M.B. Doc: I see you have lots of experience in the MB field, so I'll run this one by you for your comment. I bought a new ML500SE in Dec. of 04. From the first time I drove it over 65 mph I heard a high pitched gear whine under deceleration from 75 down to about 68 mph. Also a different lower pitch gear whine under load from 40 up to about 65 mph. I can make these noises go away by playng with the throttle. My shop foreman tells me I have an AWD vehicle with aggresive tires (Dunlop SP5000) and doesn't want to open any differentals. I've built enough gears for racecars in my life to know gear noise when I hear it. Is this a common problem on the ML's or just an isolated case. I had an 00 430 prior to my 500 and it had no noise. It had Dunlop Gran Trek 35's on it! Any comments?? Thanks

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David L

Dakat,

I actually had the same problem on the BMW - variable whine/hum depending on speed. Couldn't shake it.

Then I changed tires and it went away. THE EXACT SAME TIRE BRAND AND MAKE (continentals)

Just like that.

I couldn't believe it. But I guess even same tires have variances and I suspect one of the belts in the tires was screwed up.

On the ML, I had a grinding noise during deceleration. It turned out to be differential which was changed under good will. (I had 75K miles on the odo)

Roadsession: I plan on wearing out this set of tires and then changing back to the grand trek 35's like I had on my 430. What is weird is that under decel from 100 down to 75 mph not a sound, then a high pitched whine from there to about 69 mph, then nothing. On these Dunlops there are sipes cut laterally in the tread about every inch. I'm hoping that's it. Your statement reinforces that theroy. At any rate I have 7 yr 100,000 mile warranty, so I can wait if need be. Thanks for your input!

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David L