2013 GL550 motor replacement
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2005 clk320
2013 GL550 motor replacement
Hello. I have a 2013 GL550 that needs a new motor. Mechanic said that the no. 3, 5, & 7 cylinders all have excessive scoring. I called a salvage yard looking for a low mileage used engine and was told his system says 2013 GL550 ONLY for replacement engine. Has anybody has success installing an engine from another model? CLS550 or S550? If so, what all needed to be changed and did it matter if the engine came from RWD or AWD?
thanks.
thanks.
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
There a lot of posts on this site related to M278 scoring. The posts suggest that any M278 can be used but parts from the host vehicle (yours) will need to be swapped onto the donor engine.
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This place is a joke.
This repair, even with a used engine, often exceeds the value of the vehicle. No telling how long until the used engine also suffers the same fate as this is a known problem. Perhaps it's time to move on to a different vehicle?
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2005 clk320
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2005 clk320
thanks for the info. I’ve been looking around and this does seem to be the case. Just trying to find out if anybody has actually done it
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2005 clk320
I can buy a used engine out of cls550 with 60k on it for $6700. Motor is still in the car and runs so I can inspect first. It’s going to be another $2500 to have mine swapped. Not too bad and far below value of the car. As to if it happens again, I figure if does it probably won’t be for another 40k miles and I’ll most have moved onto something newer by then.
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2005 clk320
For my own piece of mind I scoped the cylinders after I picked the car back up. 3, 5, & 7 are pretty bad. Car still runs smooth and no CEL.
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This place is a joke.
I can buy a used engine out of cls550 with 60k on it for $6700. Motor is still in the car and runs so I can inspect first. It’s going to be another $2500 to have mine swapped. Not too bad and far below value of the car. As to if it happens again, I figure if does it probably won’t be for another 40k miles and I’ll most have moved onto something newer by then.
Last edited by E55Greasemonkey; Aug 9, 2022 at 09:15 PM.
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From: Where the Army sends me.
GL 350 Bluetec
This is a really good price on labor. I agree it's worth fixing at this price with the low mile used engine. From what I've seen on average, 90-120k miles is about the lifespan of this engine. Many dealers or euro shops want around $6k-$8k labor, plus the engine around $8-12k for a low miles unit, with the average value of an older higher mileage GL around $15-18k.
When assessing a risk one must take into account both the likelihood of an event occurring and also the outcome if it does. If an event is both highly likely and severe outcome then the overall risk is extreme.
There are other factors as some people in the thread have noted. Driving conditions and individual maintenance. I wonder if over the next few years anybody would be able to watch for trends.
Last edited by Panzerknacker; Aug 10, 2022 at 12:23 PM.
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2014 GL550
In your estimate don’t forget all the turbo lines and cooling lines you will probably need to replace and do motor mounts. Or just keep driving it if it does not consume oil and doesn’t foul plugs. If you get another 20k you are doing better than now. Eventually the aftermarket will pick up on the frequency and offer solutions for rebuilding the motor, not relying on used or highly cost new.
Last edited by Ricardoa1; Aug 10, 2022 at 02:33 PM.
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This place is a joke.
In your estimate don’t forget all the turbo lines and cooling lines you will probably need to replace and do motor mounts. Or just keep driving it if it does not consume oil and doesn’t foul plugs. If you get another 20k you are doing better than now. Eventually the aftermarket will pick up on the frequency and offer solutions for rebuilding the motor, not relying on used or highly cost new.
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Mayback
I can buy a used engine out of cls550 with 60k on it for $6700. Motor is still in the car and runs so I can inspect first. It’s going to be another $2500 to have mine swapped. Not too bad and far below value of the car. As to if it happens again, I figure if does it probably won’t be for another 40k miles and I’ll most have moved onto something newer by then.
Dumping almost $10,000 into it with such high mileage only to drive it 40,000 miles and move on is not smart money. What if other high price items which are likely to fail during that time (Airmatic suspension, turbos, oil leaks etc.)? Also probably have to put an additional $5000 towards tires and brakes.
I’d save keep my 10k, seeing as it has no CEL and still drives fine, take it to Carmax or a dealer and sell it to them outright (probably get at least 12-15k).
If you are stuck on a 550, take the 25k and put it towards an upgrade on a CPO 2017-2018 GLS550 for around $45,000-$55,000 with 45,000 miles and contact Jeff Jackson to extend the unlimited mileage CPO warranty an additional 2 years for around $2200 giving you a total of 3 years.
If you don’t want to spend that much, I still wouldn’t put that money into your current GL.
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2005 clk320
In your estimate don’t forget all the turbo lines and cooling lines you will probably need to replace and do motor mounts. Or just keep driving it if it does not consume oil and doesn’t foul plugs. If you get another 20k you are doing better than now. Eventually the aftermarket will pick up on the frequency and offer solutions for rebuilding the motor, not relying on used or highly cost new.
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2005 clk320
Trade-in/Private Party sale value for that vehicle with the mileage is between $15,000 and $18,000.
Dumping almost $10,000 into it with such high mileage only to drive it 40,000 miles and move on is not smart money. What if other high price items which are likely to fail during that time (Airmatic suspension, turbos, oil leaks etc.)? Also probably have to put an additional $5000 towards tires and brakes.
I’d save keep my 10k, seeing as it has no CEL and still drives fine, take it to Carmax or a dealer and sell it to them outright (probably get at least 12-15k).
If you are stuck on a 550, take the 25k and put it towards an upgrade on a CPO 2017-2018 GLS550 for around $45,000-$55,000 with 45,000 miles and contact Jeff Jackson to extend the unlimited mileage CPO warranty an additional 2 years for around $2200 giving you a total of 3 years.
If you don’t want to spend that much, I still wouldn’t put that money into your current GL.
Dumping almost $10,000 into it with such high mileage only to drive it 40,000 miles and move on is not smart money. What if other high price items which are likely to fail during that time (Airmatic suspension, turbos, oil leaks etc.)? Also probably have to put an additional $5000 towards tires and brakes.
I’d save keep my 10k, seeing as it has no CEL and still drives fine, take it to Carmax or a dealer and sell it to them outright (probably get at least 12-15k).
If you are stuck on a 550, take the 25k and put it towards an upgrade on a CPO 2017-2018 GLS550 for around $45,000-$55,000 with 45,000 miles and contact Jeff Jackson to extend the unlimited mileage CPO warranty an additional 2 years for around $2200 giving you a total of 3 years.
If you don’t want to spend that much, I still wouldn’t put that money into your current GL.
also, where do you live that tires and brakes cost $5000
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2017 GLE350 4MATIC
@Craig Gaines Do you accept the notion that you are proposing to spend approximately the same amount of money for a new engine, as the entire car is worth?
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Mayback
So sorry for not adding anything to your original question but I thought you would appreciate an alternative course of action that makes more sense considering the cost of repair and current value of the vehicle.
A decent set of 21” tires mounted, balanced and aligned will easily run past $1500. The GL eats them every 15k - 20k miles so you will have to replace them twice in the 40k miles you plan to keep the truck. Pads and rotors all the way around installed will easily be between $1000-$1500. So unless you buying used tires, cheapo parts ballin on a budget and paying crackhead prices for labor or installing yourself, you are not far off from $5000. And that’s Indy mechanic prices not even Mercedes dealership.
Last edited by WillieMack; Aug 17, 2022 at 11:32 PM.
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This place is a joke.
Last year I tried to buy a 98k mile 2014 GL450 with a seized engine. I offered $2000 to the owner after the dealer offered $500....on trade only! That particular GL was only worth $15k running, and about $12k from a Carmax we-buy-your-car offer. I was going to swap in a used engine, and flip it. Guess what, between the cost of a used engine, and my time/labor, there was no money to be made on it! These twin turbo engines have brought a new era to used MB prices, where as mentioned above, the engine is worth more than the car. Gone are the days of buying a used engine for $1500 unless it's one of the naturally aspirated versions.
Last edited by E55Greasemonkey; Aug 18, 2022 at 09:00 AM.
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
The bi-turbos are way more fun to drive but they did not make them nearly as reliable when comparing the NA versions. I certainly love the power of my 63 as I like the fuel efficiency of the GLS450 but I don't think either one will be close to the reliability of my old 164 GL450. If it weren't for the water intrusion issue on that chassis, my 164 would be on track to hit 300k miles.
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2024 GLS 580. Formerly 2015 GL 550, 2003 S430.
The truth is that the M278 engines are pure garbage. I'll probably never buy another Mercedes again, based on my awful experience with the GL 550 and the M278. Mercedes seriously need to dump their old slogan "The best or nothing".
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From: New Orleans
2014 GL450, 1992 W140 300SD, 1993 W140 300SE, 1987 E30 Convertible
So much drama. I am wiping my tears.
Everybody like to have a sport car but not to pay for it....
Engine is excellent.... It does well what it designed and build for....
Everybody like to have a sport car but not to pay for it....
Engine is excellent.... It does well what it designed and build for....
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From: New Orleans
2014 GL450, 1992 W140 300SD, 1993 W140 300SE, 1987 E30 Convertible
What happened it this world. This forum suppose to be about enthusiastic people like me. Who can say - that is an old ****e car, but guess what? I am making 6.0 of it's v8 cause I can....
MMeanwhile got myself s500 coupe 95.
MMeanwhile got myself s500 coupe 95.
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From: Orbiting the planet
This place is a joke.
Last edited by E55Greasemonkey; Aug 18, 2022 at 10:37 PM.
