ML 320 CDI - W164 - Noisey Engine

[bonnim]

Hi guys,

I purchased a 2005 ML 320 (W164) with 100,000 miles on the clock a couple of weeks ago. On start-up, I now notice the car sounds pretty loud and am not sure if it is running healthily.

I have taken a short video of a start-up from cold, does it sound normal?

https://youtu.be/mCFbfCZhvnA

Unfortunately I did not test drive other cars before buying this so it is difficult to say, but it feels quite sluggish to me and down on power. It is supposed to have around 220 bhp and although it is a very heavy car, it still feels a little slow.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

[DapperDanMan]

Sounds like mine does a noisy diesel. When was the last oil change?

[bonnim]

Hi dapper Dan

Thanks very much for your response.

The short answer is that I don’t know exactly so it is something I am going to do shortly. I will give it a good service but was wondering if it sounded critically bad I might not bother spending good money after bad.

I was concerned it might be the timing chain, but I am no expert and can’t really identify the sound of a strechted chain.

If it sounds like yours and yours is fine, that is reassuring...

Maybe it’s a case of carbon build up and some fuel additive and fuel filter change might improve responsiveness. I will give that a go!

[DapperDanMan]

I listened a second time and can hear a slight tapping on start up which does diminish that is why I asked about an oil change.

Poor running can be down to a lot of things. The most important thing is to define what you mean.

• Does it start poorly (Sounds like it starts OK)
• Does it hesitate when you put your foot down
• Does it seem to change up to quickly
• Is it going into limp mode
• Do you feel or hear something when you accelerate (other than engine noise)
• Expectation. Is this due to a previous car being quicker?

Do you have any engine codes at the moment?

Edited by DapperDanMan on Monday 26th February 15:32

[bonnim]

Thanks mate!

Could the tapping noise you mention be the timing chain? It was indeed started from cold.

The only issue is that the car seems under powered and quite sluggish particularly low down. Then when it gets going it’s fine...

[DapperDanMan]

bonnim said:

Thanks mate!

Could the tapping noise you mention be the timing chain? It was indeed started from cold.

The only issue is that the car seems under powered and quite sluggish particularly low down. Then when it gets going it’s fine...

I have never had a timing chain issue but ones I have heard are not a light tapping noise more a death rattle.

I drove my ML320 last night and noted that it gets into its stride at around 1500 rpm and pulls strongly from then on. It can be a little flat under that.

The other thing that occurred to me is the air filters. Do you have any idea when the last change of those occurred? On the W164 they are a little awkward to access and could very well be skipped.

[bonnim]

Thanks very much again!

Yes the car definitely needs a good service, which I will certainly get done (booked in for the 2 weeks time). I just wanted to check if my timinjng chain was definitely noisy, from the sounds of it possibly not... which puts my mind at ease. I’ve heard this is savagely expensive to put right!

[bonnim]

I now have a different issue. I think with this cold weather my battery has died. But the interesting thing is that now my car won’t even lock with the key fob. I would have thought the battery would have enough power for this operatin, but it seems 100% dead! I have a trickle charger so I will try Chargjng the battery and see if this resolves the issue!

[Classy6]

The rattle isn't standard at all. Oil change and investigate further as anything else will only be guessing, you need to know what area it's coming from to start.

It also sounds like you have a fair amount of 'hissing' going on in the background, which could suggest a possible boost leak & explain the loss of power (unless you were operating accelerator & brake at the same time whilst stationary).

[bonnim]

Thanks very much classy, that’s very useful.

Just going back to my other issue, could a battery go completely dead in the space of a couple of days to the extent that the car will now not even lock and no lights come onto the dash with the key in the ignition. Or is it possible that the car has been immobilised somehow and it needs to be reset?

[Classy6]

bonnim said:

Thanks very much classy, that’s very useful.

Just going back to my other issue, could a battery go completely dead in the space of a couple of days to the extent that the car will now not even lock and no lights come onto the dash with the key in the ignition. Or is it possible that the car has been immobilised somehow and it needs to be reset?

A battery could absolutely go dead in a few days, or less - even a few hours if something has caused it to drain.