Just purchased a 03 E320 sedan at MB of Nashville. Never a sound or squeak during the test drive but once off the lot after a bit of driving the front right suspension started to squeak loudly. Put the car up on ramps once home and it seems as though the squeaking is coming from the top of the strut / upper control arm areas. I ask because I really don't want to start throwing parts at it in hopes of repairing it. What (if any) known issues do the struts, strut mounts, upper ball joints and upper control arms have on the W211? Not sure if any of these parts have been recently changed but the car has 113k miles on it.

As you can imagine, it is quite embarrassing for the wife since it is he new car.

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Andy in Marion, KY

is usually control arm issues. Could be upper or lower and usually a result of a torn boot thus allowing water to invade the joint.

Take it back to the dealer and have them inspect the bushings. Replacing upper or lower control arms is an easy job ... at their expense. Surely they gave you a limited warranty of some sort.

No it was an as-is purchase ($4000.00 under clean retail). I can do all repairs myself. Plus the dealer is 150 miles away since there isn't any MB dealers close by.

The car is immaculate inside and out. White with gray leather interior. Completely loaded.

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Andy in Marion, KY

I'd start by finding a good independent MB mechanic. Ask around.

MB uses assorted rubber bushings on the front/rear suspension. They are made to wear and be replaced periodically. They are often the cause of squeaking and/or vibration.

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Good luck.






1998 E320 Wagon

Don't know the suspension on the newer cars, but ball joints are classic squeakers on 124's.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 400K

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Objects in closer are mirror than they appear.

X2 - And they deceptively sound like rubber parts until you have heard it a few times. Check the boots; if they are torn, then that is most likely it. You can try spraying in a bunch of white lithium grease or silicone and see if that works its way down to the bottom of the joint (turn the wheels a bunch while doing it). If the sound abates, then you've got bad ball joints and you should replace them. The grease injection is only temporary.

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Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic

Push up and down on the front fender, if it squeaks up and down it is most likely the ball joints. +1 on the grease trick, if the joint quiets down there's your problem.

Not terribly difficult on a 124 if you have the right tools. A proper spring compressor is of utmost importance. Several members have the Klann compressor available for rent, your life isn't worth less.

Plenty of threads on the gas (and Diesel) side of the forum for the procedure.

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

To tell you the truth I am as good at fixing cars as any MB mechanic working without all the dealer special literature, specialized training and tooling.

The reason I started this thread is because I wanted to know if this model (W211) which is new to me has a history of front suspension squeaks.

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Andy in Marion, KY

Definitely sounds like a lower ball joint. I've seen lots of them that don't make noise until they get hot. They get so loud that they make noise when you just get in/out of the car.

I've found that using chassis ears or a stethoscope doesn't really help pinpoint the source since the noise transmits everywhere. Once I'm fairly certain the LBJ is the problem I use a sharp pick to poke a tiny hole in the boot, and then load it with spray grease. If the noise goes away, or changes considerably, you've got it.

My guess is it's your upper ball joint. You should be able to put your hand on it and feel for vibration as you bounce the car a bit, since it is higher than the tire. Just don't let the fender hurt your arm. I had the same problem with my 210. Mine were not worn but clearly out of lube, so I lubed them both with a grease needle. (My neighbor with a 211 just stopped the squeak on his lower ball joint using a grease needle.) My upper ball joint is above the grease boot so I had to bleed air so I could fill up the boot, and it took a few days to totally stop the squeak. I guess it took awhile for the grease to crawl up into the ball area.

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'97 E 300 D