MB bluetec lawsuit in USA
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Joined: Jan 2013
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From: The Great White North
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, Taycan GTS Sport Turismo, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars
I am thinking about selling the truck now too. Realized this thing does not like winters, especially if its a short trip to the store. Timing chain slaps hard on cold start ups and recently got this weird intermittent oil leak that confused me. I came to the conclusion that after driving around for a while then parked outside in below freezing weather, some seal expanded or shrunk too much and started leaking oil. Its on the backside of the motor down low by the driver side. My theory is that its the seal between the steel oil pan and aluminum block but im not sure. Its not leaking anymore so whatever guess ill wash it off and not drive it when its too cold.
Stuck between some sunk cost fallacy where trading it in is a huge loss or taking a big loss to do all the upcoming major maintenance. Starting to realize the mpg savings of this diesel compared to something like an lx570 doesn't outweigh the maintenance cost. Feels a lot more fragile than the legendary mb diesels of the past...
Stuck between some sunk cost fallacy where trading it in is a huge loss or taking a big loss to do all the upcoming major maintenance. Starting to realize the mpg savings of this diesel compared to something like an lx570 doesn't outweigh the maintenance cost. Feels a lot more fragile than the legendary mb diesels of the past...
When I was a kid and my father worked as a company rep for a (West) German company that made heavy mining equipment and large excavators, I remember going to a surface dig mine with him where they had sold a couple of large excavators. These were usually in service for ~22 hours a day, but due to very poor weather conditions they had to shut the mine down for two days. In order to start them back up, the miners set large wood fires underneath the sumps on the excavators and dump trucks and let them burn for about 45 minutes before they could fire them up.
If you need a vehicle primarily for short trips to the store (even in the summer, never mind in a real winter), diesels are simply the wrong tool for the job. It has nothing to do with quality or reliability.
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Joined: Jun 2021
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From: New Hampsha
'17 GLS450, '14 GLK250, Grandpa's Roadster
For short local trips an electric vehicle is probably today's best choice. No warm up and instant heat.
But, we're sort of getting off topic...
Last edited by John CC; Feb 6, 2022 at 03:07 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: The Great White North
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, Taycan GTS Sport Turismo, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars
I'm going to sort of disagree with that. Fact is, if you need a vehicle primarily for short trips a gas powered one is not much better. I've had many Diesel daily drivers over the years and still prefer them over gas. Today's Diesels can start with no preheat down to some pretty frigid temps. (-15F is my record for the GLK.) The problem with short trips is the oil doesn't get hot enough to boil off the condensation from the combustion process, and that's irrespective of the fuel.
For short local trips an electric vehicle is probably today's best choice. No warm up and instant heat.
But, we're sort of getting off topic...
For short local trips an electric vehicle is probably today's best choice. No warm up and instant heat.
But, we're sort of getting off topic...
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 52
Likes: 6
You are absolutely correct that diesels do not like cold weather and/or short trips - or to be more specific, they don't like being parked in and staring in cold weather (once they're running and up to temperature, there is no difference). The "legendary" diesel Mercs of old were no different... they just wouldn't start when it was -20C outside, and no one expected them to.
When I was a kid and my father worked as a company rep for a (West) German company that made heavy mining equipment and large excavators, I remember going to a surface dig mine with him where they had sold a couple of large excavators. These were usually in service for ~22 hours a day, but due to very poor weather conditions they had to shut the mine down for two days. In order to start them back up, the miners set large wood fires underneath the sumps on the excavators and dump trucks and let them burn for about 45 minutes before they could fire them up.
If you need a vehicle primarily for short trips to the store (even in the summer, never mind in a real winter), diesels are simply the wrong tool for the job. It has nothing to do with quality or reliability.
When I was a kid and my father worked as a company rep for a (West) German company that made heavy mining equipment and large excavators, I remember going to a surface dig mine with him where they had sold a couple of large excavators. These were usually in service for ~22 hours a day, but due to very poor weather conditions they had to shut the mine down for two days. In order to start them back up, the miners set large wood fires underneath the sumps on the excavators and dump trucks and let them burn for about 45 minutes before they could fire them up.
If you need a vehicle primarily for short trips to the store (even in the summer, never mind in a real winter), diesels are simply the wrong tool for the job. It has nothing to do with quality or reliability.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Our friend used to drive Lexus SUV for her short commute and was recording 5 mpg.
Her husband, long time Sprinter diesel owner, bought her GLK Bluetec and now she records 20 mpg.
Short trips alone are not determinizing factors for ruling diesels out. Even her commute is about 3 miles, we don't have cold weathers in Las Vegas and she drives car home for a lunch, so the engine stays pretty warm most of the day, while on weekend they do routine 20 miles trips.
Even they don't monitor DPF regeneration, they drive the car for a year with no trouble.
Her husband, long time Sprinter diesel owner, bought her GLK Bluetec and now she records 20 mpg.
Short trips alone are not determinizing factors for ruling diesels out. Even her commute is about 3 miles, we don't have cold weathers in Las Vegas and she drives car home for a lunch, so the engine stays pretty warm most of the day, while on weekend they do routine 20 miles trips.
Even they don't monitor DPF regeneration, they drive the car for a year with no trouble.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 52
Likes: 6
Our friend used to drive Lexus SUV for her short commute and was recording 5 mpg.
Her husband, long time Sprinter diesel owner, bought her GLK Bluetec and now she records 20 mpg.
Short trips alone are not determinizing factors for ruling diesels out. Even her commute is about 3 miles, we don't have cold weathers in Las Vegas and she drives car home for a lunch, so the engine stays pretty warm most of the day, while on weekend they do routine 20 miles trips.
Even they don't monitor DPF regeneration, they drive the car for a year with no trouble.
Her husband, long time Sprinter diesel owner, bought her GLK Bluetec and now she records 20 mpg.
Short trips alone are not determinizing factors for ruling diesels out. Even her commute is about 3 miles, we don't have cold weathers in Las Vegas and she drives car home for a lunch, so the engine stays pretty warm most of the day, while on weekend they do routine 20 miles trips.
Even they don't monitor DPF regeneration, they drive the car for a year with no trouble.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 487
Likes: 114
From: DFW, TX
Ml350 bluetec
Diesels take nearly twice as long as a gasoline engine to get up to operating temperature. It's more noticeable during the winter time. Gasoline powered vehicles take approx., 5 miles where I live here in DFW, TX to get up to operating temperature during the winter time. Diesels take nearly 10 miles to reach operating temperature. If I lived in Toronto, ON for example, I would question driving a diesel 3 miles/5 km from home to office in the winter. Even that distance I consider bad for gasoline powered vehicles, but it's worse for a diesels. Note that ML 250 uses a 4 cylinder diesel vs the ML 350's V6 diesel engine. The 4 cylinder will get to operating temperature faster than the V6 engine, just less metal to get heated.
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2022
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2010 GL350 Bluetec
@lancemurdock , can you give us an update on how the AEM went? I am taking mine in this coming week.
Went to the dealer on Monday Jan 24th. Confirmed Oil cooler was leaking and estimated 450 to fix.
I was also having the Air bag recall done in addition to the AEM
Text from the service manager on the 27th "Ran into some minor issues, have to redo some of the work. Should be done tomorrow, I'll let you know"
Friday the 28th another text "Having to order some more parts"
Tuesday Feb 1st. Notified the car is done. My bill is $522 for the oil cooler repair, oil and filter plus coolant flush.
I live about an hour from my dealer...went down the next day Wednesday the 2nd. Picked it up and everything seemed good to go. CEL was off, car ran fine.
About 45 minutes into my drive home, I am coming up a hill and the engine shuts down....I get it pulled over. The engine bay is smoking some and it appeared saturated with oil.
I get my service account person on the phone asap, he sounds worried and sends a tow truck to pick it up.
Shop Foreman calls me the next day first thing to ask me what happened and gather some more info....
That was Thursday the 3rd...as of 1m EST today the 8th I have yet to hear back from them. My gut says they are redoing the whole thing...AEM plus Oil cooler due to something they did or did not do during the repair.
Ill keep everyone updated
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 52
Likes: 13
2009 GL 320
Thank you for your update and sorry about your misfortune. I will hopefully be picking mine up this week, EMC5 + oil cooler seal. Hope mine doesn't experience the same fate, dealership mine is at didn't really inspire confidence that they knew what they were doing with EMC 5. I think mine is the first one they are doing.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 57
Likes: 11
R350
Thank you for your update and sorry about your misfortune. I will hopefully be picking mine up this week, EMC5 + oil cooler seal. Hope mine doesn't experience the same fate, dealership mine is at didn't really inspire confidence that they knew what they were doing with EMC 5. I think mine is the first one they are doing.
So it seems this AEM thing is a mess.
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From: New Hampsha
'17 GLS450, '14 GLK250, Grandpa's Roadster
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 12
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2010 GL350 Bluetec
Still no update from the dealer...today will be a week since it was towed back
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 287
Likes: 24
From: New York
2012 GL350
Funny, I initially thought maybe the engine seized as well, but before they towed it away I checked the level and while it was low, it was still registering on the dip stick and the "check engine level at next refuel" never came on...which i am all too familiar with lol .
Still no update from the dealer...today will be a week since it was towed back
Still no update from the dealer...today will be a week since it was towed back
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 36
Likes: 14
From: NY
GLK250
Got my check today: $3,550 
My process was really simple.
1. Got a receipt from the dealer after they did a bunch of stuff to the DPF system - no cost to me.
2. Filled out settlement request online attaching documentation from 1.
3. Open mail 7 months later
Good luck everyone.
My process was really simple.
1. Got a receipt from the dealer after they did a bunch of stuff to the DPF system - no cost to me.
2. Filled out settlement request online attaching documentation from 1.
3. Open mail 7 months later
Good luck everyone.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 487
Likes: 114
From: DFW, TX
Ml350 bluetec
Lucky you guys that go your check. Here I am now 1 year after having the AEM work done and still without any check. I just the admin and they said, yah, we go your you application. Just not process it yet and all applications are processed as they are received......Yah right.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 52
Likes: 13
2009 GL 320
Picked up mine this morning. First drive it felt pretty good, like the engine could breathe again. Have only about 8 miles on it so far. Mech said the oil cooler seals were not leaking but I am happy to replace them anyway. He said he actually did them on this vehicle, before my ownership, about 7 years ago. I asked for some pictures from the job and they are sending them, I was curious how gunked up the intake was. So far so good though on EMC 5.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 12
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2010 GL350 Bluetec
Finally heard back from the dealer this morning.
Low compression on some cylinders. They are pulling the engine to investigate.
So far they have not asked me to pay for anything...which to me would seem to indicate they know they caused the problem and/or its going to be covered under warranty somehow.
Low compression on some cylinders. They are pulling the engine to investigate.
So far they have not asked me to pay for anything...which to me would seem to indicate they know they caused the problem and/or its going to be covered under warranty somehow.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: The Great White North
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, Taycan GTS Sport Turismo, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars
Seeing as the failure occurred AFTER they performed the AEM, you'll likely end up getting a new engine.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 57
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R350
Picked up mine this morning. First drive it felt pretty good, like the engine could breathe again. Have only about 8 miles on it so far. Mech said the oil cooler seals were not leaking but I am happy to replace them anyway. He said he actually did them on this vehicle, before my ownership, about 7 years ago. I asked for some pictures from the job and they are sending them, I was curious how gunked up the intake was. So far so good though on EMC 5.
But since there are a 2 year warranty on this, actually not a bad deal for us: the seal can last at least 5 years, that is how long most of us planning to keep the car!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,745
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From: The Great White North
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, Taycan GTS Sport Turismo, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars
It is not a scam to proactively replace two pieces of rubber that are known to fail on most engines with upgraded 2nd gen Viton seals for 1/5th of the price it would normally cost to replace them because they are already removing almost everything in the way to do the AEM. You are getting a 4 year warranty on the engine and a number other components, and for a few hundred dollars you get to replace the only other part in there that is known to fail with an upgraded part for a tiny fraction of what it would cost to have the same replaced when it does fail. Most people with basic math skills would look at that as a bonus.
