E55 S211 - engine noises!

[simon1966]

Hi,

I have recently bought myself a nice E55 S211 Estate, which I have had since May. It is a lovely car and goes great but I am a little concerned with the tapping and clattering from the engine. The car is a 2004 54 plate which only had 39K miles when I got it and now on about 42.5K. It has full MB service history and had only just been serviced prior to my purchase so all should be fine. The noise is not getting any worse it's just that it seems a bit too loud to me! It is particularly noticeable at tickover or fairly low speeds driving past parked cars etc when the sound rebounds back, after that all I hear is the great sound from the exhaust LOL!! It is a little lumpy on tickover but then all the ones I looked at were too.

Is it fairly normal for this engine to be a little noisy, I know there is a lot going on and it is a pretty big lump but... It almost sounds like a bit like a diesel, especially after coming from my Jag S Type R which was very quiet and smooth at tickover. ANY INPUT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AS I'M WORRIED!!!!

I have also noticed more recently a little chirping sound under initial acceleration. I saw 4 cars when looking to buy, and 2 of them had the same chirping sound which the dealers said was normal, but then they would wouldn't they!! Mine didn't make this sound when I bought it and has only started in the last few weeks. Any Ideas?

 

[Alps]

Hi Simon

the chirping is the supercharger clutch, as long as acceleration is smooth, this is not a problem.

I dont thing the tapping and clattering is normal though, id get it looked at!

is the car under warenty? if not go to an independent!, worth getting it checked.

 

[simon1966]

Hi Simon

the chirping is the supercharger clutch, as long as acceleration is smooth, this is not a problem.

I dont thing the tapping and clattering is normal though, id get it looked at!

is the car under warenty? if not go to an independent!, worth getting it checked.

Thanks Alps,

There is a guy I know who specializes in Mercs. I have booked it in with him to have an initial look next week as I'm also getting a bit of a squeeking noise from the front suspension / steering. He did have a very quick look shortly after I bought the car and thought the tapping / clattering was pretty normal but I don't really think he heard it for long enough to determine and I think it is actually a little more noticeable when the car is fully warmed up. I have got a 6 month warranty but it's not from mercedes although it does seem pretty comprehensive, I just want some thoughts from you guys first and the chap next week before I pursue further.

I did see a post on here from last year from a guy with a CL55 which seemed to describe the exact same noise but not really any conclusion in the posts.

 

[simon1966]

UPDATE

Just did a brief cold start on my E55 and just let it idle for some time. Generally this wouldn't happen in normal use as I would just start and drive. On the cold start the engine sounds fine, just as I would imagine, obviously you can hear all the valve gear etc but just what you would normally expect. But after about 8 - 9 mins another louder noise comes into play, it is like a tapping but heavier than the the general valve noise, and this is the bit that is concerning me. It's as though the engine needs to warm up a bit and then something else either starts or maybe the oil thins a little? But then the engine wouldn't be that hot after this short period?

ANY IDEAS?

 

[NISFAN]

Is it a regular ticking............. half engine speed (cams/valvetrain), full engine speed bottom end? Irregular clunking?
Ancillaries? not sure if the E55 has the same, but some have free wheeling alternator pulleys, that skip when they are on their way out. You can physically see the skipping if you watch the alternator at idle.

 

[simon1966]

Is it a regular ticking............. half engine speed (cams/valvetrain), full engine speed bottom end? Irregular clunking?
Ancillaries? not sure if the E55 has the same, but some have free wheeling alternator pulleys, that skip when they are on their way out. You can physically see the skipping if you watch the alternator at idle.

Once it has settled it seems a pretty regular tapping noise, in line with engine rpm speed. Can only hear it at fairly low rpm ie tickover and slow speeds. Like I said it can't be heard from cold start, only comes on once engine has warmed up and can then be heard over the rest of the engine regular ticking and tapping from the valves. It isn't heavy enough to be the crank, which I would also think would be worse when cold.

 

[simon1966]

Is it a regular ticking............. half engine speed (cams/valvetrain), full engine speed bottom end? Irregular clunking?
Ancillaries? not sure if the E55 has the same, but some have free wheeling alternator pulleys, that skip when they are on their way out. You can physically see the skipping if you watch the alternator at idle.

Haven't looked at the alternator pulleys yet.

 

[NISFAN]

Hmmm, quite often knackered big ends are quiet when cold (thick oil) but noisey once warm.

But, we can only speculate when describing in writing. A decent mechanic armed with a stethoscope will be able to pin point the problem.

Always good to catch a noise like this early, so make a plan to get it looked at soon.

 

[Adam230K]

does the engine whine in any way? I know its supercharged, but can you hear a whine happening when you rev from the engine itself?

 

[simon1966]

does the engine whine in any way? I know its supercharged, but can you hear a whine happening when you rev from the engine itself?

No whining noises from engine, just tapping.

 

[simon1966]

Hmmm, quite often knackered big ends are quiet when cold (thick oil) but noisey once warm.

But, we can only speculate when describing in writing. A decent mechanic armed with a stethoscope will be able to pin point the problem.

Always good to catch a noise like this early, so make a plan to get it looked at soon.

Thanks - I have it booked in for someone to have a look later in the week. As I said the car has only done just over 42K miles and has full MB services at the correct times so all should be well. Maybe I am just being over fussy about the noise as other people do not seem to know what I'm on about, and think it just sounds normal!? But to me it is a bit noisy, but then I am totally focussed on hearing it!

 

[MOR8A]

No noise like that coming from mine. Got the chirp from the supercharger though. Going into benz on thursday.

 

[simon1966]

Thanks - I have it booked in for someone to have a look later in the week. As I said the car has only done just over 42K miles and has full MB services at the correct times so all should be well. Maybe I am just being over fussy about the noise as other people do not seem to know what I'm on about, and think it just sounds normal!? But to me it is a bit noisy, but then I am totally focussed on hearing it!

UPDATE!!!

Took my car in today to have it checked over by an indy specialist. He said car noise was totally normal and as he would expect from the 55 amg engine. He explained to me that they generally are a little noisier than the standard merc V8 engines due to different cam profiles, piston rings etc. He looks after several cars with the same basic engine SL55s, SLK55s etc and said mine sounded just the same as the others!

SO GOOD NEWS AND BASICALLY I SHOULD STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT! Obviously to me it is still a little noisy especially after my JAG S TYPE R which was pretty much silent other than the exhaust. Whilst there he had it up on the ramp and gave it all a good check over, he said all was as it should be and it was a really good example. So now I am a happy boy again!

 

[simon1966]

No noise like that coming from mine. Got the chirp from the supercharger though. Going into benz on thursday.

I would be interested to know the outcome of your visit to MB about the chirp.

 

[Adam230K]

I thought the chirp was normal, I got this chirp on my puny C230K upon sudden acceleration/deceleration.

 

[NewMB]

The chirp is normal. Had it on my 2003 E55 as well. I also thought it was something wrong until dealer told me.

 

[jasonyw]

Get your own diagnostic, clone or not and have the rest of the summer some fun with it until the battery exhausted.

 

[E55 W211]

Any results on the engine sound?

just a thought, I had a hole in exhaust manifold which produced noises in the engine ...............

 

[simon1966]

Any results on the engine sound?

just a thought, I had a hole in exhaust manifold which produced noises in the engine ...............

Took my car to an indy a week or so ago, he assured me all was ok and that the noise was normal for these engines.

I have to say though that I am still a little unhappy, as to me it sounds too tappy! The car goes fine - well more than fine, and sounds terrific when the revs are up above 2000rpm!!! I just thought the engine should be quiet other than the low noise you would expect from valve gear etc.

I guess, ideally I need to meet someone with an E55 of similar age / miles to compare. I do not think it is a hole in the mainifold, as it definitely sounds like a mechanical tapping noise, maybe even the timing chain, but I'm not really sure what a timing chain noise would sound like?!

Is your 55 nice and quiet? I suppose they may all vary a bit due to the hand built nature of the engines.

 

[MOR8A]

I would be interested to know the outcome of your visit to MB about the chirp.

Went in.............. came out with them saying they fixed it.............. did not even get 10 feet before I heard it again. Going back in on wednesday for something else and for me to insert a rocket in the Aftersales managers a**e.