GLB Class (X247) Produced 2020 to Present

engine failure GLB35

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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 10:40 AM
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GLB35 AMG 2021
engine failure GLB35

I have seen a few references to catastrophic engine failure/thrown rod/blown gasket in GLB35's. Can someone clarify or tell me if this is rare or something to be concerned about for my future?
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Lindagail
I have seen a few references to catastrophic engine failure/thrown rod/blown gasket in GLB35's. Can someone clarify or tell me if this is rare or something to be concerned about for my future?
Possible concern, as is the case for any MB four banger built in the last 10 years.

No engine production numbers or time window is known. The M274/264/254 and variants are all related and all can have major failures.

Owning one does not guarantee failure will happen, but I would not own these engines and would dump a vehicle with one. Unless it’s a leased disposable appliance, in which case the only cost to you is your time to deal with the inconvenience.
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 11:41 AM
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i heard many cylinder head failure?

and many people are unsure about the replacement quality
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 02:47 PM
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GLB35 AMG 2021
can you please translate m274/264/254 for a non-mechanic?
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Lindagail
can you please translate m274/264/254 for a non-mechanic?
M274
M264
M254

are successor four cylinder MB engines, with 2.0 liter displacement, turbocharging and direct injection. All are related and all have demonstrated major problems on multiple vehicle platforms.

There are smaller displacement variants of these engines in RoW markets. Multiple vehicle platforms and markets use the wide number of variants. There are east-west transverse and north-south longitudinal variants.

GLB, GLC, GLE and E-class are the most common users of these engines in the N. American market.

Summary: stay away from MB four bangers.
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by chassis
M274
M264
M254

are successor four cylinder MB engines, with 2.0 liter displacement, turbocharging and direct injection. All are related and all have demonstrated major problems on multiple vehicle platforms.

There are smaller displacement variants of these engines in RoW markets. Multiple vehicle platforms and markets use the wide number of variants. There are east-west transverse and north-south longitudinal variants.

GLB, GLC, GLE and E-class are the most common users of these engines in the N. American market.

Summary: stay away from MB four bangers.
To add to the engine variants....

This might help (for USA markets, did not include Europe and Asia because of the abundance of models including but not limited to C 180, C 200, E 200, and the plug-in hybrid models too):

These vehicles (might not had listed all but just from the top of my head) are equipped with

M274: 2017(or was it 2016? anyways if the 2016 E was a W212 then it began in 2017 for the USA market)-2018 W213 E 300, 2015-2018 A/S/C/W205 300, 2016-2019 GLC 300

M264: Facelift W205 (2019-2021 C 300) 2019-2022 W213 E 350, 2019-2024 GLE 350 (although the 2024 V167 GLE 350 has the 48V mild hybrid system now) 2020-2022 X253 GLC 300

M254: All-new C-Class, W206 2022 C 300... as well as on all new GLC X254 2023 GLC 300.
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Lindagail
I have seen a few references to catastrophic engine failure/thrown rod/blown gasket in GLB35's. Can someone clarify or tell me if this is rare or something to be concerned about for my future?
For the cylinder head, there is a technical bulletin for this LI01.30-P-072328
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Old Jun 30, 2023 | 09:22 PM
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When I check CARFAX I see a lot of GLBs have cylinder head replaced. What percentage of cars would you say have this issue resolved?
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Old Jul 1, 2023 | 01:03 AM
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Hard to determine percentage, but it’s common enough that when you pull into the dealership with the CEL on, they sit you down, line up a loaner, and tell you that it will be about 10 days. And that’s before the vehicle even goes in the bay for diagnosis. I get the point about staying away from the turbo 4 engines (includes the M271 EVO). But it’s getting kind of hard to avoid one unless you can go old, or jump above E/GLE.
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Old Jul 1, 2023 | 08:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Odd Piggy
Hard to determine percentage, but it’s common enough that when you pull into the dealership with the CEL on, they sit you down, line up a loaner, and tell you that it will be about 10 days. And that’s before the vehicle even goes in the bay for diagnosis. I get the point about staying away from the turbo 4 engines (includes the M271 EVO). But it’s getting kind of hard to avoid one unless you can go old, or jump above E/GLE.
The solution in the case of not wanting to jump above E/GLE is to change brands. BMW and Porsche are happy to serve your vehicular needs.
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Old Jul 1, 2023 | 09:54 AM
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GLB35 AMG 2021
Thanks, you don't list the GLB35.
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Old Jul 1, 2023 | 09:57 AM
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I actually drove a Macan at the same time I was test driving the GLB35. This dealership didn't seem to really want me to buy from them.
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Old Jul 1, 2023 | 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Odd Piggy
Hard to determine percentage, but it’s common enough that when you pull into the dealership with the CEL on, they sit you down, line up a loaner, and tell you that it will be about 10 days. And that’s before the vehicle even goes in the bay for diagnosis. I get the point about staying away from the turbo 4 engines (includes the M271 EVO). But it’s getting kind of hard to avoid one unless you can go old, or jump above E/GLE.
so basically any GLB owner sits down with the dealership they will replace the cylinder head for you?
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Old Jul 1, 2023 | 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Lindagail
I actually drove a Macan at the same time I was test driving the GLB35. This dealership didn't seem to really want me to buy from them.
Welcome to the Porsche “experience”. Not quite as bad as Ferrari as I hear. Porsche dealers are selling $350k 911s and $1m Carrera GTs and $40k used Macans. They pay more attention to the first category of buyers.

With Porsche imo you need to know what you want and the price you want to pay for it. Then go and do the deal. For a Macan I wouldn’t expect a dealer to handhold the customer’s hand through the process of choosing options, colors etc and doing extensive test drives. There are always exceptions but the rule is more like the above.

Similar problem with MB and the A- and B- cars. The customer demographic is too disparate for one product lineup and one dealer network. A- cars are being discontinued in the US market. The GLB I could see taking over from GLC because the GLB has three rows and is made in Mexico, cheaper for MB than the overseas produced GLC. This would mean discontinuing the GLC in the US market.

Last edited by chassis; Jul 1, 2023 at 01:55 PM.
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Old Jul 1, 2023 | 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by chassis
The solution in the case of not wanting to jump above E/GLE is to change brands. BMW and Porsche are happy to serve your vehicular needs.
BMW and Audi engine failure rates are twice what MB engine failure rates are.
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Old Jul 1, 2023 | 03:34 PM
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I knew what I wanted, they found one in Texas, I said, get me the info/final price and we will talk. That was the end of that. The MB salesman was awesome! He probably could have sold me a plymouth! I'm happy with the GLB35 but have always wanted a Porsche. I needed the Macan so the cat could fit in the back seat.
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Old Jul 1, 2023 | 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by 190Efan
BMW and Audi engine failure rates are twice what MB engine failure rates are.
Link to third party data? Posts on this site indicate MB = junk. Or rather, pure rubbish.
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Old Jul 1, 2023 | 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Lindagail
I knew what I wanted, they found one in Texas, I said, get me the info/final price and we will talk. That was the end of that. The MB salesman was awesome! He probably could have sold me a plymouth! I'm happy with the GLB35 but have always wanted a Porsche. I needed the Macan so the cat could fit in the back seat.
The phrase where the Porsche dealer pushed the ignore button was "we will talk". The consumer needs to demonstrate knowledge of market prices. And persistence/follow up is the responsibility of the consumer in the seller's market as it is today.
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Old Jul 2, 2023 | 08:41 AM
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Originally Posted by chassis
Welcome to the Porsche “experience”. Not quite as bad as Ferrari as I hear. Porsche dealers are selling $350k 911s and $1m Carrera GTs and $40k used Macans. They pay more attention to the first category of buyers.

With Porsche imo you need to know what you want and the price you want to pay for it. Then go and do the deal. For a Macan I wouldn’t expect a dealer to handhold the customer’s hand through the process of choosing options, colors etc and doing extensive test drives. There are always exceptions but the rule is more like the above.

Similar problem with MB and the A- and B- cars. The customer demographic is too disparate for one product lineup and one dealer network. A- cars are being discontinued in the US market. The GLB I could see taking over from GLC because the GLB has three rows and is made in Mexico, cheaper for MB than the overseas produced GLC. This would mean discontinuing the GLC in the US market.
I thought the GLC is their best seller though?
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Old Jul 2, 2023 | 09:28 AM
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Is this a statement or a question? There is a question mark at the end, but the grammar is in declarative form.

Are you unsure of something?
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Old Jul 2, 2023 | 10:48 AM
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Do we have a chart comparing GLB and GLC sales figure every season?
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Old Jul 2, 2023 | 11:42 AM
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From carsalesbase, US sales only.



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Old Jul 2, 2023 | 12:21 PM
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Originally Posted by chassis
Is this a statement or a question? There is a question mark at the end, but the grammar is in declarative form.

Are you unsure of something?
Question.

You did mention they might want to replace GLC with GLB and discontinue you for MBUSA market? Reason why I asked is because, isn't GLC their best seller, why would they want to discontinue it in that case? Although I think I misunderstood you.
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Old Jul 2, 2023 | 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Question.

You did mention they might want to replace GLC with GLB and discontinue you for MBUSA market? Reason why I asked is because, isn't GLC their best seller, why would they want to discontinue it in that case? Although I think I misunderstood you.
Also the sales figure confirmed that GLC is their best seller so it's hard to believe any company would discontinue a best seller
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Old Jul 2, 2023 | 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by ILoveNY
Also the sales figure confirmed that GLC is their best seller so it's hard to believe any company would discontinue a best seller
Ya I was confused when discontinuing GLC was mentioned and also curious as well really.
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