Panoramic roof noise on an E class

[Johnny007]

Greetings everyone, after my grand entry on the introduce youreself section this is my official help me post. So here goes and I really do hope someone can help me .

I have 2011 e350 diesel 265 with panoramic roof, the car is out of warranty. I hear a crackling type sound from the roof bar on the panoramic roof which splits the two sides of the roof so it will be at the rear of the front seats above. The noise comes on all roughish surface it can't be heard on a smooth road or at high speeds on a motorway (so I think) . The sound could be described as poping also it makes Little difference if it is open closed or tilted. It's doing my nut in I have tried ringing main dealers and a specialist who can't figure it out. I have asked two independents and they seemed clueless.

Everyone seems to suggest hours of labour to see the roof lining I think it's the bolts inside maybe need tightening or washer replaced. I'm from the london area.

Does anyone have experience of such an issue and if so what was the fix and where. Please help!!!! There's a video on YouTube about an American chap who claims to have tighted some bolts himself within two hours. Perhaps any specialists on here who can help.

Any help would be much appreciated . Have a Good day and thanks for reading.

 

[Sinn]

Hello Johnny.
I had something similar on my E Class coupe thinking it was the panoramic roof. After much frustrating investigation, it turned out to be the door seals that had dried out. I treated the door seals with a rubber conditioner (Wurth Gummi Pflege) that quietened it all down.

If the condition improves when it rains (seals getting moistened), then it's probably your seals in my experience.

Image attached for your reference.

Good luck.

 

[Johnny007]

Hi sinn, thanks for your input, I can definetly hear it from the roof the poppping like rattle is on all rough surface. To be certain il find out for sure tommorow.

 

[Johnny007]

Update Thank the lord almighty it's been fixed , with the help of Welwyn merx and my research two hours labour and the bolts needed tightening applied some locktite and it done the job. I thought I'd write this just in case anyone else ever has the issue. Happy days!!!

 

[bembo449]

result , nothing worse than an noise like that while driving pal

 

[Johnny007]

Yeah man it was driving me nuts I couldn't work. Oh I'm so relieved I love sitting in my car again.

 

[anyweb]

for all of the rest of us W212 owners with panoramic sunroofs, can you please detail the steps you performed to solve this, please

 

[Johnny007]

I didn't do anything I took it to the garage after having researched the problem it's the mounting bolts under the headliner the pillars a and b are removed alongside the handles and the top trim is lowered to allow access to the bolts then they are tightened and threadlocked, takes about two hours and there's a video on YouTube showing a diy fix, I just told the mechanic what they need to do. Hope that helps.

 

[Peter Panayiotou]

I also had the same problem with a cracking noise that got worse over a period of one year. Took it to two dealers. Neither had a clue but the first wanted 2000 quid to strip down the roof. I watched the DIY video on Youtube and called a mobile Mercedes mechanic who dropped the roof liner and tightened the loose mounting bolts ALL around. Fixed in less than 2 hours for 150 quid. I am so grateful to this forum and to Johnny007. Car is now lovely to drive.

 

[Gkinghorn]

I didn't do anything I took it to the garage after having researched the problem it's the mounting bolts under the headliner the pillars a and b are removed alongside the handles and the top trim is lowered to allow access to the bolts then they are tightened and threadlocked, takes about two hours and there's a video on YouTube showing a diy fix, I just told the mechanic what they need to do. Hope that helps.

Link to YouTube video?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Adarsh Ramegowda]

I didn't do anything I took it to the garage after having researched the problem it's the mounting bolts under the headliner the pillars a and b are removed alongside the handles and the top trim is lowered to allow access to the bolts then they are tightened and threadlocked, takes about two hours and there's a video on YouTube showing a diy fix, I just told the mechanic what they need to do. Hope that helps.

Hi Johnny007,

Any chance you could share the details of the garage who did the work for you please?
I am having exactly same problem and one of the dealers is asking for £ 600 and won't guarantee that the sound will go away and the dealer who I bought the car from is refusing to admit there is anoise! I am desperate to get it sorted .

Thanks,
Adi

 

[Adarsh Ramegowda]

I also had the same problem with a cracking noise that got worse over a period of one year. Took it to two dealers. Neither had a clue but the first wanted 2000 quid to strip down the roof. I watched the DIY video on Youtube and called a mobile Mercedes mechanic who dropped the roof liner and tightened the loose mounting bolts ALL around. Fixed in less than 2 hours for 150 quid. I am so grateful to this forum and to Johnny007. Car is now lovely to drive.

Hi Peter , could you please share the details of the mobile Mercedes mechanic? I am struggling to get this sorted and the dealers are not helpful at all.
The car is still under warranty and they are refusing to admit there is a noise!!

Thanks,
Adi

 

[LostKiwi]

Hi Johnny007,

Any chance you could share the details of the garage who did the work for you please?
I am having exactly same problem and one of the dealers is asking for £ 600 and won't guarantee that the sound will go away and the dealer who I bought the car from is refusing to admit there is anoise! I am desperate to get it sorted .

Thanks,
Adi

Welwyn Merx.

 

[Adarsh Ramegowda]

Welwyn Merx.

Thank you very much. I will get in touch with them.

 

[Rolf@benzdriver]

I'm on my 3rd E-350, a 2016 sedan with the full sun roof, and have begun experiencing the ceiling noise described in this page. I find it amazing that it is such a common problem, in a Mercedes for goodness sake.
I've owned more than 25 cars in my seven decades, many with sun roofs or T-tops, and never experienced anything like this. I mentioned it to my dealer's service rep last week, an older gentleman who I know has been with this dealership for many years. He gave me a blank look as though he had never heard of such a thing. Said he would have to look into it and get back to me. Nothing so far.
This is one of the largest MB dealers in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have a hard time understanding how this issue continues year to year, why MB engineers haven't taken the effort to solve it, and how my dealer rep seems to know nothing of the problem.
Very frustrating.
As a retired engineer, I can see that it's the bracket mounting bolts that are not holding their torque as described above, allowing too much flex. So why is MB turning a blind eye to what is probably a simple production line fix. Possibly a weld bead after the bolts have been torqued?

 

[LostKiwi]

Not sure if relevant to you?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/mercedes-benz-sunroof-recall/

 

[Eddy zaidan]

Hello guys thanks for info. The panoramic roof noise on rough roads was driving me crazy. Many mechanics didn't have a clue. I will take the car to a sunroof specialist removing and ask him to tighten the screws as suggested.
I will be grateful if this is the answer.
Eddy

 

[onefortheroad]

I spray the seals with silicone spray , shuts it up enormously..

 

[Eddy zaidan]

I spray the seals with silicone spray , shuts it up enormously..

I will try this. Thanks

 

[Blobcat]

I spray the seals with silicone spray , shuts it up enormously..

Lidl have some in the middle aisle at the moment