue where they left owners high and dry.

I'm hoping they updated the system after the first couple of years to eliminate the problems, especially given the fact I end up driving an average of 3k miles per month these days.

usautocustoms

Yea, I guess no manufacturer likes to recall as it hits their brand pretty badly. I heard the major issues on the transfer case occurred on 2010-2011 and supposedly resolved it on the 2012 models and going forward. I haven't heard of many issues on the transfer case. I'm hoping mine isn't, but it could very well be. Still have a lot of stopping in and outs before I get this fixed.

usautocustoms

So after a ride with my mechanic, he told me to bring it in Friday as he believes it is either a wheel bearing or rear differential oil could be low. Now I wait till Friday to get the final diagnosis.

Airmousam

Agreed, it's rare

KEY08

Hey what's up, Mitch! My vote is a bad wheel bearing, no matter what that original dealer says.

usautocustoms

I'm to the point where I may just pay my mechanic to get it done. Sick of those B A S T A R D S at the dealer.

usautocustoms

After watching this video I am 99% convinced it's the wheel bearing. This is EXACTLY what I'm experiencing.

thefisch

I think I hear what you are talking about, but honestly my first impression was that it is just road noise. Perhaps the sound is more noticeable while in the car or I just don't know what to listen for.

usautocustoms

It's very tricky, but there is definitely something wrong. I have owned Infiniti Q45, M45, 2005 E500, 2009 C300, BMW 5 series and never experienced this type of road noise. Watch it a couple more times and you will notice this is not how a Benz should ride.

thefisch

I think I got it on the second time. It is much quieter than I expected. While researching a suspension issue for a Honda, I was listening to wheel bearing issue videos that were much, much louder.

Hopefully this will help you get it addressed. It's a shame that you had to change tires for no good reason.

usautocustoms

Yea it is very very hard to describe a noise like this and usually a bad wheel bearing will make humming creaky sounds, but in my case it's more of a helicopter sound. My mechanic told me it's a bearing that is waiting to bust... Really hope this is resolved soon. Will keep everyone updated and I appreciate all the support.

E250_92101

Definitely don't give up!! I recently owned a Volvo that made similar noise. After the dealer replaced both front hubs, they convinced me that it was tire noise. Later got new tires and nothing changed. I should have kept on them but I was too busy with my business and remodeling our home. I loved the car, but the dissatisfaction from this noise made me get rid of it later. It was probably a bad bearing in the transmission. I'm very happy with my E250 and it's good to be driving a MB again (used to drive a CL500). So quiet with Kumho TA71s (compared to the original run-flats)!

Hope you find the issue soon!!

pamiboy

I feel that noise in my hand as I played the video. Such a noise in a brand new car would drive me crazy.

usautocustoms

No giving up that's for sure. I loved the Kumho's as I saw good potential, but my dealer would not look into the car with those on blaming the brand, so I took their advice and bought brand new Grand Touring tires from Continental (Supposed to be one one of the best)... Now they can't come back with anything else. I spoke to the dealer again today and she told me that she will have me ride with the shop foreman. Feeling optimistic, but then again my mechanic might resolve this before they even touch it. Really hope it's resolved as I just got the car and would hate to go through a sale and re-purchase.

usautocustoms

Yes, it is worse when your driving it. I took my wife's car today for the simple fact that I simply hate driving my car with that noise. That sucks to have to give up your Mercedes to drive a Jeep Cherokee (still a wonderful car, but cmon) lol.

polmati

I disagree with your statement. My 2010 E350 4M just hit 81K. Out of nowhere a noise developed which rises and lowers in pitch as speed increases and decreases. Dealer diagnosed as failure in the transfer case and MB says new transmission. I have been researching for a week and found issue to be very common on the C class and the other models with 4M. It may not be prevalent on the E yet but I think you will start to see more. Sun valley transmission in California has great write up on how and why the transfer case fails (pictures too). As others have stated avoid owning these cars without warranty coverage.

usautocustoms

So my mechanic told me it can cost nearly $500 to do the job, so I'm going to wait till Tuesday when I take it in to the Mercedes dealership. Will keep everyone updated.

usautocustoms

3 hours with the mechanic at the Mercedes-Benz dealership and they continue to give me the run around. The noise is clearly occurring when the car is lifted as well as driving it. They said I had a bent wheel on that side, I explained 10 times that I changed the wheels 3 times along with new tires, then after changing wheel and swapping it with another wheel, the same noise occurred... Now they are saying it is the rotors and I laughed and was pissed at the same time. After driving over and over and over again, they keep on telling me they don't know what it is. I went in with assertiveness today on everything they said with my BIG NO's that I am not getting the run around again and not spending another dime until this is fixed.

They have the car in the shop and they are telling me how they will try to switch rotors and see if that will resolve it and if not how they can't just start replacing things. I said I don't care if you replace "things" I want this car fixed.

Are all Benz dealers this way? How come they are trying to give me the run around because they can't find any issues? They haven't even opened to check for bearing issues, they said if we open then we have to replace the entire bearing. This is so frustrating and I can only pray it is resolved, it is so obvious it's unbelievable. I was able to confirm it while on the lift that the noise is definitely occurring on the rear right side.

Who can I report them to if it's not fixed?

thefisch

You could contact MBUSA corporate. Their contact info is at mbusa.com. They assign case managers to look into dealer issues. You could also ask service manager for contact info on regional rep.

usautocustoms

Appreciate all of you. I'm praying a resolution as they still have the car, but blame it on wheels, then tires, and now rotors? MBUSA here I come if this isn't resolved tomorrow. I'm also looking to engage legal assistance if this fails vs the dealer who sold me this car, unless they pay half of the extended warranty.

cprx7

Sorry to hear about the problems with your car. As a 4M owner it makes me nervous as well. I did buy the extended warranty for when my factory warranty runs out.
Keep us posted would like to hear the outcome

JEL

That has to be frustrating, I know for a fact the dealers in Western Washington are AT LEAST that incompetent, and constantly try and up-sell. My CLK had the leaky connector plug (I fixed it myself for under $50 a few years back, still holding great) and they diagnosed it with a failed transmission, and were fully ready to replace the entire thing to the tune of $12,000!!!