Hello all,

this will be part rant, part question.

I have two 2015 GL450s, one with 140k miles and one with 100k miles. The higher-mileage one started rattling on start-up about 10k miles ago, changed out timing chain adjusters and that didn't make any difference. I have now been told that I need to change out the cam adjusters (x4), which in themselves aren't THAT expensive, but including all labor, we're looking at close to $10k.
So... imagine my surprise when my other car started rattling a couple of weeks ago. Same diagnosis. I am now sitting on two cars that both may die shortly (or not, who knows how long they'll keep going).

I can't have the only two GL450s that have this issue. What is the proposed remedy? That I sell both cars hoping the buyer won't notice? I can't plausibly justify spending $10k on each car, they are - according to CarMax - barely worth that much.

Any suggestions?

Sorry for the rant.

 

Where are you located?

 

Central VA, but will travel (some) for good ideas.

 

Well, just find some normal shop. This is how long it actually to take to change those .
About an hour for each which makes about 1000 in labor

 

Two shops I spoke to want nothing to do with fixing the engine, the third charges more than MB in labor and they say it's 25 hours in labor at least. So... How do you feel about setting up a local shop?

 

Well, if one day you would decide to have a road trip to New Orleans, i will change your adjusters for 1k

 

had the same issue with my 2016 GL450. Changed out the tensioners but that mde no diffrence. Next step was to change out the cam adjusters. Estimate was about $9500 for parts and labor. Car was worth 9500 on trade in so got rid of it. My new ride is a Volvo v90

 

Same issue for me on a 2014 ML350 M276 engine. 1470,000 miles throwing intermittent timing code. Why spend 10k at the dealer on repair when you can get an entire used engine replaced for cheaper. Car is paid off just drive it until it implodes. Perhaps it won’t and it’s just an annoying startup rattle. Mines been rattling on startup for at least 40k miles.

 

This guy has it down to science, i.e. proper diagnosis. Here one of his videos. The rattle can lead to further damage, but the damage may be subtle sometimes. No amount of parts without proper diagnosis will fix it unless ALL timing system is replaced.

Something as simple as a slipped timing wheel will throw some into a spin of changing parts.

I am NO stating this video IS your solution, but that proper diagnosis IS