W210 estate irritating trim rattle in boot

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Owned the estate for 15mth now and during that time I've noticed that something in the boot rattles over bad road surfaces at times. It's taken a few attempts to identify the cause but eventually I've managed it.

The rear trim panel which is removed to access the spare wheel is the culprit. The flat bottom section of the trim panel is moulded plastic which when fitted into place sits straight onto metal. Unlike the trim panel on the opposite side of the boot, which is hinged, this panel has to be removed completely in order to take out the spare wheel.

As there is no hinge on the spare wheel panel it is free to bounce up and down over rough surfaces.

The remedy is to glue either thin rubber or carpet, cut to shape, onto the metal surface beneath the panel thus eliminating the rattle.

It only sounds a small issue but after a while these things start to grate and arn't a characteristic of why you bought a Merc in the first place.

Hope this helps anybody with the same problem, I've noticed one or two comments about this on threads.

 

[television]

Owned the estate for 15mth now and during that time I've noticed that something in the boot rattles over bad road surfaces at times. It's taken a few attempts to identify the cause but eventually I've managed it.

The rear trim panel which is removed to access the spare wheel is the culprit. The flat bottom section of the trim panel is moulded plastic which when fitted into place sits straight onto metal. Unlike the trim panel on the opposite side of the boot, which is hinged, this panel has to be removed completely in order to take out the spare wheel.

As there is no hinge on the spare wheel panel it is free to bounce up and down over rough surfaces.

The remedy is to glue either thin rubber or carpet, cut to shape, onto the metal surface beneath the panel thus eliminating the rattle.

It only sounds a small issue but after a while these things start to grate and arn't a characteristic of why you bought a Merc in the first place.

Hope this helps anybody with the same problem, I've noticed one or two comments about this on threads.

You are as bad as me, I hate any noise/ rattle, pleased you solved yours

Malcolm

 

[MTaylor]

Rattle

Thanks for the info - I've been wondering what it is.

 

[clive williams]

Owned the estate for 15mth now and during that time I've noticed that something in the boot rattles over bad road surfaces at times. It's taken a few attempts to identify the cause but eventually I've managed it.

The rear trim panel which is removed to access the spare wheel is the culprit. The flat bottom section of the trim panel is moulded plastic which when fitted into place sits straight onto metal. Unlike the trim panel on the opposite side of the boot, which is hinged, this panel has to be removed completely in order to take out the spare wheel.

As there is no hinge on the spare wheel panel it is free to bounce up and down over rough surfaces.

The remedy is to glue either thin rubber or carpet, cut to shape, onto the metal surface beneath the panel thus eliminating the rattle.

It only sounds a small issue but after a while these things start to grate and arn't a characteristic of why you bought a Merc in the first place.

Hope this helps anybody with the same problem, I've noticed one or two comments about this on threads.

Malcolm,

On our W210 estate (Oct 2001) both rear panels are hinged. The hinges consist of two plastic hooks, which fit into corresponding oval holes in the floor panel. These holes are lined with rubber grommets to protect the plastic hooks. I've noticed that I have to be careful how I remove the panel as I can see it is easy to break off the hooks.
Did yours have these hooks?

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Your right Clive!
I thought the fuel filler side panel was hinged ala 124 estates but it isn't its the same as yours. For some reason only the spare wheel panel rattled on my car, although they are both the same design, but the above mod has cured it.

A litttle bit of poor design I'm afraid, obviously the real engineers work on the more serious parts of the car lol.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

There is a screw fitting to hold the spare wheel in place, stops the rattles. It is screwed through the plastic tray into a threaded nut on the reinforcing rib. It takes about 10 attempts to align it so most of them go missing. If you can mek a small plastic guide it is easier to screw it in. The tools, towing eye etc if left loose will also rattle like hell. Solution is to wrap them in an old towel which is also useful for cleaning if you get a puncture.

 

[television]

. The tools, towing eye etc if left loose will also rattle like hell. Solution is to wrap them in an old towel which is also useful for cleaning if you get a puncture.

I have done that on every car that I have owned, apart from one ,that was my 1928 RR, the tools were all stored in the boxes in the running boards,every spanner had its own cut out, and place. In many respects, we have not moved on that far.

Malcolm