I have recently noticed a clunking noise in my front end when I go over small speed bumps (slowly). It appears primarily on the left (driver's) side. I can duplicate the noise by running the engine in nuetral and turning the wheel left and right, only 90 degrees each way. I had an oil change this week and asked if they would check it. I was told they found nothing. I don't have a lift, but I'm thinking a steering damper. It makes the same noise when turning into or out of a driveway with a slight dip. Any ideas?
I have since googled "clunking noise in Mercedes steering" and find that many have experienced this but no one really has the answer, although 100's of $'s and parts have been thrown at the problem. The closest I came to a similar sound was a different model where the steering box was loose. He suggested that it should be retorqued ever few years. The bolts for his weren't the same as mine; but, I will look at it the next time it is on a lift. The noise is not at the locks, just when you change the direction of the wheel. All my recent cars have had Rack and pinion so this is new (old) to me. Ideas.