Creaking and Cracking Inside the Cabin
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 14
From: Frisco, TX
GLE55
Creaking and Cracking Inside the Cabin
So my brand new GLE 53 with 1k miles has begun creaking noises badly, these things are usually isolated to a single part of the interior but this time I have it in full surround sound. For perspective my previous car, a E53 had this issue but it was just the driver's side of the car. The car went to the dealer 5 times and the condition never improved, so I finally gave up and sold the car with 13k miles on it and lost a lot of money. I've had many new BMW and Mercedes cars and I don't recall this ever being an issue, I figured switching cars and no way this could happen twice. This car is brand new and the noise is probably the worst I've had with any car, new or used. I am beside myself. I don't even want to call the dealer after the prior experience. If it was one panel I would just take it apart and fix it myself but it's coming from so many places I can't even tell what's squeaking and what isn't. These cars are not inexpensive and I shouldn't have to deal with this stuff.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 772
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From: Los Angeles
2024 GLE63s, 2021 E63s, 2018 GLC43
Is it the door seals? My E and GLE started creaking going over speed bumps and making turns. Sounded like it was inside the door. At first I greased the rubber parts of all the door seals, but didn't work. Then I figured out the felt part of the door seals needed to be greased, and instantly the sounds disappeared. I later finally finally figured out this happens after I use hybrid ceramic wax products on the cars.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 14
From: Frisco, TX
GLE55
Is it the door seals? My E and GLE started creaking going over speed bumps and making turns. Sounded like it was inside the door. At first I greased the rubber parts of all the door seals, but didn't work. Then I figured out the felt part of the door seals needed to be greased, and instantly the sounds disappeared. I later finally finally figured out this happens after I use hybrid ceramic wax products on the cars.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,573
Likes: 5,410
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Yeah, don't use petroleum based lubricant on rubber. Silicon based lubricant or Gummipflege (translates to rubber care) linked above.
But just as a more general comment. The reality is that the stiffer and more rigid the chassis and suspension is, the more creaks and rattles you get. The truth is that the interior is largely a carryover from the softer regular MB models. Then AMG comes in and adds stiffness to the chassis and suspension, but doesn't make the interior any stiffer, so the higher torsional rigidity of the chassis will sooner or later lead to creaks and the stiffer suspension will knock stuff loose. I've been told by the shop foreman at my dealership who owns an AMG himself, that AMG doesn't even cover rattles and creaks under warranty. They consider it unavoidable. Even the AMG GT, which didn't have a regular MB version and was hand built by AMG is known for creaks and rattles. Many more expensive performance cars eventually creak and rattle as well. Comes with the territory. If it bothers you this much that you are willing to lose a chunk of money trading it in at a barely used stage, you won't enjoy these kinds of cars. Granted the 53 models aren't the most hardcore versions, but they still have many of the aspects of the higher trim AMGs such as stiffer suspension and additional chassis braces. NVH is simply higher in an AMG. It's the nature of the beast.
But just as a more general comment. The reality is that the stiffer and more rigid the chassis and suspension is, the more creaks and rattles you get. The truth is that the interior is largely a carryover from the softer regular MB models. Then AMG comes in and adds stiffness to the chassis and suspension, but doesn't make the interior any stiffer, so the higher torsional rigidity of the chassis will sooner or later lead to creaks and the stiffer suspension will knock stuff loose. I've been told by the shop foreman at my dealership who owns an AMG himself, that AMG doesn't even cover rattles and creaks under warranty. They consider it unavoidable. Even the AMG GT, which didn't have a regular MB version and was hand built by AMG is known for creaks and rattles. Many more expensive performance cars eventually creak and rattle as well. Comes with the territory. If it bothers you this much that you are willing to lose a chunk of money trading it in at a barely used stage, you won't enjoy these kinds of cars. Granted the 53 models aren't the most hardcore versions, but they still have many of the aspects of the higher trim AMGs such as stiffer suspension and additional chassis braces. NVH is simply higher in an AMG. It's the nature of the beast.
Last edited by superswiss; Jun 4, 2026 at 07:55 PM.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 14
From: Frisco, TX
GLE55
Yeah, don't use petroleum based lubricant on rubber. Silicon based lubricant or Gummipflege (translates to rubber care) linked above.
But just as a more general comment. The reality is that the stiffer and more rigid the chassis and suspension is, the more creaks and rattles you get. The truth is that the interior is largely a carryover from the softer regular MB models. Then AMG comes in and adds stiffness to the chassis and suspension, but doesn't make the interior any stiffer, so the higher torsional rigidity of the chassis will sooner or later lead to creaks and the stiffer suspension will knock stuff loose. I've been told by the shop foreman at my dealership who owns an AMG himself, that AMG doesn't even cover rattles and creaks under warranty. They consider it unavoidable. Even the AMG GT, which didn't have a regular MB version and was hand built by AMG is known for creaks and rattles. Many more expensive performance cars eventually creak and rattle as well. Comes with the territory. If it bothers you this much that you are willing to lose a chunk of money trading it in at a barely used stage, you won't enjoy these kinds of cars. Granted the 53 models aren't the most hardcore versions, but they still have many of the aspects of the higher trim AMGs such as stiffer suspension and additional chassis braces. NVH is simply higher in an AMG. It's the nature of the beast.
But just as a more general comment. The reality is that the stiffer and more rigid the chassis and suspension is, the more creaks and rattles you get. The truth is that the interior is largely a carryover from the softer regular MB models. Then AMG comes in and adds stiffness to the chassis and suspension, but doesn't make the interior any stiffer, so the higher torsional rigidity of the chassis will sooner or later lead to creaks and the stiffer suspension will knock stuff loose. I've been told by the shop foreman at my dealership who owns an AMG himself, that AMG doesn't even cover rattles and creaks under warranty. They consider it unavoidable. Even the AMG GT, which didn't have a regular MB version and was hand built by AMG is known for creaks and rattles. Many more expensive performance cars eventually creak and rattle as well. Comes with the territory. If it bothers you this much that you are willing to lose a chunk of money trading it in at a barely used stage, you won't enjoy these kinds of cars. Granted the 53 models aren't the most hardcore versions, but they still have many of the aspects of the higher trim AMGs such as stiffer suspension and additional chassis braces. NVH is simply higher in an AMG. It's the nature of the beast.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,573
Likes: 5,410
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
If this was my first performance oriented car, and I think calling this one a performance car is a bit of stretch, I would be a little more open to the argument but I've owned countless M3's, M5's, E55's, E63 and even my 488 doesn't squeak or rattle at all. For a $100k luxury suv with 1000 miles and I drive in max comfort suspension mode this is not normal.
Last edited by superswiss; Jun 4, 2026 at 09:03 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2023
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2014 S63 2010 ML350 Bluetec 2009 SL550
I would not throw the GLE and the Alabama plant under the bus quite so fast. Our 2010 ML350 is still tight as a drum and very well built.
I am left to wonder if the OP was very thorough in the test drive and eval process. I won't buy a car until it gets a "rough road" test, as our roads are not great. Hard to believe (for me at least) that it was perfect and then suddenly 1k miles later it's a rattle trap.
I am left to wonder if the OP was very thorough in the test drive and eval process. I won't buy a car until it gets a "rough road" test, as our roads are not great. Hard to believe (for me at least) that it was perfect and then suddenly 1k miles later it's a rattle trap.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,573
Likes: 5,410
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Yeah, I'm not necessarily throwing the factory under the bus. They can't really make up for cheap design. The reality is a modern car interior is a plastic construction with some adornments. There aren't any solid materials anymore other than plastic and a bit of glass for the screens. The rest is all plastic. Even the parts that look more premium. It's just plastic covered with a thin layer of leather, carbon fiber or a few atoms of metal bonded to it to make it look like it's metal. And then everything is clipped together. I get it to some extent. Plastic is much lighter. Using solid metal and such to make the interior more bolted down would also add weight.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 3
2026 GLE53
I have almost 3,000 mi on my 26 GLE 53 and I do not hear any squeaks or rattles, so perhaps you might want to reconsider a dealer trip. At least you can let them possibly figure it out and not waste your own time with trial and error.
Last edited by tttomttt; Today at 04:39 AM. Reason: misspelling
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 14
From: Frisco, TX
GLE55
I'm taking it to the dealer on Monday and will see if they can sort it out but I'm not going to hold my breath. These things are actually so easy to fix, plastic is rubbing against something and if the panels are removed and properly insulated it is problem solved. I think the techs must have some kind of strict procedure they have to follow which is why this stuff never gets fixed.
