I can't believe anything like the 'bedding' suggested would be needed.

Passenger cars driven on a commute shouldn't need any such prepping by the customer. Especially $50K+ passenger cars. Racing application may need special prep and mid-race care and treatment of brakes - not grocery shopping trips.

More likely just cheap and/or poorly engineered pads/rotors by Mercedes-Benz.

I will switch to ceramic as soon as I hit the same problem.

 

This all mostly points to the bad pads especially when they cleaned the pads and it was quiet for a day.

Again,

I replaced my pads with AutoZone ceramic pads. They cost about $100.

No issues and almost nonexistent dust. I don't have to wash my car now just because the rims are black with brake dust.

And the front pads are super easy to change. No bolts to open. Just punch out two pins and pull pads out, squeefe pistons back in and install new pads. Caliper stays in place.

Do NOT open the bolts on the outside half of the caliper. This would result in a bigger repair job.

 

#1 - I mentioned the problem when we took it in to be washed. Answer: it hasn't been driven enough in reverse. (I don't drive my vehicles too much in reverse, usually only when I need to back up.)

#1a - I followed the recommended bed-in procedures.

#2 - I took it in specifically for the brake problem. They disassembled the brakes and cleaned everything. Quieted it down for a couple of days and now the problem is as bad as it was.

#3 - I have an appointment on Monday. I have asked the question about buying brake pads from Autozone and what that will do to the warranty. So far I haen't been able to find pads listed for a 2013 SL550??

#4 - Hopefully we don't get there; but, that will be the last attempt before going to the Regional guys.

 

Too funny
Good luck with the brakes

 

I understand that you are getting pretty annoyed with this problem, and at this point, you probably cringe when you think about pressing on the brakes. I had a similar problem on my S5 (and my new E550 but I blame myself). I didn't have the problem all the time though. They squealed when I parked my car in the garage, or when I was slowly crawling towards a stop light in a busy street making me pissed that my car was making noise.

European brake pads are known for 3 things, Dust, Stopping Power, and dust. Some also squeak, but what I learned is my technique made all the difference. I am guessing you probably brake softly because you like to drive smooth and/or you think that the softer you do it the less likely they will squeal. I find that is exactly when they will squeal so I changed my braking technique. Instead of gently applying the pedal to find the engagement spot and then applying the least amount of braking force necesary in a linear fashion, I now apply smooth linear pressure right away (think of it as a confident braking motion, not a jerky one). As the car comes to a stop, I let off the brake very smoothly until they are just barely engaged so the car doesn't jerk as usual.

This technique not only stopped the squeal, but allowed me to trade in my S5 with 70k miles and over 25% life on the original brake pads.

I am not blaming you for your problem, it is a characteristic of the pads as I am sure you have had many cars in the past that didn't squeak. You can choose to handle it one of 3 ways, Change the cars characteristics (new pads), Change your driving style (brake differently), or just get more and more frustrated with the car and dealer.

And of course, I could be 100% wrong and the problem is 100% with the car, but based on the fact that things work fine for a short while after bedding, and then again after they are cleaned, it makes me think for sure that your driving style and these pads don't get along, so one of you is going to have to change.

 

Spend $111,000 for a high end car and have to change both mine and my wife's braking habits so it doesn't make a noise?? It's actually my wife's car and I rarely drive it; but, I won't even tell you what my wife would say if I let her read your post! She would more than likely say get rid of it and put her back in a 5 series BMW which she drove for 11 years and never had that problem. Oh, and if I'm not mistaken a BMW is also European.

 

I have a 2012 E550 that I bought almost exactly 1 year ago. It now has over 20,000 miles and the brakes have never squealed. They did make an occaisional groaning noise when it was new that went away after the first 1,000 miles. My daily commute consists of an 85 mile drive of mostly highway driving.

I don't doubt that this problem exists but not all of them do it. I just don't understand why the dealers can't fix the ones that I do. I would change to ceramic pads if I had the problem as others have suggested. I put them on my old SL55 and various Corvettes and was very happy with them.

 

It is absolutely nonsense that you would have to change your braking habits. Brakes are supposed to stop the car no matter how you apply them. Slowly when slow stopping and quickly when needed. And all this without the squeel.

I quess I'm lucky with mine as I never had the issue. And I never try to baby my brakes. I use them as I need and never ease off of them after a stop. I either keep my foot on or engage the HOLD to keep car in place, like at traffic lights.

Squeeling sound being so high pitch most likely (99.99% sure) comes from the rotor itself vibrating. This vibration is caused by friction between the pad and the rotor. Easiest thing to try for a fix is to replace the pads with ceramic pads.

It is absolute madness from MB part that they have issues like this and don't have a fix for it or they do but your dealer is giving you a go around.

Sorry I missed your car is a SL 550 but the same "medicine" applies.

 

I take the car in tomorrow. If they don't fix it, just as others have done and others have suggested I plan on replacing the factory pads with ceramic pads.

Here's my problem though: I have searched every site I can find looking for brake pads for a 2013 SL550 and so far I can't find anyone that carries pads for a 2013 SL550 yet.

Let me know if you know a place that does. I have checked:

• Autozone
• Wagner
• Tirerack.com
• etc.,

and none of have carry them yet.

Oh, and for those who say this is something peculiar to European cars?
Her car before this was a BMW540i she owned for 11 years and the car before that was a 1986 Jaguar XJ6 she also owned for 11 years. Neither had noisy brakes.

 

These guys are pretty good:
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/se...ake+Pad+Set%29

They have the EBC Redstuff that I heard some good things about and a bunch of others.

 

oops, just noticed the disclaimer that the listing includes non-direct fit parts:

Note: These parts may require customization to fit your vehicle.

You may need to give them a call.

 

I noticed that too after your post; but, worth a call to them.

THANKS.

 

Just had an on-line chat with one of their reps and they said they can't help, suggested a speciality house.

 

Ask your dealer parts if the part number for pads has changed between 2012 and 2013. There is a good chance that it is the same part but the third party suppliers don't have this info yet.

Or does someone here know that MB changed brakes for the 2013 model SL?

You will find pads when you search for 2012 model. AutoZone does not have the ceramic but EBC does. Just checked.

 

We have a one year old 550 cab from Fletcher Jones in Newport beach CA 9300 mile. Took it in to have brake pulsing issue addressed. Service representative said need to replace rotors and pads front and back. told not under warranty. Has anyone else had this experience with FJ service. I was astounded with this poor performance on high end vehicle. Seems like MB has a major problem they are turning a blind eye to. Ps. This was our fourth new vehicle from FJ

 

Some MB dealers must think we are all stupid or just rolling in money where we would buy that.

 

Normally warranty covers brakes for 12 months / 12,000 miles. Assuming your vehicle was 1 year old at the time of complaint (documented on invoice) pad & disk replacement is covered. If 30 or less days out of said warranty speak with service manager to get MB rep covering dealership involved to approve goodwill replacement. Note EPC (MB electronic parts catalog) shows front disks part # 2214210812 installed at production and are replaced by current 2044211212 indicating modification however, not documented by bulletin.

 

Fairly certain my Audi A6 was European too and didn't squeal for the 10yrs I drove it. (Except for a wheel bearing that did squeal louder that anything on the highway once). Stopped well, lots of dust though that drove me crazy, but I couldn't bring myself to put on those ugly dust shields that would block the view of my painted calipers

 

Note the problem is stated for cars with powerful engine as 550 and above. A6 has regular power and regular brakes so no such problem should be observed. E350 owners can confirm their brakes are silent.
More expensive cars have more problems since not really tested under pressure of consumer complains. So do not blame manufacturer, blame your pocket and be more consistent to push MB fix the problem.
There is no correlation with European makers as well. Let's get another example Lexus LS460. I hope everyone agree it is Asian maker. Regular LS460 has completely silent brakes. However LS460 sport edition which is $10K more expensive has same problem, bigger brembo brakes bother owners a lot with noise and vibration .

 

"More expensive cars have more problems since not really tested under pressure of consumer complains. So do not blame manufacturer, blame your pocket..."

None of that is logical. I owned a 2009 Vette ZR1 which I traded in for her Sl550. That was a $125,000 car with specialized Brembo ceramic brakes made for the ZR1 and borrowed from Ferrari Enzo's. No noise.

I have owned and still own a 2008 Viper ACR of which less than 300 were made that year. That also is a $125,000 car with specialized brakes for the ACR and no noise.

So it has nothing to do with more expensive cars, it may be a bad design on their part; but, it has nothing to do with being more expensive or not.

Oh, and on the other end? My DD is a $26,500 Fiat 500 Abarth, no brake noise.

 

Ironically we can't do generalization based on my or your particular case. So do not try to build any logic. When you look in big numbers you will see correlation. I do manufacturing and I can tell you I have great QA division doing great job, but only after reaching big number sales and dealing with certain number of my customer complains I can be confident, my product gets quality. It is true for cars as well. MB sells 100 E350 for one E550. The parts they share you may not observe any quality problems but for part unique for E550 you can observe problem.

 

Thanks for all of the input -- we hope to pick the car up tomorrow and will see what the dealer representative has to say. My wife will be picking the car us and plans to discuss the various findings regarding the faulty brakes when she picks the car up. DEWright20

 

+1.

Brake noise has nothing to do with anything else but very poor brake components, the pads and/or the rotors, PERIOD!!

MB cars (most of them) are serial production vehicles so their bean counters count the pennies when building them. Unfortunately when they save money with the components from the lowest bidder vendors these components do not always reflect the quality they ask for.

It is not easy for the car maker like MB to change to different parts supplier as they first have to prove the problem really is with the parts they are getting. The easiest for them is to keep using the parts until their contract is over with the vendor and then select another better vendor. This, of course, means that they will be making a bunch of cars until the contract is renewed and of all these vehicles not everyone has the problem. They will fight the responsibility to replace components, which they should not do as some customers will be lost, but this is all marketing people driven system, which in so many businesses is the main problem. Save pennies, spend dollars later...

 

Penny wise and pound foolish, that is right. And I absolutely agree about the brake noise -> bad components.

It is possible that this wasn't a cost cutting issue, new parts/suppliers happen for a number of different reasons. I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

BUT

If someone puts down a hundred large + on a car I cannot fathom how a dealer would say no to a customer over a part that costs a customer $150!!! What does it cost them, $20, $50?? They should have said yes yes yes yes we apologize while bending over and kissing major ***, and something like: This is an issue with the pads, there have been a few "make up story and insert here". We'll put on a new set of pads, and if that doesn't fix it we'll do it again until it does, and my that is a lovely pair of shoes you are wearing!!

 

We dropped her SL550 off last night.

The Service Advisor just called saying they would have had it finished; but, are waiting on the other rotor.

They are installing new rotors and pads.