2001 C320 Ticking Noise
 

I have a ticking noise after my car has warmed up and driven for several miles. It sounds like it is coming from the console area. The ticking gets faster and louder the faster I go. I had the tires rotated and balanced so I thought maybe they had done something to cause this but that doesn't seem to be the case. Can someone help me figure out what this annoying noise could be? Its embarrassing because people on the street can hear it.

If people on the street can hear it then that is pretty bad, get underneath it and make sure it isn't one of the flex discs or something in the drive line. When an MB vibrates or makes noise, something is wrong. Good luck and be careful!
Brian

Maybe get the car on a hoist & spin the wheels?

Here is a hint. lift vehicle.drop exhaust shielding around center support bearing for driveshaft. Inspect tunnel insulation and you will find it rubbing against the driveshaft right in front of the center support bearing. If this is the problem, there is a DTB to make a strap to support the insulation. Basically cut a 6 inch section of aluminum strapping about 1.5-2 inches wide , drill a hole in the center, and fasten it with the 10mm plastic nut. I usually put some semetric angles in the piece ( kind of hard to explain) to add strength.

Thanks for the advice but what is a flex disc? Is this something that I could find easily? :confused:

Is it difficult to drop the exhaust shielding? I'm not sure if I can do that but I might be able to get the place that rotates my tires to. Do you think if I explained this to them they would understand what to do? Or should I take it somewhere else to have it looked at? I can't afford to take it the Mercedes dealer right now! Thanks :o

Ok I'm a dummy! Are you telling me if I hear the noise when the wheels spin freely that the problem is in the wheels? I am assuming that , :confused: but I'm just a girl that knows very little about cars. Thanks!

Well, its pretty easy to do (if you have done it before). It only pays .9 hours to perform the repair. BTW, dropping the exhaust shielding is pretty easy, only 4 8 mm fastners holding it on. You just have to move it around the exhaust to get it out of the way.

Thanks. I'll try that this weekend.
I'll let you know what I find. :)