stonecliff

First, thank you to all who have been posting on the intercooler hose issue. It was a great help for me as I awaited the delivery of a GL320.

With trepidation, I took delivery of a new GL320 last Friday, May 27. It was built on May 16. Dealer was clueless (or not forthcoming) on the issues reported here regarding the intercooler hose.

It looks like there is yet another revision in place. The left (car's left) hose is now Q3, with a different clamp holding it. The first attached picture is from above, the second one is from below (which is where you can see the hose number). The third picture is of the right hose, which is still the Q1 version.

Don't know if this one will work, or if it provides any comfort to those with GL320's on order. But here's hoping MB got it right with Q3!

mbslk350

Thanks, Stonecliff, for the great info and the very helpful photos. I hope the third version is the charm for this very troublesome hose. Keep us informed on how your new GL320 performs.

I'm not mechanically inclined, so I'd appreciate some commentary from anyone on the merits of this new clamp vs. the old clamp.

AutoSaurus

What do you mean 'of the right hose, which is still Q1 version'? This makes it sound like that Q1 is the correct hose. I'm confused.

I've attached a photo of the hose I currently have installed which was put on last week and is my forth hose! It says Q2 07/10.

Here are photos of hoses 1 and 2 here
The pn's for these two hoses is 164 528 11 82

boxboss

AS, pictures have been posted of a Q3 hose. I don't know what significance the 7/10 date has. Maybe an expiration date..."Do Not Use After..."?

stonecliff

I was not sure as to which intercooler charge hose has been causing all the problems on the GL320, so I took pictures of them both. But now I see from your part number (164 528 11 82) that it is the one on the car's left that has been causing all the trouble (164 528 12 82 is the right side hose).

My GL320 built on May 16 came with a left side hose marked "Q3", which seems like it is yet another revision beyond "Q2 07/10". The right side hose is marked "Q1 07/10".

Sorry for any confusion from my initial post. Now that the factory has made yet another change for newly built GL320s, perhaps there is a "Q3" fix for those already on the road?

Hope this helps.

AutoSaurus

Okay, I still don't get what you mean. There is only one hose. Are you referring to the left end and right end? Because the photos you posted appear to be the correct hose but only one hose photographed at different angles.

This post
shows that the intercooler hose comes off at the end closest to the front of the vehicle just beside the radiator fan.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, just wanting to clarify that we are all on the same page so to speak.

AutoSaurus

I GOT IT FIGURED OUT! You meant the right side of the vehicle! Its been a long day and I read into everything these days. SO SORRY.

So, to clarify again, the only hose causing problems is the intercooler hose (aka air charge hose) on the left hand side where it connects at the front of the vehicle.

My hose is Q2 as posted above. Yours is Q3 which I should have.

I can't see the marking on the right hand side hose as its on the underside.

stonecliff

Yes, that is it. There are two hoses running between the turbocharger and the intercooler. I believe the left side runs from the turbocharger to the intercooler, and the right side runs from the intercooler back to the turbocharger. Based on the part number in your post, I gather it is the left side hose that has been so problematic. My left side hose is marked "Q3", from which I inferred that the factory has made a further change beyond "Q2 07/10".

Let's just say I hope never to have any first hand experience in the matter...

AutoSaurus

I agree. Just looked again at my right hand hose and it has no numbers at all.