2003 S600 - 55K miles

It seems I spend more time addressing issues with my 600 than I do enjoying it. It is seldom used - I have other cars. Thinking about repairing everything and putting it up for sale (or enjoying it more often). Here's the latest:

1. Less than 1000 miles on a new set of tires. Yesterday morning the passenger rear was flat. I filled it and it held fine. Took it to the tire shop - they said they couldn't find anything, but my TPMS was rusted. If it's a TPMS issue, would it now hold? I haven't done anything with the TPMS yet.

2. I noticed a fluttering sound at idle. Similar to the sound of a Topps baseball card in my spokes when I was a kid. Or the vanes of an impellar hitting against something. I only hear it at idle - increasing RPM from the 600 idle to 1000 or so and I don't hear it. I'm concerned it's related to the turbo... This is my biggest concern.

3. I popped the hood and heard a sound near the very front of the engine bay on the driver side. It sounded similar to a spark jumping.

4. I am hearing a whistling sound at around 2000 RPM. Each time the transmission shifts and the RPMs drop - then climb again - I hear the whistle as it passes 2000 RPM. Sound is similar to a vacuum leak. I heard the same sound on my wife's Z4 and found a quarter-sized hole on the intake boot. Any obvious places - or procedures - to determine if it is a vacuum leak?


5. The heater-blower chirps for the first 1-2 seconds on startup - then stops. Any easy fix for this?

6. Lastly - I have the dreaded sticky steering wheel button problem. I've seen posts on the forum about this and will have to try one of the many suggested solutions (though none seem to work well).

I appreciate all comments/suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

 

Don't worry too much, there will always be something to fix on an S600 if you want to look for it.

1. Probably grit in the valve.
2. Not the turbo. Try removing the aux belt and try again.
3. Probably the ABS unit charging up.
4. Where does it seem to come from? Can you reproduce it? Do you hear it inside? Outside?
5. Remove and clean the blower (no biggie) or fit a secondhand one or fit a new one.
6. Never heard of that one.

Nick

 

Nick

Many thanks for your suggestions. I will look into the Aux belt. Re. the whistling noise - it sounds like it's coming from the engine bay when I am driving. Difficult to pin point it more than that. I'll have to get someone to rev the engine with the hood up this weekend to see if I can get a better read on the noise.

Re. the sticky steering wheel controls - there are many posts about this. Apparently the coating or film on the hard plastic controls deteriorates into a sticky mess. Consider yourself lucky.

 

These cars like to be driven .... the longer they sit the more issues can surface.
#3 can also be the evap purge solenoid .. was pretty loud on s500.

 

Your flat tire might be due to a leaky valve stem

Agreed these cars MUST be driven often and not sit unused , start driving it every day
The problems will either fix themselves or become more apparent