I dropped off my ML500 for a 40k Miles FSS "B" Service today and asked them to fix the "Metal Grinding Noise" alongwith 20 other issues. The SA at MB of Cary said that the noise is from the Transfer Case and its pretty normal since this is a 4WD vehicle. I told him that if its coming from the Xfer Case then please replace it with a newer version. To which he said, since yours is a 2002 ML you already have the new Xfer case and this noise is acceptable. He said that I will show you some 98 and 99's which will shudder when making a tight turn !! You are better off with this noise than the shudder !!
I am at a loss - I feel MB of Cary is trying to beat around the bush and trying to convince me that this is a normal acceptable noise. After reading through this forum, I am convinced that its not normal and needs to be fixed. It may be the Xfer Case, Drive Shaft Bearing, Front Wheel Bearings etc. Please advise on what to do .
Thanks
Rahul
Its absolutly NOT normal. With an 02 you do have the later transfer case but that does not mean it won't fail even though failures are rare. The shuddering mentioned is something totally different with early ML's and is a result of the 50/50 power split which was slightly changed to eliminate it.
Thanks Sosh for your reply - but what are my options if they continue to say that its normal. My biggest fear is something failing when I am on the road with my family. How do I force them to change / replace whatever it is that is causing the noise.
Im actually having the same problem on my ML55, except it comes from the rear of the car.. Started happening after I bought new rotors and pads though..
hi,
i dont usually have much to contribute since im neither good with mechanical nor electrical stuff but i think i had a similar experience...
was driving from toronto to montreal last summer, i had just gotten off the highway at montreal and pulled up into a parking lot when i heard the most horrifying noise i had ever heard coming from my '01 320... sounded like squeaking chalk except 1000 x worse... tried to put it in reverse, heard another horrifying squeak, then the same sound, it would make that sound everytime i put it in reverse and back to forward... decided it probably wasnt advisable to drive the car any further, so called up the roadside svc number and got transferred to the local independent dealer, and they got it towed to their facility very very promptly, took off the wheels and finally diagnosed the problem to be a stone chip wedged between the rotor and something (forgot)... they didnt charge me anything for the diagnosis, even washed my car and sent me on my way... that, in my opinion, was good service!
Wish I had that kind of service with my VW... those independent dealers are worse than stealerships... they are plain robbers acting like mafias...
Got the ML back after B Service - as expected the dealer could not duplicate the issue and did not make an attempt to diagnose the issue. Per SA, the vehicle is operating as per MBZ specs and all is OK. This is the 5th time I have taken it to a dealer with this complaint - evey time its the same answer. But the strange thing is that the ML does not make that sound whenever I go on a test drive with the SA. I spent 5 mins driving in the parking lot yesterday making full truns at low speeds to duplicate the issue but was unable to. Does brake dust bring out this noise ? I ask sine the vehicle went in for service with a lot of dust and came back with a wash. I am perplexed - don't know the solution. Driving with the jpoe that all is in fact OK and will not leave me stranded.
Got some warranty work done on the ML (2002 ML500) last week. I complained again about the "Metal Grinding Noise" as I was getting it off and on - since the ML is going out of factory warranty in 2 weeks I wanted to document the issue. As always they could not duplicate the issue. I was also feeling the Steering to be a little tight - they checked it and found out that the Power Steering Pump Output pressure was lower than normal. They went ahead and replaced the pump. I have not heard the "Metal Grinding Noise" since the last service. Do you think its possible that the "Metal Grinding Noise" was coming from the faulty Power Steering Pump ? Was the pump making the noise when making full turns at low speeds ? I recollect reading on this site that some people who were getting the same noise got their Power Steering Pump replaced as well.
Got some warranty work done on the ML (2002 ML500) last week. I complained again about the "Metal Grinding Noise" as I was getting it off and on - since the ML is going out of factory warranty in 2 weeks I wanted to document the issue. As always they could not duplicate the issue. I was also feeling the Steering to be a little tight - they checked it and found out that the Power Steering Pump Output pressure was lower than normal. They went ahead and replaced the pump. I have not heard the "Metal Grinding Noise" since the last service. Do you think its possible that the "Metal Grinding Noise" was coming from the faulty Power Steering Pump ? Was the pump making the noise when making full turns at low speeds ? I recollect reading on this site that some people who were getting the same noise got their Power Steering Pump replaced as well.
Thanks,
Rahul
I've heard a groaning noise from the steering pump under heavy load when cold, but nothing I personally would call grinding metal.
Linear Mode
