had similar symptoms? - vibration and excessive engine noise during takeoff when cold
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19
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2004 E500 Wagon
had similar symptoms? - vibration and excessive engine noise during takeoff when cold
I know us guys don’t like to read long and elaborate write ups, so I’ll try to keep mine short and concise:
Car: 2004 E320 Sport with 103,000 miles
Symptoms: vibration and excessive engine noise during takeoff from stop position; more apparent when engine was under load, eg. going uphill. This happened only during takeoff (either soft or hard acceleration) from a stop when the car/engine was cold. Vibration and noise would subside as car picked up speed, and were gone after car shifted into 2nd or 3rd gear or about 5-10 minutes of driving.
Vibration was felt through the floorboard and felt like it came from engine or transmission. Not shuttering but vibration like you would feel from a massage chair. Excessive noise sounded like if engine was under heavy load – a dry groaning or grinding noise. I just bought the car so I don’t know how long it has been like this or if it has gotten worse over time.
Diagnosis so far: Engine idles fine and everything felt normal after car was moving above 10-15 mph; no vibration or excessive engine noise even up to 70-80 mph. Many discussions on here and on other forums suggest bad engine mounts as the culprit. The mounts were never changed on car according to service records.
Confirmation from anyone with previous experience of similar symptoms will be much appreciated!
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Car: 2004 E320 Sport with 103,000 miles
Symptoms: vibration and excessive engine noise during takeoff from stop position; more apparent when engine was under load, eg. going uphill. This happened only during takeoff (either soft or hard acceleration) from a stop when the car/engine was cold. Vibration and noise would subside as car picked up speed, and were gone after car shifted into 2nd or 3rd gear or about 5-10 minutes of driving.
Vibration was felt through the floorboard and felt like it came from engine or transmission. Not shuttering but vibration like you would feel from a massage chair. Excessive noise sounded like if engine was under heavy load – a dry groaning or grinding noise. I just bought the car so I don’t know how long it has been like this or if it has gotten worse over time.
Diagnosis so far: Engine idles fine and everything felt normal after car was moving above 10-15 mph; no vibration or excessive engine noise even up to 70-80 mph. Many discussions on here and on other forums suggest bad engine mounts as the culprit. The mounts were never changed on car according to service records.
Confirmation from anyone with previous experience of similar symptoms will be much appreciated!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
Engine mounts or transmission mount is probably the culprit especially if you're experiencing this in cold weather they can get hard as a rock. Try to visually inspect the mounts and report back if possible, thanks for including a lot of detail.
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Engine/Tranny mounts. Change them you should be ok. mine went at 90,000
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Joined: Mar 2006
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2004 E500 Wagon
Thank you guys for the inputs. I will replace the mounts first and see. Never experienced the symptoms of engine/tranny mount failures before, so no idea what it's like. My 2000 CLK320 with 150k is still running smoothly with original mounts (knock on wood).
I'll report back after I DIY the mounts.
I'll report back after I DIY the mounts.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Thank you guys for the inputs. I will replace the mounts first and see. Never experienced the symptoms of engine/tranny mount failures before, so no idea what it's like. My 2000 CLK320 with 150k is still running smoothly with original mounts (knock on wood).
I'll report back after I DIY the mounts.
I'll report back after I DIY the mounts.
Note on my E500 the exhause has to be removed and the engine jacked up to remove the mounts.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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2004 E500 Wagon
Will do.
Now, another owner just reported on my post on another MB forum that he's having the same exact symptoms like mine after a recent tranny flush at the dealership (5 qts and filter). His car only has 71k miles and just replaced engine mounts. He's suspecting the new ATF the dealer used might be causing the problems.
Any thoughts?
Now, another owner just reported on my post on another MB forum that he's having the same exact symptoms like mine after a recent tranny flush at the dealership (5 qts and filter). His car only has 71k miles and just replaced engine mounts. He's suspecting the new ATF the dealer used might be causing the problems.
Any thoughts?
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 835
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From: Bay Area, CA
09' E320
Will do.
Now, another owner just reported on my post on another MB forum that he's having the same exact symptoms like mine after a recent tranny flush at the dealership (5 qts and filter). His car only has 71k miles and just replaced engine mounts. He's suspecting the new ATF the dealer used might be causing the problems.
Any thoughts?
Now, another owner just reported on my post on another MB forum that he's having the same exact symptoms like mine after a recent tranny flush at the dealership (5 qts and filter). His car only has 71k miles and just replaced engine mounts. He's suspecting the new ATF the dealer used might be causing the problems.
Any thoughts?
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
2004 E500 Wagon
Thanks. I hope it's not because of the tranny fluid either. I have to warm up the car for a good 5-10 minutes now before driving (I always just turn the key and go, even when it was 15F outside, never a problem with my CLK320). If the mounts don't fix the problems, I'll definitely flush and fill the tranny right away with fluids that I filled my CLK with last time.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
2004 E500 Wagon
New engine mounts and transmission mount fixed all the noise and vibration. Old tranny mount completely collapsed and caused about 70% of the noise and 90% of the vibration experienced initially.
