Eleurius

Hi everyone. I am a newly registered member. I own a 2015 E350 and a 2016 GL550.

When I shut down the GL550 engine with the start button and sit in the car I hear things going on in the dash for about 5 minutes and then a low fan sound for about 30 minutes, all of which is similar to my E350; however, the GL550 emits a definite ozone odor from under the dash/footwell starting with engine shutdown to the point that I sometimes have to open the window. Has anyone experienced this?

My understanding is that the air ionizing option is available starting with the 2017 GLS. My GL550 MSRP does not show an air ionizing option in the build.

Thank you for any replies

GL-

How long have you had the 2016 GL550?

Eleurius

I bought it about two months ago. It was built in Oct 2015.

GL-

OK. If the answer was "last week", I was thinking it could be new components heating up for the first time and putting off an 'electrical' type of smell, but at 2 months, I doubt that's the case.

Eleurius

The GL550 has 2,600 miles on it. I have run both the air conditioner and the heater a lot. The ozone smell has been there since day one and continues. I notice it in mild to cool weather when I am waiting, in the truck with the engine off, for my wife to go get something. I have never noticed with the engine running.

SaniDel

I'm familiar with the sounds you described when I shut down our 2015 GL 550 as we park it in a garage and usually spend time immediately afterwards unloading, unpacking and sorting in the garage. On occasion, the sounds start again after the vehicle has cooled in the garage. I've also smelled what you described, but on the outside of the vehicle.

I've not done what you described, which is to shut down the vehicle and to remain inside while all this is going on. I've also spend plenty of time sitting in the car waiting for my wife to finish shopping, but always with the engine idling, the windows closed and the climate control running.

I presume that if you kept your vehicle idling the problem would not occur. Would that be an acceptable solution?

Eleurius

Sorry - I did not mean to present it as a problem. For all I know it may be keeping the interior and ventilation system free of any other odors. I usually have the air conditioner on because it is usually hot and humid here

I am just curious about similar experiences.

I am wondering if Mercedes could possibly be quietly adding some ionization in response to all of the musty smell complaints. My E350 owners manual states that the car will attempt to dry the evaporator after the engine is shut down. I would think the GL550 is doing the same but with addition of ionization?

GL-

ionization wouldn't be the most effective drying mechanism. Some heating coils would make more sense.

It's dry as a desert here, so I can't really relate. ;-)

43221B

Could the Ozone you are smelling be antifreeze? It seems like most of the GL's have what appears to be an antifreeze vapor leak.

All of the sounds you are hearing are probably normal. The HVAC circulates air slowly sometimes for quite awhile after the engine is shut down. The computer and airmatic cycle on and off too.

One bit of advice, if you live in an area with a warm humid climate, it's a good idea to shut the AC off for a minute or so before reaching your home at the end of the day and run the blower on high until you shut the car off. You will see condensation droplets form all over the vents as it blows the moisture out of the system. This is the only way I've found to keep the hvac system from getting the stale dirty sock smell that many of us have complained about.