GLE 350 frame/door seals creak/squeak
 

I have the Panorama Sunroof option. Noticed a while back when going over speed bumps, the door frames creak/squeak. Now i'm hearing the sound a lot more often. Going over uneven surface driveways, ramps, speed bumps etc. It's really annoying. I know it's a large tall SUV and the frame moves a bit but this noise is annoying. It's coming from around the door frames. I'm guessing it's the door seals insulation. I had it washed the other day and I always around the door frames. I noticed shortly after the creak/squeak diminished dramatically. Then came back on again. Went to the dealer today and they told me it's the door frame rubber and they are going to give me a cream solution of some sort that I can apply around the door to see if that will get rid of the creaks. I don't know if they are dry or too tight. It's kind of weird but I hope it fixes it. Any one else noticed anything like that and how you remedied it ?

Uuuum, no. Did they offer to apply the cream themselves? How often do you have to "lube it up?" I'm assuming this car is still fairly new and under warranty (and it appears you may have purchased more than one car from them) so why are they not willing to fix/apply the cream?

Will go there this week to try this ''magic'' lotion. Sounds like a load of BS to me. I know it gets hot in Texas but this is too much, the creaking is getting worse. The MB guy says that I have the panorama roof so not a lot of support for top of frame. I guess it's rolling too much. Anyone else experience this ? Maybe it's just me and I need to take it back to Dealer and demand a buyback ?!

One thing I did forget. I had an E class with the pano awhile back and it did creak a little when I did something that stressed/twisted the car structure. Like turn in or out of a parking lot that was uneven. It wasn't very bad but you did notice it. I never thought it was bad enought to take to the dealer though and it just seemed normal when the car was stresses (like the sound a truck makes going across a ditch and its frame is stressed).
Hence another reason I don't like pano roofs.

I turn into a steep driveway. The chassis should not creak. That's why we have suspension travel. Also, the panoramic roof should not have any effect. All this is assuming you are not driving along the Rubicon Trail.

I have GLS with pano roof and haven't noticed any creaking as of yet.

Had this "popping" "creeking" sound occasionally after about 3 years on W166 - 2012 ML350 with pano roof, usually when going over curb entering parking lot. It was never consistent.

Will try this magic lotion tomorrow. it sounds like BS but will give it a try. I've had SUVs before and many cars but never heard experienced a weird creaking sound like that when going over uneven surfaces speed bumps. not off road. driving in the city, going over bumps slowly. Weird. It sounds like the frame is shifting, which possibly is but the creaking sound drives me crazy.

Yes - this issue is a warranty item - and Yes the dealer should take care of it - in their shop - at nocharge to you.

The dealer has two things: a door seal "clearner" for the seals and door frame - and a door seal "lotion" - the procedure is to clean the seals and then lubricate the seals.

I have seen this go away - sometimes takes 2 rounds a couple of weeks apart.

If this doesn't solve it - two times - then warranty procedure is to replace the door seals which frankly is a big pain-in-the-arse

When the dealer applied the the first time, i noticed an improvement. Now i'm bringing it back to the second treatment. It feels so silly applying ''lotion'' on the door seals to prevent it from creaking. I've never experienced this on any of my 4Runners with much higher clearance.

If you think the doors or roof creeks (makes noise), try pulling something heavy behind the car. When I tow my boat I keep waiting for the whole rear end to rip off.
Good luck with yours though!

I had the same issue in my GLS, I was told the solution was to apply a lubricant " snake oil" that latest two days. I had the door rubbers/seals on all four doors replaced under warranty- problem solved.


My old man had a saying " the squeakest wheel get the most Oil"

Be relentless with MB until , you , the consumer are happy....

Good luck!'

I'm bringing the GLE into the dealer in a few days. The ''magic lotion'' that was applied to the door rubber seals was only good for a day and the creaking and squeaking came back. Thanks, I will ask to have those replaced. I hope that fixes it other wise it might be the actual frame, to much body roll. i don't know nay more. I've never experienced that with any of my previous vehicles.

I believe the materials used in the seals are the root cause of the issue, until you get the seals replaced the creaking noise will never go away .

Isn't GLE350 produced in our homeland AMERICA? so is it something we proud of our own produced this SUV and there are issues with it?

That's the theory, maybe the products are sourced elsewhere? I'm sure the packaging of the new seals will disclose their country of origin.

Quality control for MB USA has gone down quite a bit. It's frustrating and disappointing.

My 2014 ML without Panorama roof does it too. I was thinking...if that's what happens driving down the parking garage, what would happen if I went off-road?? I have airmatic, so I really didn't think the chassis would move that much, that easily :confused:

The dealer had my suv for a week and replaced all 4 door seals/weather stripping. Problem solved. No more door creaking. Finally the 3rd visit to the dealer was the charm. Didn't have to pay anything. I agree that the QC in the USA built ones is not the same as the German built ones.

I'm a little relieved it isn't just my vehicle, but disappointed nonetheless.

I tried applying lubricant from Sheron , both on the rubbers on the door frame and these on the chasis side. I put a significant ammount and then dried the excess with a dry napkin. There was some effect, but stil the sound persists. One member here from Australia proposed using an alcohol containing wipe which will make just the opposite effect, it will clean the rubber and make it crispy. Anyway I'll try this as well. In my case the squeaking started with the high temperatures and definitely disappears for a day after carwash. What I'm concerned about replacing the rubbers under warranty is that my experience is that every time something on the coupe of the vehicle is disassembled and put together again, new noises appear :) Even if they get rid of the squeaking, plastic rattle in the doors will be no good as well.

I'm having the same issues with the crackling scrunching noises coming from the door seals all around this vehicle, especially in the morning when its colder (I still hear it throughout the day) It's most noticeable when driving over uneven surfaces. I can hear the whole vehicle flexing and it's super irritating to hear. I asked Mercedes and they said they're talking with the folks in Alabama where the vehicle is assembled to find a solution (I'm guessing this is a widespread issue) I agree with Wanty that the materials used in the seals are the root cause of the issue. Until they change the materials / rubber compounds in these seals, replacing them will not solve the problem.

@Roni07, How has it been since your dealer replaced your seals? Do you know if they've changed the materials?

I've seen this happen on numerous vehicles over the last 20 years. The hot weather drys out the rubber seal round the doors causing them to squeak. Usually happens after 2 to 3 years. Replacing the seals will fix it for 2 to 3 years until it drys out again.

When I used to live in Texas, I used a product called Gummy Pflege on the door seals once every couple of months. Plus apply some wax to the painted area around the door/frame where the rubber meets the metal. This will fix it for up to 6 months at a time.

Of course if you are under warranty, get the dealer to replace the seals. That'll fix it for another 2 to 3 years.

I've read about that Gummi product. The thing is, these seals are still very fresh from 2016 production. But just incase, I tried applying a light coat of 100% silicone oil (which is excellent for conditioning rubber) on the seals all around the vehicle with a little sponge; unfortunately it didn't do a damn thing.