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Are you guys still enjoying the delete mods? Have any noteworthy issues popped up in the last few months?
My wife's GL350 is currently starting to get a lot more codes and we're on the fence about just getting rid of the vehicle or doing a delete like this to minimize future issues. We love the vehicle, but don't love all the recent horror stories we're reading re: Bluetec.
I sold it a couple weeks back. I got a 2013 GL450 and don’t miss that GL350 at all... That car got annoying. But as far as the delete I haven’t had any issues with it. You’d be better off selling it though.
Are you guys still enjoying the delete mods? Have any noteworthy issues popped up in the last few months?
My wife's GL350 is currently starting to get a lot more codes and we're on the fence about just getting rid of the vehicle or doing a delete like this to minimize future issues. We love the vehicle, but don't love all the recent horror stories we're reading re: Bluetec.
No issues here. Kept the cats, so no smells from the get-go. Malone Tuning did the DPF/DEF/EGR deletes, so I never had to unplug anything etc. No "remaining starts" either. As well, I only paid $1400 CAN but to be fair to quron, my shop re-used the flanges from my DPF.
Fuel mileage "might" be a bit better, but my wife's driving habits and short driving distances make fuel mileage calculations all but impossible. She believes that the consumption has dropped mildly. Performance-wise, 0-60 MPH is at around 8 seconds, so par for the course.
We've had absolutely no issues or CELs. The truck is reliable to date. I run high(er) zinc oil which theoretically protects the metal components better. I lose the engine cover and belly-pan in the summer, though this is probably more important for someone in year-round warmer climates who's stuck in stop'n go traffic every day.
If I had to do it all again, never would've bought a diesel or a German vehicle. We naively bought this low-mileage for a steal, thinking we were buying reliability. Uh, no.
We also own an X6 which we leave down in our winter home in FL. Thankfully, it has the in-line 6 which is bulletproof, but we've still had to do repairs on it with (now) only 46k miles under her. I've always been an "American Only" vehicle owner. The US manufacturers have certainly improved exponentially in fit/finish and reliability. I own a fleet of 6 service vans and pick-ups. They are typically good for a couple hundred thousand kilometers before starting to show attitude.
But, I'm blown away by the reliability of my 2007 FJ Cruiser. 120,000 miles and I have yet to replace anything other than maintenance items. Freakin' thing is bulletproof. I've never owned a vehicle this long (bought it in 2010, US salvage-titled to boot). I'm 59 yrs old and have been thru dozens of vehicles and this beast is the best to date.
Sorry for carrying on. To answer your question; If it were me, I'd trade it in on whatever turns your crank. If it's another German POS, do a lease and toss them the keys after 3 yrs. Let someone else deal with the issues out-of-warranty.
Last edited by peter2772000; Dec 29, 2019 at 08:00 AM.
Just noticed you have a GC SRT. I sold my 2014 a yr ago, what a rocket. Lost a roller lifter just before the warranty ran out at around 50k miles, sold it a month or two afterwards. But otherwise a fairly dependable vehicle and a 'Stang burner to boot.
To the point! Alright guys, so to stop getting the starts remaining counter, you have to unplug the SCR module and the fuses that are plugged in. It’s located in the trunk under the jack equipment. You have to remove that entire black styrofoam cover that holds everything. Then you should see it in the bottom left. I’ll provide photos later. It’s super simple no special tools required. But, you do have to PULL that styrofoam cover up.
Did you ever get the photos of the SCR module and fuses to unplug? I have to do that to mine tonight (just loaded the Stage 1 tuned file to my ECU this morning, and FedEx just dropped off my delete pipe).
Also, did you need to unplug the swirl flaps? If so, any tips on that would be appreciated.
My tuner indicated I would need to unplug the SCR and the Flaps, but said everything else could remain connected.
Is it because the EGR was deleted that the MB specified 229.52 diesel engine oil is no longer required? How is the oil that you're using now working out and what oil is regarded safe to use if the EGR is deleted?
Sorry, only just saw this...
No, not the EGR. The DPF will clog up if/when using a decent oil with higher zinc content. 229.51 was the only oil to use, according to MB. Absolute best, it was. Then they realized there were issues and migrated to 229.52. 229.51 was now the scourge of the earth. However, dealers were stocked up with 229.51 'till doomsday. You think they poured all that now-defective oil down the drain? No, they sold all that oil, poured it down our gullets and did it with a smile.
Does anyone know NOX sensors are part of a Life time or any limited emission control warranty in the State of Texas?
My GL350 has been diagnosed with BOTH nox sensors (000-905-35-03 and 36-03) being bad, even after taken car to shop for the engine light warning 1 year ago (2018), when car was under the full factory warranty. Dealer one year ago stated, soot sensor was bad and it had been reset (NOT changed, though initially h said soot sensor was changed, but when i pulled up the work order, it did not indicate any part change or install), while there was Ad Blue issue had shown up as per the attached log supplied by the dealer. I reminded dealer that, last year's engine light could have been related to ad blue issue and it was never addressed, and now NOX sensors have gone bad. Also, within 6 months of driving some 800 local miles, i had Ad blue fill up sign showed up twice, which i did fill up and then 'Ad blue' Remaining sign shows up (both times after topping up with Ad blue. I wonder whether it is common to have ad blue fill up sign showing up in such a short driving mileage distance (800 miles driven between 2 top off of Ad Blue). Would appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks.
Tom
2014 GL 350 BlueTec Diesel engine
I've been posting for around 8 years, in this forum on the issues of the OM642, pointing out they were plagued from the start. I was flamed a lot at first but now everyone sees how problematic the engine can be compared to the gassers. Not saying the gas versions do not have issues, they do, but nothing like seemingly endless issues of some OM642's. You may have found my post to be irrelevant but had you read many of them in the past it may have saved you from buying the diesel version. Get yours running and sell it quickly. As an FYI, if you are searching for MPG's, the GLS 450 has been reported to be capable of 25-30 MPG out of the gas twin-turbo engine and updated transmission.
I love the way this engine and automobile keep getting a bad rep, bottom line is I would like to quote a review from when the SUV originally came out, " If you are buying this engine for fuel economy and low cost maintenance, you should be looking elsewhere" bottom line is I love my GL350, going on 150K miles and with proper maintenance I could not ask for a better car, I tow a small trailer in the mountains and drive it like I stole it. the power and torque this truck has is second to none for the comfort it provides, the handling is all Mercedes, I LOVE IT, now for the price to keep,I would venture to say that its up there, I have been in front of all the possible screw ups Mercedes made on this vehicle and happy to say I have never limped back home, I have repaired all the typical oil leaks they tend to have and changed the oil methodically at 3000 miles, screw that 10K crap on the manual, and happy to say the engine purs like a kitten and runs like a bat. very happy with the performance and size of this SUV, had an Audi Q7 supercharged and loved the performance while feeling like in a sardine can. bottom line if your looking for reliability and low cost, run from this vehicle, if you enjoy a Mack truck with the ride and luxury and style of a Mercedes Benz, this might be the truck for you. I have no plans on selling mine, and bottom line is that I have spent very little more on maintenance and repairs than I did with my prior Jap box that drove like a roller skate.If your not willing to open up your wallet and get your hands dirty and get in front of the more than documented issues surrounding this car why buy it at all.
I love the way this engine and automobile keep getting a bad rep, bottom line is I would like to quote a review from when the SUV originally came out, " If you are buying this engine for fuel economy and low cost maintenance, you should be looking elsewhere" bottom line is I love my GL350, going on 150K miles and with proper maintenance I could not ask for a better car, I tow a small trailer in the mountains and drive it like I stole it. the power and torque this truck has is second to none for the comfort it provides, the handling is all Mercedes, I LOVE IT, now for the price to keep,I would venture to say that its up there, I have been in front of all the possible screw ups Mercedes made on this vehicle and happy to say I have never limped back home, I have repaired all the typical oil leaks they tend to have and changed the oil methodically at 3000 miles, screw that 10K crap on the manual, and happy to say the engine purs like a kitten and runs like a bat. very happy with the performance and size of this SUV, had an Audi Q7 supercharged and loved the performance while feeling like in a sardine can. bottom line if your looking for reliability and low cost, run from this vehicle, if you enjoy a Mack truck with the ride and luxury and style of a Mercedes Benz, this might be the truck for you. I have no plans on selling mine, and bottom line is that I have spent very little more on maintenance and repairs than I did with my prior Jap box that drove like a roller skate.If your not willing to open up your wallet and get your hands dirty and get in front of the more than documented issues surrounding this car why buy it at all.
Nice post. Good to see this in a slurry of negative threads.
Nice post. Good to see this in a slurry of negative threads.
I agree. I think things get skewed online - I mean, how many people post just to say "my engine has no issues". Most of the time people only post when there's an issue - which is normal and to be expected, of course. But that makes it seem like ALL of the engines have issues - especially if there's a few people that continue the "myth" - sometimes without even knowing much about the engine, maybe not owning one, or the only thing they know about it is what they read online, which just perpetuates the mis-information.
Case in point, I have been very happy with my engine. Great mileage - even accounting for the higher pre gallon price of diesel, it's still less money per mile in terms of fuel. Lot's of torque - never downshifts on hills on the highway. Have there been things I've had to repair/replace? Sure. But what mechanical thing doesn't have that. But overall, nothing at all to complain about.
Other than a small oil leak from my oil filter adapter (o-ring), relatively uneventful. No complaints, getting an average of 850 kms on a tank of gas....er, diesel.
We did the DEF/DPF/EGR delete on our 2013 ML350 back in November. Best $1400 I ever spent.
Bought the truck with 20k kms or 12k miles in September of 2017. Literally owned by an old lady. In the first year and under warranty, the DEF tank had to be replaced @ $3700 CAN and the EGR at $1700. The writing was on the wall after that...
- Installed an oil filter adapter which allows the use of a honking big spin-on oil filter for superior filtration
- Popped the belly pan and engine covers to allow for lower under-hood temps during the summer. Hopefully my oil cooler seals will appreciate the gesture
- Started running high-zinc content oil, first motorcycle oil and now Amsoil Dominator 20W50 oil for summer, and Signature series oil for winter. Hoping my timing chain will thank me by lasting much longer than they seem to presently
- Did the above-mentioned DEF/DPF/EGR. So no worries about clogging my DPF, especially now that I'm running high zinc/phosphor oil
Other than a noisy(er) first minute of engine operation when she's left out in sub-freezing temps, you can't tell a difference. No black smoke that I can detect, same power level.
And yes, I drank the Stephen's Garage Koolaid. No regrets to date whatsoever. The only regret was buying a diesel MB under the false impression that I was buying reliability. If I'd done my due diligence beforehand, I'd have never bought the truck even though I'd gotten it for a fantastic price.
But, I've made my bed and now I have to sleep in it. At least I'm trying to put the odds in my favour LOL
Peter,
Can you give me your source for the DEF/DPF/EGR delete for your 2013 ML350?
- Purchase plus DIY?
Have the DEF Blue heater out, and P2201/P229F codes active. 2013 with 200k...
I like the $1400 option and never look back.
I agree with peter2772000 200%. Bought ML350 BT for the same reason as peter.
-->>> Good deal..."at the time".
I just spoke with my brother today about my MB ML350 POS.
His 2013 Toyota Tundra, his work truck as he does Renovations.
- 400k KM, and has yet to have a CEL.
- His new 2018 Toyota Highlander had an EVAP code and something to do with a charcoal canister
Last edited by x5kieffer; Dec 29, 2019 at 12:47 AM.
I'm up in Canada, had the work done by a local shop affiliated with Malone Tuning. I did none of the work myself. They re-used my DPF flanges on a custom bypass pipe, which saved me about $500.
No codes related to the mods whatsoever!
His 2013 Toyota Tundra, his work truck as he does Renovations.
- 400k KM, and has yet to have a CEL.
My daily driver is a 2007 FJ Cruiser. Bought back in 2010 at 60k miles as a salvage title. I'm presently at 136,000 miles. I've NEVER owned a vehicle as long as I've had this truck. Unstoppable, just won't break down...
No issues here. Kept the cats, so no smells from the get-go. Malone Tuning did the DPF/DEF/EGR deletes, so I never had to unplug anything etc. No "remaining starts" either. As well, I only paid $1400 CAN but to be fair to quron, my shop re-used the flanges from my DPF.
Fuel mileage "might" be a bit better, but my wife's driving habits and short driving distances make fuel mileage calculations all but impossible. She believes that the consumption has dropped mildly. Performance-wise, 0-60 MPH is at around 8 seconds, so par for the course.
We've had absolutely no issues or CELs. The truck is reliable to date. I run high(er) zinc oil which theoretically protects the metal components better. I lose the engine cover and belly-pan in the summer, though this is probably more important for someone in year-round warmer climates who's stuck in stop'n go traffic every day.
If I had to do it all again, never would've bought a diesel or a German vehicle. We naively bought this low-mileage for a steal, thinking we were buying reliability. Uh, no.
We also own an X6 which we leave down in our winter home in FL. Thankfully, it has the in-line 6 which is bulletproof, but we've still had to do repairs on it with (now) only 46k miles under her. I've always been an "American Only" vehicle owner. The US manufacturers have certainly improved exponentially in fit/finish and reliability. I own a fleet of 6 service vans and pick-ups. They are typically good for a couple hundred thousand kilometers before starting to show attitude.
But, I'm blown away by the reliability of my 2007 FJ Cruiser. 120,000 miles and I have yet to replace anything other than maintenance items. Freakin' thing is bulletproof. I've never owned a vehicle this long (bought it in 2010, US salvage-titled to boot). I'm 59 yrs old and have been thru dozens of vehicles and this beast is the best to date.
Sorry for carrying on. To answer your question; If it were me, I'd trade it in on whatever turns your crank. If it's another German POS, do a lease and toss them the keys after 3 yrs. Let someone else deal with the issues out-of-warranty.
ya Malone is shieza! They killed my buddy's x5 and would never recommend them. Its been over a year and the x5's still not right and they keep giving him the run around. Told him to go to JR....all the way.
ya Malone is shieza! They killed my buddy's x5 and would never recommend them. Its been over a year and the x5's still not right and they keep giving him the run around. Told him to go to JR....all the way.
Truly sorry to read that, it's the first slam of Malone that I've personally witnessed.
@peter2772000 Did you also noticed increased rpm at idle after delete? Quron mentoined in post #27 on this thread that his "car idles as if it's cold 100% of the time now". I have same issue, I noticed increased rpm at idle after delete and I'm looking for solution for that and I'm curious whether malone tune will also have this issue.
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