I have just purchased an 82k mile 2002 E500, and have only covered about 200 miles so far. Then I experienced a metallic clattering (similar to loud tappet?) sound from the engine under moderate acceleration from low speed, which stopped as soon as I eased off. Initial thoughts are that it may be engine mounts, as it seems to be torque related. Up to that point the car has been impeccable even under full acceleration. Are there any obvious things to check before using the car again? The car was last serviced by a MB main dealer about 5k miles ago, and I have checked the oil level is good.
2002 E500 engine noises
- Thread starter RobDilley
- Start date
good shout as I have heard cracked exhaust manifold/manifold gasket noises before on another car, and they can sound tappety and metallic. But have just started the car and the engine is purring sweetly with nothing sounding untoward.
MikeInWimbledon
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
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- SL350 (Ex S211 E500,W212 E500, C216, S212E500, W211E500 5.5, W221S500, S211 E500, SL500, S500, E55)
Can you make a short video and load it here?
for sure, if and when I can recreate the problem.
far from certain it was from the engine, though it did sound like it was coming from the engine at the time. I started the car up earlier today and it sounds perfect, so I took it for a run but have been unable to recreate the noise even approaching full throttle. I would describe the noise as a mechanical clatter which reminded me of lifter problems or even connecting rod problems. But it can be either as the engine is running as sweet as a nut today. I have only had this car for a week today, so gorgeous as it is, it is still very unfamiliar to me. I am far more familiar with big block Chrysler V8 pushrod engines, and this is the first Mercedes I have owned. This noise only lasted a couple of seconds, and stopped the instant I lifted off.Exhaust bracket?
You certain it’s from the engine and not something like a heat shield or brake disc shield rattling etc?
The M113 engine in your car is one of the most reliable V8 engines Mercedes have ever built.
Not a lot goes wrong with them usually - I’d say 95% the noise you mention is likely to be something external or one of the ancillaries - pop the bonnet and eyeball the belts, look for unusual wear, see if the crank pulley wobbles when it’s running.
Water pumps and the idler pulley can go but you’d know about that all the time, more of a squeak and would rattle all the time usually. You could pop the drive belt off for a few seconds to check if the noise was there all the time, but you saying it only happens when driving leads me to think it’s something else other than the engine - it would make noise more consistently if that’s where it was coming from.
I’d have a quick look at the front clamps between the downpipes and the cats, or as mentioned a heatshield or brake disc shields etc.
Take it into somewhere with a ramp for a quick look underneath if you’re not too sure?
Not a lot goes wrong with them usually - I’d say 95% the noise you mention is likely to be something external or one of the ancillaries - pop the bonnet and eyeball the belts, look for unusual wear, see if the crank pulley wobbles when it’s running.
Water pumps and the idler pulley can go but you’d know about that all the time, more of a squeak and would rattle all the time usually. You could pop the drive belt off for a few seconds to check if the noise was there all the time, but you saying it only happens when driving leads me to think it’s something else other than the engine - it would make noise more consistently if that’s where it was coming from.
I’d have a quick look at the front clamps between the downpipes and the cats, or as mentioned a heatshield or brake disc shields etc.
Take it into somewhere with a ramp for a quick look underneath if you’re not too sure?
Petrol Pete
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
As others have mentioned on here the M113 V8 (in all capacities and guises) is probably the most robust petrol engine Mercedes have ever made, mine (in 5.4 litre AMG spec) has 149000 miles on it and has yet to make any 'worrying' noises.
Use a 17mm spanner to take the tension off the auxiliary serpentine belt, pop it off and give all the pullies a good spin and a wriggle , that is a cheap and quick way to take them out of the equation.
Engine mounts ? open the bonnet and rev the engine, you will soon see if the mounts are goosed, YouTube has videos of this 'phenomena' .
Let us know what you find.
Use a 17mm spanner to take the tension off the auxiliary serpentine belt, pop it off and give all the pullies a good spin and a wriggle , that is a cheap and quick way to take them out of the equation.
Engine mounts ? open the bonnet and rev the engine, you will soon see if the mounts are goosed, YouTube has videos of this 'phenomena' .
Let us know what you find.
Thanks Will, I feel like I have just been to the doctor and my symptoms have gone. Also feeling very relived that there is nothing obviously wrong with the engine, as I thought i was in for a massive bill. I am still struggling to understand what could have made the noise I heard, but will follow your excellent advice.The M113 engine in your car is one of the most reliable V8 engines Mercedes have ever built.
Not a lot goes wrong with them usually - I’d say 95% the noise you mention is likely to be something external or one of the ancillaries - pop the bonnet and eyeball the belts, look for unusual wear, see if the crank pulley wobbles when it’s running.
Water pumps and the idler pulley can go but you’d know about that all the time, more of a squeak and would rattle all the time usually. You could pop the drive belt off for a few seconds to check if the noise was there all the time, but you saying it only happens when driving leads me to think it’s something else other than the engine - it would make noise more consistently if that’s where it was coming from.
I’d have a quick look at the front clamps between the downpipes and the cats, or as mentioned a heatshield or brake disc shields etc.
Take it into somewhere with a ramp for a quick look underneath if you’re not too sure?
I have been running older cars for years now as I can't get me head around the cost and depreciation of new cars, though obviously older cars are likely to require more maintenance. I am already appreciating Mercedes build quality, as this car defies its eighteen years, looking and driving like it just a few years old. I expect to be reaching for the wallet at some point for expensive service parts such as Airmatic struts, but prey not to be facing problems with that wonderful engine. I would kill for a ramp as I try to fix what I can, and have just had the engine out and rebuilt in a '73 car, whilst I restored the engine bay. I will look for an opportunity to get some ramp time to familiarise myself with the less accessible workings.
Thanks Pete, I am wise in the ways of simple engine mounts (metal/rubber/metal) and have seen big heavy engines lift clear of sheared engine mounts when revved. But the E500 mounts look much more sophisticated than anything I have replaced before, and I believe they are hydraulic. I was expecting to have to stall the torque convertor agianst the brakes to see any obvious movement, but will look for the YouTube vdeos. At the moment tickover is gloriously smooth and quiet, so my thinking it that the ancillaries are OK and something else must have given rise to the noise. Next time it happens, if it happens, I will try and get a recording, as it is so challenging to diagnose based on a description of the sound.As others have mentioned on here the M113 V8 (in all capacities and guises) is probably the most robust petrol engine Mercedes have ever made, mine (in 5.4 litre AMG spec) has 149000 miles on it and has yet to make any 'worrying' noises.
Use a 17mm spanner to take the tension off the auxiliary serpentine belt, pop it off and give all the pullies a good spin and a wriggle , that is a cheap and quick way to take them out of the equation.
Engine mounts ? open the bonnet and rev the engine, you will soon see if the mounts are goosed, YouTube has videos of this 'phenomena' .
Let us know what you find.
Just a final thought, and as there’s no mention of it I suspect not - but it is/was just a noise you heard, not vibration through the drivetrain/transmission or something?
One thing that you should be aware of on older cars like yours is a glycol issue with the early Valeo radiators mixing coolant and ATF. The consensus is that most of the affected ones will have been sorted by now but as yours has lowish mileage it could be worth keeping an eye on. Worth a quick search to familiarise yourself anyway
One thing that you should be aware of on older cars like yours is a glycol issue with the early Valeo radiators mixing coolant and ATF. The consensus is that most of the affected ones will have been sorted by now but as yours has lowish mileage it could be worth keeping an eye on. Worth a quick search to familiarise yourself anyway
Thanks again Will, this is really helpful. I have clocked the oil cooler as a potential weakness for mixing coolant and engine oil, but had no idea about the transmission fluid. I will take a close look at the radiator. Have just re-cored a radiator incorporating a transmission fluid cooler on another car, and still have to tighten down the transmission fluid cooler lines. At the time of the clattering sound I thought was coming from the engine, there was no perceptible vibration, nor bumps and thumps. The noise stopped as soon as I backed off, and I continued four miles back home with less throttle, and the normal level of sernity. The E500 5 speed transmission is such a massive step up from the 3 speed Torqflite I am used to.Just a final thought, and as there’s no mention of it I suspect not - but it is/was just a noise you heard, not vibration through the drivetrain/transmission or something?
One thing that you should be aware of on older cars like yours is a glycol issue with the early Valeo radiators mixing coolant and ATF. The consensus is that most of the affected ones will have been sorted by now but as yours has lowish mileage it could be worth keeping an eye on. Worth a quick search to familiarise yourself anyway
would never have thought of that. Have read they can choke up and must educate myself further
the ancillaries and tensioner seem quiet enough at tickover, but will investigate further
Btw belt tensioner noise on Lexus, found it on my phone. It was silent until warmed up and made a godawful clacking noise when revved.
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Petrol Pete
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
I have replaced the engine mounts on mine (I am guessing they are the same as yours) they are oil filled but not particularly difficult to replace with the correct kit. From memory they cost around £80 each ,and that was for Lemforder which are OEM for MB.
I saw something about MB, AMG and Maybach engine mounts being interchangeable when I was researching possible sources of the noise, but am yet to determine if mine are knackered. I must aquatint myself with the appropriate parts suppliers. The condition of the car is astonishing for 18 years old, but as an example I have noticed the drivers door mirror is starting to go a bit milky, and looks like it may be due to water ingress behind the glass. Any suggestions on where to get a part like that, hopefully for less than a king's ransom?
