I have a 97 SL500, and I hear a grinding noise at the last few seconds of stopping to a hault. I thought it might be the brakes, but I found that when I stop with the transmission in neutral, it never growls. No I think it might be the transmission.

Perhaps this is related, but in the past 6 months, I've been hearing a ticking noise from the right side of the engine (passenger side) that's sync'd with the RPM. I assumed this is due to a broken oil tube under the valve cover, the valves themselves, or the fuel injector. But, I've found that the ticking noise is different when I place the car into neutral (and it's not just because the RPM rises slightle). The ticking has become louder, and now the low growl has accompanied it.

Could it be engine/transmission mounts? Or maybe I put in too much or too little transmission fluid in last year?

Oh, and I should mention that in the past 6 months or so, the car's been acting funny about 2 minutes after being turned on: When stoped, still in gear, the car wants to lunge forward and the RPM jumps up and down, like a horse trying to get out of a cage. So when I put the car into neutral and step on the gas to 1000 RPM for a few seconds, it stopps. This might be a transmission related problem, or fading O2 sensors....

Thanks for any advice

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Well, I'm guessing that the problem is the motor mounts. But which brand to buy? There's Meyle, CRP, Febi, Boge, & Lemforder, ranging from $52 to $120. Any advise, please....

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I replaced my motor mounts on my SL, I got Lemforder ones, I have had them for a year, no problems. I had surging problems with my SL too, it was kind of jumpy at idle, when sitting while in gear. I replaced the purge valve and the post cat O2 sensor, I don't know which one fixed it, but it doesn't do it anymore. Also my trans which is the prior version to yours will start soundinng kind of rickety while in gear and the foot on the brake, only when you open the door or have the window down you can hear it, Usually when I change the trans fluid it quits. ANother thing to check on the 500 engine is the breather tubes, all those under the air cleaner assembly, they get brittle and break, check them out because that can cause surging as the computer compensates for vacuum loss. Good luck!
Brian

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Brian W. Heitman

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