silver00E320

My 2000 E320 has, what appears to be, the same symptons as described in a couple of places throughout this site. This noise started a month or so ago and has gotten progressively worse.

It sounds like a faint, dry, "plastic on plastic" squeak when driving slow and turning either left or right. The other articles I've read here indicate that it most probably is the steering rack.

My question to anyone who can help is; could it be anything other than the steering rack? For instance, could it be just the bushings (which you can buy as a kit) that are in the linkage?

Thanks for your help.

black-e

I recently had a similar situation with my e. My description was more "rubber on rubber." Dealer originally lubed the components, but the problem still persisted. Ultimately the service manager rode in the car with me and they replaced the steering column. I never found out what was wrong.
New column and no porblems. Glad it was still under warranty.

Little

Same **** here bro, getting progressively worse. I need to take my car in for what seems to be possible bad motor mounts, rear bushings, steering, and door locks.

e320newbie

yo im having the rubber on rubber noise, but the sound is coming from my front right wheel area only. Is that the same with urs? and how much did u pay to fix that?

silver00E320

I can see where someone might describe the sound as "rubber on rubber". On my car it's almost like you can feel it in the steering when you make slight turns at low speed. I don't notice it out on the road. And it seems to be coming from the steering wheel area, not distinctly from either side. Since I just bought the car a few months ago, I suspect it's something that had some silicone or lub oil sprayed on it to keep it quiet and it's now wearing off.

pghbenzo

I have the same problem when you turn the wheel to either side it makes a rubber on rubber noise. What the F is it?

silver00E320

This problem doesn't seem to fall in the category of "normal wear" for automobiles this age, especially Mercedes. I don't see how someone could abuse their car by driving (at least this many people) to where these racks would go bad and I guess it's possible that bad driving terrain could cause a premature failure of a rack. But those types of failures would show up on a lot of other models and years, not just around the 97 - 00 E-class.

I am going to try to contact Mercedes about this but I doubt that they will listen. If I get the rack, which apparently is the problem, replaced by the dealer it's going to cost me around $2000. Just because I want to drive a Mercedes doesn't mean I am willing to spend that amount of money to make up for Mercedes' design and/or manufacturing problems. This shouldn't be considered as part of the "price to pay" for driving a Mercedes.

There are other choices, like filing a complaint through http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ . At least there will be an official record of the complaint. And, there may be some other places on the Internet to file. If anyone knows of any please let me (us) know.
Thanks

E320Star

I have a little sqeak too. But only when the a leather cleaner is applied to the steering. You see whenever you use a leather cleaner you will hear the entire car squeaking becuase "Leather on Leather" friction sort of speak. ALways use an MB approved leather cleaner. Expect some sqeaks whcih will decrease whenever the cleaner gets weaker.

E320Star

WD-40 lubricant can not fix. No suggestions intended !!!!

agv

Hi to you all,
I purchaced my E320 2000 only a couple of weeks ago, 2 days ago I came across this thread; and that day my steering started to squeak when turning the steering wheel a quarter turn either side of center. So today I went to my local MB dealer to inquire about this problem. Sure enough they have a tech. bulletin from the factory on this particular problem. The service advisor informed me that they need to replace a rubber seal that is where the steering column ends and the steering rack starts. If your car has regular/exstended or major component warranty left this will be covered by the dealer. good luck

silver00E320

Do you know how long that bulletin has been out and do you have the number of it? That could be why some dealers were replacing the rack and thinking that it was fixing the problem. I'm going to make some calls today about this.
Thanks

BT320

I too would appreciate some additional details on this problem as I just started having it when I drove up to the Bay Area for Thanksgiving. I thought it had something to do with the colder weather up there, but after seeing all these posts there is definitely something up.

Thanks.

duckwood

I have this same issue with my 2000 E55. I had it in the shop before for this problem and they "Lubed the steering boot." and the problem was gone. Now similarly, to my chagrin, it has begun to appear intermittently, six months after they lubed it.

E320Star

silver00E320

I talked to the dealer's service advisor today and, unfortunatly, but as I expected, did not get very far. This advisor said they have never heard of a problem like this, but, if I would bring the car in a tech could drive it and tell what the problem is. I don't believe I want to do that yet because they apparently are not familiar enough with this problem and might want to go straight for replacing the rack, as I've heard others here describe. I'm going to call MBUSA tomorrow and see what they have to say. I doubt that they would have any information on this but it won't hurt to call.

agv

Sorry to keep you guys waiting I will stop by the dealer as soon as I can to see if he will give me the info on that tech bulletin. No later than next Tuesday when I go in for the warranty repair; I will keep you guys posted.
By the way I’m not sure if this makes any difference; I’m dealing with MB Canada and not MBUSA

Brian McL

This TSB has been out since Dec. '99. Number is: DDAF46 10-U-3001AG. It is titled "Steering Stiff...Possible Noises."

eLemnt | 0ne

If you need a cheap steering rack go to:

http://www.carsteering.com/partsdisp...modelname=E320

It's like $425 or something like that if you do need to replace it. I have yet to replace mine.. :\

StribsEclass

I have that same issue with my E320 -02. Sounds more like rubber to rubber.

silver00E320

Does anyone have a copy of this service bulletin, "DDAF46_10-U-300 Steering Stiff, Possible Noises", or know where it might be on-line?

Brian McL

Join AllDataDiy.com..it is there..for this car.

[iNTx]

I have the same problems and the dealer here keep telling me that there is no problem ....

silver00E320

Maybe it wasn't acting up when your mechanic looked at it [iNTx]. Were you with him when he test drove it? The noise in mine stopped for two days and then started up again yesterday louder than ever.

agv

I was going to pick up my car from the dealer tonight ; only to find out when I got home, there was a message waiting for me from MB.
When I called the service advisor he informed me that they would have to keep the car for another day. Seeing that they did not have a new rack in stock. They found broken pieces in the rack when they went in to change my squeaky seal. Can you believe that!
Barely 4 years old and 83000km nice. Will provide update tomorrow (maybe, if I get my car back).

raymond g-

I have free access to All-Data so will try to remember to look this up and post if I remember tomorrow.