W203 Wheel bearing, Maybe Autobox?

[Rich-J]

I've got a w203 53 plate registered Feb c220 cdi estate/auto/elegance model, its done 63k.

I've had it for just over a month but have noticed a strange whirring sound at low speed when using the accelerator, it doesn't cause any vibration but you can feel it if that makes any sense but more worrying is you can hear it quite clearly over a diesel engine. Know I thought maybe wheel bearing starting to wear as it doesn't happen all the time, but having read through/searched I've come across this 'Valeo rad auto box problem' but couldn't find a definitive answer?

To me this noise is quite central from the front maybe a bit more bias to the drivers side? It will do it in a straight line or when your turning. I find it hard to believe MB would make a noisy auto box like this or do they?

Its going back the dealer where I bought it from next week, but they are a BMW dealer so its not really going to be an issue they are aware if its the auto box or being similar marques would they??

Full MB service history, last service in February this year noted slight playing NSF wheel bearing, and lower Castor bushes starting to split but no action required yet.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is in the wrong thread/area but for either problem it would be in the wrong one.

 

[Xtractorfan]

Cant see why they wouldnt be aware of issues with your car, one of the things that all these dealers know about is the weaknesess of other marques, and they do pass information between each other, its how they operate.. You should make a point of noting any faults, noises, vibrations that you're not happy with and make sure that you note them ..time and date in a note book.. sometimes if you are buying an expensive car up in the years and you want peace of mind a couple of hundred quid spent on an AA/RAC inspection can be a good investment

 

[Rich-J]

Just a bit worried as more Im reading it does sound like the valeo rad problem, have typed vin into an MB Russian forum and shows delivery date as 31/01/04 (does this mean build date as I couldn't see anything stating that?) but is that any gurantee as the problem seems to be on cars made pre 09/2003?

Is it caused by this so called rad leaking? Would I notice a leak? Etc too many questions lol Just want to be clued up so I have a better idea of known faults or areas they could narrow it down to.

Have read a few previous posts and will check in daylight if I have a valeo or behr rad.

 

[Rich-J]

Its a newer model with the Behr rad

 

[rpe2]

Sounds like a wheel bearing per the advice sheet from the last service.

Richard

 

[Xtractorfan]

Yea reading over your notes it does kinda point to a wheel bearing, tho I cant see why it wasnt changed when it was spotted..

 

[Rich-J]

Yeah i'm shocked aswell and with the bushes aswell, hopefully they will be done next week now. (Should be seeing as the car was sold with these issues, not like they've just happened)

Thx peeps

 

[oigle]

I'd do a little check before attacking anything else. If you have a newish spare tyre, put it on the front right where the noise seems to be coming from and see if it goes away. Tyres can wear strange patterns that give quite alarming noises. Have a look at your tyres and see if there are "lips" on the edges of the treads. Could be an alignment problem showing up.

 

[Rich-J]

I changed the tyres on the front 4 weeks ago do you think that could still play a part with them being so new?

 

[oigle]

Anything is possible.. Perhaps the tread pattern could be a noisy one. Change them around and see if it makes a difference.