GLE Class (W166) Produced 2015-2019

New guy here, considering 2017 CPO GLE 350, what to look for?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Jul 14, 2021 | 04:06 PM
  #26  
mikapen's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Influencer
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,187
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Originally Posted by BigBellyDude
Much appreciate for the insight. That's exactly the information what I was looking for.
Dunno about that source. I think there was ONE reported piston cracking reported. At first they thought they had a V6, and then changed to a four. Then further investigation revealed driving for weeks with the oil light on. You decide.
The new four in the V167 GLE350 sure propels the car with more authority (and +5 mpg) compared to the old V6 in the W166. The pistons were changed because new materials provide slicker surfaces and lower internal friction, as I understand it.

I do agree about the variable reliability of CarFax. It really depends on how much time and detail the repair facility puts into the CarFax report, it they even bother. I checked a 2003 C Class I traded, years after it was gone, and CarFax had no record of my $12,000 front crash repair. It didn't set off airbags so, I think, it wasn't "required."
Reply
Old Jul 14, 2021 | 09:38 PM
  #27  
chassis's Avatar
Out Of Control!!
MBWorld Ambassador

5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,666
Likes: 4,568
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Originally Posted by mikapen
Dunno about that source. I think there was ONE reported piston cracking reported. At first they thought they had a V6, and then changed to a four. Then further investigation revealed driving for weeks with the oil light on. You decide.
The new four in the V167 GLE350 sure propels the car with more authority (and +5 mpg) compared to the old V6 in the W166. The pistons were changed because new materials provide slicker surfaces and lower internal friction, as I understand it.

I do agree about the variable reliability of CarFax. It really depends on how much time and detail the repair facility puts into the CarFax report, it they even bother. I checked a 2003 C Class I traded, years after it was gone, and CarFax had no record of my $12,000 front crash repair. It didn't set off airbags so, I think, it wasn't "required."
@mikapen Please do your homework and read the GLC, E, and C class fora. You will find for your reading enjoyment multiple reports of piston cracking on the M274 2.0L 4 cylinder turbo on which the M264 2.0L 4 cylinder turbo is based, and is used in the V167, W213, W205 and X253. It will be interesting to see owner reports when the M264 starts to exceed 50k miles.

This just in, a new report from today on a W205 with 32,000 miles and cracked #1 piston. https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-miles-15.html

Last edited by chassis; Jul 14, 2021 at 09:50 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2021 | 01:46 AM
  #28  
mikapen's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Influencer
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,187
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Originally Posted by chassis
@mikapen Please do your homework and read the GLC, E, and C class fora. You will find for your reading enjoyment multiple reports of piston cracking on the M274 2.0L 4 cylinder turbo on which the M264 2.0L 4 cylinder turbo is based, and is used in the V167, W213, W205 and X253. It will be interesting to see owner reports when the M264 starts to exceed 50k miles.

This just in, a new report from today on a W205 with 32,000 miles and cracked #1 piston. https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-miles-15.html
So, again, different engine.
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2021 | 02:02 AM
  #29  
mikapen's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Influencer
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,187
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Originally Posted by chassis
@mikapen Please do your homework and read the GLC, E, and C class fora. You will find for your reading enjoyment multiple reports of piston cracking on the M274 2.0L 4 cylinder turbo on which the M264 2.0L 4 cylinder turbo is based, and is used in the V167, W213, W205 and X253. It will be interesting to see owner reports when the M264 starts to exceed 50k miles.

This just in, a new report from today on a W205 with 32,000 miles and cracked #1 piston. https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...-miles-15.html
Doing a little homework here
The M264 engine is NOT based on the M274. The M264 is part of the new modular family, where each cylinder is 500cc, and they are built in I4 cyl 2 liter, I6 cyl 3 liter, and V8 cylinder 4.0 liter. I don't think much is shared at all. At least that's the way I read it. https://media.daimler.com/marsMediaS...l?oid=14315460

Last edited by mikapen; Jul 15, 2021 at 02:05 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2021 | 07:16 AM
  #30  
chassis's Avatar
Out Of Control!!
MBWorld Ambassador

5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,666
Likes: 4,568
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Originally Posted by mikapen
Doing a little homework here
The M264 engine is NOT based on the M274. The M264 is part of the new modular family, where each cylinder is 500cc, and they are built in I4 cyl 2 liter, I6 cyl 3 liter, and V8 cylinder 4.0 liter. I don't think much is shared at all. At least that's the way I read it. https://media.daimler.com/marsMediaS...l?oid=14315460
@mikapen Spend some time with EPC and you will find a substantial number of major components (crankshaft, connecting rods, crank bearings, and more) common between M274 with cracked pistons and the M264 in the V167 and other vehicles. Pistons have been changed in the M264 so the jury is out whether the piston cracking problem has been solved. It is a similar scenario to the camshaft position sensor leaking on earlier engines, and MB made many design changes on the sensor until they seem to have gotten it right.


M274 was 0.5L displacement per cylinder before the inline 6 and M264 started production. That’s not novel. The M276 3.0TT is 0.5L per cylinder and it’s not from the same family as the inline 6. Cylinder displacement alone does not put engines in the same family.

The M272 and M276 3.5 both had the same displacement per cylinder and were totally unlike each other. M272 was 90 degree vee with balancer and the M276 had none of that, being a 60 degree with no balancer.

The M264 4 cylinder has an asterisk on it until many owners have passed the 100k mile mark without the engine grenading like the M274. 100k miles is nothing for most manufacturers but it is a Herculean feat for MB.
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2021 | 11:49 AM
  #31  
mikapen's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Influencer
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,187
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Originally Posted by chassis
@mikapen Spend some time with EPC and you will find a substantial number of major components (crankshaft, connecting rods, crank bearings, and more) common between M274 with cracked pistons and the M264 in the V167 and other vehicles. Pistons have been changed in the M264 so the jury is out whether the piston cracking problem has been solved. It is a similar scenario to the camshaft position sensor leaking on earlier engines, and MB made many design changes on the sensor until they seem to have gotten it right.


M274 was 0.5L displacement per cylinder before the inline 6 and M264 started production. That’s not novel. The M276 3.0TT is 0.5L per cylinder and it’s not from the same family as the inline 6. Cylinder displacement alone does not put engines in the same family.

The M272 and M276 3.5 both had the same displacement per cylinder and were totally unlike each other. M272 was 90 degree vee with balancer and the M276 had none of that, being a 60 degree with no balancer.

The M264 4 cylinder has an asterisk on it until many owners have passed the 100k mile mark without the engine grenading like the M274. 100k miles is nothing for most manufacturers but it is a Herculean feat for MB.
You need to do more research. The "same displacement per cylinder" does not make it that same engine. Otherwise we could be talking about BSA motorcycles in the same sentence. Bore/stroke, cylinder spacing, coolant passages, piston/ring materials, cylinder lining, block alloys, crank angles, pin placement - the list is enormous. They are not even close as engine designs.
Your reliance on Forum posts as indicators of reliability is what needs to improve.
Name a common internal part of both engines you are comparing with your hearsay stories.
We'll all thank you
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2021 | 12:39 PM
  #32  
chassis's Avatar
Out Of Control!!
MBWorld Ambassador

5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,666
Likes: 4,568
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Originally Posted by mikapen
You need to do more research. The "same displacement per cylinder" does not make it that same engine. Otherwise we could be talking about BSA motorcycles in the same sentence. Bore/stroke, cylinder spacing, coolant passages, piston/ring materials, cylinder lining, block alloys, crank angles, pin placement - the list is enormous. They are not even close as engine designs.
Your reliance on Forum posts as indicators of reliability is what needs to improve.
Name a common internal part of both engines you are comparing with your hearsay stories.
We'll all thank you
Thanks as always @mikapen We agree that displacement per cylinder does not link engines into a design family. It’s good to share that common ground together.

Regarding the question posed, one of many parts shared between the piston cracking M274 and the newer M264, which is based on the piston cracking M274, is: crankshaft. There are more parts shared between the engines than the crankshaft.

Reply
Old Jul 16, 2021 | 12:47 PM
  #33  
mikapen's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Influencer
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,187
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Originally Posted by chassis
Thanks as always @mikapen We agree that displacement per cylinder does not link engines into a design family. It’s good to share that common ground together.

Regarding the question posed, one of many parts shared between the piston cracking M274 and the newer M264, which is based on the piston cracking M274, is: crankshaft. There are more parts shared between the engines than the crankshaft.
You could be right. I had been looking at the evolution of the 2.1 diesel, which is a wholesale departure from its previous configuration. Crank offset, piston pin placement, etc.

So the crank on the old M274 was hollow, like the M264? I know the pistons are specifically claimed to be different.
How do you find that information?
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 16, 2021 | 09:30 PM
  #34  
chassis's Avatar
Out Of Control!!
MBWorld Ambassador

5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,666
Likes: 4,568
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
mbparts.mbusa.com

And other sites. mbepc.net is another
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2021 | 01:25 PM
  #35  
mikapen's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Influencer
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,187
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Originally Posted by chassis
Thanks as always @mikapen We agree that displacement per cylinder does not link engines into a design family. It’s good to share that common ground together.

Regarding the question posed, one of many parts shared between the piston cracking M274 and the newer M264, which is based on the piston cracking M274, is: crankshaft. There are more parts shared between the engines than the crankshaft.
Originally Posted by mikapen
You could be right. I had been looking at the evolution of the 2.1 diesel, which is a wholesale departure from its previous configuration. Crank offset, piston pin placement, etc.

So the crank on the old M274 was hollow, like the M264? I know the pistons are specifically claimed to be different.
How do you find that information?
Originally Posted by chassis
mbparts.mbusa.com

And other sites. mbepc.net is another
Thanks for those sites. As I suspected, you are incorrect about those two engines sharing the crankshaft, or several other internal parts I checked.
As I said, and the info from Daimler I posted reinforces - the engines are not related.

Conclusion - your continuing posts that are condemning just about everything on new Mercedes cars / engines / MBUX / interior are simple BS.

Sometimes you make a useful post, but most of the time they are just trolling, and usually just wrong.
Keep up the useful posts, but please quit thinking that one post about a defect on a ten year old car represents the real world. This is an internet forum. It's certainly not statistically significant.

I suggest that others on this thread take chassis posts with a few hundred grains of salt - they are opinions without substance.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:20 PM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE