W204Motorsports

So when I first got the car a few years ago, I purchased it with a bad transfer case bearing resulting in a humming/bearing type noise coming from the shifter, starting at slow speeds and gradually increasing in pitch as speed increased. I drove on it for 2 months when I first go the car so I know exactly what a bad transfer case bearing sounds like.

After I replaced the bearing, it's been great ever since with no abnormal noise(That was 5 years ago and over 100 000km). Unfortunately, recently I was coasting 75km/h and when I let off the gas, I notices a very faith whine coming from the shifter area which stayed prominent to right around 65km/h. That 10km/h speed range is the only time I can hear the whine and only on deceleration. As soon as I accelerate, the whine disappears or go over 75km/h or under 65.

When I purchased my car, only made a growling noise from the shifter and it was constant at all speeds, is this whine on deceleration from 65-75km/h just an early sign of the bearings going out and it will start growling at me, forcing me to replace the bearing again ? The whine is very faith and really need sensitive ears to hear it, at least for now..

jblmk3

I also have a faint whine coming from up front toward the driver side. It's only on deceleration from about 70 to 60, loudest at 65. Disappears the second you get back on the gas. I've researched this to death and can't seem to find any solid answers.

W204Motorsports

Same, I just learned to live with it, the only time you hear is it from 65-70 and mine is loudest at 70km/h. Its not getting worse and its not the same noise so I wouldn't be concerned unless it starts doing it at other speed or when you are on the throttle.

jblmk3

How long/many miles has your been doing that? A few minutes ago I found where one person with the exact same issue said that after replacing the transmission and differential it was still there, only to find that replacing a shifter linkage rod with an "updated" one fixed it.
https://www.benzworld.org/forums/w20...whine-fix.html

Just found a second one that said the same thing...
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...whine-fix.html

W204Motorsports

My car has 240 000km but I replaced the transfer case bearings at 160 000km. My linkage was loose ever since I installed the transmission because I reused that clip when I installed the transmission. It once got me stranded since the clip was loose, the linkage disconnected. I went back under and installed the clip properly and honestly, I think I realized the noise shorty after I did that so we may be on to something. When I have time, I will get under the car and see how the linkage could possible cause the transmission to make noise. Last time I checked it, it was properly on and the shifter felt a lot tighter, like it should. Strange I never had the noise when the clip wasn't installed properly but now that it sit correctly and tight, I get a whine at 70km/h.

Il look into it and try to play with the linkage, see if the noise goes away, if it does, il replace it.

Adi-Benz

If it was transfer case, it would be getting louder.

jblmk3

My friends at Graham Motor Company in Knoxville (where I bought both my cars) had their Mercedes specialists look into this problem for me. They took samples of the fluid from the transmission, transfer case and differentials and sent them for chemical analysis. All samples came back normal with no metal or contaminants whatsoever. This is pretty good evidence that the problem isn't within any of these components. They ordered and installed that clip that goes on the shifter linkage rod and it didn't make the sound go away. I'm going to look into that shifter linkage rod and see if there's a way to adjust it as the poster in those links mentioned.

muco45

do you have a solution, i have the same problem