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Great thread! You are making good progress. I would have said the shudder was center differential, CVJs or something in the transmission. Good to see the MAF was the solution.
2009 GL450 SOLD / 2011 GL550 SOLD / 2013 GL450 current daily
Originally Posted by chassis
Great thread! You are making good progress. I would have said the shudder was center differential, CVJs or something in the transmission. Good to see the MAF was the solution.
Actually the MAFS made the shudder much better, to the point where I thought it resolved the issue but it didn't. I believe the engine miss due to the bad MAFS amplified the shudder effect but wasn't the source.
The Flex Disc was bad enough where it needed to be changed so I was hoping that was causing the shudder effect but it's still there.
I don't suspect the transmission or transfer case is the issue but I don't rule them out. I believe the rear diff is something to put on the list of possibilities, but I also wonder if a collapsed transmission mount could be the culprit. The reason I say that is because of the amount of vibration that is allowed to reverberate though the frame of the car. That type of vibration is usually tied to a bad engine mount, tranny mount, diff bushing.
I'm glad you mentioned the CV Joint because it is something worth considering.
2009 GL450 SOLD / 2011 GL550 SOLD / 2013 GL450 current daily
So I just ordered everything I needed to change the transmission fluid in my GL550.
I ordered everything from FCP Euro but my car has the A89 code so I couldn't use the kit FCP Euro already put together, I had to choose my items separately. Apparently their kits are only for non A89 code cars but they have the individual parts available for the cars with the A89 code.
I will have an indy shop I trust do they work for $130.
These are the parts I ordered:
- Larger transmission pan (my current one is pretty rusty)
- Two 5 liter bottles of fluid
- new gasket to go between new transmission pan
- Six new bolts
- new filter
- new crush washer
- transmission oil pan bolt
- transmission overflow plug
Everything ran me $243.00 (US) not including the labor cost. FYI, a similar kit for the A89 from ECS Tuning is $343 without the new oil pan.
If you need to get the codes for your Benz go to this site and plug in your VIN: https://www.datamb.com
Here is mine:
Model Year 2011
Model GL 550 4MATIC
Engine 273963 30 402776
Transmission 722904 03 005344
Order Number 0 1 706 42804
Order Location UNITED STATES (USA)
Interior LEATHER - BLACK/ANTHRACITE (221A)
Paint 1 BLACK (040U)
Release Date 2010-11-17
Delivery Date 2010-11-25
040U BLACK
212B OP. INSTRUCT. AND MAINT. BOOKLET-ENGL. FOR USA/CAN
214 ADAPTIVE DAMPING SYSTEM
218 REAR-VIEW CAMERA
220 PARKTRONIC SYSTEM (PTS)
220A LEATHER
221A LEATHER - BLACK/ANTHRACITE
232 GARAGE DOOR OPENER WITH 284 - 390 MHZ FREQUENCY
234 BLIND SPOT ASSISTANT
236 ADAPTIVE REAR INTERIOR LIGHT
242 ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE RIGHT DRIVER SEAT W MEMORY
249 INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR MIRROR,AUTOMATICALLY DIMMING
267 MODEL PLATE DEVIATING
275 MEMORY PACKAGE (DRIVER SEAT, STRG. COL., MIRROR)
284B AIRBAG LABEL - ENGLISH FOR USA
289 LEATHER STEERING WHEEL WITH TRIM INSERT
293 SIDEBAG IN REAR LEFT AND RIGHT
294 KNEE AIRBAG
299 PRESAFE
301 ASHTRAY PACKAGE
342B INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/HU LANGUAGE - AMERICAN
345 RAIN SENSOR
359 TELEAID USA
401 FRONT SEAT CLIMATE CONTROL
404 MULTI-CONTOUR SEAT, FRONT LEFT
405 MULTI-CONTOUR SEAT, FRONT RIGHT
414 ELECTRIC TILT/SLIDE SUNROOF IN GLASS VERSION
427 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 7-SPEED
436 COMFORT HEADREST DRIVER AND FRONTPASSENGER
438 HEAD-UP DISPLAY CLASSIC
441 VITAL SENSOR ON STEERING WHEEL
461 INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
475 TIRE PRESSURE CONTROL
489 AIRMATIC DUAL CONTROL / AIR SUSPENSION SEMI-ACTIVE
494 U.S. VERSION
500 ELECTRIC FOLDING OUTSIDE MIRROR
512 COMAND APS WITH DVD CHANGER
517 DIGITAL RADIO STANDARD HD (HIGH DEFINITION)
518 UNIVERSAL COMMUNICATIONS INTERFACE (UCI)
550 TRAILER COUPLING
551 BASIC ANTITHEFT ALARM SYSTEM (ATA)
581 AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
582 AIR CONDITIONER IN THE REAR
596 HEAT INSULATING+IR REFLECTG.SAFETY GLASS ALL-ROUND
600 HEADLAMPS - CLEANING EQUIPMENT
615 BI-XENON HEADLICHT W.ACTVIE CURVELIGHT RIGHT-DRIVE
636 DELETION - WARNING TRIANGLE
666 PRODUCT PROT.F.TRANSPORT VEH. W/O TIE-DOWN HOOKS
673 HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY
690 EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE (MINI SPARE)
705L UNITED STATES (USA)
720 ROOF RAILING
723 TRUNK COVERING
724 ROOF RACK PREINSTALLATION
731 TRIM PIECES - WOOD BURRED WALNUT VENEER
763 RADIO REMOTE CONTROL WITH PANIC SWITCH (315 MHZ)
777 CENTER CONSOLE IN WOOD BURL WALNUT (2A24)
7XXL NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA
801 YOM 10/1
810 PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM
840 DARK TINTED GLASS
845 THIRD SEAT ROW, ELECTRICALLY FOLDABLE
846 SCUFF PLATE IN ALU-APPEARANCE WITH RUBBER STUDS
848 ELEC. SIDE WINDOWS
864 REAR ENTERTAINMENT (2 SCREENS)
872 REAR SEAT BENCH HEATING LEFT UND RIGHT
876 INTERIOR LIGHT ASSEMBLY
877 AMBIENCE ILLUMINATION
889 KEYLESS - GO
890 AUTOMATIC REAR-END DOOR
904 EQUIPMENT PACKAGE BASIC
989 IDENTIFICATION LABEL UNDER WINDSHIELD
A05 TRANSMISSION ALL-WHEEL CAPABLE
A21 SHIFT BY WIRE
A22 NEW CONVERTER GENERATION
A49 CONVERTER WITH 3 FRICTION DISKS
A52 M - VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY WITH VGS 3
A89 REDUCED-FRICTION
B12 WHEEL REPLACEMENT TOOL
F164 SERIES 164
FV SEDAN ELONGATED
G904 TRANSMISSION CODE VERSION 04
GA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HA REAR AXLE
J58 RIGHT BRACKET
K15 CONTROL CODE FOR SERVICE INTERVAL 15000 KM
K24 STEUERCODE TELEAID SERVICE PROVIDER
L LEFT-HAND STEERING
M273 V8-GASOLINE ENGINE M273
M55 CAPACITY 5,5 LITRE
NC0 NAG2 PLUS
R02 ALL SEASON TYRES
U10 FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH WEIGHT SENSING
U12 FLOOR MATS - VELOUR
U25 ILLUMINATED DOOR SILL
U38 LEATHER-CLAD INST. PANEL + BELTLINE (REAL LEATHER)
U40 CARGO NET BEHIND FRONT SEATS
U71 DVD PLAYER WITH REGIONAL CODE 1, USA
U80 115 V SOCKET
V65 SPEED- + LOADINDEX 111V XL
VL FRONT AXLE HALF, LEFT
VR FRONT AXLE HALF, RIGHT
So I purchased a black 2011 GL550 with black interior with the factory TV entertainment system. The body and interior are in excellent condition.
The guy was about to trade it in for a new one, so I was able to purchase it from him for $4000.
It runs great but has a few issues that he was very open about but at $4k, that gives me a lot of wiggle room to deal with the issues. I will do most of the work myself.
First thing I want to do is change all of the fluid:
- Both differentials: Are you guys using Mobile1 75W90 for LSD? I hear its .5 quarts per diff.
- Transaxle: What fluid are you guys using and how much is needed?
- Oil: I'll run full synthetic using Mann filters.
- Power steering fluid: Do you guys just use the turkey baster method? Which fluid do you prefer? I've noticed the power steering whines while turning wheel.
- Brake fluid: I'll power bleed these to get out all of the fluid and put in new fluid.
- Transmission fluid & filter: I will have the dealer do that. From what I understand, this should only be done by the dealer and should cost about $300?
Mechanical things-to-do:
- Rear shocks are gone. It bounces all over the place like there are no shocks on it. Although it fares better when I switch it from Comfort to Sport mode. I will order some new Arnot rear shocks with ADS today.
- Replace valve cover gaskets. I've notice puffs of smoke coming from the rear of engine near the firewall that smells of burning oil.
- Replace serpentine belt.
Things I've noticed:
- When making sharp turns (mainly right turns) I feel a slight resistance/shutter. It reminds me of what was happening to my AWD Honda CRV. I resolved that issue by simply replacing the differential fluid and adding a bottle of LS additive. I hoping thats all this needs.
- If I accelerate slowly sometimes I feel like I'm driving on a cobble stone road. Last for about a second or two then its fine.
- During moments of acceleration (sometimes when driving straight but mostly when accelerating while turning) It feels like I'm driving on a cobblestone road. A passenger may not notice it but as the driver I do. It only last for a second or two.
- The transmission seamlessly changes gears and I don't hear any noises.
- The engine runs very smooth.
- Power Steering: does whine while turning steering wheel.
1. You change oil by go for wal-mart and buy it mobil 5w-40 that using for high miles car. Oil filter you can found inside wal-mart as well. You can done by oil changing by your self easier by youtube.
2. Air spring suspension: If possible you can order the coil spring not air. That is better and forever
3. If car shaking or vibrating you change the ignition coil genuine from dealer.
2009 GL450 SOLD / 2011 GL550 SOLD / 2013 GL450 current daily
Great news!!!!
So today I had the transmission oil pan, transmission fluid and transmission filter replaced and now all of the remaining issues with my GL550 are gone .
- Shutter on accelerations: GONE
- Shutter on right turn: GONE
- Shutter going up hill: GONE
- Speed strip / cobblestone feel while driving: GONE
- Jerking: GONE
- rough engine idle: GONE
I'm order this transmission pan kit pl;us 3 extra liters of fluid for the flush for $260 and I'll have a local Mercedes indy shop doe the work for $180.
2009 GL450 SOLD / 2011 GL550 SOLD / 2013 GL450 current daily
I actually had to piece meal my kit together from them because the kit they had was for the GL550 without the A89 code, but they do have what you need individually (just not in a kit). You can't buy the kit but you can purchase the correct oil pan and the correct fluid individually from them.
FYI, those plugs have a nasty tendency to leak. Keep a tube of Permatex black silicone around; when the leak starts again, pull the plugs, clean them and the holes carefully, and then apply a bead of silicone around the plug and reinstall. Let it sit overnight, and you'll never change those plugs again.
Great thread love seeing high mileage luxury vehicles. These types of vehicles are driven to 200k miles in germany, then exported to eastern europe for another 200k.
Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.
The best type of oil is the one that is changed frequently!
06-25-2019, 09:45 PM
