GL Class (X166) 2013-2015 after facelift became GLS (X166)

2013 GL450, CEL = "Low Compression"

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Old Sep 25, 2015 | 10:35 PM
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2013 GL450
2013 GL450, CEL = "Low Compression"

Hello All!

I'm a new owner of a 2013 GL450 CPO. I just bought this GL at the end of last month. Up until I purchased this CPO, I spent a couple weeks searching for a '13 or '14 that did not have a history of rotor issues. This was the only one that I found that did not show prior Brake/Rotor repair, had under 40k miles, priced under $50k, and was a CPO. It has been an awesome ride for the past 3 weeks or so, but this past weekend, the CEL came on. After ruling out the Gas Cap, I took it to the dealer this week. Today, the Service Adviser told me the GL has "Low Compression" and that it needs a new "Cylinder". She did not mention anything about cost, so I assume it is covered under the original warranty...I also have one year of CPO warranty and additional 2 years extended (unlimited miles) Warranty. Has anyone else experienced Cylinder (Head?) issues? During my research on this model year, the brakes/rotors seemed to be the main area of concern...I never read anything about engine issues. Right now, the dealer is waiting on a new Cylinder (Head?) to be delivered from Germany. They have given me an ML as a loaner and so far, I am loving the ML...may be my next purchase!
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Old Sep 25, 2015 | 11:11 PM
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A gaggle of MB's
Personally - your's in the very 1st I have heard off - have dealer go over the VMI for any details of cooling issues - "cylinder head" makes more sense than "cylinder" .

Keep the faith - enjoy the ML !
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Old Sep 26, 2015 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by fabbrisd1
Personally - your's in the very 1st I have heard off - have dealer go over the VMI for any details of cooling issues - "cylinder head" makes more sense than "cylinder" .

Keep the faith - enjoy the ML !
It is interesting you bring up cooling issues. I do notice the fan turn on almost immediately after starting the vehicle...every time. It sounds like a turbine in the engine bay...lol. I'm not sure if that is normal, but I just kind of attributed it to the bi-turbo engine.
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Old Sep 29, 2015 | 04:29 PM
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the fan on after start is normal.

the cylinder head replacement is not. actually this is a first i am hearing.

before starting to swap cylinder heads i would run a tank or two of concentrated chevron techron mix and drive spiritedly. there might be carbon deposits on the valves thus low compression.
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Old Nov 7, 2015 | 11:14 AM
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Just got my GL back from Service yesterday. Will post pics of the service statement once I get a chance...it is multiple pages. Everything was under warranty, but they added roughly 2500 miles onto the vehicle during the service period.
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Old Nov 7, 2015 | 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Benzto Box
...but they added roughly 2500 miles onto the vehicle during the service period.
2500???!!!
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Old Nov 9, 2015 | 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Benzto Box
but they added roughly 2500 miles onto the vehicle during the service period.
what the........
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Old Nov 9, 2015 | 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by cadetdrivr
2500???!!!
Originally Posted by luv2sleep
what the........

Yup...2500! SA is finding out from the foreman what happened.
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Old Nov 9, 2015 | 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Benzto Box
Yup...2500! SA is finding out from the foreman what happened.
Sounds like a tech or lot monkey enjoyed an EPIC road trip.
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Old Nov 9, 2015 | 08:19 PM
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'15 GL450
That's a few hundred miles shy of a road trip (one way) from the left coast to the east coast!
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Old Nov 21, 2015 | 10:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Benzto Box
Just got my GL back from Service yesterday. Will post pics of the service statement once I get a chance...it is multiple pages. Everything was under warranty, but they added roughly 2500 miles onto the vehicle during the service period.
Did at least they fix the issue?
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Old Nov 22, 2015 | 01:55 PM
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2013 GL450
Originally Posted by HETPE3B
Did at least they fix the issue?

I actually read the service statement wrong...they actually only put 16 miles on the vehicle during the service period. On the first page of the statement, right on the middle of the page, they listed original miles. Turns out this mileage was the mileage for the vehicle when they first Certified it, not when I brought it in for this service. On the top right hand corner of the statement, it shows the Mileage in/mileage out. I'm just glad I never got angry, and was polite in inquiring about the mileage. I would have looked like a total *** otherwise...lol.

As far as the CEL, yes, it seems everything is fixed. Then again, I did not notice anything wrong with the way the vehicle drove beforehand, but the service statement shows pages of items that were replaced on the engine. The fan also does not sound like a turbine anymore, but the weather is much cooler now too, so I won't know if that was an issue or not, until spring/summer.
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Old Nov 22, 2015 | 01:59 PM
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2013 GL450
One thing to note...

Prior to the CEL, I had to make a quick full-throttle lane change on the freeway. The vehicle barely responded to my sudden heavy foot. I had to do the same just recently, and wow, huge difference.
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