Knocking

[Bluegrass]

Hi,

I need some help with a problem i'm having with recently bought MB.

I bought an E320cdi estate W210 2001 from a MB Direct dealer in August and had to return it for a few items they'd glossed over in their supposed multipoint check.

The problem now is when ever I drive over an uneven road surface there is a knocking noise in the front which can be heard and felt through the foot well. Its fine when both wheels go over a hump together and it’s recently past the MOT.

It’s booked to go in again. I wanted to be clued up on what the cause could be so they don’t fob me off again.

Thanks.

 

[turnipsock]

It could be something to do with the anti roll bar. That would explain why nothing happens when you hit a bump that causes both wheels to move the same amount.

I'm not sure why they wouldn't pick this up at MOT though. Maybe they don't consider an anti roll bar that important.

 

[Bolide]

ARB bushes

If it was a W124 I'd say ARB bushes like Turnipsock... and it's probably just the same on a later car

MOT testers don't care about such things as they're not meant or allowed to test for stuff like that


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I've just had this exact fault done on my car. Diagnosis was front ball joints replacing, and 'rods' - something to do with the anti-roll bar.

The rods were £7.70 each
Ball joints were £51.90 for the two I think

 

[maddog]

ARB are a known problem on w210's i had a set replaced under warranty at around 20k

 

[clive williams]

Bluegrass,

It does sound like the ARBs or the operating rods. I had a look under our barge at the weekend and I can't remember whether the ARBs are visible or are shrouded by the underbody tray. If thats the case them the tester would find it difficult to check for play. The operating rods are visible though, although I've never seen a tester carry out anything other than a visual check on any of my other cars.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[clive williams]

I've just had this exact fault done on my car. Diagnosis was front ball joints replacing, and 'rods' - something to do with the anti-roll bar.

The rods were £7.70 each
Ball joints were £51.90 for the two I think

Parrot,

Where did you get the ball joints from? I need one on the barge. ECP are quoting £8.95 cheapest to £14.49 best quality.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[tamrsoft]

Worn Drop Link bushes on the front ARBs will cause a quite discerning knock/rattle when driving over rough ground. Very quick, cheap and easy to replace. You need to remove both wheels at the same time and support the car on the lower suspension arms so that there is no unbalanced pressure on the ARB. Use a little silicon grease to help push the silicon bushes onto the end of the ARB, the other end needs a T50 torx bit to remove the bolt.

 

[Bluegrass]

Thanks guys for your help.

It went to the MB garage today so fingers crossed they will locate the fault and is covered by warranty.

There was something else I forgot to mention. The driver’s side of the windscreen takes longer to demist then the passenger side. The MB service advisor said this is because these cars were originally built for left hand drive and in the conversion to right hand drive this was the result.
Well I’ve driven many foreign built right hand drive cars without this problem.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I've driven older cars with the demist problem the MB techie describes but never had it on a 90's + vehicle. Sounds like bull**** to me, the probable cause, and first course of action to take, is to change the dust filter in the air-con system. This usually sorts the problem out, I run a 2000 320CDi and the drivers side de-mists fine.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Parrot,

Where did you get the ball joints from? I need one on the barge. ECP are quoting £8.95 cheapest to £14.49 best quality.

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

Greenvale Services
Moss Lane Ind Estate, Egremont Close
Whitefield
M45 8FH
telephone:
0161-796 2666

They came recommended to me, and seem like a good outfit, the mechanic b0ll0cked me for using a bit of radweld as a temp fix on a leaky coolant pipe (since repaired)! The boss of the outfit also wanted to take me out for a test drive when I collected the car, which was a nice touch. He also pointed out a few other minor faults, and told me how to repair them which impressed me.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Thanks guys for your help.

It went to the MB garage today so fingers crossed they will locate the fault and is covered by warranty.

There was something else I forgot to mention. The driver’s side of the windscreen takes longer to demist then the passenger side. The MB service advisor said this is because these cars were originally built for left hand drive and in the conversion to right hand drive this was the result.
Well I’ve driven many foreign built right hand drive cars without this problem.

Rubbish tbh, mine demists quite easily, both sides evenly. Check under the bonnet for leaves or squirrels getting in the ducting.

 

[Bluegrass]

How do I get to this filter?

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Passenger side glovebox requires removal and the unit then unclips and slides out. There are two filters on the climate control systems, the other one is a charcoal filter, they sit side by side.

 

[television]

Rubbish tbh, mine demists quite easily, both sides evenly. Check under the bonnet for leaves or squirrels getting in the ducting.

Whats wrong with mice and birds, The MB recorded fault on some of these cars is that a counter balansed flap breaks its the fresh/ recycled air flap.
Not easy to fix as the whole thing has to come out

Malcolm

 

[Bluegrass]

Just got the car back from MB.

They weren't specific on what they'd changed (I think he said anti roll bar bushes and something else).The knocking has gone and i've got to take it into a MB Direct dealership for the air filters to be changed for free.The service centre wanted £220 for this.