2006Merc

Hey all, just looking for some wisdom on a possible purchase of a 2013 GL350 Bluetec. 95k on the odometer. Any issues to be aware of?
Thanks

TripleDown

Many many many issues with the diesel...do some homework here....

rapidoxidation

If you're thinking it'll be your grocery getter, get a gasser. Seriously. This engine doesn't like short trips; it thrives on long runs.
That said, I REALLY like having 455 ft. lbs. of torque at my disposal while getting 27 mpg.

Yeffsy

I bought mine as a family hauler that is also our tow beast. We get 22-26 mpg hauling the family around town. We usually get 28-30 on road trips. My record is 33 mpg, but this required not driving over 70 mph. We have a 26 foot 6000 lbs sailboat that we tow. We usually get about 16-17 mpg towing it. Most people with an F150 get 16 mpg without towing. This thing is a joy to take on road trips!

You need to take it on long trips regularly. We have an electric car for short trips and take our 2015 GL350 for regular long trips. This is important because the engine occasionally enters a mode to clean the emissions system. If this cycle isn't complete, things can plug up and cause problems. So only taking the kids to school and trips to the grocery store will cause problems. If this is your use case, don't get the diesel.

These engines also develop an oil leak. Usually between 70,000-120,000 miles. There are kits with all the gaskets and seals you need to get the job done for $115, but it's a 12-20 hour job that requires taking a lot of the top of the engine apart. Mine has 107,000 miles and just started leaking. I'm planning to spend a weekend fixing this myself in the next few months, so it's not a huge problem for me, but if you are paying a good mechanic ($150/hr) or the dealer ($300/hr) to fix this it can be very expensive.

The airbags on the suspension also wear out. Changing the front struts isn't much more difficult than changing a strut on any other car. It's a 4-6 hour job that requires an alignment when complete. The hardest part of changing the rear airbags is jacking it up and taking the tire off. I have seen lots of discussions about how expensive repairs to the air suspension are. Most of the issues are caused by not replacing the airbags when they start leaking and wearing out the air compressor. Having a good mechanic/dealer replace all the airbags, the compressor, relays, etc. adds up to a big expense. My experience is that properly maintaining the system is relatively easy. The suspension is super comfortable with and without the boat attached. There is a good reason people add airbags to the back of their trucks so they tow better!

It is a luxury SUV and mine is almost 10 years old. It requires maintenance. If you're planning to pay a dealer to keep it going, you will need a good extended warranty. If you can do some work yourself, this site will help you keep it going.

Jeff

BlownV8

To wrap it up, if you don't tow, take long trips all the time, or a very competent DIYer, run away from the diesel like Forest Gump! You will be much happier with the gas versions. The gas engine save the M278 will have fewer issues, less maintenance, and more reliable.

asuchander

I have this exact car (2013 GL350, ~88k miles.) It's a nice car, but....after the dieselgate modifications the reliability kind of goes to crap a bit. If you drive it on long drives, then it's an amazing car. Short, around town drives are rough on it. If you do get one...
- Install a scangauge so you can stay abreast of issues, and if you see it go into regen mode, then don't stop driving (don't park..) until regen is complete.
- Pay attention to the PCV, it has a tendency to get fouled and then causes oil to suck into the turbo. You'd think that you'd then see the oil level drop, but things like post injection kind of result in a sludge like oil of fuel mixed with oil, and the oil level might even go up!
- Oil cooler seals and air suspension you need to pay attention to. If you come out to the car and it seems "off" in terms of balance, chances are you need to replace an air bag or strut. Not doing so will perhaps cause the compressor to run a lot and then a premature compressor failure.

The car is a dream to drive. Lots of power, great handling, smooth ride, amazing on long drives (freeway, etc.). But the diesel issues are problematic to say the least.

Panzerknacker

Yeah make sure you pick up an extended warranty. It has been worth it.

Ive had a few problems on my 2015 GL350.
Air suspension compressor/valve block.
EGR valve.
Door handle lock actuator.
Water intrusion just now.

Is the diesel engine better or worse than the gasoline? Hard to say. Especially in the 2013 year the only available gas engine was the M278 which can be plagued by the cylinder wall scoring so do some research there. The only Diesel specific problem I have experienced was the EGR valve everything else has been just common GL problems.

350gunner

My gosh, run away. And this is coming from some that has a 2014 GL350 that I love and is my daily driver. But far too many "needy" vehicles in the wild and the OM642 platform has proven testy, at best,

Potrice

If you're going to do short trips and low mileage every year, I'd skip it and go with the gas version.
If you're going to do long trips and a lot of mileage yearly, then i'd recommend it if you can do basic maintenance. If you're going to go to the stealhership for everything, it's a hard skip because it'll cost you an arm and a leg.

My ML350 Bluetec (W166) is now sitting at 307 000km and has been ok. Here's the maintenance sheet if you're interested.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...t?usp=drivesdk

Make sure to check if the GL had the AEM done on it. You might have some warranty left.
https://bluetecupdate.mbusa.com/home

Panzerknacker

I wouldn’t say “run away” more like just know what you are getting into.

Looks good, drives nice, roomy and comfortable. On the other hand it is an aging high end luxury vehicle packed with a lot of technology. Even competent DIYers will hit a wall of what they can handle on their own driveway. When some of the convenience features (optional ones I mean) fail you just kind of shrug your shoulders and say not worth the effort to fix. Factor in the cost of an aftermarket warranty or have the spare finances for repairs.

I don’t plan on keeping ours when the warranty is out.