snowpooch

Just 2 weeks old, 800 KM traveled

Driving at a 110 Km/hr with cruise control, sudden loud clonk and then slight vibration which got worse when I reduced speed. Just before I could pull over smoke started to come out underneath the engine bay and the vibration became much louder.

The engine seems ok, so it seems the problem is related to the drive train.

Was able to get the car into neutral so that the tow truck drive was able to get it on to his flat bed. As we drove to the dealer the truck driver mentioned that he has has a lot of business towing Mercedes - frankly not the kind of news I wanted to hear.

Now driving a red B200 loaner

navy_chopper

Discount what that driver said. I think there may be some envy going on. I am confident you will be taken care of.

Marshall_K

Could be that he's trained to tow Mercedes Not all cars are created equal and the tow truck driver would have tp stay current on how to get cars into neutral, etc. If he is one of the few tow drivers around that has this info then he would get more MB business. Don't sweat it and enjoy your ride.

Kar don

sounds like the intercooler hose popped off.

dgiturbo

Sorry to hear, hope not serious. I have had my '07 for about 10 months and only issue I have is on 12/03 the check engine light came on for "High fuel Pressure"? Dealer has fuel pressure sensor part on backorder and to install 12/27. I drive a lot and have yet to see one on a tow truck.

snowpooch

At the dealership earlier today.

They think the gears are stripped and the unit needs to be replaced. They have never heard of a problem like this with a new car and it seems they will be escalating to find out how a brand new Mercedes could delivered with such a flaw.

We were about to leave on a long drive for the holiday's and I'm grateful that it failed before we got stuck somewhere in the Canadian wilderness.

snowpooch

Don't think he had that much training as I had to get the car into neutral for him. However as I called the Mercedes mobility line and they arranged for the tow company - so it makes sense that they generally call the same company for break downs in specific geographic areas.

Thought the Mercedes mobility service was very good BTW, felt like I had someone who trying to make things right.

MWHML550

I also had a similar failure on my 2008 ML550.
I was driving with cruise control (not that I think this had anything to do with the break down) at 70 MPH when I experienced front end vibration and grinding. I immediately pulled to the shoulder, when during the last 5 feet of travel the front end completely locked up. At this time the car had 320 miles on the odometer. The problem was a failure of the front end differential.
The car was repaired very quickly (48 hours) and thus far has driven just fine.

snowpooch

Well that's good to hear - that your M got repaired without a problem.

My dealer's service department told me that front differential's are currently back ordered and they are having to dig deep to find one. The question is why the heck are they back ordered??

Germancar1

The ML still hasn't gotten all the bugs out, very disheartening to read about this late into the new ML's life.

M