Loud noise coming from the electronic emergency brake
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GLE 350 and ML350
Loud noise coming from the electronic emergency brake
When I first heard it I could not figure out where it came from but it is loud and certainly not what you would expect from a $60K vehicle! Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this. When you turn the car off, especially inside a garage the sound is very loud. Went to my dealer once who just shrugged and said well we can't stop it from working.......oh really! I may have to get ugly about this with them but I hope not as I like the dealership but this noise certainly is not what Mercedes would have engineered into the GLE350.
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Joined: Sep 2011
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From: San Francisco, CA
'16 GL550, '12 C350
What does it sounds like? I know, at least from my experience, the motor that engages the brake sounds very mechanical and sometimes has a little thump when engaged. Sounds like it would be something heard on an airplane when you're setting your flaps. I've had several Land Rovers with the electronic emergency brake, and it sounded exactly the same as on my Mercedes GL. And would also assume this is a system supplied to Mercedes that's used on dozens of automobile brands. To me the sound is completely normal, so unless your noise is unique from what is out on the market, I would think it's okay.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
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GLE 350 and ML350
What does it sounds like? I know, at least from my experience, the motor that engages the brake sounds very mechanical and sometimes has a little thump when engaged. Sounds like it would be something heard on an airplane when you're setting your flaps. I've had several Land Rovers with the electronic emergency brake, and it sounded exactly the same as on my Mercedes GL. And would also assume this is a system supplied to Mercedes that's used on dozens of automobile brands. To me the sound is completely normal, so unless your noise is unique from what is out on the market, I would think it's okay.
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 356
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From: San Francisco, CA
'16 GL550, '12 C350
It sounds like what you're describing is normal (except the fan hitting the radiator, which I would assume would be more alarming/banging and metal-on-metal chaos) - but let me described in more detail exactly what I hear and hopefully this will help.
When you engage it, the electric motor makes an audible high-pitched whining sound which strains/slows as it completes the engagement, usually followed by an audible thump (just like a tailgate closure.) Yes, it's not graceful at all. But I think almost all vehicles with electronic emergency brakes sound this way.
On a side note, even the uber-expensive Range Rover (including the $150K Autobiography), makes this exact same noise when the emergency brake is engaged. And Land Rover products, the up-market versions, are truly the quietest and most refined vehicles on the market - from a ride perspective. They are NOT as well engineered as a Mercedes.
I really think it's a supplier system and it is what it is - but maybe one day it'll become quieter as customer continue to provide feedback to the manufacturers, who'll in-turn encourage the supplier to refine the system.
If your sound is different, then you should compare it to another GLE (new, on the lot), and if the sound is different, your system may need to be looked at.
When you engage it, the electric motor makes an audible high-pitched whining sound which strains/slows as it completes the engagement, usually followed by an audible thump (just like a tailgate closure.) Yes, it's not graceful at all. But I think almost all vehicles with electronic emergency brakes sound this way.
On a side note, even the uber-expensive Range Rover (including the $150K Autobiography), makes this exact same noise when the emergency brake is engaged. And Land Rover products, the up-market versions, are truly the quietest and most refined vehicles on the market - from a ride perspective. They are NOT as well engineered as a Mercedes.
I really think it's a supplier system and it is what it is - but maybe one day it'll become quieter as customer continue to provide feedback to the manufacturers, who'll in-turn encourage the supplier to refine the system.
If your sound is different, then you should compare it to another GLE (new, on the lot), and if the sound is different, your system may need to be looked at.
Last edited by Count Laszlo; May 2, 2016 at 12:38 PM.
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From: San Francisco, CA
'16 GL550, '12 C350
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2016 GLE350 4MATIC
It isn't loud on mine either. As a matter of fact, yesterday I was parked on the street waiting for my wife inside the car. The engine was off and after 5 mins the emergency brakes was automatically engaged on it's own. I didn't hear any noise but I felt the car shake. At first I thought someone bumped me from behind but then I realized it was the emergency brake and saw the light was on the front display. I also notice that the emergency brake automatically engages when I turn off the engine when parked in my driveway which has a steep slant. Pretty cool feature.
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It isn't loud on mine either. As a matter of fact, yesterday I was parked on the street waiting for my wife inside the car. The engine was off and after 5 mins the emergency brakes was automatically engaged on it's own. I didn't hear any noise but I felt the car shake. At first I thought someone bumped me from behind but then I realized it was the emergency brake and saw the light was on the front display. I also notice that the emergency brake automatically engages when I turn off the engine when parked in my driveway which has a steep slant. Pretty cool feature.
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GLE 350 and ML350
Finally got down to my dealer and we checked two more GLE350's on the lot and they all make the same noise as mine, maybe a little quieter but not much. I just think it is so lame to have this noise with all the technology available today, especially on a Mercedes. Just my two cents.
