I have a 2014 with 73k on the clock. I just got the dreaded Oil Cooler Leak. Dealer is quoting me $5600. 24 hours shop time! who has this done in the past and how much did it cost you guys?

 

Try Silver Spring or Annapolis.

 

it was Annapolis who gave me this astronomical quote.

 

Wow! That's disappointing. I had my 164 bluetec done there for 2k when it leaked. I wasn't expecting to pay $5.6k when mine leaks.

 

really??? how long ago was that?

 

Probably 4 years now. You may also consider joining the MB club of America, you'll get 10% off. Try Silver Spring to see if they are cheaper. There is also an Indy called German Service Center but I'm not sure that they will be much less than your best dealer price.

 

Indys are $2-2.5K labor. If you lives in NYC area, then I could point you to the right shop. You would still save money driving your GL up to NYC for the work and take a train back.

 

Did you find a lower quote?

 

so true. there are a few indys here in the DC Metro. just need to call them up

 

im still looking. how many miles do you have on yours?

 

80k. Keep me posted on the final decision on where and how much..

 

will do brother. what were the problems you had at 80k if you dont mind me asking? hows the timing chain and hows the DEF?

 

I'm not sure about the timing chain. I hear some slight noise here and there but not much different from my 164 bluetech (I change my oil at 5k on my x166). The DEF on my 164 went out around 80-90k, I replaced it my self. This time around I'm using fresh DEF (no more of the 2 for 1 deals at the autozone) and I manually start the regen on my x166 to maybe avoid the DEF failure this time.

 

Interesting. What method (or tool) are you using to initiate a regen?

Thanks!

 

Autel.. I don't recall the model but the cost was around $200. Amazon had an xmas or black friday sale a month or so after I purchased it and the price dropped to $130 or so for a short time.

I assume the oil cooler, DEF and timing chain (and probably one of the rear airbags) will fail between now and 100k. If not, maybe the extra precautions worked.

 

past few weeks, i noticed once i parked the GL550 (40,000 miles on it) in the garage after driving, burning motor oil smell in the garage. Also getting past week the Coolant level low, see manual. Couldn't see where leaks were coming from and decided to take it to the dealer yesterday. Got a call from SA that the motor oil is leaking from the cam cover, no explanation on the coolant code. Surprised that the motor oil leak wasnt coming from the oil cooler like others on here who say its a common issue on their GLs.

 

Mobile geeks

I would look into an Indy, Benz Elite used to service my vehicles when i was out of warranty.

 

The oil cooler issue is specific to the OM642 motor, which is the 6-cyl turbodiesel.

 

Call around the DC area, the prices are $2900-$3150 at the dealers, excluding the ones you quoted.

 

Does anyone know how much similarity in work there is between having the timing chain replaced, and also doing the oil cooler seals? My car is going in for the timing chain issue (Warranty), and I'm thinking if it's already half the labor to do so, should I ask for the cost to get the oil cooler seal done at the same time? I'd hate to do the chain/tensioner, then have to go back in to do the cooler seals 6 months later. currently has 75,000Miles, 2014 MY.

 

Ask the dealer..

 

Excellent idea, wish I thought of that when having my oil cooler repaired.

 

Oh yeah, I'll my add name the the Oil Cooler leak. This is the 2nd time I've paid for this. Once in a W164 and now this X166. The repair cost since the W164 has increase by $1000 ($2,900 out the door) for the same 15hrs of work, on the same engine type.

I can't believe MB won't spend $25 on a longer lasting seal(if there is such a thing) instead of $13 (consumer price) on the current factory seal. I'm not sure that removing bottom panels (which I didn't do) can in any way affect the longevity of the seals in my driving situation especially once you see where the seal is located and what it looks like.

Definitely, more frequent oil changes don't work(every 5k for me) to help the seal but it does eliminate burning through almost a quart or half a quart of oil by 7.5k -10k mile mark. But what I have noticed is that on both occasions, first the "red" seals leak, maybe about 10k or 15k miles earlier than the oil cooler (is that oil seeping down and pooling where the oil cooler seal is some, how). It takes a little time to figure out that they are even leaking sometimes. I also noticed that my dealer seams to overfill my oil around the 70k mark. I've even asked them about it. When I do my 5k changes I don't have that problem (I let the dealer change the oil at the 10k mark on the service counter and I do it at the 5k-ish mark). FYI, I purchase the oil from the dealership, they provide me the proper amount and oil filter. The last thing is it happens during the same time of year. Is the really cold air while parked contrasting with the driving in rush hour traffic too extreme and causing the seal to contract and leak?

My driving pattern consists of 8 miles of back road (45mph) - to 8 miles of 40-60 mph - 7 miles of city(in a 5sq mile city) and reverse, less than 4 days a week. The weekends have no real traffic and trips are at least 15 miles round trip. Some times I've had to idle for 30 mins or so when I'm having to sit in the car (while the Mrs. goes to a store so we don't dare wake a sleeping baby).

I thought these types of parts were supposed to last at least 100k miles. Anyway, I hear MB has a new diesel engine coming out but hopefully I'm in something electric by then (maybe I'll rent for long trips). I'm tired of oil on my garage floor but until then I suppose I have another 80k miles before this new seal leaks, I'll surely sell it before then and/or have an electric commuter.

 

Have any of you guys tried reaching out to Mercedes Benz USA?
Send an email to christian.treiber@mbusa.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-treiber-252b3280/

He is the executive responsible for customer service for MBUSA.
His team knows all about the defective oil cooler seals in the disaster that is the OM642.
They do have the ability to authorize the fix for free at a dealership.
I'm not saying they will do it for sure, but you can certainly make a case to them.
I would write a nice letter saying you love your GL, but the OM642 is horrible and defective, and now you are faced with a massive out of pocket expense that is due to a known problem. I would also describe how diligent you have been about regular service...
I just had a $15k repair on my 2011 OM642 done at my Indy, covered under my USAA extended Warranty. MBUSA offered to pay for some of it, through the above executive escalation email, but only if I had the work done at the dealer.

If this works for you, I do accept beer... Dan

 

There's no "longer last seal" for this design honestly. The problem arised when MB implemented the "modular design" that restricted the engine size and shape, so engineers had to put the oil cooler in such a weird position. Older MB engines put the oil cooler next to the oil filter on the outside that's so easy to replace. Older oil coolers were also known to fail and cause oil/coolant mix. The Viton seals are actually long lasting but some of them still fail within 100k miles. The temperature associated with the area is just too high.