e320 estate clunking noise?

[paultredgett]

Hi all!

I have just brought myself a 2001 Merc e320 cdi estate **********e, I was looking for an economical low-ish miles estate car at the time with approx £4,000 in my pocket........and after not a lot of bartering managed to drive this awesome bit of kit away for £1,000 with 5 months tax, FSH and no MOT!
I have taken her for the MOT and expecting a large list of bits to fix and all she failed on was two front tyres!!

Four newish tyres later she has passed the MOT with flying colours (no advisories) and I am a very happy new merc estate owner!

There only seems to be one problem with her; I have searched old posts and cant seem to find anything similar so am hoping someone maybe able to shed some light??

When slowing down coming to a junction/island and turning right she sometimes makes a grinding noise and then when straightening up and accelerating slightly, the car seems to jolt and then everything is normal again, it feels like it is coming from the front end mostly, it sounds/feels like something has seperated then when you straighten up it goes back with a bang???
There is no untoward transmission noise when running etc and the car accelerates with no problem at all.

Anyone any ideas??
Many thanks for any replies!

Regards,
Paul.

 

[Dieselman]

Engine mount?

 

[paultredgett]

Hi,
would that cause the grinding noise before you straighten up and the clunk?

I almost thought it could be the propshaft etc but the clunk really feels like it is coming from the front end and only when turning slow right hand corners.

 

[martyz]

Lower ball joint,wishbone arm?

 

[paultredgett]

I am going to check all the front end for loose bits etc, but did have a quick look when the tyres were changed and all looked very good, no rust etc.

I think I am kind of asking if there are any gearbox issues that sound like this with it only happening when turning right in low gear (auto box)

Cheers

 

[paultredgett]

.....Yep you seem to be right, it is an engine mount, hence it only jolting when you exit a tight right turn on acceleration, it seems to be torquing the engine when in a turn which makes the engine lift and then re-straighten with a jolt when you staraighten up and accelerate.........JOLT!
I was worried it could have been the propshaft !
Many thanks for the result and the possible causes!

......Now to find a better Jack than my one and a half tonner!

Cheers,
Paul.

 

[BlackC55]

Another tip to see if they are worn. When in D accelerate and de-celerate quickly. If the gear stick moves the mounts are worn.

 

[paultredgett]

Hi Black c55,

When I boot it in D then decelerate from approx 2nd gear it clunks! So not just corners!

Can kind of see the mount is skew wift, should I replace them all??

Thanks for that!

 

[BlackC55]

Yes. Both fronts and gearbox. Check the front (rear) subframe bushes too.

 

[paultredgett]

Black.....

How much approx to buy all mounts and bushes?

 

[BlackC55]

IIRC subframe bushes are £55
Two front mounts £71 ea
Gearbox mount about £30

All a guesstimate.

 

[proser]

Had my N/S go when towing a caravan last year - caused a major vibration on taking off, but couldn't find the culprit until I was at the caravan park, as by then the vibration had gone
put bonnet up, sat in car, engaged drive and with foot still firmly on brake pedal I blipped the throttle and the engine lift by about 6 inches

 

[paultredgett]

Hi Proser,

Yep the near side mount gone, I tried to narrow it down for ages thinking it was the box. I try and keep the revs down usually to get good mileage but foung that it made very little difference if I put my foot down.....when I decided to drive the car like normal the rubbing/droning noise with the clonk stopped altogether, it appears that it only happened when the car was understressed changing down gear....which altered the angle of the drive shaft by quite a bit under low torque!
Mount changed and everything is ok again!
Cheers.

 

[paultredgett]

n.b.......
Probably should have changed all the mountings as the one removed was absolutely shot, it looked ok from above but was absolutely perished when off! I would say change all of them whilst at it....as I was advised !

 

[toni_007]

Sounds like that car had a lot of rough city driving or off road application.