crazipper

Greetings all,

Long-time anonymous lurker of this (and many other automotive forums). Finally found a reason to register last month when I picked up a 2007 E63.

Loving the car so far, but there's a strange noise that simply drives me crazy. After driving for a few minutes, I start hearing a "pop" or "bonk" noise from what seems to be inside the trunk. It's not so loud as to be audible over wind/engine noise, but when I stop at a light or pull into a drive-thru, there it is, popping every 15 to 30 seconds or so.

By the time I've arrived back at home and am idling in the garage, the noise is gone and I hear normal idle.

Nothing in the archives seem to point to a cause. Anyone ever experience something similar? Thanks in advance!

Zip

PS: Any other AMG owners in central California? I see more non-AMG-badged vehicles here in Bakersfield than actual AMG rides, unfortunately.

taurran

Double check for dead hookers.

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

This might be an obvious answer, look for something bouncing around in your trunk.

jwoodcl55

Lol dead hooker(s) sound about right...

Have you checked under the trunk mat to see if anything came disconnected or is free to move around?

crazipper

LOL, should have been more specific ;-) Trunk is completely empty, and the noise is most audible at a dead stop, with no movement at all.

I was more worried about that guy with the hook-hand they tell you about to keep you from pulling over on the side of the road with your girlfriend at night ;-)

tbal

Maybe something loose in the spare tire area? I had a jack flying around causing sounds.

crazipper

I'll look again, but I'd be much more likely to suspect a random loose item down there if the car wasn't completely still when this "popping" noise was happening...

Yuille36

I have the same issue on my 07 E63, it seems to come from the suspension. I think its the rear air springs. I have my car on a lift and check the suspension to ensure everything is tight, no loose ball joints, or leakages. It has to be the air springs, I've eliminated everything else, including anything is the trunk, spare tire, etc. I'm still puzzled.

crazipper

Thanks for the confirmation! I'm not sure how much I should worry about it, since there don't *seem* to be any adverse effects aside from the noise thus far.

At the same time, I know I'm going to have a hell of a time getting the dealership to do anything to help. I had great experiences with Sangera here in Bakersfield when I had my CLK55. Since then, however, the service reps I've worked with really don't want to replace anything under warranty.

Moxxon

I had my 2007 E63 at the dealership a couple weeks ago for the same noise. My SA wrote "Customer states hears thump noise in trunk area at idle at stop."

My trunk was empty and I only heard the noise when the radio was off and the car was stopped at a red light or stop sign or if I pulled over to the curb and let the car idle.

The first tech could not verify the noise, so the Foreman drove my car and verified it. Foreman wrote "Normal operating condition. Purge noise."

I did not get a chance to talk to the Foreman so I don't know the exact details of how this "purge noise" occurs, but I was told that it is completely normal.

crazipper

Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses. If it is, in fact, normal, I'll try to ignore it.

Yuille36

I honestly think the that noise is coming from the suspension, specifically the air springs. Think about it, what else in the rear would be making noise, drive shaft, rear axle, suspension. Those are the only things besides the wheels and brakes that are moving.

GT-ER

If it's when the car is still or nearly still then it's the air springs trying to level out the car. It should be a faint "knocking" like sound and if you pay attention, when you hear it you can sometimes tell that the car is moving up and down slowly.

Yuille36

Thank you for confirming, what I already suspected I knew that I wasn't imagining it.