Droning noise

[ddentrec]

Hello,

My C180K (2003, 50k miles) has developed a faint but definate low-frequency droning noise at about 30mph. It gets louder all the way upto 70mph. Even the kids notice it.

Droning changes pitch ever so slightly when braking, but stays the same when cornering. No sign of any vibration, and all gear shifts are jerk-free and smooth.

Not sure where it is coming from...I think it is the passenger-front area but I'm just not sure.

Car is booked in under Service Plus. I am dreading it 'cause they take on average 3 visits to fix anything: is the droning caused by a wheel bearing or something else I should be aware of? I do not want to be fobbed off.

 

[spock500]

"Not sure where it is coming from...I think it is the passenger-front area but I'm just not sure"


Is this with or without the wife in the car

 

[ddentrec]

Haha..like it

It is without.

 

[grober]

Sounds like the differential but you usually hear them on the overrun. Your guess of a wheel bearing is a distinct possibility but could be front or back due to noise carrying thro the bodyshell. Jack up the front wheels and check for any roughness when you spin them. The rears are more difficult to check this way. Could also be the propshaft centre bearing.

 

[Defiant]

Also, what brand/model tire do you run? Some get pretty dreadful with age. Replacing my old Contis with Michelins was a blessing.

 

[ajs37]

"Not sure where it is coming from...I think it is the passenger-front area but I'm just not sure"


Is this with or without the wife in the car

no - that would be a whining sound - the droning sound would be with a 14 year old 'Kevin' in the car!

I agree with Defiant - check the tyres - change to Michelins anyway - they're much betterer

 

[ddentrec]

Got a phone call from the MB dealer about that droning noise: I need a new differential for my 2003 W203. And after only 50K miles. I'm not impressed - its the last straw. The only thing that is original on my car is the transmission, engine, bodyshell and interior: literally everything else has been replaced under warranty for one defect or another.

Total ****e.

 

[umedc]

Haha..like it

It is without.

no with

 

[Ali_H]

Got a phone call from the MB dealer about that droning noise: I need a new differential for my 2003 W203. And after only 50K miles. I'm not impressed - its the last straw. The only thing that is original on my car is the transmission, engine, bodyshell and interior: literally everything else has been replaced under warranty for one defect or another.

Total ****e.

Is Service Plus covering this?

 

[ddentrec]

Is Service Plus covering this?

Yes.

Car has had a new diff, new half-shafts, new rear wheel bearings and all sorts of propshaft components.

Still droning.

Dealer has elevated to MB UK technical bods. Next stop: transmission replacement I guess. Though I bet its something really silly like a front wheel bearing

Dealer service has been excellent so far: no quibbles. Have a loan B-Class (which is only OK). if you have a 3+ year old merc make sure you have a decent warranty.

 

[robert.saunders]

Droning on mine (which sounded liked a bearing) was simply the Goodyear Eagle tyres getting low and getting noisy ("very common with those tyres Sir"); new boots soon cured it

 

[ddentrec]

My car has 4 new Conti SportContact2's recently fitted. I have used this brand since the car was used and have never had any problems.

I will see what the dealer says - they have my car for the rest of the week. The droning seems to come from the rear of the car though that could be a red herring.

 

[robert.saunders]

Fingers crossed it's nothing too major

 

[st4]

Fingers crossed it's nothing too major

Its had all its major parts changed bar engine and gearbox. It has to be okay

 

[robert.saunders]

True. But I remember my W203-ownership and everything that ever went wrong (and boy did it go wrong) was major

 

[Ian B Walker]

Lets hope its not the torque converter on its way out.

 

[ddentrec]

They have had my car over a week now and still cannot work out what the problem is. More parts coming from Germany they say.

I will keep you posted.

P.S. My wife is now driving a new B180 CDi loaner...has a CVT 'box. She cannot believe that MB make and sell something this bad. The steering is totally numb and the 'box is virtually useless. And forget about hills: we were overtaken on the A30 by a 1973 VW camper van that was doing 75mph. Embarassing. Who buys a CVT B-Class?? Little old (and wealthy as it was allegedly worth over £20K!!) ladies?? And who in MB authorised its development?? He should be shot. And I hear it is the same unit as used in the C-Max which has a CVT drive belt service life of around 60K miles though Ford wont admit it but Ford dealers won't touch 3 year-old CVT C-Max's for that reason.

 

[ddentrec]

After 2 weeks, over £1200 in parts and same again in labour costs the droning problem was traced to....a rear wheel bearing.

I suggested that to the MB dealer that it was a bearing when I originally left the car with them...even wrote it down and gave it to the service technician.

Any half decent independant dealer would have fixed this problem the same day for £70 + VAT.

Just becuase it is a main dealer does not mean they know what they are doing.

 

[BlackC55]

Gald its sorted.

 

[alibally]

Get them to check the handbrake cable is not rubbing on the prop shaft. The plastic clip breaks with the heat from the exhaust and it rubs causing a whirring/whining noise. Its quite a common thing. You have to take the centre exhaust heatsheild off to see it.