MadManAboutTown

I know there was an earlier thread on this, but has anyone else noticed this admittedly soft pinging sound when accelerating as E500? I've ask the local (Cincinnati) dealership about this, and really didn''t get an answer other than "maybe the car hadn't been serviced yet" (it was a Sport).

Well, a week later I went back to test drive one again, drove the very same Sport edition, and heard the very same noise.

Is there a problem here that we should know about?

faxon

I have been complaining about my e500 making that same sound.
Took it in to the dealership and they also have no explanation.
This is not acceptable for such a fine automobile.

MadManAboutTown

Have you (or anyone else) noticed any degraded engine performance with this sound? What concerns me most (besides just hearing this annoying noise not heard with other performance sedans) is what long-term effects will this have on the engine... and therefore the resale value of the vehicle!

But I agree that it is indeed unacceptable for this class of automobile.

Beltfed

It is unacceptable, if you bring the car in 3 times for the same problem (assuming the dealer can't fix it)........you can then go forward and file a lemon law complaint. It can be a royal pain, but in the end, problem is solved.

A constant ticking sound in the engine should not exist.

Not to mention, this is the same engine that has been out since 2000, why the hell is it now causing problems? Does the new SL500 have ticking issues?

rajswift

I took my car in to the service department, and the ticking sound was one of my major concerns. At first glance, the service advisor straight away stated that there was something wrong, and that the sound was not normal. When picking the car up he told me that all the E 500's make that sound? (probably just saying that so I would ease off him) I'm sure that since the car is so new they haven't got a fix for it yet. I'm still pissed and this is defineltely unacceptable for a car of this caliber.

rayscar

Is the sound only on E500 engines? Does anyone have the problem on the 320 engine?

MadManAboutTown

I have driven three different E320's and have not heard the ticking sound from the V6 engine (I was specifically listening for it on two occasions).

rayscar

Is the sound only heard when accelerating or can it be heard at idle too?

MadManAboutTown

... and interestingly, it doesn't seem to get any louder the harder you accelerate. But no, I have not heard it at all when the engine is at idle speed, or when cruising at a constant speed.

BTW - I am still awaiting for a response from M-B service on this issue.

AMGLAB

In reading all of the problems from regulars on the forum who have received delivery of their cars, it seems a majority are expierencing way too many defects. I have read MB has started using some outside companies this year for assembly production of the E Class. I wonder if the non-MB plants are the source of the problem cars. The only reason Mercedes can charge so much for their cars is their reputation that they are trouble free. This reputation is being tested at the present time based on the repots we are hearing.

rayscar

Sorry for all the questions. Can you hear the sound when you step on the accelerator while in park and just rev up the engine? If not the noise may not be with the engine itself. Maybe something else in the drivetrain.

rayscar

My impression of the troubles posted so far seem relatively minor excluding the annoyance and the time associated with resolving them. They seem to be a slight pulling to the right while driving, this noise, and trouble with the SOS/teleaide system. Considering this is the first year of a new model that's not too bad but I agree it is something that MB should take a hard look at.

thunderdan

One more question in my pursuit of determining 320 or 500, it seems as if there are a few more problems with the 500 than the 320's? No? The ticking in the engine, the pulling to the right were both prevelant in the 500?

bmms8

i think the pulling to the right can happen to any of the cars, because i guess the cause is the tires.......tires are tires.....

MadManAboutTown

I have only heard the ticking sound when accelerating, so it very well could be a drivetrain problem.

Anyway, at this moment an M-B factory rep is on site here in Cincinnati trying to diagnose the problem while driving the car with the ticking sound... who arrived in an E500 himself. So I'll update this thread when I hear back from him.

bmms8

oo, i see, thats cool............................for anyone that has picked up a e320, or e500, how long did it take you to get your car from the dock..thanks...especially ppl in socal....how long did it take?

rayscar

bmms. when is your car due to arrive? The dock strike/lockout my delay things for you. Hope not.

bmms8

yea it sucks, my dad told me about it....i guess mb is losing a mil a day....and nthing is coming in or out......my dock date is oct 5, and my delivery date is oct 12. so 10 days left. also, when is your dock date and delivery date?

rayscar

My car was supposed to have been built on 9/30. I don't have a dock date or specific delivery date yet but since I'm on the east coast I won't be effected by the strike/lockout anyway. I doubt it will be going on much longer. The President will likely order them back to work soon if it isn't worked out so your delay should be short.

bmms8

yea hopefully, wow thats wierd, your build date was 1 day ater mine, but i thoguht it started on aug 28....but your dealer should have a date by now

skymast

Same ticking sound on my e500. I have only noticed it at low level acceleration when the car is just started.

I dont know if it is problem or an annoyance but I would rather not have (or hear) the clicking sound!

MadManAboutTown

I just talked to a sales person at M-B who drove an E500 with a rep who trains dealer staff in the region. The "trainer" admits that the company-owned E500 that he's been driving for quite awhile makes the same noise, and is "normal and expected".

The reason? Because of the move from a cast iron to an aluminum block, and because of the higher horsepower of the V8, the ticking sound is more noticable than evident in the E320's V6 (which I have never heard). So it is something that he has been aware of, and is something that he thinks is just the way the engine is expected to perform.

Dema

Sometimes source of sound can be radio. For clear testing make sure that it's off.

MadManAboutTown

FYI - I had no radio on while checking out this noise... which probably enabled me to hear it in the first place, since it really is not that loud!

rayscar

How loud is this ticking? Do you have to really listen for it or is it so noticable that a passenger riding in the car for the first time would hear it? Sometimes after spending as much time as do in our cars we notice every noise but other would not. I'm just trying to get a feel for how annoying it may be. Thanks.