x164 V8?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 50
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GL 320 CDI
x164 V8?
Hi guys,
Got a question regards to V8 version of the X164.
In Australia we call it GL500 and I believe at your world, it's call GL550.
After 2.5 years on a 2008 GL320 CDI, lots of fun, some dramas, but still love GL in general. So My next car going to be another GL.
For the price I am prepare to paid, I can get a either x166 350CDI, or a X164 550. But I vaguely remember multiple people in here has mentioned a few times the V8 engine has a fatal problem with very expensive repair or unrepairable.
Was trying to looking up here and google with no avail. Just some hearsay.
So I am trying to figure out that is it actually? Also would be interest to know if the problem has been resolved in the x166 series?
Thanks in advance for your insight.
Got a question regards to V8 version of the X164.
In Australia we call it GL500 and I believe at your world, it's call GL550.
After 2.5 years on a 2008 GL320 CDI, lots of fun, some dramas, but still love GL in general. So My next car going to be another GL.
For the price I am prepare to paid, I can get a either x166 350CDI, or a X164 550. But I vaguely remember multiple people in here has mentioned a few times the V8 engine has a fatal problem with very expensive repair or unrepairable.
Was trying to looking up here and google with no avail. Just some hearsay.
So I am trying to figure out that is it actually? Also would be interest to know if the problem has been resolved in the x166 series?
Thanks in advance for your insight.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 251
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GL550
We have an X164 (2010 GL550) and the complete drive train has been flawless (motor, trans, etc.). Just the usual "GL stuff" to repair: struts/air springs, brakes, driver's side window lever and rear hatch locking/closing mechanism. Oh, and tires, lots and lots of 21" tires. My BMW lease is up in about five months and I am taking the GL from the wife...and looking forward to it! BTW, it has ~85k miles on it.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 624
Likes: 202
From: CA
11 ML550, 95 Supra TT, 14 Audi S4
My 08 GL550 had the cylinder heads off at about 65K miles to fix a coolant leak somewhere in the head. According to my service adviser, it isn't "common" on that motor, but he's seen it happen before on GLs and other MBs that use that vintage 5.5L V8. Fixed under warranty fortunately because it was many hours of labor to fix. I don't know of any other inherent problems with the motor. It is a very nice motor- lots of power everywhere and moves even a big heavy SUV along pretty well. I'm at 150K miles now, and haven't had any other problem with the motor. It is using a quart of oil every 2-3K miles now instead of 8-9K, but that isn't unexpected at that mileage.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 574
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From: Pennsylvania, USA
2011 GL450, '06 R500 traded, '08 ML350 sold
My 2011 GL450 has now 59K miles and no issues to date. In the U.S. both gas versions of GLs until model year 2012 came equipped with the same V8. The GL550 V8 has more horsepower (I believe 35 more than GL450) due to larger cylinders and tuning.
The next generation GL450s (2013 and later) have a V6 twin turbo.
The next generation GL450s (2013 and later) have a V6 twin turbo.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,140
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From: Nova Scotia, Canada
2023 GLK250, 1987 560SL
The actual model badges are selected according to the respective country in which they are marketed. So technically a 550 a in one country can be the exact same model as a 500 in another country. It is better to indicate the actual engine type, i.e. M113 (SOHC V8) or M273 (DOHC V8). Each model may have different displacements also - they basically just bore out the cylinders more i.e. the M113 came in 4.2L, 5.0L, 5.4L variants, and was also the base for the SLR. While discontinued in NA, the M113 is still used in other parts of the world - this is a super reliable, super tough engine. The M273 V8s have better fuel efficiency and performance, but do have more quirks. One is the intake actuator lever that is made of plastic and tends to break - there is however a cheaper (and superior) fix to this: an aftermarket one made of steel or aluminum - otherwise you're on the hook for a $2,000+ OEM fix that includes a full intake replacement. This appears to affect almost every engine with this component eventually, including the V6 variants. The aftermarket fix is a one-time repair, and may cost as little as $300 at an indie, or $100 as a DIY.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
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GL 320 CDI
In Australia the X164 GL 500 is a 5.5 litre V8.
So I assume it would be the M273 variants?
If that is the case, are the X166 using the same engine (which would have carry the same problem)
So I assume it would be the M273 variants?
If that is the case, are the X166 using the same engine (which would have carry the same problem)
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Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 49
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2011 GL450
I think you'll be okay if you stick with an x164 of 2010 to 2012. The earlier models seemed to have lots of bugs that the later models don't seem to have. The most expensive issue for the gas v-8s (not counting air ride) is the bad timing chain idler gear. I haven't seen this on the later models. The problem may still be there, but I haven't seen one.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
I think you'll be okay if you stick with an x164 of 2010 to 2012. The earlier models seemed to have lots of bugs that the later models don't seem to have. The most expensive issue for the gas v-8s (not counting air ride) is the bad timing chain idler gear. I haven't seen this on the later models. The problem may still be there, but I haven't seen one.
With that said, you typically want to purchase the newest MB you can afford. MB's are very consistent. The problems you see on the older ones are just waiting for the time and or mileage to occur on the newer ones in the same series.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,140
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From: Nova Scotia, Canada
2023 GLK250, 1987 560SL
I think what we need is a thread/database/poll that shows the common failures and at what mileage people incur them. That way owners and prospective buyers can see the frequency and timeliness in which the issues occur and make informed decisions based on that. We could then have links next to each issue to threads that discuss it.
Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 155
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From: SWFL
2008 E350, 2010 GL550
This statement is very inaccurate. MB changes things they deem to be problematic as soon as a major issue is found. The 273 has always been a dependable motor (my '10 has 106k and counting)except for the early ones (pre-09) with the faulty gears. That being said it's far and few between you see a 273 with that issue vs the 272 being the most problematic but that's irrelevant because you can't get that in a GL. They're very good about correcting problems that are known issues. Most common things on the 273 is the cam plugs and centerfuge and occasional cam magnet.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Senior Member
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MBs
1st generation GLs in our family...
one 08GL 550 - ~50K miles, no engine issues but had some weird tranny issue - was bought back by MB
09 gl 550 - ~65K miles - no issues
07GL 450 - almost 90K miles - no issues
2 of my cousins
12' GL 450 102k Miles - no issues
11 GL 550 - probablhy close to 60+K miles - no known issues
yea -- we obviously love the GLs.. and this is just from the 1st generation X164 era
one 08GL 550 - ~50K miles, no engine issues but had some weird tranny issue - was bought back by MB
09 gl 550 - ~65K miles - no issues
07GL 450 - almost 90K miles - no issues
2 of my cousins
12' GL 450 102k Miles - no issues
11 GL 550 - probablhy close to 60+K miles - no known issues
yea -- we obviously love the GLs.. and this is just from the 1st generation X164 era
