I have searched the forum for a similar problem to mine but can find nothing similar.
I have an W211 E320CDi Sport Automatic. I bought it when it was 6 weeks old with just 600 miles on the clock in November 2007. Soon after purchase I noticed a strange creak, almost a knock, from the suspension when going over certain uneven road surface. I had bought the car in the north but live in the south. When the car went in to have the gearbox repaired (around 1500 miles!) I asked the excellent local dealership to investigate the suspension noise. They found nothing.
Every contact I had with the dealership I complained about the noise. They had the car for a few days at one point and drew a blank although I could demonstrate the noise at will. After some pushing on my part they had a gentleman called a Customer Support Technical Manager come down from Milton Keynes (he came in an identical car he claims) and some weeks later he wrote me a letter full of meaningless waffle (in my opinion) with gems such as:
Unbeknown to him I had since learned from a friend that he had purchased a W211 E320CDi Avantgarde when they first appeared in the UK and that he had repeatedly complained about an identical noise. After 6 months or so he was given a full refund because they were unable to cure the problem. Off the record a technician had told him he wasn't alone with this problem.
I wrote back to the Customer Support Technical Representative and he conveniently said he was unable to comment on my pal's car without driving it but that the AVantgarde had suspension lowered by 15mm and was, therefore, similar.
I replied quoting another car (E320CDi Avantgarde) belonging to my brother-in-law which did NOT demonstrate the noise. That was some 6 weeks ago and I believe Mercedes Benz UK are now ignoring me.
The noise appears to emanate from different places depending on where you are sitting but it is so predictable I can provoke it at will by driving over any large change in road surface, (like a speed hump) preferably with the wheels on one side of the car remaining on the level.
What makes the problem intolerable is that at the entrance to my road is an elevated junction to slow traffic and I hear the noise without fail everytime I depart or arrive home!
I cannot believe that there is not either a design issue or fault with the car. A car of the undoubted calibre and cost of a MB should not make inexplicable and annoying suspension noises.
Does anybody have any experience of a similar problem or any suggestions while I consider my next move?
I have an W211 E320CDi Sport Automatic. I bought it when it was 6 weeks old with just 600 miles on the clock in November 2007. Soon after purchase I noticed a strange creak, almost a knock, from the suspension when going over certain uneven road surface. I had bought the car in the north but live in the south. When the car went in to have the gearbox repaired (around 1500 miles!) I asked the excellent local dealership to investigate the suspension noise. They found nothing.
Every contact I had with the dealership I complained about the noise. They had the car for a few days at one point and drew a blank although I could demonstrate the noise at will. After some pushing on my part they had a gentleman called a Customer Support Technical Manager come down from Milton Keynes (he came in an identical car he claims) and some weeks later he wrote me a letter full of meaningless waffle (in my opinion) with gems such as:
Unbeknown to him I had since learned from a friend that he had purchased a W211 E320CDi Avantgarde when they first appeared in the UK and that he had repeatedly complained about an identical noise. After 6 months or so he was given a full refund because they were unable to cure the problem. Off the record a technician had told him he wasn't alone with this problem.
I wrote back to the Customer Support Technical Representative and he conveniently said he was unable to comment on my pal's car without driving it but that the AVantgarde had suspension lowered by 15mm and was, therefore, similar.
I replied quoting another car (E320CDi Avantgarde) belonging to my brother-in-law which did NOT demonstrate the noise. That was some 6 weeks ago and I believe Mercedes Benz UK are now ignoring me.
The noise appears to emanate from different places depending on where you are sitting but it is so predictable I can provoke it at will by driving over any large change in road surface, (like a speed hump) preferably with the wheels on one side of the car remaining on the level.
What makes the problem intolerable is that at the entrance to my road is an elevated junction to slow traffic and I hear the noise without fail everytime I depart or arrive home!
I cannot believe that there is not either a design issue or fault with the car. A car of the undoubted calibre and cost of a MB should not make inexplicable and annoying suspension noises.
Does anybody have any experience of a similar problem or any suggestions while I consider my next move?
