Djay333

Been greatly enjoying my C63 S and now just past the 1400 mile mark.

But, a mechanical issue appeared during recent cold weather (low 20s F). At very slow single digit "creeping? speed and with the steering wheel fully turned either to the left or right there is a short clunking sound coming from underneath the car. At first I thought I had run over debris under the car. As I straighten the wheel and pick up speed the brief clunking goes away.

Posting in case anyone else has experienced this. The cold weather might be a 'trigger" but maybe just a coincidence.

I will post a followup after taking it in to service. Anyone have any similar experience?

Thanks for reading.

Dthquazi

It is probably your tires slipping slightly. Mine does it too.

Souriall91

Yeah it's just your tires. Mine does it every morning when the tires are cold. Live in a cul de sac so I have to turn it all the way to the left.

Djay333

Thanks for your thoughts fellows. The sound is more of a mechanical "clunking" as if I had rolled over something. I'm thinking the sound might be different from a tire slipping. I will do more testing and will keep your tire idea in mind. Much appreciated.

Souriall91

That's exactly what sound mine makes. It's not a small noise it's a definite clunk. You'll hear it when going up a curb very slowly with your tires turned. Cold weather+hard clumping tire=clunk noise.

Dthquazi

​​​​​OK, good luck with the testing

tekfoc

it's 100% the tires I had the exact same brand tires on my old 45 AMG. did the exact same thing.
clunk.

AlexZTuned

I just experienced this yesterday after picking up my C63S Coupe - it happened as I was backing out of my driveway and had the steering wheel almost completely locked left. It sounded like a loud knocking noise from the rear - I thought it was the rear diff, but it makes sense it was the tires. It was very cold, around 20F.

diewithme

me too!! was backing up and heard clunk, also thought rear diff. Not sure if i had my steering on extreme side... Hope just tires.

MessingWithMerC

Having come from an Audi RS5, the first time I heard that noise I was terrified... After making some inquiries, I found out with sport cars tires being wider, when you turn your wheel fully to either side, that clunking/screeching noise that very much sound like some mechanical malfunction is quite normal. For me it's when the tires were wet. Cold or hot made no difference. Haven't experienced this with my C63, but that's only because I've had it for only a week or so and haven't driven on wet roads yet, but I fully anticipate the same experience.

PeterUbers

Get winter or all season tires

its wheel hop from the soft summer tire rubber hardening up in the cold ... goes away when the tires have had a chance to warm up and reminds you how dangerous it is to drive summers in cold weather... dangerous for you and others on the road

DSawyer63

Yup, It is wheel hop from your limited slip diff not wanting to let the two rear wheels spin at different speeds around such a sharp turn. All three of my C63s have done that and my friend's CTS-V. It sounds like a problem in the front suspension, but it's normal.

ultran00b

The proper term is tire scrub. Happens because of the cars low profile tires.

PeterUbers

please explain

AlexZTuned

Yea no, what I heard and felt definitely felt like wheel hop now that you mention it. Very similar to what I experienced while launching a first-gen CTS-V - apparently those were notorious for it.

Djay333

Today was 39* when I replicated the slow speed full steering wheel turn test. Voila! No clunking! Between today's result and all the generous input from you fellows I am very optimistic that the culprit was the combo of 20*, the soft Michelin sport tires, and perhaps some limited slip involvement.

As mentioned, it is a good reminder that soft performance rubber and winter conditions don't mix!

So glad to have found this community!

Dave

Vectored Lines

Same issue here too! Just picked up my C63S coupe on Thursday from dealer - weather was around 10 deg f. As soon as I backed the car out of their (some what cold) garage and turned the wheel I got the clunk noise too. I have the upgraded performance tires.

Has done it everytime tires are cold and steering wheel turning with a slight roll from dead stop (forward or back). Only had car for 2 days and same cold weather observation with tires as well. I haven't inquired at my dealership yet - found this thread first.

24 deg f and freezing rain today. Car is staying in garage until warm dryer weather.

tripitz

I am getting what seems to be a suspension clunking noises; I think the sway bar is the source of the sound. Perhaps we are talking about the same noise?

right_mr

Hi all,
For the first time on sunday when i was intending to take the SO for a nice drive, i pulled out of my driveway as per normal and at a very leisurely pace of only a few mph was moving down the road and then started to hear this horrible scraping sound like my vehicle is dragging some chains along with it or a piece of metal etc. I pulled off to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off and inspected all tyres and the undercarriage but didnt see anything at all. Turned the car back on and took it for a drive and no issues whatsoever. No error codes at all. It was a bit disconcerting to say the least. I had only just hit the 5k miles milestone in total earlier that day. I'm just a bit perplexed as to what that sound was. My early thoughts are as follows:
a. Something in the engine/transmission etc is malfunctioning.
b. my immobilizer code (autowatch ghost) wasnt inputted correctly and my vehicle started and then it caused some temporary mayhem.

I plan to run it by my local dealer but just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar? I have started the car around 4 times since and driven around 15 miles and no similar issues noted.

any thoughts would be most welcomed. thanks in advance.

KJ

As a general rule of thumb, try to avoid turning at "full lock" whenever possible. Ideally, you can hit "full lock" and then ease off a bit so there's less pressure on the steering components.

right_mr

Thanks mate, that's affirmitive, i never really full lock it for more than a metre or so before i ease up on the steering and sometimes do a 3 point turn rather than forcing full lock because of how the vehicle can skip on its front wheels. It is worse in the wet or winter but this isnt really the issue i experienced.

This chain scraping-like noise isnt to do with the turning arc, the steering was dead straight and the vehicle was making a horrendous sound like metal is scraping against metal and was continuous until i pulled over. I must have driven 20 metres or so until i pulled over. I wonder what could have caused it.

KJ

I would bring it to the dealer ASAP so that they can have a look.

Even if they don't find anything now, at least your complaint is on file. Then if something manifests in the near future and it's related to the same issue, at least they have a record of you complaining before.

right_mr

Thanks and great suggestion. the dealer looked at it this morning and reset various bits of software etc on the parking brake. this error message came up this morning and I took it straight to my local dealer.

The car seemed a lot more nimble after all the software resets etc. could be placebo.

oh and please ignore the dust on the steering column in the pic. I'll give it a clean asap !