Occasional Clunk from Steering column
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Occasional Clunk from Steering column
Hi All,
Been lurking here for a few weeks but this is my first post.
I bought a ML320 CDI SE a few weeks back and so far ownership has been great... unlike with my previous experience of owning the ML270cdi
I have it booked in for a new Ipod adapter etc and i have also asked them to look at an occasional clunk that comes from the steering column when im manouvering on a bumpy road. Its as if there is something loose inside the steering column/wheel area. You can feel the light thud through the wheel and sometimes hear it..
I was wondering if anyone else has had this?
thanks
tom
Been lurking here for a few weeks but this is my first post.
I bought a ML320 CDI SE a few weeks back and so far ownership has been great... unlike with my previous experience of owning the ML270cdi
I have it booked in for a new Ipod adapter etc and i have also asked them to look at an occasional clunk that comes from the steering column when im manouvering on a bumpy road. Its as if there is something loose inside the steering column/wheel area. You can feel the light thud through the wheel and sometimes hear it..
I was wondering if anyone else has had this?
thanks
tom
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
C250 Coupe, Porsche Cayenne Turbo
me too
I have been hearing a noise that sounds like it's from that area also. I was going to have the dealer look at it for my next service. I'm at 8000 miles now. joe
Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 118
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2010 E350, 2007 S550 - SOLD, 2007 ML350
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Boston,MA
ML350
Hi All,
Been lurking here for a few weeks but this is my first post.
I bought a ML320 CDI SE a few weeks back and so far ownership has been great... unlike with my previous experience of owning the ML270cdi
I have it booked in for a new Ipod adapter etc and i have also asked them to look at an occasional clunk that comes from the steering column when im manouvering on a bumpy road. Its as if there is something loose inside the steering column/wheel area. You can feel the light thud through the wheel and sometimes hear it..
I was wondering if anyone else has had this?
thanks
tom
Been lurking here for a few weeks but this is my first post.
I bought a ML320 CDI SE a few weeks back and so far ownership has been great... unlike with my previous experience of owning the ML270cdi
I have it booked in for a new Ipod adapter etc and i have also asked them to look at an occasional clunk that comes from the steering column when im manouvering on a bumpy road. Its as if there is something loose inside the steering column/wheel area. You can feel the light thud through the wheel and sometimes hear it..
I was wondering if anyone else has had this?
thanks
tom
I had this clunk finally removed yesterday at the dealer..it took them three visits to fix it.. it was the steering coupling
part number 164 460 00 10.. maybe this will help
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 118
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2010 E350, 2007 S550 - SOLD, 2007 ML350
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Hiya,
Well, its going back again to have it looked at once more. The dealer had the column apart to do a warranty wiring loom issue and had a look for the clunk at the same time.
I gave them the "steering coupling part number 164 460 00 10" post and they said they would check it. I have to say that whatever they have done has quietend it down a bit and its not so frequent but i still get it occasionally.
Its going in for a service in 2k miles so they are going to check it again then.
Ill report back once its been in again, but it wont be for a few months as i cant be bothered living without the car again for 2 days while its stripped and checked.
Tom
Well, its going back again to have it looked at once more. The dealer had the column apart to do a warranty wiring loom issue and had a look for the clunk at the same time.
I gave them the "steering coupling part number 164 460 00 10" post and they said they would check it. I have to say that whatever they have done has quietend it down a bit and its not so frequent but i still get it occasionally.
Its going in for a service in 2k miles so they are going to check it again then.
Ill report back once its been in again, but it wont be for a few months as i cant be bothered living without the car again for 2 days while its stripped and checked.
Tom
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 53
Likes: 1
2006 ML500
Steering Clunk
Yes I've had the same problem since just after new. The dealer has replaced the steering bearings but the noise and feeling is back.
So it goes back again to try and fix this, plus flat spots on accelaration and I'll raise the gearbox problems again. (All with little optimism of getting them fixed.)
So it goes back again to try and fix this, plus flat spots on accelaration and I'll raise the gearbox problems again. (All with little optimism of getting them fixed.)
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,778
Likes: 1,270
From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Steering column noise
Hiya,
Well, its going back again to have it looked at once more. The dealer had the column apart to do a warranty wiring loom issue and had a look for the clunk at the same time.
I gave them the "steering coupling part number 164 460 00 10" post and they said they would check it. I have to say that whatever they have done has quietend it down a bit and its not so frequent but i still get it occasionally.
Its going in for a service in 2k miles so they are going to check it again then.
Ill report back once its been in again, but it wont be for a few months as i cant be bothered living without the car again for 2 days while its stripped and checked.
Tom
Well, its going back again to have it looked at once more. The dealer had the column apart to do a warranty wiring loom issue and had a look for the clunk at the same time.
I gave them the "steering coupling part number 164 460 00 10" post and they said they would check it. I have to say that whatever they have done has quietend it down a bit and its not so frequent but i still get it occasionally.
Its going in for a service in 2k miles so they are going to check it again then.
Ill report back once its been in again, but it wont be for a few months as i cant be bothered living without the car again for 2 days while its stripped and checked.
Tom
- Campaign 2006010005 Suspension Plate Update (Airmatic)
Install 025080 plates at both upper control arms, 3.2 hrs.
- Driveline update TB41.10/03
Replace bolts at driveshaft, 0.9 hrs
- Campaign 2006060005 164 Exhaust Bracket
Retrofit shim plate(s) between front exhaust system bracket and transmission, 0.4 hrs.
The only noise issue I've had is an intermittent buzz in the cover on top of the steering column at highway speeds.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 53
Likes: 1
2006 ML500
Steering Clunk - Known Problem
I have an ML500 here in Australia with ongoing numerous problems (including clunks in the steering column). Yesterday an engineer from MB Australia had a look at the car and said the clunks were a known problem but they didn't have a fix for it yet.
Simply replacing collar bearings (like they did a few months back) would fix the problem short term, but not fix the underlying cause. He indicated there were about 4 other MLs he knew of in Australia with a similar problem.
FYI other problems and resolution were:
1. Clunky transmission - I'm told it's series standard - ie. it's as good as it gets (sigh)
2. Flat spots on acceleration - Adaptive transmission "unadapted" seems to have fixed the problem
3. Crackling on radio & CD plus intermittent phone (UHI cradle) problems plus numerous electric system "gremlins" - UHI replaced as it wasn't being recognised on the optical fibre bus - maybe had impact on other components of the system. Seems to be working for now.
Simply replacing collar bearings (like they did a few months back) would fix the problem short term, but not fix the underlying cause. He indicated there were about 4 other MLs he knew of in Australia with a similar problem.
FYI other problems and resolution were:
1. Clunky transmission - I'm told it's series standard - ie. it's as good as it gets (sigh)
2. Flat spots on acceleration - Adaptive transmission "unadapted" seems to have fixed the problem
3. Crackling on radio & CD plus intermittent phone (UHI cradle) problems plus numerous electric system "gremlins" - UHI replaced as it wasn't being recognised on the optical fibre bus - maybe had impact on other components of the system. Seems to be working for now.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I recently had the steering column replaced due to clicking/popping noises when turning the wheel, and now I have clunking in the steering column when going over bumps or on rough pavement, most nocticeably on pavement joints. The original noises have not gone away entirely. So, not only did they fail to completely fix the initial problem, I now have to deal with a new problem. Furthermore, the alignment is now off! I'm heading back to the service department yet again.
Intermittent static in the stereo system appears to have been resolved by changing some settings in the audio system. Not sure if the problem has been fixed since it only occurred once in a while, but so far so good.
I was told there is nothing that can be done to repair the clunky transmission. Interestingly, the transmission of the '07 ML 350 loaner, which I had for a week, was perfect, and when I asked why there was a difference between the '06 and '07 transmissions, the service manager was unable to explain, but acknowledged there is a difference. So now I'm looking at trading in for an '07. We'll see if the dealer is willing to make a fair deal, but I have my doubts based on initial discussions.
Intermittent static in the stereo system appears to have been resolved by changing some settings in the audio system. Not sure if the problem has been fixed since it only occurred once in a while, but so far so good.
I was told there is nothing that can be done to repair the clunky transmission. Interestingly, the transmission of the '07 ML 350 loaner, which I had for a week, was perfect, and when I asked why there was a difference between the '06 and '07 transmissions, the service manager was unable to explain, but acknowledged there is a difference. So now I'm looking at trading in for an '07. We'll see if the dealer is willing to make a fair deal, but I have my doubts based on initial discussions.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 35
From: Atlanta, GA USA
2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
I was told there is nothing that can be done to repair the clunky transmission. Interestingly, the transmission of the '07 ML 350 loaner, which I had for a week, was perfect, and when I asked why there was a difference between the '06 and '07 transmissions, the service manager was unable to explain, but acknowledged there is a difference. So now I'm looking at trading in for an '07. We'll see if the dealer is willing to make a fair deal, but I have my doubts based on initial discussions.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,778
Likes: 1,270
From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Transmission issues
I I was told there is nothing that can be done to repair the clunky transmission. Interestingly, the transmission of the '07 ML 350 loaner, which I had for a week, was perfect, and when I asked why there was a difference between the '06 and '07 transmissions, the service manager was unable to explain, but acknowledged there is a difference.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Software upgrades and new valve body have been done with little noticeable improvement. The issues with the transmission have not been and apparently will not be resolved. The vehicle is now back in the shop, and this time I am driving an '06 ML 350 loaner. The loaner transmission is slightly better than mine, but far from perfect, and nowhere near as good as the transmission in the '07 loaner I recently drove for a week.
