I have the service history of the vehicle since day 1 and I will check for all steering related service entries. There was a steering related repair done under warranty in 2001 for a noise that I was hearing while turning the wheel, but the entry in the receipt did not mention replacement of hose or clamp, if I remember well. I will check again this weekend when I return home.

When the power steering pump started making a noise, I was told that the internal seals of the rack and pinion were leaking and these cannot be fixed. That's why the entire unit was replaced. The power steering pump was making a heavy ticking noise (as if it was compressing air instead of liquid) and there was a groaning noise too on top that. I heard these over a cell phone so I did not have first hand observations.

I will try to connect the dots this weekend to see if prior history warrants a refund request from MB. I agree that it might be difficult to prove.

Thank you very much for your response.

__________________
TJ

1998 ML 320
2002 Jag X-type