E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

strange noise at high speeds

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Dec 23, 2005 | 02:57 AM
  #1  
hotwiredbenz's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 281
Likes: 2
'07 s550 4matic
strange noise at high speeds

Ive noticed a strange noise when cruising on the highway. It typically happens after I've been driving for about a half hour at around 75mph+. The best way I can describe it is that it sounds like a boat propeller. Its not very loud, but noticeable. It sounds like its coming from the driver side...middle of the car maybe slightly towards the back. I took it to the dealer but they told me its because of my winter tires..somehow I dont buy this. It sounds mechnical and not like tire noise at all. It starts up after about a half an hour of cruising on the highway and will continue until I slow down. Wondering if there is a bulletin about this. The car is a 03 E500.
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2005 | 02:58 AM
  #2  
vraa's Avatar
Out Of Control!!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
Likes: 12
Just tell your passengers to shut up
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2005 | 03:11 AM
  #3  
SAguirre's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 8
From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Originally Posted by kaggz1227
Ive noticed a strange noise when cruising on the highway. It typically happens after I've been driving for about a half hour at around 75mph+. The best way I can describe it is that it sounds like a boat propeller. Its not very loud, but noticeable. It sounds like its coming from the driver side...middle of the car maybe slightly towards the back. I took it to the dealer but they told me its because of my winter tires..somehow I dont buy this. It sounds mechnical and not like tire noise at all. It starts up after about a half an hour of cruising on the highway and will continue until I slow down. Wondering if there is a bulletin about this. The car is a 03 E500.
This could very well be the winter tires. Especially if at the time you are driving the temperature outside is warm. The colder it is outside the longer it should take to get this noise to happen. The fact that it takes a while for the noise to happen at all, makes me think that it is your tread getting hot and then changing shape ever so slightly to cause this noise. I don't usually go over 80 MPH on my winter tires since they get HOT and they wear out very quickly. I get a very distinct noise with my winter tires both on the highway and when I turn sharply at low speeds.

I have personally burnt winter tires on my Mercedes Benz in Germany driving them too fast! When they get hot the sound is very deceiving.

What brand of winter tires do you have? I have Bridgestone Blizzaks and they are the loudest. However, they grip the best of all the winter tires I have ever owned. I also have Michelin Pilot Alpine on my Audi, they are also loud but not as loud as the Bridgestones, but this is because the started to cup. The Michelins are not wearing nearly as well as the Bridgestones and they don't grip as well either. All winter tires have trade-offs.

In the mean time, turn the radio up louder! :-)

Steve
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2005 | 03:35 AM
  #4  
hotwiredbenz's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 281
Likes: 2
'07 s550 4matic
Originally Posted by SAguirre
This could very well be the winter tires. Especially if at the time you are driving the temperature outside is warm. The colder it is outside the longer it should take to get this noise to happen. The fact that it takes a while for the noise to happen at all, makes me think that it is your tread getting hot and then changing shape ever so slightly to cause this noise. I don't usually go over 80 MPH on my winter tires since they get HOT and they wear out very quickly. I get a very distinct noise with my winter tires both on the highway and when I turn sharply at low speeds.

I have personally burnt winter tires on my Mercedes Benz in Germany driving them too fast! When they get hot the sound is very deceiving.

What brand of winter tires do you have? I have Bridgestone Blizzaks and they are the loudest. However, they grip the best of all the winter tires I have ever owned. I also have Michelin Pilot Alpine on my Audi, they are also loud but not as loud as the Bridgestones, but this is because the started to cup. The Michelins are not wearing nearly as well as the Bridgestones and they don't grip as well either. All winter tires have trade-offs.

In the mean time, turn the radio up louder! :-)

Steve

thanks steve for the reply. Im not sure the brand, but ill check tommrow morning. It sounds like the axel spinning of some cheap car...this can be due to tires? Also, im wondering why it only comes from one location on the car...do you think rotating the tires will help any? I guess it could very well be the tires...i tried changing gears and it didnt have any effect on the sound. The only thing that changes the tone is the actual speed of teh car.

Last edited by hotwiredbenz; Dec 23, 2005 at 03:46 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2005 | 02:09 PM
  #5  
SAguirre's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 8
From: Longmont, CO
04 E320 4 Matic, 95 Audi S6, 99 Carrera 4 Cabrio, 12 Fiat 500 Sport, 00 BMW R1200C 10, BMW R1200R
Originally Posted by kaggz1227
thanks steve for the reply. Im not sure the brand, but ill check tommrow morning. It sounds like the axel spinning of some cheap car...this can be due to tires? Also, im wondering why it only comes from one location on the car...do you think rotating the tires will help any? I guess it could very well be the tires...i tried changing gears and it didnt have any effect on the sound. The only thing that changes the tone is the actual speed of teh car.
You could also have just one tire that started to cup and only this one will make the noise. If you can rotate the tires, you might get the sound from another place. This will eliminate the doubt about it being the tires. My snow tires are all directional and the only way I can switch sides on them is to re-mount them on a rim to change sides. So far I only rotate them front to back.

Steve
Reply
Old Dec 23, 2005 | 02:26 PM
  #6  
BudC's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 3
From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
Originally Posted by SAguirre
So far I only rotate them front to back. Steve
That's how Mercedes wheels are supposed to be rotated because of their concerns about handling.

I once had a BMW and they were so concerned about handling, they recommended NOT rotating wheels.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2006 | 08:23 PM
  #7  
hotwiredbenz's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 281
Likes: 2
'07 s550 4matic
hmm...so I rotated the tires the other day and its still coming from the rear driver side. dealership tech supposadly doesnt hear it.
Reply
Old Jan 3, 2006 | 09:21 PM
  #8  
RJC's Avatar
RJC
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 326
From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Originally Posted by kaggz1227
hmm...so I rotated the tires the other day and its still coming from the rear driver side. dealership tech supposadly doesnt hear it.
You really didn't expect him to did you? LOL
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:02 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE