[my04mll350]

My three days old 2011 ML 350 is already in the shop. I was going over a couple speed bumps(very slowly) and I heard this loud clunking noise from the right front end. it wouldn't do it when I went through pot holes only over the speed bumps. so I took it over to the service did a test drive with the mechanic and luckily it did it while he was in the car with me. Anywho I just had a phone call from the service and they said I got a bad shock. Go figure. They ordered the shock and it shoul be installed tomorrow.

Here is the funny part, they gave me a 2010 ML350 with 5k miles on it as a loaner so I was curious I went over couple of speed bumps and guess what it has the exact same clunking noise coming from the right front end.

Also on a side note my truck did wonder on the road tiny bit while I was driving and I'm guessing bad shock was causing that. So people who are complaining about tram lining I suggest you should go over couple of speed bumps and if your truck makes the same noise. Who knows maybe a new shock would cure the problem.

 

[mlrancher]

I will be getting mine in about three weeks and will check this as I leave the dealer.
Thanks for the heads up.

 

[my04mll350]

So check this out...I got a phone call from the service yesterday afternoon. Service write up guys says "we replaced the shock but noise is still there. Shop Forman went and test drove couple of other two wheel drive MLs and they were making the same noise so we think it's normal" I said the hell it is! So I left the work went to the dealership when I got there service write up guy was totally cool and agreed with me that a 55k mb shouldn't have clunking noise cooming out of the front end of the car. So asked him to call the service manager. Service manager comes up and says "well we don't know what that noise is and after changing the shock noise went down a bit so you should be ok. " that's when I blew a gasket. I told him that if I wanted a car with a clunking noise right out of the showroom I would've gotten an Fn chevy hell not even a chevy makes that kind of a noise out of the shroom. Mb dealership I got my car from is cross the street from a Kia dealership I told him I can walk a cross the street and test drive a $10k Kia and won't be hearing anything coming out of the front end and you are telling me this is normal? Give me a fn break! So I went in and got the salesman, sales manager went back to the service area. So now it's me, salesman, sales manager, service manager, shop foreman and the write up guy in circle trying to figure out what to do. Well I was in the middle saying take this pos and get me a 4matic. Service manager says calm down we'll get the car fixed I say you kidding me right? I had the car for a day and it's already in the shop for the last two days? Then he tells me to keep the loaner for the weekend and let them figure out what the problem is. Then he turns around tells the shop foreman to take the car a part and find out what the problem is. Then foreman turns around and says" I don't know what the problem is. I can take the whole thing a part put it back together and it'll probably make the same noise again"

So at the moment truck is in the shop and don't know if they can find a solution for it.

To be continued.

 

[[email protected]]

keep us posted...good reading...

sorry...i mean, i understand your frustration...if they don't fix it then like you said, maybe they would give you the 4matic. but i doubt it...maybe give you your money back since you had it such a short time...

mb's can be quite frustrating as you pay a lot new for only moderate quality - just my opinion. stuff usually starts going out right after warranty. that is why many many on these vehicles get extended warranty. not that it is right or wrong...but i just buy them used 4 or 5 years old (usually with high miles)for less then half the price. then i pay for the parts and if i can fix and service them myself...but like i said not just right or wrong. i am just too cheap to spend that kind of money up front, and it gives me something to do and a bit of feeling of accomplishment to fix...but having the warranty would avoid the frustration sometimes.

actually like you said the kia would probably be better...but not quite the same status...

 

[my04mll350]

Thanks scoot. I'm like you. I usually buy them couple if years old in fact I went in to buy a 2008 Eclass but leasing this ML made better sense. (well until now anyways)

 

[morbid angel]

sorry to hear you have such problems. I don't think I have them in my 2009 ML. However dedutch on this forum was saying that he had thunb/clunking noise even on his ML63. And it was in the shop number of times and they were unable to solve the issue...

 

[my04mll350]

Update. So truck is still in the shop and they have no idea what the problem is. I just had a phone call from the service write up guy and he tells me they contacted the MB and they are waiting for a suspension specialist to check the car out and try to find out what the problem is.
I'm very very angry at this point.

 

[DETANE]

I have had better luck at the indie shop I go to when it comes to finding the problems of most of the my MBZ's cars than at the dealership. Most of those dealership techs are fresh out of school/training. The indie shop in my area is already 3 generations deep family owned. Its funny because sometimes Grandpa (the Founder) stops by the shop dressed in his fancy suit, asks what's wrong with a particular vehicle, lifts the hood, finds the problem, while Jr takes notes and Senior jokes telling Grandpa to change out of his fancy suit and put on a mechanic work suit. lol

 

[my04mll350]

I have had better luck at the indie shop I go to when it comes to finding the problems of most of the my MBZ's cars than at the dealership. Most of those dealership techs are fresh out of school/training. The indie shop in my area is already 3 generations deep family owned. Its funny because sometimes Grandpa (the Founder) stops by the shop dressed in his fancy suit, asks what's wrong with a particular vehicle, lifts the hood, finds the problem, while Jr takes notes and Senior jokes telling Grandpa to change out of his fancy suit and put on a mechanic work suit. lol

Well if the truck wasn't only three days old I would've gone to my indy and he probably would've figured it out but I'm not gonna do that.

 

[pdxgrease]

buyers remorse really sucks..

 

[Loudgoldwing]

It's a bad valve in the cartridge cylinder itself. Going through a pothole, the shock extends, opening/freeing the valve mechanism so that, on impact of the far end, it closes normally.

Over a speed bump, the shock doesn't extend. It only compresses. The valve sticks for a split second before "slamming" shut, causing the hydraulic "thunk" noise you hear/feel.

This is very similar to the noise you hear on the far side of an old home when the water is done filling a washing machine and shuts off. "Thunk"

As this is something that is occurring inside the shock cylinder, the mechanic has no way of being able to tell where the noise is coming from. It's a design/engineering flaw by the supplier of the cylinder. MB will likely issue a TSB within the next few months.

If you point this issue out to your Service Writer, you might be able to convince him to spring (pun fully intended) for a set of aftermarket cartidges. They'll solve your issue.

 

[my04mll350]

Well that might very well be the reason if that is so MB got a ton of bad shocks because they replace the shock and the new one is making the same noise. Plus they drove couple of other two wheel drive ones and they were making the same noise. (loaner I have is a 2010 ML makes the same clunk) and finally why is only right side making that noise not the left side?

 

[Loudgoldwing]

Ask the tech to swap the driver/passenger cartridges

 

[Benzona]

At what point do you cut your losses and get a different vehicle?
Best of luck to you, hopefully they can resolve this issue.

 

[azinn]

The Best Or Nothing............................................................ The Mercedes Experience, Unlike Any Other :thumbsup:

 

[my04mll350]

Update...So get a phone call from dealership, service write up guys says"Well...mercedes benz suspension specialist came in and drove your car and he said that clunking noise is perfectly normal. Car is performing as it's designed so there is nothing we can do." You can only imagine my reaction. I freaking flipped so I got up went straight to the dealership(I live only a few blocks from it) and went in straight to sales managers office and I told him that I will not drive a $60k car with a f in clunk coming out of it. they either replace this pos with a 4matic or maybe an E class or I will be calling Amex and stopping the down payment and I'll be calling the MB usa and will not making payments on this pos.

So he tells me that the general manager will be in on friday and they'll try to solve my problem.

These guys have no idea who they are messing with. When it comes to my car I'm a freaking pitbull. I will not let go until my problem is solved.

Will keep you guys posted.

 

[[email protected]]

THe piece that surprises me is you say the 4matic does not make the sound, right? How many 4matic's did you drive to confirm? I suppose it is possible if different part's are involved.

I guess it would be nice if they traded you for 4matic. I think they will try to get you to pay the difference in retail of the 2 vehicles. How would you feel if they do that? Or if you paid half the difference in retail price of the 2 vehicles?

 

[my04mll350]

Well scott I did drive the 4matic and it didn't do that noise but here is the deal, I will not drive a brand new car that makes a clunking noise so will be sorted out one way or the other.

 

[cmitch]

Update...So get a phone call from dealership, service write up guys says"Well...mercedes benz suspension specialist came in and drove your car and he said that clunking noise is perfectly normal. Car is performing as it's designed so there is nothing we can do." You can only imagine my reaction. I freaking flipped so I got up went straight to the dealership(I live only a few blocks from it) and went in straight to sales managers office and I told him that I will not drive a $60k car with a f in clunk coming out of it. they either replace this pos with a 4matic or maybe an E class or I will be calling Amex and stopping the down payment and I'll be calling the MB usa and will not making payments on this pos.

So he tells me that the general manager will be in on friday and they'll try to solve my problem.

These guys have no idea who they are messing with. When it comes to my car I'm a freaking pitbull. I will not let go until my problem is solved.

Will keep you guys posted.

This is exactly why they have lost me as a customer. Their arrogance and denial of obvious problems knows no boundries.

 

[my04mll350]

Update...Bastards at the dealership wouldn't help me. We all sat in the general managers office.(me. general manager, sales manager, salesman and the service manager.) They were like a broken record. All they kept saying "that clunk is normal we tried everything and the drove the 2 wheel drive ML and they all did the same clunking noise" And I told them that is not my problem, and since when Mercedes Benz started to build cars with a clunking suspension from the factory? and why did your mechanics tried to fix it? they changed the shock, kept the car for five days and when they couldn't figure it out they called specialist from MB usa. So if it was normal why would they go all through all that trouble? and since this so called specialist couldn't figure out what the problem is he said this is normal so instead of fixing the problem you guys gonna treat your customer like a crazy person that hears shit. After I said that sales manager had the nerve to say" oh he is doing all this because he wants a 4matic" and I said you know what take your car back I don't want anything from you guys.

So at the end of the meeting they tell me that all they can do is give me 800 number for MB USA customer service and I can file a complaint with them. So I came home, called customer service got some info about complaints and as we speak my attorney(my dad ) writing a nice letter to MB USA and I'm going to pursue this even I have to go court.


By the way I got my ML from KEYES MERCEDES BENZ in Van Nuys Los Angeles. CA if you are looking to go there for a new car...DON'T