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My GL550 engine is a complete toast. 7x cylinders have a significant scoring.
Purchased a used engine (originally did not want to go the re-sleeving route) and it seems that this new engine already started developing issues. Thus, could any of you who have more knowledge and experience with this engine tell me if I better return this engine while there is a return window? Paid $4k with shipping. Am I going to be better off with rebuilding my engine which is at 121K?
Date is incorrect (did not set proper date on borescope) Cylinder 4 Cylinder 3 Cylinder 1 Cylinder 5 Cylinder 7 Cylinder 8
Last edited by Spilgrim; Jan 10, 2024 at 05:46 PM.
Reason: bad formatting
Sorry to hear. What year was your GL550 engine that had 7x cylinders with scoring?
Originally Posted by Spilgrim
My GL550 engine is a complete toast. 7x cylinders have a significant scoring.
Purchased a used engine (originally did not want to go the re-sleeving route) and it seems that this new engine already started developing issues. Thus, could any of you who have more knowledge and experience with this engine tell me if I better return this engine while there is a return window? Paid $4k with shipping. Am I going to be better off with rebuilding my engine which is at 121K?
Date is incorrect (did not set proper date on borescope) Cylinder 4 Cylinder 3 Cylinder 1 Cylinder 5 Cylinder 7 Cylinder 8
Spend some time on Google to find hone procedure for Alisul engines, buy new set of pistons and rings (original for Alusil engine) and keep driving another 80k miles.
Sorry to hear. What year was your GL550 engine that had 7x cylinders with scoring?
2014 121K miles on it.
After sifting through multiple forums and talking to a friend who is a mechanic in Germany, it seems to me that this scoring issue is much more prominent in the US than in Europe. The difference that we have is fuel. In Europe, high-grade gasoline does not contain ethanol. Thus it might be that ethanol is reacting with aluminum making alusil coating brittle which leads to easy scratching. Another anecdotal evidence, a friend of mine who got 260K miles on his CLS 550, always filled with no ethanol gasoline. No scoring whatsoever.
I found information on how to do it but it does require purchasing of some tooling. I suppose if the seller of this engine will be willing to give a discount to cover additional expenses it might be a way to go. But it is already a piece of helpful information that in this state bores are still recoverable.
In my experience the labor and associated parts, mounts, etc are nearly as much as the motor. The decision is simply how long are you keeping the car,? No reason to spend $5 in labor on am engine that will only last a couple years. Especially on a $10k car.
Sell it to Carvana and let them deal with it.
On the other hand, there is not much that drives like these and the rest of the car is pristine maybe it is worth it?
He is not suppose to pay, there is nothing wrong with the engine but normal wear. You problems could be associated with valves, adjusters, camshafts, etc... Anyway easiest way out to sell....
How much it usually cost to rebuild this motor.
To put cast iron sleeves - 2000 (including sleeves)
Ductile iron sleeves will cost you 1500 more and month of wait time to get them manufactured
Bearings seals and gaskets will go around 1000
New piston go for about 300 from MB, or you buy without skirt damage at 140 from eBay and another 50 to get it recoated plus shipping makes 200 per cylinder.
There is Chinese rebuild kit for 1600 at eBay - but you are on your own, i would not risk buying it
Timing chain components (if decide to replace) goes for about 700
Heads overhaul will cost at about 1000.
so what is the grand total amount?
and what if am not sure about the head will you inspect upon tear down?
Spend some time on Google to find hone procedure for Alisul engines, buy new set of pistons and rings (original for Alusil engine) and keep driving another 80k miles.
Thank you for all the info!
Are you familiar which pistons should work with cast iron sleeves?
I see 278-030-01-00 with a description saying they are "for cast iron sleeves". Can I just use them, with all included in the kit rings?
Or it's better/same to go with 278-030-23-17-64, but in this case I need to reuse one of the old rings?
Is there a size difference between them?
Last edited by another; Apr 9, 2024 at 09:15 PM.
Reason: Forgot a question
I was in the same situation. The engine was completely roasted. The car was then hit to make it look like it was in an accident, and sold at Copart as an insurance writeoff, to a naive buyer (me). Then, I got another car as an engine donor, this car was also an insurance writeoff, flood loss, so I thought at least the engine would be good for a swap. Nope, the car never saw any water, it was the engine that was roasted. Tried to sell it back to Copart, they offered me $500. After reading this forum, I reached out to arsupisemnet for an overhaul. He did a superb job, the car drives like a dream.
I am going to follow another M278 complete custom rebuild. Donor is a "coffee table" by some of the forum members with about 40k of mileage.
I could use a kit from this guy! Lol I’d be the first to buy it! Fingers crossed he does. I hope he responds to my private Message too. I definitely got the block ready for him even a pallet, spoke to a shipping company and just waiting on the response on sending it out there to his shop! 🙌🏼
I could use a kit from this guy! Lol I’d be the first to buy it! Fingers crossed he does. I hope he responds to my private Message too. I definitely got the block ready for him even a pallet, spoke to a shipping company and just waiting on the response on sending it out there to his shop! 🙌🏼
did you ever get it rebuilt? I'm going to be next on the list. I have my 13 m278 with light scoring. just started to get the codes on the dash. scoped the cylinders and I THINK I am only down on notorious #5.
did you ever get it rebuilt? I'm going to be next on the list. I have my 13 m278 with light scoring. just started to get the codes on the dash. scoped the cylinders and I THINK I am only down on notorious #5.
I can vouch for arsupisemnet, bcs. I got mine overhauled by him. However, I don't know if he is still doing it, bcs. he was doing it at the cost, like a hobby, during the pandemic downtime. The guy has a PhD in science, and he got a real job again, so he was already stretched.
wow what an amazing thread! I've always wanted to rebuild an engine.
I'm traveling to get a '14 gl550 tomorrow, I posted a thread in the x166 forum with a video of a cold start. You seem more knowledgeable than most, Any chance you could check the video out to see if you hear any of the death don't buy it noises?
Im in the same situation as many of the readers on the forum. 2014 GL 450 with the M278 Engine and almost 115k miles. CEL is on and its riding rought at times. Cylinders have miss fires mostly on 5 and I've been told that the only fix is to get a new (used) engine. The car also has a long crank which I think is a timing issue from code p0016 which I have tried to fix by replacing the magnets and sensors with no luck. It also has the rattling noise on startups that makes people look at you weird when you turn the car on.. lol... I really love the car and besides some interior minor damages (three kids) is the only thing that's keeping from driving the car. It is showing some wall damage on the cylinders when i did the boroscope. The best offer I've gotten for the car is 3k but something in me wants to fix it. I am the first owner and would love to keep it. What recommendations would you guys give me??
Last edited by EddieEdd; Dec 23, 2024 at 07:18 AM.
I was in the same situation. The engine was completely roasted. The car was then hit to make it look like it was in an accident, and sold at Copart as an insurance writeoff, to a naive buyer (me). Then, I got another car as an engine donor, this car was also an insurance writeoff, flood loss, so I thought at least the engine would be good for a swap. Nope, the car never saw any water, it was the engine that was roasted. Tried to sell it back to Copart, they offered me $500. After reading this forum, I reached out to arsupisemnet for an overhaul. He did a superb job, the car drives like a dream.
How much did you spend, all in from removing the old engine to driving off with the new engine?
I am going to follow another M278 complete custom rebuild. Donor is a "coffee table" by some of the forum members with about 40k of mileage.
Great write-up. Thank you.
I just installed good 550 motor from CLS to my 2015 GL. Donor motor had 60k miles on it, no scoring whatsoever, hopefully will last. Bad one had 180k miles on it and scoring on most if not all cylinders.
Now I want to rebuild the bad motor, instal sleeves and new pistons..... But I'm in Canada. Any chance I can get in touch with you so maybe we can figure out how I can obtain the sleeves either from you or your supplier?
Good M278 video. 2013 ML550. Severe bore scoring on multiple cylinders, mainly inner 4 cylinders. Pistons = toast because of scoring. Unknown mileage.
Cylinder head bolts broke during disassembly which suggests cylinder head replacement on this engine, without ruining the block, is an uncertain endeavor.
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Advice on the state of these cylinders
