'Every so often the steering wheel starts making a noise like two pieces of plastic are rubbing against each other.'

Mine did the same thing, if it sounds like it's plastic rubbing and coming from inside the vehicle. Dealer told me he sprayed 'it' (whatever that means!) with a lubricant. The noise did disappear after the service visit.

 

Mine is doing this too. I have a 2001 w/73K on the clock. I asked the dealer to listen to it when they test drove the car at the end of my major service last month. They tried to tell me I needed to replace the steering rack as the internal bushings were failing and causing the problem.

I've done quite a bit of reading on this topic over the last several months (even before I took the car to the dealer). MB put out a bulletin or notice of some sort to the independents that called for a new steering boot (inside and outside the firewall) and some special MB lubricant. I find it interesting that my dealer doesn't seem to be aware of this issue.

If you do a search in the forum for steering noise or squeak you'll find quite a bit of info on it. All indications seem to point at the little rubber boot on the firewall where the steering column passes thru. Many have had complete steering racks replaced probably because the dealer or mechanic was unware of the boot issues. For $2500 for a steering rack from my dealer, I'm going to wait on this one, gather some more data, and probably take the car to an independant with the service bulletin and see if I can't get this fixed with a boot replacement.

Has anyone tried this in the driveway? Is it a DIY?

Thanks
Jeff

 

... or you could be lucky and find that it's just the contacts for your horn inside your steering which need greasing (happened on my 124)

 

My 2000 E320 (80K) has the same problem. I used to take my vehiches to Tysinger in Hampton but now I'm in favor in the "DIY". Let me know if you find any remedy.

Thanks,

 

My 01 e320 has the same problem, slight whiz when turning the wheel. Raymond on this forum provided me with a TSB about the apparent "common" problem with these cars. The TSB states that the steering colum boot needs to be lubed and the edges of sleeve need to be inspected and rounded off if needed to correct the problem. Talk to your dealer about known "TSB" for this issue and see what they say. Good luck!

 

Annoying and expensive so far

Did anyone so far figure out what repairs this? I am hoping to get it repaired, but have been raped so far for 900$. What ended up being the solution, thanks!!

Mike

 

Did anyone so far figure out what repairs this? I am hoping to get it repaired, but have been raped so far for 900$. What ended up being the solution, thanks!!

Mike

Wow. You may win an award for dredging up the oldest thread.

There are three typical problems. One is lubing the shaft through the firewall/boot. That's cheap and relatively easy. The other (which it sounds like had) is pulling the rack to replace a seal, neither cheap nor easy. The third is to then flush the PS fluid and add a bottle of lubrisol when you refill, fairly cheap, fairly easy.

Mine had the first two done under warranty and a while after that, on cold days when you'd first start driving you'd get a soft rustling whistle sound as you turned the wheel. I did the PS fluid change with lubrisol (50ml bottle about $15 at the dealer) and it's been quiet since.

Check what was done and since you still have the noise see if you can convince your shop to do the first and third at their expense. Customer goodwill and all, eh?

Read through the sticky DIY topics as you find time just so you know what's up there, that way you're more prepared for other things.

Good luck.

 

Mine started doing that a short time after I bought it. I had a CPO warranty and it paid to r/r the steering rack to replace the gasket and a front end alignment. As far as I know, that is the best and most current factory recommended fix for that. Apparently MB issued more than one recommendation before they found a gasket that finally resolved the issue.

 

Oldest post ever award

:thumbsup:I aim to shock and awe the crowd, when it comes to bringing up the past on this one. I recently purchased a 2001 e320, with 60k on it. The guy who owned it took good care of it, but this squeek is really annoying. It is the nat at the BBQ that wont leave you alone. Mine is somewhat quiet but I have to drive my car all day long and it seems like it gets louder as the day goes on.

I appreciate the advise and I will follow the advise. I was told by my mechanic that the next fix was replacing the steering column. Their quote was approx 2k :crybaby2:and I wasnt going to do that unless I had tried everything else first.

Thanks again, also anyone know a trustworthy St. Louis MB repair person?

 

: I was told by my mechanic that the next fix was replacing the steering column. Their quote was approx 2k :crybaby2:and I wasnt going to do that unless I had tried everything else first.

Well, for $20 you can buy enough earplugs for a lifetime, and we can split the $1980 my tip has saved you. Or just turn up the radio volume and save the $20 as well.

 

There is a forum for recommended shops, hopefully you can find one in your area. Have a look in the general forums section. Good luck.

 

Seal on steering column

Greg, you suggested that a seal may need to be replaced. Do you know what type of seal by chance? Or the seal name? I wanted to make all of the suggestions to the mechanic and make sure they do not miss any repair that might stop the sound. I appreciate your advice.