2003 E320 CDi Prop Shaft Centre Bearing?

[Holmey]

Hi,

I’ve started feeling what can perhaps best be described as a shimmer through the drivetrain of my 2003, (now), 135,000 mile E320 CDi at various speed when accelerating medium/hard, with this shimmering only lasting for a second or 2 before everything smooths out again. From experience of other cars, I suspect it’s the prop shaft center bearing or it’s support that’s on its way out, and while it’s not too bad, (only slightly noticeable), I want to sort it out before it gets any worse, with apart from this and an occasional phantom orange engine warning light, (more on this later), the car still running like a dream after me doing just under 5,000 miles in her over the past 2 months

I’ve not had chance to get it on a lift and have a look at it yet, but from what I’ve found online the center bearing unit is mounted in a sort of rubber doughnut, and these are likely to start breaking down on this particular model, and I think this is the most likely culprit that’s causing the driveline shimmy under acceleration – Does it sound like I’m on the right track here, or can anybody suggest anything else that could be causing it? With the gearbox being fine, (smoother and more responsive than I expected, with evidence that it’s been serviced too), and it certainly not feeling in any way diff or rear axle related.

If it is the prop shaft center bearing support doughnut, has anybody here ever changed theirs, and if they did, what sort of job was it, as I’ve not been able to find any video guides online and considering doing it myself, with me having the use of a fully equipped workshop and lift and looking for possible problems.

The main thing that come to my mind is if on my model, can I just replace the rubber mounting, or is it all in one piece, it bonded to the prop shaft unit that would mean I had to replace the whole prop shaft?

As to the pesky intermittent orange engine warning lite, the cheeky blighter must have come on at least 5 times now, if not more, and then, it seeming like as soon as I’ve decided to take it to my mate’s garage to put it on his diagnostics, (normally after it being on for a couple of days), it decides to go out and shows no fault codes the couple of times I have run it through diagnostics, (a top of the range Snap On unit that’s just been updated, not a cheap £75 unit from online), with this driving me mad as it’s the only niggle with the car other than the prop shaft

All advice appreciated,

Many thanks,

Holmey

 

[grahamcol]

One of my 202's required replacement of the prop centre bearing and carrier. Symptoms were more of a knocking when accelerating during cornering. My indie fitted in less than an hour. Can't help further but good luck.

 

[LostKiwi]

Have you checked the engine and gearbox mounts? They're a far more common failure than the propshaft.

 

[Holmey]

One of my 202's required replacement of the prop centre bearing and carrier. Symptoms were more of a knocking when accelerating during cornering.

While it's not knocking, I think if I left it as it was it would be soon.

Have you checked the engine and gearbox mounts? They're a far more common failure than the propshaft.

I have considered them, but it just doesn't feel like the engine mounts, the shimmering seems to be coming from the area here the prop shaft centre bearing is. While I have it on the lift though, I'll check the engine and gearbox mountings too.

Holmey

 

[alexanderfoti]

+1 on gearbox/engine mounts.

The gearbox mount usually gives this symptom as the box bangs into the cross member which is close to the prop area.

 

[Holmey]

+1 on gearbox/engine mounts.

The gearbox mount usually gives this symptom as the box bangs into the cross member which is close to the prop area.

Looks like I'm going to have to get it up in the air and check what it is before I get the parts, with me hoping that I could just get the right part/mounting and do it in one go

 

[mioba]

the flexible coupling (doughnut bearing) is a service item at 15 years on sine cars, it was on my W220 of a similar vintage. Whats the service book saying.

 

[Frontstep]

Can't beat getting it on a ramp and checking I have recently had a centre support bearing put on they fail a lot.

 

[Holmey]

the flexible coupling (doughnut bearing) is a service item at 15 years on sine cars, it was on my W220 of a similar vintage. Whats the service book saying.

All I've got is the stamped up service book, with no invoices saying what work was carried out, but all the evidence, (recent new disks & pads, SBC pump, shockers and the gearbox clearly having been serviced in the past), points to the previous owner being somebody who didn't stint on maintenance or repairs.

Can't beat getting it on a ramp and checking I have recently had a centre support bearing put on they fail a lot.

Thanks for that, with the video making me appreciate that it's a bigger job than I considered it to be, I think I'll pass on this and get my mechanic mate to do the job. While he's not a Mercedes specialist, he knows his stuff and rather him than me when it comes to dropping the whole exhaust

From the video I may as well have the rear gearbox mount replaced while the props off too.

 

[mioba]

In the back of service book assuming you have the original tells what needs doing and when.