I have been hearing a small roughness in the 1989 M103 engine. And so I got out the trusty stethoscope and probed around. While I heard some clicking, like valve lifters/rockers, and water sounds, I also heard a very loud 'banging' at the top of a device that looks like a small shock absorber, on the driver's side at the front of the engine. The top of this device is held in place between two approx. 1/8" plates. While there is some noise transmitting through the plates, the loud repetitive banging comes from the top round mount of this device. (It is located between cylinder #1 and the water pump.)

I don't like niose. Is this normal? Is the rubber mount/sleeve gone and needs replacing? Or is this noise just a manifestation of some internal engine noise and
just being transmitted to this shock-device ?

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BnObob (for the fallen flag railroad.)
Artic "Snow" White 1989 300E, 124.030
w/ M103 engine, and 106K orig miles.

You need a new absorber. This is a common problem.
Replacement is a bit fiddley - but not overly difficult.

Hi when you remove the engine shock run the engine again to confirm diagnosis and the lack of noise .Does the engine vibration increase without it and smooth with a new one?
mak
300se

My SDL seems to do this, I held the shock with my hand and the noise went away. I agree with the others.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]