4ShoreRunner

Hey all, quick question regarding our transmissions - are they typically just loud in general? I searched and only found pump noise at start up or mechanical/grinding noises which mine does not do.

I'm coming from the world of economy cars and japanese SUVs - I'm not used to hearing the transmission at all; however, I've noticed the transmission is just loud in my E63 to the point where until the engine really hits 2500-3000k RPM I hear the transmission whine more than the engine or exhaust. In fact, if I'm driving around a parking garage where a lot of the noise is being bounced around, I hear the whine from my transmission as the promenent noise - not my engine or exhaust.

I'm not referring to the pump that turns on for a few seconds after you start the car. This is all the time, seemingly regardless of temperature or how long its been operating. There aren't any rattles or grinding noises and for the most part it shifts smoothly. Every once and awhile I'll get a hard jerk on a downshift but that is fairly rare.

I've got 86K miles and picked up the car almost 2k miles ago back in January. I don't know if its getting worse or if I'm just starting to really notice the quirks of this car. The service records that came with the car state that it had regular and **** maintenance exclusively at a benz dealer and had the 10/year 100k mile service right before I got it. Should I assume its had regular flushes?

I'll be completely transparent - after all the head work I had to get done on this car and after having both front struts fail on me I am potentially just freaking myself out because this car feels like its made of egg shells.

Thanks for any thoughts...

cfmistry

hachiroku

the 722.9 transmission is completely silent upon operation in comparison to other devices.

confirm your power steering pump isn't the issue. most M156's have had noisy power steering pumps within their lifetime.

4ShoreRunner

Thanks...no paperwork on actual transmission maintenance only what services were performed at the dealer which if they were routine I would assume would have covered some amount of transmission maintenance.

I am somewhat familiar with the steering pump whine on other vehicles but it would typically only be when turning the wheel. Would the PS Pump whine with RPM regardless of turning the wheel?

Strigoi

84k on mine and I have zero noise from my transmission. The occasional hard shift just seems to be a thing with these transmissions, but not a worry.

Solo wing

I had a steering pump whine all the time, regardless of the wheels direction. Instead of replacing the steering pump, the cause was the fluid reservoir. With age, the filtering screen becomes clogged and causes starvation/cavitation to the pump. AMG revised the part using a better screen design, I replaced the ~30$ part and everything is good as new.

4ShoreRunner

E55Greasemonkey

Take the belt off and run the engine a few seconds to see if the noise goes away.

cfmistry

Glad to hear it's not the transmission. Please let us know when you find out what it is -- good luck!

alboogiee

Is this the updated part number? 0004669502

Solo wing

​​​​​​​Yes, the part # is 0004669502. Looking at several websites, it looks the price is around ~$50
Also, remember to use the correct steering fluid, I don't know if CHF11S is the correct one. I have an issue with WIS now, so I can't tell for sure.
Good luck.

alboogiee

4ShoreRunner

Thank you! I'll see if I can find a decent DIY on changing the resevoir and try that before I blow another couple hundred dollars at the shop. $50 is an easier pill to swollow especially if its technically an upgrade to what I currently have.

​​​​​​​Mike

Yuille36

As others have mentioned, my trans is silent. It does shift hard, when engaging reverse, or downshifting from 3rd to 2nd gear. But it is most likely the PS pump and not the tranny.

Maxfli

Did changing out the power steering reservoir solve the whining noise? I have a similar whining noise in my '11 E63. It sounds like a p/s pump whine...it increases with engine revs and changes frequency when the steering wheel is turned.

nd-photo.nl

If you never serviced the PS fluid, than do so. It probably has the older red mineral fluid. Advice: also swap out the reservoir as it supposedly also holds a non-serviceable filter.

I used 2 liters of new fluid to flush out the old. The system holds about 1 liter.

Could also be a bad pulley (or pulleys) from anyone of the supercharger/drive belts

[edit]
I just noticed you have a 2011 E63, those probably have a different setup regarding PS (I assume)

Yuille36

Every two years, I perform a power steering flush with BG Synthetic on my E63. Some would say that is overkill, but I pride myself on having the best maintained E63 in Northern VA.
And even with flushes, I still have whine from the power steering pump, and it was replaced several years ago, along with the reservoir.

nd-photo.nl

Damn, that is a nice maintenance schedule!

Its a common thing which is overlooked (in general), same thing with differential or gearbox oil. Heck, even with coolant! Speaking of which, I also need to refresh it on my CLS. Interval is set for 14 or 15 years if I am not mistaken

Yuille36

I have a strict preventative maintenance schedule that I adhere to for both my vehicles:

Every Six months - Oil change and add Liqui Moly Cera Tec
Every year - Air filter, Cabin filter, Windshield Wipers
Every Two years - Power Steering flush, Brake fluid flush
Every Four years - Engine coolant flush, Transmission flush, Differential Gear Oil, Serpentine belts, Spark plugs

And everything is duplicated on the X5M, but we also add the Transmission, Transfer Case Fluid, Front and Rear Differentials every four years.

Yuille36

I don't care what Mercedes says, there is no manufactured lubricates on this earth that lasts for 14-15 years. Transmission fluid, transfer case and differential fluid should be changed out every 4 years IMHO.
I'm under the philosophy that changing fluids on a regular interval helps mitigate issues, before they arise.

nd-photo.nl

Amen! I also use Ceratec and for cooling additive I heard good things about Motul Mocool (by guys doing trackdays)

https://www.motul.com/en/en/products/mocool