jerome8283

I have a 2010 E350 Sport. I have been experiencing front end noise on the right side. The noise occurs after the car has been driven for a while. On hot days it seems to occur as well. Once it starts it's pretty consistent. I can feel it and hear it. I've been to the dealer four times and they cannot determine the cause. They replaced the control arm and struts and still no resolution. I recall discussions about ball joints on the earlier 350's but the dealer rules this out stating the car is too new. What else could it be?

Has anyone else had this problem?

RNBRAD

Is it a constant noise? Does it happen only at certain times, like hitting bumps or when turning? What does it sound like? What does it feel like? I little better explanation will get you a more accurate assessment.

z28style23

if its like a knock noise from the front have them or you can lube the hood stops. those knocked and made an annoying noise on my 2010 and 2011 E350. once i lubed the hood stops was gone.

jerome8283

The noise occurs after the car has been driven for a while, when the car has warmed up perhaps. Once it starts it's pretty consistent. I can feel and hear a knocking noise. Yes, over bumps it does occur but on smooth surfaces as well. Perhaps on uneven surfaces. I will do more troubleshooting today as the smooth surface experience was just felt yesterday. I can replicate it by driving slowly over a bumpy road. Also when pulling into my driveway, a right turn, as I hit the slight lip in the driveway I can hear the knock from the right wheel. The left is quiet.

jerome8283

Were you able to recreate this when it occurred? Could you push down on the hood and hear the noise? Where are the hood stops? Do you have a pic? Thanks

Arrie

Have they looked at the brake caliber?

Ctrl+alt+Elite

dont know if this will help or not, but on my Tahoe, I had the same nosie and they diagnosed it to the steering dampener. looked like a little shock absorber on the steering linkage that failed and caused a wierd noise that sounds like what you've got going on, especilly when you say you can duplicate it by driving slowly on a bumpy road. I know a E350 isn't a Tahoe but maybe you could give that a look

RNBRAD

Check what these other guys are saying, but I've seen struts do exactly that. Make sure your strut bolts are tight too. Also make sure there is no play in your tire when parked. Try to move the tire pushing the front in and out and see if there is any play whatsover. It should be tight.

ash_cpe

Sorry to hear about your issues, is it like a popping noise and you hear it from underneath the car? if it is, it might be from exhaust heat shields. I had a similar issue, it was the heat shield right under drivers seat. I took me about 7 times going to the dealers and I finally realized that dealers don't like troubleshooting non bulletins "easy" issues and I got to troubleshoot and point it out my self to the dealer. Good luck!

jerome8283

no, not yet

jerome8283

The struts were replaced and I still have the same problem. There's no play in the tire while parked.

jerome8283

The knock is definately coming from the right front wheel. I hear the same knock when entering my driveway, only on the right side.

jerome8283

I was reading through a few of the older 211 posts and saw a lot of ball joint issues and the problem descriptions sound simalar to mine. Could this be so with a newer 212?

ash_cpe

Any luck fixing the issue that you were having? I kinda have the same issue, it started last week when turning right while moving from a stop

jerome8283

Nope. The dealer has not been able to solve it yet. They hear it too but cannot determine the cause. See the post below. It's from a while back and it's a 211 but the original poster describes my issue exactly. Let me know if you have the same symptoms.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...n-related.html

AMGAffalterbach

I have not read the entirety of this page but one of the most common knocking noises from E-Class Mercedes is, surprisingly, failure of the engine motor mounts. The reason is these engines are so torque-heavy that when you really accelerate you put a lot of force on this part which causes wear-down over time and it can lead to a knocking noise, possibly above a wheel well or that general area. This doesn't apply to all model years but that is a possibility. Heat could explain the expansion of metal causing a damaged mount to sag, and driving on uneven surfaces can lead the engine to be knocking against the frame/body of the car even slightly. These parts are hidden which could mean it is difficult to diagnose. There is a motor mount on the right side in the engine bay that has been known to fail. Probably not it but hope I can help or inspire some thought into it.

jerome8283

Thanks! Anything is possible at this point!

AMGAffalterbach

No problem at all! Please keep us updated though, I am kind of curious myself as it what it is

LaicepsYdobon

I had something similar with my car when I first got it. First dealer changed the bearing on top of the strut (easy to do). Noise was still there. Next they ordered me a replacement shock absorber from Germany which was a pain because it took somewhere between 6-8 weeks to show up. I swore it felt like the part was swimming itself over it took so long. Part finally arrives, gets put in my car, the noise continues. Took it back to the dealer and they put on this device called a "Chassis Ear" and determined exactly what the problem was. Turns out the rubber bushing one of the sway bars was bad. Normally you can just pop the rubber bushing out and replace it with a new one but MB voulcanizes the rubber to the metal so I needed the entire sway bar replaced. Once I got that done the problem went away and been noise free since then.

My advise it to ask the dealer to check the rubber bushings on the sway bar to see if they are bad. If the bushings are not the problem suggest they put that Chasis Ear contraption on your car to determine what is going on.

jerome8283

Thanks. My sway bar was replaced so I assume the bushings would have been as well. The Chassis Ear contraption sounds like a good option to try. I will be off next week and can focus on this more, not that I would like too.

ImInPA

I think I remember reading about a bulletin regarding noise like you describe as coming from certain shocks. The fix listed was to replace the shocks if confirmmed. It may be posted in the sticky at the top of this forum. Hope this helps.

jerome8283

Thanks I will take a look.

ImInPA

Jerome:
LI32.25-P-051123 FEB11 – 212 without Airmatic (489), 207 without vehicle dynamics (483) dull thumping noises or metallic rattling from the area of the front axle occurring @ speeds 10-45 mph, modified front struts should be installed.

AMGAffalterbach

How many times do I have to tell you Jermone? Make sure they are finished off BEFORE you hide them in the trunk =D

jerome8283

Srtuts were changed but not sure if they were "modified" front struts.