Benz Family

Hey guys,

My engine is making a slight rattling noise coming from the left side (if looking at the engine from the front of the car). The noise isn't too loud, but just need to hear opinions from people who have done engine work before. The noise kind of goes like this, "ding ding ding ding ding... *pause* ding ding ding ding ding... *pause*... ding ding ding ding ding... and so on and so forth". When the engine is cold and I start up the car, the rattling noise is louder than after the engine warms up a bit. The mechanic at my local Mercedes dealership told me it has something to do with the camshaft and the valves. He said I would have to change out some parts and it would be costly. My questions:

1.) How important would it be to fix this issue, since it's not too loud?
2.) What are my other options, apart from changing out parts? (It might be because the car needs an oil change)
3.) Does the fix need to be done NOW? or is it one of those "optional" fixes, and if the fix doesn't go in, the engine won't die on me?

My '03 clk55 amg has 67k miles.

Any thoughts/advice? I understand that the best thing to do is to have the parts changed out, but my bank account is running low and would have to get a loan to fix this. Unless, I can DIY it.

Thanks!

Yidney

When you say ding ding ding, I'm literally picturing a bell, which I doubt it really sounds like. It won't be because it needs an oil change unless you are seriosuly delinquent on your oil change, in whch case the damage is done. Did the dealer say what needed to be replaced?

Benz Family

Yeah, it's not as loud as a bell, but you get the point. He said the valves will have to be replaced.

Critter

Sorry, I had to laugh, He said the valves have to be replaced. I honestly have never heard valves go ding ding ding ding pause ding etc. Has the oil been changed lately and was the right oil used, would be the first place to start.

Benz Family

No need to apologize. I'm a noob when it comes to engines. Are you a mechanic?

Critter

Does the oil have high mileage, is the oil level now low. Just a side thought but could it be a strand of the serpentine belt that has shredded and is flipping off something in the engine compartment. Does the noise increase in frequency when the engine is revved up? For you own piece of mind get a mechanics stethascope at Auotzone or some other parts place (20 bucks), this will assist you in finding if the noise is indeed coming from under the valve covers.

Rudeney

A common noise on the CLK55 engine is the oil pump. It seems to get worse with age, but it doesn't seem to fail or cause any other problems.

betrezra

That's good to know. Thx