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Hello,
I am new to this forum. I just purchased a new 23 GLE 53 AMG and drove 2 hours home. After arriving home I noticed the rear bumper area surrounding the muffler has melted on the right side and is starting to melt on the left side. After further inspection, it appears as my rear bumper is different than other GLE 53 AMGs I saw at the dealership. Any ideas? Do you think the wrong bumper was installed at the factory? Thanks for your help and input.
That's what I'm seeing too. So confused. Obviously can't talk to the dealership until Monday. I'm guessing the wrong part was installed at the factory?
That's what I'm seeing too. So confused. Obviously can't talk to the dealership until Monday. I'm guessing the wrong part was installed at the factory?
your tires look narrow too ... do you have a gle53??? Any other pics of the car at different angles?
Found a YT video of the 2023 gle coupe facelift ... non amg
your amg should have the metal polished exhaust tips that dont ... melt. They put the non amg diffuser on your amg.... well done Mercedes .... the best or nothing!
Found a YT video of the 2023 gle coupe facelift ... non amg
your amg should have the metal polished exhaust tips that dont ... melt. They put the non amg diffuser on your amg.... well done Mercedes .... the best or nothing!
So crazy! Yeah they also said the license plate bracket that came is the European one so they are ordering the correct bracket. Looks like they have to order more than that though! What the heck!
That's what I'm seeing too. So confused. Obviously can't talk to the dealership until Monday. I'm guessing the wrong part was installed at the factory?
It probably came out of the factory correct but was damaged in transit to the dealership (or at the dealership), then whoever repaired it ordered the wrong parts. Either way, they definitely need to make it right for you.
It probably came out of the factory correct but was damaged in transit to the dealership (or at the dealership), then whoever repaired it ordered the wrong parts. Either way, they definitely need to make it right for you.
also you'll want to know what else was damaged and replaced - if nothing else for pure curiosity
this may be a dealer you'll want to consider avoiding in the future - ymmv
also consider having the dealer flatbed this back to the dealership on their dime so you don't melt more parts and cause a possible fire - they need to own this whole ordeal - send high res photos and express your concern about the safety issue. If any push back make sure to get mbusa involved asap
Last edited by PeterUbers; 02-26-2023 at 11:53 AM.
You definitely got a euro bumper installed somehow by mistake, likely post-factory (delivery damage or other) repairs. Find out if it was more serious than cosmetic.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by mobenzer
Hello,
I am new to this forum. I just purchased a new 23 GLE 53 AMG and drove 2 hours home. After arriving home I noticed the rear bumper area surrounding the muffler has melted on the right side and is starting to melt on the left side. After further inspection, it appears as my rear bumper is different than other GLE 53 AMGs I saw at the dealership. Any ideas? Do you think the wrong bumper was installed at the factory? Thanks for your help and input.
Definitely a warranty thing in terms of replacing the melted bumper, sorry to hear that you have to deal with this OP especially right after taking delivery, I don't know what MB will think about this when it gets replaced under warranty as your dealership needs to send the damaged part back to MB and the style and part number clearly doesn't matches the model you have. Your dealership will have some explaining to do, why and how this part got on the vehicle in the first place and passed your dealership's PDI. Either way, hope they get it fixed for you in short time so you are back on the road enjoying your new Benz.
Last edited by W205C43PFL; 02-26-2023 at 05:08 PM.
Yeah that’s the wrong bumper. I would direct the service advisor to MBUSA’s website and they can see the correct bumper there, directly from MB.
What’s weird is only one side melted. Is it not a true dual exhaust or did the exhaust get damaged too and they just routed everything to one side?
most of the time the right exhaust is more active from what I understand ... a valve opens and closes the drivers side as needed (comfort v sport)
I see what you're saying and it's a good point. imho however he shouldn't have to do anything. He should expect a competent dealer to know how to go above and beyond to fix this entire situation for the buyer and compensate him for lost time and safety concerns. Anything less, then yep I agree with you, hold the dealers hand and click the website icons till you can demonstrate the wrong diffuser was installed.
Just took it to me local dealership (not where it was purchased) and they are looking into it. As far as they can tell, this incorrect bumper was assigned to this GLE 53 AMG and it was installed at the factory. In fact when they try to order a replacement it only allows them to order this same bumper again.
For it to make out of that factory like that with no one caring or even noticing is negligent and really pathetic. But, it’s actually not surprising to me considering the countless build quality issues I encountered with my GLE.
Just took it to me local dealership (not where it was purchased) and they are looking into it. As far as they can tell, this incorrect bumper was assigned to this GLE 53 AMG and it was installed at the factory. In fact when they try to order a replacement it only allows them to order this same bumper again.
I wonder if the bumper is correct, but the exhaust is wrong?
It might be worth asking while they're checking.
For it to make out of that factory like that with no one caring or even noticing is negligent and really pathetic. But, it’s actually not surprising to me considering the countless build quality issues I encountered with my GLE.
negligent is the right word - safety issue for sure
how pathetic indeed
usually the diffuser for amg models has floating exhaust tips that are separate from the mufflers behind it. Since the exhaust tips are actually stainless steel, they don't melt, go figure. See pics above. These exhaust tips are heat isolated however from the plastic surrounding diffuser so that it doesn't melt
OP just got the wrong diffuser apparently from the factory -- how many other people got the wrong diffuser on their GLE53's other than him??
Last edited by PeterUbers; 02-28-2023 at 09:18 AM.
Still curious.
It's only the diffuser, not the bumper but the license plate holder is odd. Does the VIN number on the license plate holder match the one on the windshield? I am actually surprised that he diffuser even fit onto the straight exhaust pipes; they are for a 350 model and are completely fake tips (no opening at all) as the 350 exhaust pipe points downward.
Also I would check the wheels/tires. They don't look wide enough.
In fact, do a complete options check on the car against the VIN sheet or window sticker
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by Wolfman
Still curious.
It's only the diffuser, not the bumper but the license plate holder is odd. Does the VIN number on the license plate holder match the one on the windshield? I am actually surprised that he diffuser even fit onto the straight exhaust pipes; they are for a 350 model and are completely fake tips (no opening at all) as the 350 exhaust pipe points downward.
Also I would check the wheels/tires. They don't look wide enough.
In fact, do a complete options check on the car against the VIN sheet or window sticker
Saw this on reddit the other day, apparently this can happen too at the factory... What is worse is that if you try to order the correct part using your VIN, your dealership will return these part numbers as the "correct one" and you can't actually order the actual correct one.
Saw this on reddit the other day, apparently this can happen too at the factory... What is worse is that if you try to order the correct part using your VIN, your dealership will return these part numbers as the "correct one" and you can't actually order the actual correct one.
There's another thread going now on that pic. Consensus leaning towards Photoshop.
Reddit = Internet, FWIW.
If it were edited, the right-side section would stand out more prominently.
I also wouldn't immediately assume it came out of the factory like that. When was this picture taken, where, and who took it? Maybe someone was thinking of swapping the exhaust tips and took a picture side-by-side to compare.
02-26-2023, 12:15 AM
What is worse is that if you try to order the correct part using your VIN, your dealership will return these part numbers as the "correct one" and you can't actually order the actual correct one. 
