Popping/thumping then buzz/whirl sound after car turned off
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 1
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2016 GLE 400
Popping/thumping then buzz/whirl sound after car turned off
I'm familiar with the typical cool-down sounds made by the GLE after a drive, but last night our 2016 400 started making a new sound that seems unrelated, more mechanical. Then again after a quick drive this morning (the weather is pretty cool--in the 50'sF). It has a popping/thumping sound then you hear something spin down. I believe the spin down happens at the same time the dome lights go off after exiting the vechicle. My ears are playing tricks on me with it car on the ground, so I can't exactly tell where--front-driver likely, maybe center-rear. I got a video of it to review. Thanks.
Video attached as wmv, as mp4 doesn't appear to be supported. Let me know if there's a better way to provide it.
Video attached as wmv, as mp4 doesn't appear to be supported. Let me know if there's a better way to provide it.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 500
Likes: 137
From: Washington D.C. area
16 GLE400 4matic
I'm familiar with the typical cool-down sounds made by the GLE after a drive, but last night our 2016 400 started making a new sound that seems unrelated, more mechanical. Then again after a quick drive this morning (the weather is pretty cool--in the 50'sF). It has a popping/thumping sound then you hear something spin down. I believe the spin down happens at the same time the dome lights go off after exiting the vechicle. My ears are playing tricks on me with it car on the ground, so I can't exactly tell where--front-driver likely, maybe center-rear. I got a video of it to review. Thanks.
Video attached as wmv, as mp4 doesn't appear to be supported. Let me know if there's a better way to provide it.
Video attached as wmv, as mp4 doesn't appear to be supported. Let me know if there's a better way to provide it.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 37
Likes: 10
2017 AMG GLE43 SUV
My GLE43 does the same thing. Its normal. The sound is coming from the air compressor for the airmatic suspension. It will turn on even when the vehicle is off to keep the air springs filled with air. You'll hear it more in cold weather cause the air is more dense. If you hear it more often in a short amount of time then your air springs could be slowly leaking air. I would only worry about it if you park your GLE over night and see that its sitting lower than usual in the morning meaning there's a big air leak from the springs. Mercedes air suspension is 10x more reliable than Audi and BMW so unless your GLE has like 150k miles then don't worry about it.
Last edited by sauerkrautpower; Nov 10, 2025 at 03:07 PM.
