Got a whistle on my "late" 98 ML320 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 09-05-2001, 02:55 PM

It sounds like a window whistle but when you roll the window down it is still there. Is this common? I think it is the roof rack thingy or the mirror. Does anyone else have a whistle? Gilly have you encountered this before. Car is only 2 weeks old (to me) so I do not know.

2nd Does everyones Ml seem like it is in 4wd instead of all-wd when pulling into parking spots or making tight turns? Especially in reverse. Not sure if this is a trait or mine is not free-wheeling. Gas milage is around 18-20 so I guess she is fine. Anyone!

Gilly · #2 09-05-2001, 11:01 PM

These weren't especially noted for wind noise. In 2000 I believe it was, they started glueing these fillers in the front of the front doors to take up some of the dead space in the hinge area. I don't believe these can be retrofitted. We've replaced some door weatherstrips, I'd be willing to beat a new weatherstrip will fix it. LeBenz may be right about the roof rack if you have any cross-bars on the rails, most people don't and the rails themselves don't make any noises. The sunroof can make a pretty good whistle if it's not adjusted correctly. When closed, the front of the glass should be 1mm lower than the roof sheetmetal, and the rear should be 1mm higher than the roof sheetmetal.
LeBenz is correct about the ratio changing, but only about the first 100-200 1998's were 50:50. I recommend checking your tire condition and inflation pressures, I recommend 32 psi in all 4, 60 psi in the spare tire. In general they do seem to steer a little heavier than a car, not much. maybe you can go to your dealer and compare to a used 98 they have on the lot. The turning radius sure is nice on ML's, though.
Gilly

Kevin_300CE · #3 09-06-2001, 07:13 AM

I had the same drag or tire scrubbing effect when pulling out of a parking space. I have a 99 ML320 with 40,000 miles on it. I brought it to the dealer and had a shop tech test drive it with me in the car (he drove). Right out of the parking spot he felt the shuddering (like if 4wd was turned on). It ended up getting a new transfer case and output shaft bearing.

When I picked up the ML it was like driving a new car. It seemed to roll much easier and my gas mileage went up 2 - 3 gallons on local driving. I was getting 15mpg avg around town, I now get 17 - 18mpg.

#4 09-06-2001, 10:44 AM

Picked her up last nite. Whistle is a slight crack in drivers mirror, have to order me one. The scuffing is slight and head tech says perfectly normal being AWD. Much worse if I put in low so i assume transfer case is fine. MPG is 18-20 so it's cool. I do not have the full roof rack, only the side posts(sunroof I guess).

Question: my Ml was built in 6/98 so it is almost a 99. The outside temp guage(in fuel guage) does not light up but you can see the digits at certain angles. Dealer said they removed cluster and no temp unit. Said it did not come with one but they(MB) knew they would later and so mine had the works for it. I'm calling BS on this being my manual shows the guage. Was this an option, are they correct?

Kevin_300CE · #5 09-06-2001, 11:44 AM

My friend has an early 98 and has the outside temp guage. I will verify his build date.

In regards to tire scrubbing....after the transfer case change I have no noticable notice, shuddering, or scrubbing of the tires. My friend also had his transfer case change becuase of a slight scrubbing (mine was more noticable). We go to different dealers and had no issues with getting them to change the transfer case.

Gilly · #6 09-06-2001, 01:09 PM

Hi Guys:
On earlier cars the outside temp was an option, I want to say M1 option package, but not sure, doesn't matter much anyways. I believe if you have a trip computer you should have the outside temp gauge. By your observations, assuming you can see an actual temp, which changes from time to time and seems accurate, then the bulb is just blown that illuminates the temp, similar to how the odometer and clock light up. Easiest way to tell if you have it or not is to look for the temp sensor. It sticks through a hole in the black plastic "mesh" insert in the bumper, I believe it's over on the drivers side. Pretty easy to spot if it's there, black plastic probe, like the pointed end of a pen. If you don't have it, if you stare at the area where the LCD is it just looks like "888", but if you can make out an accurate temp reading, I think someone was too lazy to pull out the cluster. "Wishful thinking" maybe. It's not that bad of a job.
Gilly

#7 09-06-2001, 01:50 PM

All I can see is the 888, no reading. My only options are cd changer, glass roof, and ruby paint. No leather, no P-seats, etc. Guess they cheesed out on a stupid sensor. No biggie but it looks like it is broken and screws up the "look" of the dash. Same thing with the fog light switch. It is there and lights up but nothing happens, what gives with that too.

Gilly · #8 09-06-2001, 09:32 PM

Bigshot:
OK, you got the "888", so no, the other tech was right, this is a real stripped one. I've seen 'em without the sunroof, too!
On the foglights, here's the deal on that:
The bottom part of the foglight switch is for the rear foglight. Start the engine, turn on the headlights, then push the bottom section of the foglight switch. The amber LED comes on, go to the back of the truck. The rear fog is on the left taillight only, as is normal for most rear fogs in the US. Touch the bottom section again and the rear fog and LED are now off. This is all in the owners manual. The top part of the foglight switch will turn on the front fogs, if equipped. They can be added as an accessory, either figure out what you want to install, or MB brushguards can be equipped with MB foglights, or whats most common is to add then to the headlights themselves. On the inner part of the headlights is a place to install foglight bulbs, the wiring is there already. They're more of a driving light, doesn't add that much more light. On a 98 you can have parking lights and the fog lights on at the same time. Later, either 99 or 2K they made it so they will only be on with the low beams.
The dealer will need to activate this feature with the shop computer, it is a change to the version code in the AAM (all activity module, in US terms I think they would call it the body computer). The bulbs you could probably put in yourself, although I highly recommend getting the bulbs from the dealer, just ask for the integrated foglight bulbs. If you have problems I can get you the part number, or else I'm sure they can help you out here at PartsShop in buying them.....
Gilly

#9 09-07-2001, 08:49 AM

Thanks Gilly! So the next time I go in for service I should have them install the computer code so they will work? I will check here for the parts. I kind of like the cloth(er whatever) interior with the carbon fiber dash. Wish it had carbon on the door handles like the wood.

krasuskyp · #10 09-07-2001, 03:16 PM

Bigshot-

My wife's '98 has that same 'sensation' when cutting the wheel and hitting the gas. Gilly and Kevin300CE are right about MB 'offering' to swap out the xfer case for one that has less split. We're going to live w/ the intermittent sensation as it's not that intrusive and offers better traction potential.

Her tires are nearly worn now and she too is experiencing a bit of shudder @ speed. I figured she smacked a pothole, but she swears she didn't. Your explanation makes sense.

We convinced our dealer to 'activate' our integrated foglamps. Hers is an early '98, the lights only operate with the low beams. I'd argue they make a very good to great difference. Not a driving light, more fog in pattern, but help fill in the 'deadspot' that is between the bumper and the low beam pattern, as well as way out to the sides. Worth looking into, for sure. Stupid US reg's!

I don't know about you all, I'm going to dare to admit that these early ones (pre-2k) were rushed to market and are the biggest rattle / wind traps MB has ever produced. I'm really let down. Plastic galore on the pillars, etc., squeaky cheesy faux wood on door handles, etc. Her sunroof has been dealer adjusted to that 1mm low front / 1mm high rear (or whatever) and continues to make wind noise when closed. Forced to keep shade closed in order to speak! And the dealer has now got MANY thousand into it in warranty work so far. Not what I'd expect from MB. Ohwell. Ah, guess I'm just venting. What should we expect for the price. Besides, the '01's have addressed all of these issues, they got it right now (finally).

#11 09-07-2001, 03:42 PM

My sunroof is a bit noisy with shade open. Looks flush to me. I think this sis why MB never had glass tops back in the days. I hear the wind deflectors really work. Gonna try one(I think). Overall I am very pleased and from what I read, glad mine was made in 6/98.

Gilly · #12 09-07-2001, 09:47 PM

HI everybody;
Bigshot: Yes, if you're interested in the integrated fglights, have your dealer change the programming in the AAM to reflect "foglights on". It's not stupid US regs. They (MB) don't know if a brushguard and foglights will be added later on or not. They leave the bulbs out and the AAM programmed "off", the salesman should know enough to offer these to you if brushguard/foglights are not installed. My recommendation is to just remove the headlight assemblies to install the bulbs so you can see what you are doing, and again, use the MB bulbs.
Did you check out the rear foglight operation as I described? Makes sense now? When the integrated foglights are installed, just the top part of the switch operated the front lights, one push "on", one push "off", only the top part of the switch is for the front. And I "insist" that on a 98 and 99, the front driving/fog lights will operate in park lamp or low beam, but not high beam. I believe it was 2000 that this was changed to low beam only. We have had the fog lamps added into all of our service trucks, and we have had every year, no 2002 yet, probably not until spring 2002.

On the transfer case, I haven't thought to get the exact number, but there were very, very few made with a 50:50 transfer case split, I believe it was only about the first 200 trucks.
Biggest factor that I believe is affecting tire wear on ML's particularly, and all MB's with FSS to a certain extent (assuming same size tires all the way around), is that the tire rotation on FSS cars only takes place on the "B" service. This can be upwards of 20,000 miles between rotations, and that's NOT often enough. Our dealership has adopted the practice of tire rotation at each service.
On the windnoise, there is a service information bulletin concerning the elimination of sun roof wind noise. it was very helpful for us on the real problem trucks, especially the earlier ones. There is a "V" shaped metal reinforcement in the weatherstrip that attaches to the glass itself, an inverted "V". It can carefully be spread out to allow the weatherstrip to contact the opening more tightly. the adjustment (1mm low in front, 1mm high in back) seemed to fix MOST of them, the spreading the seal out cured the tough ones. have your dealership locate and refer to this SI bulletin.
Gilly
ps I will be pretty busy this weekend, and gone to MB school next week Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday.

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