kjb55

The whining noise is NOT the air pump! The noise that this post is trying to diagnose is distinct and so far considered normal and heard in several models / engine variations.

I would be very interested to know if someone has replaced their oil pump and that solved the problem.

mikekuriger

I replaced my idler pulley and got the whine reduced to almost nothing.

kjb55

Did you use OEM or aftermarket (if so, where?). I'm about to do another mod and I'll try that fix while I'm doing the other work.

loudandheard

I have a whine, but it sounds more like a power steering whine. Might see about that taken care of by the warranty.

M.Humaid

I have the same whine discussed above in my C55. It is only there on cold starts. It is frustrating as it prevents you from listening to what a proper V8 should really sound like in a cold morning! My mechanic first thought it was the pullies, so I changed them. But the problem persists. Now he suggests it is the air pump. To prove his theory, he disconnected the pump and the noise was gone. His solution is to disconnect the wire of the air pump and have the peace of mind. He argued that in hot climate having this pump is not really essential. Is this true? Anybody with any better knowledge or tried it?

91RS

It is essential for emissions and will set of the check engine light if you disconnect it.

kjb55

The whine discussed in this thread is definitely not the air pump. The air pump noise is on my C300 also and quiet compared to the whine.

Ducatic230

I think most married men have the one on the passenger side doent matter what you drive and it gets louder on the years and theres no stopping it. Get a new model and sooner than later it will do the same! Its just lifes .

Ducatic230

Timing assembly

loudandheard

So true, lol.

I had the dealer replace a pulley, but I did not solve the engine whine. Must be a c55 thing. The c32 is much quieter on startup, the c55 engine whine reminds me of the sound the c32 makes when the supercharger pulley bearing is going bad, just more high pitched.

supernautk

I believe that the "engine whine" that you're hearing is the transmission pump. You probably don't want to get rid of that...

loudandheard

I would think the C32 and C55 share the same transmission pump, so the sound should be the same, right?

supernautk

As far as I know, the transmission pumps are not the same.

LuisC55AMG

I have a whine that gets louder when the engine gets higher RPMs. Specially in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Is it going to stop if I perform a transmission oil change? (maybe that is the reason, I'm reaching the 50k mile mark).

LuisC55AMG

BTW, I didn't have that sound a week ago... Any ideas?

crniamg

power steering i replace my cold make noise hot dont make that much

loudandheard

Anybody ever come up with a good solution. So far I've heard idler pulley and replacing the power steering pump?

Rasim

I have the same whine you better hear it at cold start up because of additional rpm as your engine heat up just put your leg on acceleratore up to 1200-1500 rpm you hear same whine. It is steering pump, i will try to proove it by taking out the Engine belt then will listen. Other knocking sound i hear is under drive wheel not lifter tiping other one much muffled.

bebeko2

I had my idler pulley replaced last Thursday and the whine is now gone.

Carmen Y

I have a 2005 mercedes benz c55 amg for 2 years and the whine noise has be lauter by the time i thinck this sound cant be normal because is ogly peple tell me i have the power steerin pump bad but thats nat true because whith the serpentine belt remove do the same, we need to now wat the problem is.

91RS

There isn't a problem. Its the AIR pump. If you read the thread you'd see that every one of these cars does this.

kjb55

They all have the whine - but it's not the air pump.

Green SVT

I bought one of these without ever driving or even seeing one in person. So the first time I heard it start I thought something was seriously wrong. I did some quick research, watched some youtube vids and I guess its normal. Mine is plenty loud though so I'm keeping an eye on it.

CRod06

I've listened to a bunch of c55 videos and they all seem to whine, mine did it too. Mine made a power steering whine since I had it and I recently flushed the PS fluid and it wasn't the correct stuff, added the correct stuff and it sounds 10x better. Couldn't believe the difference. I know it's an old thread but may be a cheap way to start.

91RS

Mine was. When I supercharged mine and had to relocate the AIR pump underneath the right headlamp, the whine was almost inaudible then. When I put the car back to stock, I could hear the whining "normally" again.