Mysterious squeaky noise from front end

[merc_u]

hi everyone, I’m new to all this so please accept my apology if I have posted this in the wrong place.

I’ve always been a BMW man but recently purchased my first ever Mercedes and it’s a CLS 320 cdi with the full AMG styling pack. The car is beautiful and everything I wanted HOWEVER I’ve noticed an annoying squeaking noise coming from the front driver side every time I go over an uneven surface or bump. I must add that the noise wasn’t coming all the time but only when I’m going over at about 25mph+ and it sounds like a squeaky mattress. I live in London so there’s a sleeping police man every 5 meters and more frustratingly 1000’s of pot holes to negotiate around. I find this squeaky noise a little embarrassing as well.

I took it to my local garage which I have been using for more than 10 years and they had a test drive and couldn’t work out what was making the noise. The car was driving totally fine. They then lifted the car on the ramp and said everything looked fine but noticed that there seemed to be a little wear on the rubber of the lower suspension arm. As you can understand that it is not possible to replicate the force required to make that squeaky noise on a ramp therefore they couldn’t tell what it could be but the lower arm seemed a good bet. I agreed to have the lower arm changed and they thought this would resolve the problem but nope the squeaking noise was still there. However the noise is slightly different now; more higher pitched but not as intrusive as before.

Last thing I want to do is to chuck bucket loads of money to get rid of this noise so just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and knows what this noise might be?
Suspension and shocks are fine. As mentioned already, the car drives perfectly well with no knocks etc. HELP PLEASE!!!

 

[Borys]

Common prob on bigger mercs
Lower ball joints, grease is gone and they died.
Most cars I had had that problem, with me I made it worse as each car was lowered and ball joint were put to even bigger stres
After change no probs - I remember my S500 coupe was squeking like an old arm chair

 

[BlackC55]

+1

Front ball joint. It has to be pressed in and out.

1.4 hours labour and £35 for the joint.

 

[merc_u]

thanks a lot for pointing me in the right direction.
I'm going to drop the car off sometime this week to the garage and fingers crossed my car won't sound like a mobile matress.

 

[Dryce]

thanks a lot for pointing me in the right direction.
I'm going to drop the car off sometime this week to the garage and fingers crossed my car won't sound like a mobile matress.

You might think about locating a MB specialist. With due respect to your own guy the advantage of somebody who knows MBs is that when it comes to some of the common but potentially hidden problems and quirks they'll know what to look and listen for. They'll also normally have the right tools for the job - such as the tool for pressing the lower ball joint.

 

[merc_u]

you know what, I was thinking the same thing myself but finding it difficult to sway from the garage I usually go as my guy is usually so good all round.
Put it this way, catch him on a good day and he'll waiver the labour charge for me on small work. can't go wrong right? lol

Anyone know of any MB specialists in London that are reliable and most importantly not out there to rip everyone off?