Firsthand issues with new V6 bluetec motor?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
MBUSA occasionally do a good will participation on vehicles that were dealer maintained.
I actually had MBUSA paying for new fuel pump on ML55 that was not dealer maintained and several years after warranty. The pump wires burned inside fuel tank.
Never heard MB of Canada doing such things.
Good luck with your case.
I actually had MBUSA paying for new fuel pump on ML55 that was not dealer maintained and several years after warranty. The pump wires burned inside fuel tank.
Never heard MB of Canada doing such things.
Good luck with your case.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 118
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
2023 GLK250, 1987 560SL
MB Canada replaced an ignition wiring harness on my '95 E320 free of charge once. It was 4 years and 80,000kms out of warranty. The harness alone was $1,200.
They made that back and more off me in the meantime; so, well played by them.
They made that back and more off me in the meantime; so, well played by them.
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 87
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
R320 Bluetec
I'm interested in the stories about warranty work on vehicles with expired warranties. I have a 2009 R320 Bluetec and I am having some problems. Some of them appear to be neglect by the previous owner(possibly using cheap coolant or hose water) but some sound like common Bluetec problems.
I am going to make some stand alone threads for each. The one that sounds like it could be an out of warranty potential is the oil cooler leak. The indie I have been using is convinced I have a leak, but I am not. There is a coolant leak and they seem to think the oil cooler is the cause, which noone seems to corroborate.
For those that have got warranty coverage outside warranty what was the process? I do not have past history from before I bought the car, but I do since at the Indie. After problems with my last visit I am going to just go straight to the local MB dealer. I can fix most things, but I want to see if they are reliable, quality, and not a rip off. If they would warranty something like the cooler leak I would be ahead.
Thanks
I am going to make some stand alone threads for each. The one that sounds like it could be an out of warranty potential is the oil cooler leak. The indie I have been using is convinced I have a leak, but I am not. There is a coolant leak and they seem to think the oil cooler is the cause, which noone seems to corroborate.
For those that have got warranty coverage outside warranty what was the process? I do not have past history from before I bought the car, but I do since at the Indie. After problems with my last visit I am going to just go straight to the local MB dealer. I can fix most things, but I want to see if they are reliable, quality, and not a rip off. If they would warranty something like the cooler leak I would be ahead.
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Cooler leak 4 years after warranty expired?
Good luck with that.
When I bought my Bluetec, I calculated new cooler in the price.
But after cleaning the filthy engine there is no leak.
Found servicing dealer phone number and they replaced the cooler 2 years ago.
Sure makes me happy.
Still my 2008 Bluetec shows some aging at 170k miles and I already spend $500 on new engine parts.
Than I don't think there is big margin for improvement in years to come, so plan to keep the car for next 20 years.
Even I used to change cars every 3 years, the last E300dt spend 8 years with us. Can't complain and new owner is happy with it too.
Good luck with that.
When I bought my Bluetec, I calculated new cooler in the price.
But after cleaning the filthy engine there is no leak.
Found servicing dealer phone number and they replaced the cooler 2 years ago.
Sure makes me happy.
Still my 2008 Bluetec shows some aging at 170k miles and I already spend $500 on new engine parts.
Than I don't think there is big margin for improvement in years to come, so plan to keep the car for next 20 years.
Even I used to change cars every 3 years, the last E300dt spend 8 years with us. Can't complain and new owner is happy with it too.
Last edited by kajtek1; Jul 6, 2016 at 11:55 AM.
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 87
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
R320 Bluetec
With the last round of cooling system failures I am several thousand into this engine. If I can get it running I want to keep it, this is by far my favorite car ever.
I kinda figured the indie was pulling my leg on the warranty. Didn't make any sense, but I have never owned a Mercedes before or dealt with them.
I kinda figured the indie was pulling my leg on the warranty. Didn't make any sense, but I have never owned a Mercedes before or dealt with them.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 437
Likes: 84
From: Espoo, Finland
2012 GL 350
I'm going to revive this old thread just to add to the information. I have a 2012 GL350 BluTech. Specific to the OM 642 engine, the dealer had to replace the oil cooler seals at 49,000 miles. It was 6 days out of warranty, but I only had to say "do you think the leak may have started more than 6 days ago" for them to cover it. Now at 54,500 miles (1 year out of warranty) I'm getting the timing chain rattle at startup which suggest the "stretched" timing chain, which means replacing that chain and the tensioners. I haven't called the dealer yet, and have parked the car and am driving my BMW while I devise a plan. The vehicle has been maintained according to the maintenance schedule, though I did all of the preventative stuff and only took it to the dealer for the warrany work (there was a lot unrelated to the engine as well.) The job looks pretty hefty, probably 15 shop hours, but doesn't look hard, so I'll probably just do it myself once I verify the procedure.
If you search the various forums it appears both of these engine issues are common enough, and on an $80k vehicle, pretty damn disappointing given the low mileage.
If you search the various forums it appears both of these engine issues are common enough, and on an $80k vehicle, pretty damn disappointing given the low mileage.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Twin Cities, MN
2012 GL350, 2010 A4, 2007 911TT
FWIW, at 106k miles I was able to get good will from Mercedes to fix the timing chain rattle. Was quoted $2700 at one dealer but at the dealership I purchased it at in conjunction with Mercedes they did everything for $700.
This was on our 2012 GL350 that was purchased with 84k miles and no warranty.
This was on our 2012 GL350 that was purchased with 84k miles and no warranty.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 252
From: Virginia
W212 M276 DELA 30 ; W211 M113k, W126 M117, W126 OM617, W211 OM642 ; R107 M117 X2, Sierra 1500 LZ0
I've had a mostly engine-trouble free experience with my 2007 E320 bluetec. I'm at 115K, no timing chain issues, no oil cooler issues, no DPF issues (aside from too often regens now that I live in an area with very short commutes). I've been doing 5K 229.51 spec oil changes since I purchased it at 27K. Most of my issues have been W211 specific gremlins, except for some split duct-work that would separate under high boost.
Reading through these threads, it seems like most of these issues seem to have occurred on mid-cycle OM642s (2011-2013), which seems odd that an engine would become less reliable as it iterated through its production cycle.
I had planned on my replacement being the revised OM642 found in the US-Spec W221 (240Hp/457 FtLbs), but now I'm worried I'd buy that car and have to deal with all of these issues that seemed to have never popped up on my 211 bluetec...
Aside from adding Urea injection (which I've read about NoX sensor issues), what could have changed that made these engines start to experience more issues? Not all of them have the revised turbo and heads found on the W221, some are my exact same engine with just Urea added (like the R-Class and W212s)
Reading through these threads, it seems like most of these issues seem to have occurred on mid-cycle OM642s (2011-2013), which seems odd that an engine would become less reliable as it iterated through its production cycle.
I had planned on my replacement being the revised OM642 found in the US-Spec W221 (240Hp/457 FtLbs), but now I'm worried I'd buy that car and have to deal with all of these issues that seemed to have never popped up on my 211 bluetec...
Aside from adding Urea injection (which I've read about NoX sensor issues), what could have changed that made these engines start to experience more issues? Not all of them have the revised turbo and heads found on the W221, some are my exact same engine with just Urea added (like the R-Class and W212s)
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 437
Likes: 84
From: Espoo, Finland
2012 GL 350
I can't speculate as I don't know what was involved in getting the urea injection added into the engine, but it should all be aft of the engine itself. My guess is cost cutting by MB on such a high volume engine resulted in the lower quality.
My strategy on buying cars has always been to buy a low mileage used car that is late in it's production cycle. Hence why I bought a 1.5 year old 2012 GL 350 with 19k miles on it. This strategy has worked very well for me over the years because automakers generally improve each model over the production run, and have things stable by the time they are winding down. In this case, it's been a nightmare of unreliability and constant failures. It's soured me to the brand altogether.
I'm in the middle of timing chain replacement right now. Working on these engines is no picnic; they are very complex and there is a ton of plumbing and wiring for the fuel system. That complexity alone would seem to indicate an increased potential for failure. Gasoline engines are simple in comparison.
My strategy on buying cars has always been to buy a low mileage used car that is late in it's production cycle. Hence why I bought a 1.5 year old 2012 GL 350 with 19k miles on it. This strategy has worked very well for me over the years because automakers generally improve each model over the production run, and have things stable by the time they are winding down. In this case, it's been a nightmare of unreliability and constant failures. It's soured me to the brand altogether.
I'm in the middle of timing chain replacement right now. Working on these engines is no picnic; they are very complex and there is a ton of plumbing and wiring for the fuel system. That complexity alone would seem to indicate an increased potential for failure. Gasoline engines are simple in comparison.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
My 2007 BT had oil cooler replaced at 140k.
When I can understand that each design will have its week point, the disappointment is that MB did not improvise it by 2012
In the past MB was acting on such issues within a year or 2.
No chain issue at 175k and even I had to replace a number of detoriating plastic parts, the car is flawless for last few months and I used it for towing a trailer while moving.
Regardless if you might have to spend some money on the engine, the 35mpg at high-speed cruising, or 25mpg with 1000 lb trailer are hard to beat
When I can understand that each design will have its week point, the disappointment is that MB did not improvise it by 2012
In the past MB was acting on such issues within a year or 2.
No chain issue at 175k and even I had to replace a number of detoriating plastic parts, the car is flawless for last few months and I used it for towing a trailer while moving.
Regardless if you might have to spend some money on the engine, the 35mpg at high-speed cruising, or 25mpg with 1000 lb trailer are hard to beat
Last edited by kajtek1; Feb 15, 2017 at 10:48 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 380
Likes: 59
From: Illinois
2019 Audi Q8, 2015 GL63, & 2005 E500W4
I have a 2011 R350 BlueTEC with 78,000 miles. I recently had to have the NOx sensors replaced and the camshaft position sensor replaced for a total of $1,300. The mechanic also recommended that the timing chain and tensioners be replaced in the near future. Bear in mind, I also have a 2005 E500W4 with 80,000 miles and 2010 GL450 with about 75,000, neither of which have ever had an issue with a timing chain or tensioner.
Last edited by SndsoftheSbrbs; Feb 17, 2017 at 07:56 PM.
