Hi guys....

I have a 2002 ML500 with 170,000 miles on it that is displaying symptoms of something that I believe can only get worst.

Upon take of, from a dead stop, there is a "thud" sound emitted from under the vehicle's center, accompanied by a slight hesitation before the vehicle begins to move.

It doesn't happen every time, but the frequency increases if I accelerate a little harder than usual, from a dead stop.

In an attempt to gather as much preliminary information as I could, I pulled into an abandoned parking lot to see if I could reproduce the malfunction at will or under certain given circumstances.

During this process, I discovered that the gear shift selector's handle would literally jolt about 3/16ths of an inch whenever the "thud" sound would occur during acceleration from a dead stop.

The shifter-handle's movement was more pronounced if I increased the torque, as if it were responding to the torque created by a more aggressive take off from a dead stop.

I also noticed a slighter movement of the shift-handle when I purposely manipulated the acceleration as to force the transmission to shift harder into 2nd gear.

Any suggestions????

I am a former mechanic, did lots of work on the older model Benz s that I've owned, so I'm not too intimidated, but my knowledge of the M Class 4 wheel drive system is zilch........I'm kind of hoping that it's probably a worn transmission mount, or maybe a damaged flex disc (if these MLs even have one) :-)

Thanks in advance, any advise will not only be greatly appreciated but implemented to the utmost!

Dee

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Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.