GL Class (X164) 2007-2012: GL320CDI, GL420CDI, GL450, GL550

help!!! - oil leak...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Jan 3, 2016 | 08:32 PM
  #1  
taeandji's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
help!!! - oil leak...

I have 2011 GL350 Bluetec with about 68,000 miles and 2011 E350 Bluetec with about 30,000 miles...
both vehicles started to leak oils about same time.... after I parked both vehicles i see black oil drops more to front passenger sides...
does anyone have similar problems and can share where i might need to look at first...? (moved to different country and trip to dealer is about triple of cost than state side dealers...)
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2016 | 11:24 AM
  #2  
DennisG01's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
5 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
Dripping on the ground only tells you where the oil is falling off the engine... not where it emanates from. You're going to have to get in there and follow the trail. Chances are, you'll have to clean everything (top and bottom) REAL well first and then continue to observe until you see where it's starting at. Other than that, it would just be guesses.
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2016 | 10:07 AM
  #3  
alx's Avatar
alx
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
Front pass side is usually oil cap going bad or overfilled with oil at last service.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2016 | 02:13 AM
  #4  
taeandji's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
ok... I was able to take it to local (S. Korea) MB service center to check what it is going on and here is what they have found...

1. I guess they called... intercooler gasket? is blown (multi hole ring 642 142 31 80) so they say part of top engine needs to be taken out to replace the gasket and they also included that Servomotor (642 150 04 94) to be replaced as part of replacing this gasket along with many other small parts such as seal rings and screws... ---> quoted for over $2000 (parts and labor) they say it may take up to 3 days or so...

2. For engine light - both O2 sensors are gone bad (they are shown as NOX sensor... MA000 90536 03) --- quoted ($1000/sensor for parts only so total of $2000)

3. they also said adblue tank heated line is faulty...? (RS Preheater 164 471 12 75) ---> parts only quoted for $1700


question 1. what level of effort does it take to replace that gasket? can any experienced indy shop mechnic do?
question 2. do I need to replace that RS preheater? what does it do? can I wait till I come back to state in the next 2 years (have extended warranty till 2018...)

my wife's 2011 E350 bluetec is leaking as well and i'm going to bring it in for check...
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2016 | 08:13 AM
  #5  
alx's Avatar
alx
MBWorld Fanatic!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
All findings you describe are fairly common issues. And expensive ones as you found out.

The oil cooler seals job is not a complicated one, but many pieces need to be removed. The turbo and the intake manifold need to come off. The swirl motor assembly if not throwing errors might or might not need to be replaced. Klutzy techs tend to break it and thus the dealer includes it in the estimate to cover their ***.

The preheater heats up the adblue in cold temps so it can flow. It is strictly emissions related and replacing it is couple hours. Before replacing it however have the tech update the SCR firmware as there is an update that addresses this specific problem (in other words it could be a software glitch). After updating and resetting the controller if the error comes back then you replace the preheater.

On driving it as is- the Nox sensors need to be replaced or you will have other serious issues later. The oil leak if it doesn't bother you and you add oil as needed to stay on top of it- you can drive like that. The preheater- you can drive like that too as long as the truck does not start threatening you with shutting down after X number of starts.

Last edited by alx; Jan 27, 2016 at 09:07 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2016 | 09:49 AM
  #6  
dieseldoc's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 162
From: DFW
2022 E350 Diamond White Metallic, 2016 GLC300 Dakota Brown Metallic
All of these issues are common problems, I had intercooler leak fixed 3 times on my 2008 GL. Make sure they use the latest gaskets (purple). The 3L diesel is notorious for leaks.
Reply
Old Feb 4, 2016 | 11:15 PM
  #7  
taeandji's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Thank you for responses and I'm going to take it to local indy shop and try to get an estimate but not sure if it would be any significantly cheaper than MB service center estimate because local businesses tend to charge even more to owners of foreign vehicles...

I'm even thinking about do it myself if there is manual or someone's write up....
does anyone have manual or step-by-step guide or points what to watch out?
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2016 | 10:02 PM
  #8  
mhasan4's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
2011 E350 Bluetec
Diesel oil-cooler leak is a Mercedes design fault. It is not the user fault.

Folks,
let us collect the data on the Bluetec. I have searched ~40 cars on cars.com and found ~ 20 cars with leaks and torn seats (taken from CarFax report on the site). Please add your car or any leaky car you know to the list. There is no such record of engine failure for any other car in the industry.
Worse, the failure is mainly because of material choice of a gasket (~$5 value!). Every car made with these gaskets will eventually fail. M-B should recall the bluetecs and offer full repair and warranty.
As a Material Scientist, I was stunned by the choice of material in that gasket. I never suspected anyone in Germany (one of the top countries in materials engineering) would do such a mistake rather than by Mercedes-Benz who has over 80 years of experience with diesel engines and have actually produced some of the best diesel engines in the world. Worse, the gasket is located deep in the engine that it would take a skilled technician between 20 to 30 hours to repair it, according to experts! M-B should have not used anything but metal gasket in that location.
This is a Lemon! There is NO such failure in any engine made by any other manufacturer. Please check the table below: some engines has failed at ~29.5k! This is a $60k car. MB should be ashamed of this record and should hurry up to correct it plus granting at least 100k mile warranty on the repair.
Please add your VIN together with the approximate mileage and date when your engine leaked. Let us take it to the Attorney General of New Jersey (Where MB headquarter is located). There is no cost to submit a claim. Each of us should submit the same claim showing clear evidence of failure at the manufacturing level. We need a volunteer to write a good letter. This is an obvious case. Someone in Florida forced MB (through the Attorney General) to reacquire their car as a lemon.
Go here to file a complaint with NJ Attorney General: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/Pag...Complaint.aspx
Scroll down to see how to file online or download a complaint form. There is a Lemon complaint too.

Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:16 AM.

story-0
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE