amg280 & dieseldude,

The sound I heard in the steering column was metallic, not plastic.

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NOW: 2017 C43 AMG, 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, 1966 230SL, 1980 450SL (for sale!)
PAST: 2006 C230, 1997 E300D, 1994 E420, 1994 Neon Spt Cpe, 1984 300ZX, 1983 Celica GT, 1976 Electra Limited, 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, 1979 Suzuki PE175, 1978 Suzuki DS100
www.mbca.org - www.sl113.org - www.ohio4x4.com

Our E320 wagon suffers from a REALLY annoying clicking/creaking noise in the rear passenger side door, I'm pretty sure around the latch mechanism.

I have lubed, loosened, tightened and re-tighten just about every single nut, bolt and screw on and around the door area, and drove around without the check strap.

I have spent about half a can of white lithium grease on every moving device and mechanism in and around the door.

I sprayed WD40 under the plastic strip running along the seam on the roof, under the roof rack.

I've had the the inner panel off about 15 times now. Replaced the striker plates. Removed, poked and prodded the latch, forcing some slight re-alignment of various bits inside it with a screw driver.

Nothing. Noise persists, most noticable over small but sudden, sharp road irregularities. It's about to make me completely nuts.

Last resort is a replacement latch which I will try this week. If this is a body flex problem, I will be really depressed.

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1995 MB E320 Wagon
2001 BMW 530i
2007 MINI Cooper S (!)

Our wagon had a squeak from the r. rear .... I finally figured out that it was the right rear seat back latch, which holds the seatback upright. I put a light coat of silicone where they come in contact.

So far, so quiet. Maybe this will help ....

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Thanks, Haasman
I'll check it out. I gave it a brief look over before, but maybe its time for a revisit... as I'm not suffering alone, it seems.

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1995 MB E320 Wagon
2001 BMW 530i
2007 MINI Cooper S (!)

miktvk,

I believe the left rear also squeaked originally when we got it. If I recall correctly, I remove the piece on the seat and used light steel wool and polished it a bit. That's what I would have done to the r. rear next if the squeak didn't stop.

Haasman

__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Is the steering wheel "rattle" more common when making left hand turns over uneven road surfaces? And is there no actual movement of the steering wheel - just a transfer of "clunkiness" from deeper down the steering column? As if a little gremlin is down there smacking the steering linkage with a wrench? That's what my 260e does.

There seems to be a lot of 124 body "steering wheel rattle" reports. Both the '91 300E and '95 Wagon seem to be fine in this regard.

Anybody solve this?

__________________
'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

I had some nasty door panel rattles on my W124 before. Problem was, that the plastic door panel and armrest clips were bumping onto the metal of the door panel. Glued a bunch of carpet padding on the inside of the door panel. Fits tighter, and no rattles. Make sure the door handle linkage rod is snapped securely into the plastic support clip (on the metal part of the door).

I put the sound-deadening lining on the inside of the wagon's doors and they close with a more familiar MBZ thud.

I like the idea of carpet padding between the panels and the doors. Which kind was it? Waffled or made up of misc fibers?

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

At Home Depot (or similar) it's pretty cheap. I got the type that is grey colored with miscellaneous fibers scattered throughout. Looks like it's made out of recycled clothes. It works great for vibration damping, which I needed a bunch of when I was working on the stereo in my old W123.

One quick thought on ccarpet padding behind the door - moisture. If you opt to do this, I suggest sandwich'ing the padding between the existing moistore barrier and another one top. The second could be the home grown version with some clear heavy duty plastic with trusty duct tape would do the job.

The sound deadening material is expensive, but that would be my suggestion. Getting the door panels back on is hard enough, the thickness from the carpet padding would be make it impossible on my '95 E420 - the clearance on my panels is zippo!

haasman,
No, it has not been solved as far as I know.

hieber,
The steering wheel "rattle" is not more common in any circumstance. It simply happens over rough pavement and I do not feel any vibration. I can also make it happen with the car sitting still by simply wiggling the steering wheel back and forth. What's the option code for little gremlins?

Thanks,

__________________
NOW: 2017 C43 AMG, 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, 1966 230SL, 1980 450SL (for sale!)
PAST: 2006 C230, 1997 E300D, 1994 E420, 1994 Neon Spt Cpe, 1984 300ZX, 1983 Celica GT, 1976 Electra Limited, 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, 1979 Suzuki PE175, 1978 Suzuki DS100
www.mbca.org - www.sl113.org - www.ohio4x4.com

Here's a new one. On my list of issues for the E420 I'm seriously considering is the electric fuel pump back by the fuel tank. It is quite loud when the car is running. The car is insulated enough that you don't really hear it in the car, unless you know what you are listening for. But, from outside the car, it's quite noticable. I would even say it sounds "wrong". I would think at a traffic light, people in a car next to me might even tell me I have something wrong. Is this normal? This car has 55,000 miles and will have a Starmark warranty.

By the way, they ordered a part for the clunky steering column. We'll see if it fixes it.

Thanks!

__________________
NOW: 2017 C43 AMG, 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, 1966 230SL, 1980 450SL (for sale!)
PAST: 2006 C230, 1997 E300D, 1994 E420, 1994 Neon Spt Cpe, 1984 300ZX, 1983 Celica GT, 1976 Electra Limited, 1984 Honda Nighthawk 650, 1979 Suzuki PE175, 1978 Suzuki DS100
www.mbca.org - www.sl113.org - www.ohio4x4.com

Rodd,

I do hope you post what stops your steering wheel clunking noise because my 95 E320 has done this ever since I bought it (it had 87k miles on it then) it now has 157k miles. I've never been able to figure out where that noise is coming from, even had the left front strut replaced under the starmark warranty to try to solve it. No help. My symptoms are exactly as you describe with yours.

I would love to be able to solve this one with my car........

Thanks,

Dale

rmasteller-

Yes, the fuel pumps are loud; my '95 E420 is very noticeable - especially when in the garage and the sound reverberates off the walls. I've asked two different dealers and a couple indy's if that is normal - they've all given me that "get over it look". You can hear it from the cabin too, but just more of the high pitched generator-like sound. As you said, you really have to listen for it. I think the pumps are around $200 each & you need two, so I wouldn't worry about it until there is a mechanical breakdown.