Advice/Help re W209 CLK55 2006

[Krafty187]

Hi, looking for some help/advice to locate a couple of parts I need for my 2006 CLK55 cabriolet.

Following knee surgery this week my fiancé was using the car () to pick up our daughter and went down a curb on full left lock trying to accelerate onto the road. There was a nasty crunch as we went down the curb and after 50m or so there was a loud vibration/flapping noise coming from under the car.

We pulled over and it seems that part of the wheel arch lining has been smashed and torn away. It's hard to see in the dark, but looks as though the trim around the actual arch is intact, but it's ripped away the black plastic (I think) section that connects the arch trim to the front bumper. Looking under the car, you can now see the headlamp washer bottle and a few cables/wires that are exposed.

Worryingly, despite the fact there does not appear to be any debris or anything else making contact with the wheels, I'm now getting a very loud and noisy vibration/rattle whenever the car is driven. I've had the car up on the jack and can't see anything, but it seems to randomly start making this noise. Best way to describe the sound is as if the tire has shredded and is flapping around in the wheel arch, but as I've mentioned there doesn't seem anything visible to suggest what this could be and the noise starts randomly and doesn't seem to be dependent on speed, revs etc.

To cut a long story short, does anyone have any ideas as to what this noise might be? My AMG specialist isn't back until middle of next week and I'll need to have it looked at before then as it doesn't sound healthy at all..

I'm also looking for some help to confirm the name/number of the plastic part I need. I'm assuming Mercedes can help if I go there, but I'd rather avoid the huge bill if possible, particularly as I've no idea of what is causing the horrible noise and how much that's going to cost.

Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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[television]

The part you need is the wheel arch liner, it comes it 2 sections the front and the rear, I would think that the noise could be damaged parts on this wheel arch liner flapping in the wind or getting behind the remains of the rear section.

The big problem is, is there anything left to fix the wheel arch liner to

 

[Krafty187]

Thanks Malcolm

I did take a look with the car up on the jack and couldn't see anything that could be in contact with the wheel, but I'm taking in to local garage (non merc specialist) tomorrow to get it up on the ramp and have a better look.

Do you know the part number? What does it fix on to? Looks as though it clips to the underside of the front bumper but would hope the back is connected to wheel arch or chassis somehow?

 

[Krafty187]

Also, do you know if the part is different for cabriolet rather than coupe? Thanks

 

[television]

All the same, the wheel arch liner attaches in many points all the way round with just 2 screws into the bumper and under tray

150 ,160 and 210

 

[Krafty187]

Thanks, that's really helpful. I don't suppose you know the part numbers? I'm having trouble finding it online to order. Thanks.

 

[television]

It will be a special order from Mercedes only, and they will order from your VIN

 

[Krafty187]

So I've now removed the inner wheel arch liner completely, hoping that was the cause of the vibration/rattle that I'm getting.

Drove down the road for 50m and noise starts again, so it's definitely not the arch lining, which is completely intact other than the front section I've removed.

Have tried to work out a pattern for the noise as its not constant. Seems to happen as the car slows when you come off the accelerator at fairly low revs (c 1500), but also made the same sound when rolling in neutral. It's not connected to the brakes and only seems to kick in at fairly low speeds. It's is very loud though when it does happen, enough to make anybody walking near the car turn around and look.

There seems to be no loss of power and I've had the car on a ramp at the local garage and there is nothing obvious to see. At the moment it's a complete mystery, so I'm going to leave the car until Monday when my AMG specialist can take a look.

Really hoping its nothing major, but I'm completely at a loss to explain.

Has anybody had or heard of anything similar?

 

[television]

Could the liner have bent the backing plate so that at time it rubs on the disc, or is there part of the liner still trapped somewhere.

 

[davidsw]

Perhaps it would be best to take it somewhere , even kwikfit would look and see if it is SAFE . If you go there you may need new wheel bearing , pads, shock absorber, spring etc but you should be able to see if it is dangerous to carry on driving.

 

[Krafty187]

Turns out the exhaust had also taken a knock when dropping down the curb and this had dented the heat shield. The vibration noise was the exhaust against the heat shield. Managed to bend it back in place and the noise has gone altogether. Very happy it wasn't something more serious!

Have now got the new wheel arch lining from Merc. I only needed the front section (160 in the parts diagram above) which was £39.

The only problem I'm having now is fitting this part to the front bumper. It's bolted on in the wheel arch ok, but looks as though there is another very small section that enables you to connect to the front bumper. The arch liner has holes in the front to take the plastic screws, but there are no holes in the bumber to which they can be attached. Think there is another small section that clips in and then takes the plastic screws.

It's held on pretty firmly at the moment, but I'd like to try and finish the job properly. The diagrams for the wheel arch lining don't show another part, so I'm wondering if this is part of the front bumper itself - anyone have any ideas?

Thanks for all the help so far.....much appreciated.