I am experiencing a strange whirring noise coming from the front of the car. It changes with road speed and is most noticable when de-accelerating. I have tried coasting in neutral with the engine switched off and the noise is still present. This leads me to think that it must be coming from the front wheels or driveshaft/transmission. Have recently changed the front flex disc and this made no difference also there is no noticable play in front wheel bearings. Will try swapping wheels between front and rear to see if it is tyre related. Any ideas on what could be causing this noise?

Sounds like your front wheel bearings have to be changed. The sound will get louder and louder, akin to that of a SUV ..

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... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

Seems like one of those things you almost need to hear to diagnose. The front flex disc wouldn't have anything to do with front wheel bearing play, the fronr flex disc is for the driveshaft to the rear wheels. It's not there on engine start-up, just when the car is moving? Here's one idea, maybe the tires are either worn out or cupping, or maybe are winter tires? Or maybe make sure the tire pressures are correct, I generally go 30 front, 34 or 35 in the back on a non-sports model sedan, 32 all the way around on an ML. Could be something else of course. Front steering and suspension complaints should be regarded as safety issues, if you can't find it yourself soon, better get it inspected.....Gilly

i had a similar problem when I did not torque down my bearings (i overtightened them)

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1996 E320
2000 C230 Kompressor
1988 190e 2.3 - 225K miles, owned for 7 years. I cannot say enough good things about this car. Very well built, even at 225 it ran like new.

I swapped the tyres front to rear at the weekend and this made no difference. Pressures are correct and tyres are nearly new. This leads me to think that it must be the front wheel bearings or possibly the centre driveshaft bearing and support. If it is a wheel bearing I would have expected the noise to change substantially when turning left or right and it doesn't?
Noise is most noticable at lower speeds (<40 mph) but this could just be because engine and wind noise drowns out noise at higher speeds.

If it sounds as if the noise is
coming from the center console,
I would suspect the driveshaft
carrier bearing. My w124 has
periodically made such a noise
for years.

Replaced the propshaft centre bearing and carrier and noise is gone. The exhaust heatshield had come loose at some time and allowed dirt from the road to get at the bearing. The rubber gaiter was also destroyed.