windy roaring noise from under the bonnet
 

I posted this in the Tech Talk section...but hope a fellow SL owner may have some insight, too.

Have an '87 560SL.

From time to time, there comes (seemingly) from under the engine compartment a windy, almost hollow-sounding roar...as if a strong fan were kicking in...the noise almost always abates when I ease up on the gas, but I can't correlate its changes with engine vacuum or RPM.

Does this engine have an electric fan that kicks in?

It's my first Mercedes, and I have no points of reference.

Any thoughts would be appreciated, as always.

~Tom

roaring noise
 

My '79 450SL does the same thing. Sometimes it's more noticeable than others. Like with the top down. I've been told it's the fan. Mine has a clutch fan. Don't know if yours is the same, but I would think so. It does get irratating at times, but I don't think there's anything that can be done.

sbr
'79 450SL 75,000 mi
milanbraun/palomino
lake st.croix beach, mn.

It is the fan clutch. My little 380 sounds like a turbine jet preparing for a shortfield takeoff! (now if I can just find out why those brakes remain locked...........) :)

thanks
 

I was guessing it would be something like that...but having no experience, I wanted to verify.

What a great forum this is...what a great country this is.....