Transmission / drive train noises

[Arudge]

This is a bearing track that has Broken up and is the sort of damage I'd expect to see in the OP case.

Why? Bad material, bad heat treatment (too hard) or bearing too tight and the subsequent heat generated will destroy the surface.

If you look closely at the image you may notice vertical lines, this is possible heat bloom on this roller bearing, suggesting it's been over tightened leading to complete failure.

I'm sorry but MB do not use super high quality bearings, you'll find exactly the same sort in a washing machine!

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Thanks for the update on the issue as a fellow 212 owner I share your concern on quality

The symptoms certainly pointed to differential bearing problems but as you say MB perceived quality leads to thinking that at such a low mileage this is unlikely

I'm sure that there can't have been many failures of this type as news travels fast in a global way nowadays. As above I would have the bearings inspected and send the report to MB for comment and ask whether they can identify the other vehicles manufactured using the same batch of bearings and whether they have failed prematurely.

Hope you get a better resolution especially as you've kept faith with the dealer, most including myself would have sourced a secondhand replacement.

 

[grayb]

Just found this thread. We have a similar noise from our diff - narrowed down to probably a bearing on the output on one side (I forget which) by our indie, Stevensons near Maidstone. He advocated leaving it as a new diff would be horribly expensive. However, the noise, although intermittent, is very annoying in an otherwise very quiet car.

I am interested in the comments above about how the diff should be repairable. Does anyone know of any specialists who might take the overhaul on?

 

[Wighty]

Just found this thread. We have a similar noise from our diff - narrowed down to probably a bearing on the output on one side (I forget which) by our indie, Stevensons near Maidstone. He advocated leaving it as a new diff would be horribly expensive. However, the noise, although intermittent, is very annoying in an otherwise very quiet car.

I am interested in the comments above about how the diff should be repairable. Does anyone know of any specialists who might take the overhaul on?

Maybe PM Alex Foti who has just started AMF Automotive in Dartford for advice ?

 

[grayb]

Maybe PM Alex Foti who has just started AMF Automotive in Dartford for advice ?

That could be an idea. Stevensons are more than competent enough to change the diff but he didn't want to get involved in dissecting it.

 

[LostKiwi]

I'm slightly surprised an Indy wouldn't want to swap out bearings. Diffs are pretty simple things in the main - you just need to be careful setting them up to get the gear mesh right.