A couple of years ago I too had a pounding suspension noise. Like you, whenever I went over a speed bump or road bump I got a loud banging from the front suspension. When I also heard a grounding type sound when cornering fast, it was time to fix it.

So with 50K mi I replaced the first suspect, shot front shocks. Didn't fix it.

My front right wheel bearing had about 1/8 inch play so I replaced it. Didn't fix the pounding.

I replaced the ball joints and steering damper since they were worn. Didn't work but at this point the suspension is riding nice.

Finally, I found that the sound deadening material that lines the transmission shaft, on the underside of the car, was sagging and hitting the flex disc on the drive shaft. Since this sound deadening material goes up to the front fire wall and has parts made of metal, any sound seemed to come from the front of thr car and seemed worse than it really was. I ripped some of it out, near the flex disc at the transmission, and problem fixed.


On the line of Mercedes reliability/durability:
How is it that original Bilstein shocks can go out at 50K miles under nonabusive driving but the replacents have a lifetime warranty?

Good luck with your ills..........