CLS problem

[steve333]

That'll be the next problem for my money pit no doubt..

^Not if you hand it back to the supplying dealer

 

[bpsorrel]

true. We'll see later this week....

 

[hawk20]

So the CLS has known issues... The V6 Cdi has issues... are they related??

Am I best sticking with my IL6 E320cdi as I've been looking at the newer things to swap it for...

Problem is greatly exaggerated. Both the old IL6 and the new V6 have been known to make a ticking noise. Only affects some engines and by no means all. Some find it annoying. Others don't mind. On the IL6 never really came up with a cure IIRC. Doesn't stop them doing mega miles.

But on the V6, on some engines, especially if running between walls with the window open you may hear an irregular ticking at low speeds. Or if walk round the front and listen carefully. Tick,tick, long space tick, space tick tick etc. Irregular in number and spacing.

According to Mercedes it is not technically a problem and won't stop the engine doing mega miles as usual. BUT if the owner complains and says the noise is annoying them then while under warranty they will change one of the main bearings that makes the tick. Out of warranty, they have changed all who have complained at my local dealer under goodwill for those servicing regularly with the dealer. And made contributions under goodwill to others. Important point is that it is a minor annoyance to some, and is only on some engines and does not harm longevity.

Mercedes have now changed the metal on the relevant bearing.

 

[steve333]

Problem is greatly exaggerated. Both the old IL6 and the new V6 have been known to make a ticking noise. Only affects some engines and by no means all. Some find it annoying. Others don't mind. On the IL6 never really came up with a cure IIRC. Doesn't stop them doing mega miles.

But on the V6, on some engines, especially if running between walls with the window open you may hear an irregular ticking at low speeds. Or if walk round the front and listen carefully. Tick,tick, long space tick, space tick tick etc. Irregular in number and spacing.

According to Mercedes it is not technically a problem and won't stop the engine doing mega miles as usual. BUT if the owner complains and says the noise is annoying them then while under warranty they will change one of the main bearings that makes the tick. Out of warranty, they have changed all who have complained at my local dealer under goodwill for those servicing regularly with the dealer. And made contributions under goodwill to others. Important point is that it is a minor annoyance to some, and is only on some engines and does not harm longevity.

Mercedes have now changed the metal on the relevant bearing.

Hope that makes you feel a little better about the cls Barry,sounds like it's not as bad as it seemed if the above is what you have?

 

[hawk20]

Just the 7g valve body issue that can affect any 7g mb.

Just bear in mind that a lot of the time independents were replacing valve bodies in response to complaints about jerky changes when all that was needed in many cases was a software update done free by any main dealer. When I bought my present ML350cdi it had jerky changes especially at low speeds and in low gears. Told my local MB dealer. They had it in and did the latest 7 speed update (last September) and since then it has been smooth as silk.

 

[bpsorrel]

According to Mercedes it is not technically a problem and won't stop the engine doing mega miles as usual. BUT if the owner complains and says the noise is annoying them then while under warranty they will change one of the main bearings that makes the tick. Out of warranty, they have changed all who have complained at my local dealer under goodwill for those servicing regularly with the dealer. And made contributions under goodwill to others. Important point is that it is a minor annoyance to some, and is only on some engines and does not harm longevity.

Mercedes have now changed the metal on the relevant bearing.

So are you saying that as long as an owner (me?) isn't bothered too much by the ticking sound, a repair is not actually needed and the car can be used as normal, or at least until another fault arises?

Thanks Hawk, this is a little light at the end of the tunnel...

 

[steve333]

Just bear in mind that a lot of the time independents were replacing valve bodies in response to complaints about jerky changes when all that was needed in many cases was a software update done free by any main dealer. When I bought my present ML350cdi it had jerky changes especially at low speeds and in low gears. Told my local MB dealer. They had it in and did the latest 7 speed update (last September) and since then it has been smooth as silk.

To be fair,i've owned my cls since oct 2010 & the 7g box hasn't caused me any problems & is smooth/always in the correct gear(don't know if any software updates have been done up to now)the atf/filter are due at 40k(currently have 27k on the clock) but there was a recent thread about 7g valve bodies failing on even new/low mileage cars(something to do with the supplier-siemens & mb trying to sort out replacements?).

 

[neilz]

From experience (namely my former C124 would-have-been money pit!) a car can knock, rattle, clunk, squeak and still drive like nothing's wrong for a long time. The seller told me it sounded like that all the time he owned it (40k miles in his ownership) and it was still running fine. The sounds aren't ideal, but a lot of the time they don't stop the car driving like it should.

 

[bpsorrel]

True enough. If MB Oxford diagnose the problem but tell me it's ok to use the car and a repair isn't needed, as long as they put that in writing (in case it goes pop), I'm covered and can carry on and enjoy the car.... maybe...

 

[bpsorrel]

Still think these two threads should be merged!! It's getting hard to distinguish them now!!

Anyway, I guess I should shut up about it now and wait and see what MB Oxford say later this week (I'm hoping for wednesday or thursday now).

I'll report back then!

 

[steve333]

Still think these two threads should be merged!! It's getting hard to distinguish them now!!

What 2 threads?

 

[neilz]

It's a lovely car, looks great, and I'm guessing drives great. Don't let a sound like that put you off it - you won't know what you've lost until you no longer have it

 

[jaymanek]

Problem is greatly exaggerated. Both the old IL6 and the new V6 have been known to make a ticking noise. Only affects some engines and by no means all. Some find it annoying. Others don't mind. On the IL6 never really came up with a cure IIRC. Doesn't stop them doing mega miles.

But on the V6, on some engines, especially if running between walls with the window open you may hear an irregular ticking at low speeds. Or if walk round the front and listen carefully. Tick,tick, long space tick, space tick tick etc. Irregular in number and spacing.

According to Mercedes it is not technically a problem and won't stop the engine doing mega miles as usual. BUT if the owner complains and says the noise is annoying them then while under warranty they will change one of the main bearings that makes the tick. Out of warranty, they have changed all who have complained at my local dealer under goodwill for those servicing regularly with the dealer. And made contributions under goodwill to others. Important point is that it is a minor annoyance to some, and is only on some engines and does not harm longevity.

Mercedes have now changed the metal on the relevant bearing.

Good post... Makes sense.

 

[hawk20]

So are you saying that as long as an owner (me?) isn't bothered too much by the ticking sound, a repair is not actually needed and the car can be used as normal, or at least until another fault arises?

Thanks Hawk, this is a little light at the end of the tunnel...

Yes, but if your peace of mind would be improved by having it done, that is something only you can decide upon.

 

[st4]

^ I researched that engine before settling on the 500 Barry(really wanted a v8),couldn't find anything negative on internet searches just good owner feedback.

The 350 petrol had major engine timing problems. Benz world is full of trouble

 

[jaymanek]

Do remember that benzworld is an american forum and a lot of the problems are specific to those across the pond... Petrols are a lot more common over there and hence why more problems show up.

 

[st4]

Do remember that benzworld is an american forum and a lot of the problems are specific to those across the pond... Petrols are a lot more common over there and hence why more problems show up.

The engines the same and they all report similar timing problems with the v6 petrols like we do with inlet port motors with the 642 engine. Give me the CDi over the petrol any day

 

[jaymanek]

I personally like the petrols... the CDI's are very nice and refined and economical etc etc but gimme a V8 anyday... even the larger V6's are lovely engines.

I guess I dont do enough miles to care about economy.

 

[steve333]

Do remember that benzworld is an american forum and a lot of the problems are specific to those across the pond... Petrols are a lot more common over there and hence why more problems show up.

I was reading about the cls500(388) on that site while researching before commiting to buy my cls500 & indeed there were a number of owners on there complaining about the engine shaking violently,which almost put me off until i realised they were all american owners & the cars they were supplied with never hit the uk market.

 

[steve333]

The 350 petrol had major engine timing problems. Benz world is full of trouble

Missed that when i was looking at them in 2010.