Had my 300d for about a month now. I've taken her above 70 mph a few times on my commute without issue. The other day I decided to give her some juice, as I hit around 80 + and the car started making a banging noise from the front end. As I slowed below 40 it went away. Now that noise happens almost every time when I hit between 60-70 MPH. Other than the noise, car drive great.

Here is a video with sound. I have looked at the engine, suspension, etc but don't see anything too obvious.

w124 300d noise - YouTube

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'87 300D, w124, 171k
'82 300CD, w123, 200k or so. (sold)
'82 300TD, w123, 168k (sold)
'81 300D, 118k, w123 (sold)

I have no real ideal at the moment what it is. Yet since it could be dangerous or very expensive if it lets go. I would pay more attention to it. It is far from a healthy type of noise to me.

First of all I would examine the flex disks very carefully. Not just superficially. Plus the centre bearing as well. As stupid as it perhaps sounds make sure all the wheel bolts are tight as well. Hard to get a grip on that noise from the video for me as I cannot remember ever having a noise like that.

I agree with barry that checking flex disks is a good starting point. And I would say figure that out ASAP, I wouldn't drive it like that. Can you tell roughly where the sound is coming from ... front, rear? It does sound a little bit (though it's really hard to tell) like my 240D did when the flex disk let go in the front ... it ripped to bits and basically the driveshaft was hanging on by what was left of the bolts ... in that case I was going slow in a car with not lots of power so nothing awful happened, but I don't want to know what would have happened if I had been going 60 mph. If it's coming from more rear direction, maybe it could be an axle?

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

The noise sounds like it is coming from the drivers front. It seems to change in pitch as the cars suspension is flexed.

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'87 300D, w124, 171k
'82 300CD, w123, 200k or so. (sold)
'82 300TD, w123, 168k (sold)
'81 300D, 118k, w123 (sold)

You have pretty snow covered mountains surounding the area where you live.

Do you still have the belly pans under the car? maybe it is loose?

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I'm also voting for a loose belly pan. Look for scrapes on it where it may have been hitting the pavement.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 359K

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Objects in closer are mirror than they appear.

Did the early w124 diesels have belly pans? Because the gassers didn't get them until 90.

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http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg
1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

No steering wheel shake or body vibration with the noise?

87 300D and TD have belly pans.

Sixto
87 300D

I have today just replaced both of my front tires because one of them was 'out of round' or gone oval.

I had a front end thump / jumping up and down that started at 20mph and tailed off at 30mph but was still noticeable even at high speeds ,only a slight thump but nevertheless it drove me mad and a quick 2 minutes with the car in the air and a house brick as a gauge to determine tire distortion found around 1/4 rotation was about 1/16 of an inch less than the rest of the tire.

Yours sound similar but I cannot help thinking that the speed is somehow allowing the tire to reach and rub somewhere,a bit like how a top fuel dragster tire expands as its rotation speeds up.

Thanks for the advise. I had taken off the belly pan under the oil pan when I did an oil change a few weeks back. I couldn't get it back on so I just left it off. In the process I must have knocked lose the rear belly pan as that was the cause of the noise. Took it off and went for a test drive. Nothing but the beautiful pitter patter of the engine. Congrats to charmalu and Chris for nailing it!

Snow is very pretty on those hills right now. We could use a lot more.

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'87 300D, w124, 171k
'82 300CD, w123, 200k or so. (sold)
'82 300TD, w123, 168k (sold)
'81 300D, 118k, w123 (sold)

Glad you got it solved! Always nice when it turns out to be something simple.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Usually it's the simplest solution that's hardest to find I did this once- left off the front pan after an oil change as I had some other work to do under the car at a later date... then thump thump thump... the shield for the transmission will hold itself in place when stationary, but is held secure by the rear screws from the sump shield which pass through both. Always a pain in the arse to line up on my car too after an oil change.

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1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

The back of the front one keeps the 2nd one from hanging down and turning into a thousand pieces. I wouldn't run the car with just the 2nd pan on it. If it were mine I would get them both back on the car. If not you can sell them as there is always someone looking for them on here.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

I have intentions of getting a new set of pans this summer. I would like to leave them off to track down a few leaks. This brings up another question. With all the salt the city uses around here on snowy days, do you think it is better to keep these off in the winter? I am thinking with them on - salt is harder to rinse off the undercarriage and maybe get trapped somewhere and cause corrosion.

Any thoughts on this?

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'87 300D, w124, 171k
'82 300CD, w123, 200k or so. (sold)
'82 300TD, w123, 168k (sold)
'81 300D, 118k, w123 (sold)

I just moved back to the land of salt and I have mine on. I will pull them after snow season and give the car a good rinse from underneath.

If you do get new ones (around $600 still I believe) make sure you post the old one for sale here.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss