mwiseltier

Can't stand it. DOesn't sound like it should be coming from the hood of a Merc AMG. I'm talking about that whine after you start the car. Wheeeeennnggg. Hit the gas while car warms up--as you gas--the whine gets louder. Finally, it dies down a bit after the car is warm. But even after, when you accellerate a slight whine under the hood still follows you around. What is that damm noise. So many theories. Is something that annoying normal? Not sure if it's affecting performance of car. Help me understand, someone. Anyone else out there with this problem--if it is in fact a defect or a "problem. Suggestions on what to tell the dealer it is so I can get it fixed. That is if it should be fixed. TX

Kar don

normal... part of the coolness of owning a benz. I like the sound.

vraa

CL55?

Ask the dealer to lube the s/c clutch. That might help.

skytop

It's the standard S/C clutch whine. Wait till you get older, your hearing gets weaker, you won't hear a thing.

vraa

LMAO like the target audience for the CL right?

Oh I'm just kiddin'

akbro93704

he is talking about the C55.it's normal, I think it sounds cool though. My dad's ML55 does this, and so do the 4.3 and 5.0 liter's, and 55 kompressors,this particular sound has nothing to do with the S/C clutch.

vraa

Weird.
This was in the CL55 forum a few moments ago, that's why I said what I said.

AgentQ

Well, I don't know if the TX at the end of your message means you live in Texas, but I do, and I love that whine. That whine is a variable rate fan for cooling your radiator. The funny thing is that it's not for "warming up" your car as you posit, it's the opposite, it's for cooling your radiator at low speeds when less air travels over your radiator. No, it's not the sound I love, it's the function. That powerful fan keeps your AC nice and cool even when the car is at a standstill. I call it the Dubai option. I figure the Germans knew how many Arabs loved AMG's and knew how damn hot it gets. So, they put in (to use a term from my original hometown of Pittsburgh, PA) a big honkin' fan to cool things down.

So, the semi-unofficial name of your loud whine is ...
"The Dubai Option"

sdsilverm3

It sounds like a cranky b**ch waking up. :p

kjb55

It's a C55 engine, no s/c. It's not the cooling fans - it is most prominent when the engine is cold, >8hrs off. I have the exact same noise, also have heard it in other C55s and CLK55s.

I have communication going with another owner from a different Benz sight - he is meeting with AMG technicians in Sept., I'll be at the AMG event in Joliet, IL on 9/18 and discuss with the tech then.

It is far from normal - I'm almost certain that it is the power steering pump. I'm working with Knauz to determine what exactly is causing the noise - but trying to avoid just throwing parts at it.

cntlaw

NOT a problem. It is the sound of the radiator.
You will hear the car making this sound when under the direct sun light or when the car slow down. Normally this sound will not occur at first 5 minutes after a cold start. Most of the times, you slow down the car , the sound will come. It does not happen too often in cold weather.
Turn off the air cond , the sound will cease
I think every one here got this confirmed by the dealer, it is normal.
I recall some S500 I come across make the same sound, but may be
the sound proof of S class for 5 litre animal is better than a C-Class
I love this sound because it scares people :v

kjb55

It is definitely NOT the sound of a radiator! A radiator is not capable of producing a mechanical noise. And how does direct sunlight or the car slowing down contribute to this noise?

This noise is most prominent immediately on a cold start and begins to diminish after about 30sec. The A/C has no effect - this post is not describing the cooling fan associated with running the A/C.

If anyone is familiar with the sound of a failing or starved power steering pump - this noise is almost identical.

kjb55

if anyone wants a .wav file of the sound - let me know - I'll email it to you.

scovit

Guys:

Since these comments are all over the place, I would suggest that you open the hood stand over the engine and have someone else start the car. Listen and determine where the noise is coming from to be fully convinced.

The sound that I believe that you are hearing I have also heard at startup from my car. It sounds initially very load, almost grindy and then calms down about 15-30 seconds. The other sounds that have been articulated I have also heard such as the radiator fan blower kicking in.

I believe we have all heard these sounds and it always was my assumption that this was quite normal for the C55, just as I have engine noise from about 75mph and never had that in my 05 CLK500. I was told that you are supposed to hear the racing tuned engine as this is a is part of the "AMG experience".

I would personally like to hear more about this from you, what you find out and what you did to get to the bottom of it.

mwiseltier

Please e-mail me the sound. Want to see if it's the same one I'm having. Also, please keep me posted on what the tech says and how it can be fixed. Many Thanks, Michael WISEL2@aol.com

merc655

well whatever the sound comes out to being, I can assure you it is completely normal. At least with my MB experience.
Coming from 2 SLs, an older S55 and two new S600s and an E55, I have heard this on all of them so as far as I know it is normal.
I think it might be a cold start cycle for the engine because it seems to last longer the longer the car has been sitting.
But that's just my .02

FrankW

my 32 sounds like a lawnmower on start up...i ain't complaining...

cntlaw

I can't argue on this 'radiator' thing as I read this from another thread some months ago. But what golden sure is:
1. the sound comes most times when the car is slowing down or in slow motion. Not as you said , only 15 mins immediate after a cold start
2. some time , the sound gets triggered when you open your car window when cold air cond is on.
3. 16000km , 12 months - I have not heard one single sound/noise which differs from any kinds of sounds under the hood since the first day I receive my car key. ( I would say , this is by far perfect )

kjb55

Okay look - your car apparently doesn't exhibit the noise that myself and mwiseltier are trying to solve.

1. The noise has NOTHING to do with 'slowing down' or in 'slow motion'. Read the post - I never said anything about '15mins immediate after a cold start' but immediately after a car cold start and diminishing after 30sec!!
2. The noise has NOTHING to do with 'when you open your car window when cold air cond is on'.

And...
3. If you care to hear the noise - let me know your email - and I'll email you a sound clip.

YeeHaw

dont know if this helps but the A/c on my car makes it have a slight higher pitched whine. Starting is a bit rough btw my mom's w211 e500 is smoother & i havent noticed the a/c whine on it.

is your a/c on when you start up, even on auto?

dsC32

kjb: I understand. My car does it too. The service mgr at dealer said it is normal, but never really explained what it is. Next time I'm in, I will ask for more info.

cntlaw

Fine. I am sure you know what you are saying.
Send me a clip at
gemini@iohk.com

neoprufrok

My understanding of this noise was that it was from the air pump for emissions or something like that. Not sure of the details, but I'll see if I can find out.

Childish///AMG

Can you "Repeat" that??? I couldn't hear you :p :p

Miami Bass, if your ears aren't bleeding, then it;s not loud enough