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I have a 2016 GLC 300 4-matic that I loved, until last Friday. I drive a lot of long highway miles and take immaculate care of my vehicle and perform all suggested maintenance. While driving home through a very remote stretch of highway, my GLC suddenly started shuddering. No smoke or loud sounds, just shuddering. I pulled over and popped the hood, like we all would do. I saw nothing out of the ordinary. I tried restarting it and the idle was low and vibration was still there. I had a 2 hour tow (thanks to MB roadside service) and made it home 5 hours late. The local dealer in Bend, OR (great guys) said the piston failed and was ruptured on the top edge and the engine would need to be replaced. It is about a $12k fix. I'm out of warranty, but am flabbergasted that a 2016 with 66,000 miles on it already failed. Does anyone know if this is a common thing with this model, or year? I'm wondering if the fix is worth it.
Wow! So sorry to hear this. I can't say I would put $12k into a 5 year old GLC 300. I'd be afraid of the next catastrophic failure. With MB's reputaion for failures after warranty, why did you not buy an extension especially with a first year model?
Sorry to hear of the situation. It's unfortunately somewhat common on the M274 2.0L turbo 4 cylinder. There have been reports of the same failure on C300 and E300. Seems Mercedes has/had a bad piston design, or a run of bad piston quality.
Sorry to hear of the situation. It's unfortunately somewhat common on the M274 2.0L turbo 4 cylinder. There have been reports of the same failure on C300 and E300. Seems Mercedes has/had a bad piston design, or a run of bad piston quality.
Really? A huge, major repair bill right out of warranty. As a first time German car owner, I'm not liking that. I know something like this can happen with any manufacturer but, Germans cars have that
"hold on to your wallet" reputation after warranty experiation. I will for certain be rid of my 2021 GLC 300 before the warranty ends.
Really? A huge, major repair bill right out of warranty. As a first time German car owner, I'm not liking that. I know something like this can happen with any manufacturer but, Germans cars have that
"hold on to your wallet" reputation after warranty experiation. I will for certain be rid of my 2021 GLC 300 before the warranty ends.
Yes, search the W204, W205 and W213 sections for M274 piston cracking.
Yes, search the W204, W205 and W213 sections for M274 piston cracking.
Thanks for the info. I do appreciate,
My other (first) German car is a 2021 BMW X3 M40i. I hear their B58 inline 6/ZF8 trany combo is pretty stout. Might you know any negative (reputation) info. on it?
The G01 X3 (your model) is excellent. Nearly universally liked. My wife and I like her X3 xDrive30i alot, and the feedback on bimmerpost is excellent. The M40i is well liked for power and handling. The ZF8 is common between the xDrive30i and the M40i, it is the best automatic transmission I have driven. The transmission is always in the right gear, and snaps from gear to gear, whether upshifting or downshifting.
I am not intimately familiar with the B58 inline six, but have not read major or recurring problems with it. Owners like its performance.
The G01 X3 is a solid platform, well executed by BMW.
The G01 X3 (your model) is excellent. Nearly universally liked. My wife and I like her X3 xDrive30i alot, and the feedback on bimmerpost is excellent. The M40i is well liked for power and handling. The ZF8 is common between the xDrive30i and the M40i, it is the best automatic transmission I have driven. The transmission is always in the right gear, and snaps from gear to gear, whether upshifting or downshifting.
I am not intimately familiar with the B58 inline six, but have not read major or recurring problems with it. Owners like its performance.
The G01 X3 is a solid platform, well executed by BMW.
Again, thanks for your input. Yeah, Car and Driver and other sources say the ZF8 is the best auto trany on the market. It is so very quick up and down. The 9 speed in my GLC 300 is okay but, it doesn't feel tight and crisp like the ZF8. The BMW B58 engine is used in several of the M badge vehicles as well as the new Toyota Supra. I would think if Toyota chose it, it would have to be reliable.
I'd don't think they would put their reliability reputation out there otherwise.
Very sorry to hear the engine had a catastrophic failure. Obviously, the car is worth more than $12,000 with a new replacement engine. Have you got quotes from independent garages?
Reach out to MBUSA and see if they're willing to throw in some "assistance" to help you with this problem. I've found MBUSA to not be all that helpful compared to Lexus, BUT, it's worth calling them and asking. At 60k, you're not THAT far out of warranty.
re:BMW, it's not the engine nor tranny that's a problem with them. It's usually the plastic water pumps and other plastic bits which end up causing major $$ repairs.
Reach out to MBUSA and see if they're willing to throw in some "assistance" to help you with this problem. I've found MBUSA to not be all that helpful compared to Lexus, BUT, it's worth calling them and asking. At 60k, you're not THAT far out of warranty.
re:BMW, it's not the engine nor tranny that's a problem with them. It's usually the plastic water pumps and other plastic bits which end up causing major $$ repairs.
I hear the same about BMW and their plastic failures. I will be sure to be rid of both my MB and BMW before their warranty expires and return to some boring but reliable vehicle like a Toyota.
I am interested to hear if you repaired it, or if Mercedes was able to help with the replacement at all?
My 2017 GLC300 had the same thing happen about 1-2 weeks ago - currently in the shop for total engine replacement for the next few weeks. I had.. TEN DAYS left on warranty and am purchasing the extended warranty as soon as the car is put back together. The guy at Merc I spoke with said even if it was a few days out of warranty, MB may have just replaced the engine anyways because its becoming a known problem with this particular one Absolutely devastating.
I am interested to hear if you repaired it, or if Mercedes was able to help with the replacement at all?
My 2017 GLC300 had the same thing happen about 1-2 weeks ago - currently in the shop for total engine replacement for the next few weeks. I had.. TEN DAYS left on warranty and am purchasing the extended warranty as soon as the car is put back together. The guy at Merc I spoke with said even if it was a few days out of warranty, MB may have just replaced the engine anyways because its becoming a known problem with this particular one Absolutely devastating.
I also have a 2017 GLC300 bought new from a dealer, just shy of 5 years old but mileage over warranty at 72,000 mi. This past weekend it did the same thing, started misfiring, check engine light, low power - I was able to limp home about 1.5 mi away. The OBD2 codes were P0300 (random misfire) and P0301 and P0302 (cylinders 1 & 2 misfire). I tried clearing the codes and swapping the #3 and #1 coils - same problem and the codes stayed with cylinders 1 & 2. I inspected the two spark plugs and #1 was destroyed, the bent electrode nearly severed, and the center electrode busted and bent sideways. Showed it to the dealer service reps, they suggested I try MB consumer advocacy to see if they will help with the repair. I wish I knew about these problems before and would have opted for the 100 k mile warranty. It seems really bad that they know about this but are not open about it or own the problem.
2011 ML350 Blueteck (Sold); 2014 E350 Wagon, Sport, Indigo Blue (Sold); 2021 GLC300, 2022 BMW X5
So what years used this engine? I am curious if the 2021 GLC300 can suffer from the same things or if that is a different engine model that may have other issues. I was trying to find that out and not fully positive I found out what model engine is now in the GLC300. It sounded like in recent years they have gone through 3 engine models but again unclear what is in each of the models that use the 2.0L 4 cylinder engines.
I just want to be aware what I should be on the lookout for, though I did get the extended warranty when I got this car in May.
M264 engine is the latest production. Too early to tell if it is a piston cracker.
Many common parts between M274 and M264. Notably piston part numbers are different, pointing to the likelihood that MB knows a problem exists and attempted to fix it with a design change. Time will tell.
I have a 2016 GLC 300 4-matic that I loved, until last Friday. I drive a lot of long highway miles and take immaculate care of my vehicle and perform all suggested maintenance. While driving home through a very remote stretch of highway, my GLC suddenly started shuddering. No smoke or loud sounds, just shuddering. I pulled over and popped the hood, like we all would do. I saw nothing out of the ordinary. I tried restarting it and the idle was low and vibration was still there. I had a 2 hour tow (thanks to MB roadside service) and made it home 5 hours late. The local dealer in Bend, OR (great guys) said the piston failed and was ruptured on the top edge and the engine would need to be replaced. It is about a $12k fix. I'm out of warranty, but am flabbergasted that a 2016 with 66,000 miles on it already failed. Does anyone know if this is a common thing with this model, or year? I'm wondering if the fix is worth it.
12/13/21
we had the EXACT same issue! With about 65000 miles on our 2016 GLC CLS300, on a drive alone as an older woman, from San Diego to Mt Shasta, CA, the car started to shudder and misfire on the fwy! There was no smoke either and the dx was a piston/cylinder failure exiting a crowded CA fwy I found a shop open on a Sat. To make a long story short, the car is at its regular MB service shop with a need to be towed from Redding to Sac MB for assessment. We have had it serviced as recommended and am flabbergasted and angry that a MB with less than 100k miles needs a new engine! I’m also wondering if there is a manufacturing issue with this car that MB needs to address.
12/13/21
we had the EXACT same issue! With about 65000 miles on our 2016 GLC CLS300, on a drive alone as an older woman, from San Diego to Mt Shasta, CA, the car started to shudder and misfire on the fwy! There was no smoke either and the dx was a piston/cylinder failure exiting a crowded CA fwy I found a shop open on a Sat. To make a long story short, the car is at its regular MB service shop with a need to be towed from Redding to Sac MB for assessment. We have had it serviced as recommended and am flabbergasted and angry that a MB with less than 100k miles needs a new engine! I’m also wondering if there is a manufacturing issue with this car that MB needs to address.
Sorry to hear about the experience, and glad to know you have come through safely. It's clearly a defect that MB is responsible for. So far posters have not indicated that MB has decided to stand behind its product. On the contrary, MB designs, builds sells garbage like the M274 2.0L 4 cylinder engine that grenades in fewer than 100k miles.
Best wishes for an outcome that has the least amount of dissatisfaction.
12/13/21
I’m also wondering if there is a manufacturing issue with this car that MB needs to address.
I think the tuning has something to do with it. Mine detonates too often on premium fuel. The tuning ramps boost in very early at low rpm which causes high cylinder pressures. This can kill pistons.
I just put a deposit down on a 2021 GLC 300 in the US. Has anyone figured out what engine they are putting in the 2021's. M274 or M264? I have looked at all my paperwork and searched the vin but can't find any information. Thanks.
You guys have engine failures... I address that in my Youtube video. Check it out. I just replaced the engine on my 2015 C300 abou 3 months ago at 49k !!!
Its a known defect from Mercedes-Benz and they wont do squat to help us out. Steve - YouTube Engine being replaced at work Engine bay without its motor
You guys have engine failures... I address that in my Youtube video. Check it out. I just replaced the engine on my 2015 C300 abou 3 months ago at 49k !!! Its a known defect from Mercedes-Benz and they wont do squat to help us out. Steve - YouTube
04-15-2021, 09:22 PM
Absolutely devastating.
Same Issue!
