EnigmaAW

so what are the odds of the 2012 GLK350 getting the retuned 3.5 engine like the 2011 SLK350? 300 ponies?
MB also changed the engine cover for the 2011 GLKs

MBRedux

mmmmmm not likely.

kyoshiro

not likely, they will need to haul in the new tranny as well, the new engine is direct injection i believe and MB is still using the current 3.5L on other models so they're prob in no rush to swap over.

rmfnla

This has come up before and I always say the same thing... I'd love an additional 32 ponies!

MBRedux

Direct Injection (DI) may produce a cleaner combustion, more power, and lower emissions, but it does have a down side. Severe carbon build up on the intake valves. This inherent design flaw is found in EVERY DI engine found on the planet. Unlike port fuel injection, the intake valves of a DI engine are never bathed in detergent latent gasolines. So they never get cleaned... ever! (Even with junk cleaners like seafoam) The injectors are not inside the port, they're inside the combustion chamber AFTER the valves. Therefore the valves prematurely clog-up with caked on carbon as the vaporized oil crank gases along with the recycled exhaust gases run past them. Depending on the oil used, DI cars exhibit idling and drivability issues around 50-75k miles... with some showing severe carbon build-up even as early as 10K miles.

Direct Injection Intake Valves at 28k miles. Even with a *catch-can* installed, this pix shows the down side to direct injection. (And it's not covered under warranty either!)

DCubed

I think the GLK will not be getting the new DI 3.5L next year, one of the giveaways of the new DI engine is that the car will get the new 7gtronic plus transmission and its just showing the 7gtronic trans in the preliminary stuff here at the dealership. As they tell us in training...this is the truth as of today and the truth is subject to change.

kyoshiro

Yeah carbon build up is a pita in direct injections.

lkchris

It's 100% likely because it's an entirely new engine and the current one will be out of production.

kyoshiro

the current one will need to be phased out of all the other 350s line up in the E class, ML, etc as well so it will take some time.
It may also not be embraced upon totally because of DI

arklab

I'm really new to MB, but I did read of the addition of a four cylinder Turbo for 2012.
It was said to have better fuel economy than the six, but (when pushed) is faster (by a bit).

When I picked up my special order GLK on Monday, my salesman said they had just been told of a new, smaller GLK for 2012. (Of course just after I'd signed the papers for my 2011)

I guess time will tell.

MBRedux

After some research, this new DI V6 will probably come in the new GLK, but so will its added cost. I'm happy we do not have the new DI engine mainly because of the severe carbon issue. I can just see the fights new owners will have when they must cough up $2K+ to have their intake systems cleaned.



Here's a low down on the new DI 3.5L Engine found in the 2012 C-Class from Edmunds:

My comments are in (....)
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One big reason we've never been able to take the current-generation Mercedes C350 Sport seriously as a sport sedan is its lack of power. With only 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the previous-generation C350 was significantly slower than the BMW 335i, Infiniti G37 and Lexus IS 350, all of which have 300-hp six-cylinder engines.

For 2012, the C350 finally joins the 300-horse club. Mercedes has added direct injection to its 3.5-liter V6, and this has allowed the engineers to raise compression from 10.7:1 to 12.2. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 is rated at 302 hp at 6,500 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm. (Talk about the need for Super High Test Fuels!!!)

Flooring the throttle on Tenerife's main highway reveals a liveliness in the midrange that wasn't here before, along with a sweeter soundtrack. Mercedes is predicting a 5.9-second 0-60-mph time, but our 2012 C350 Sport feels a couple tenths quicker than that.


This still won't be quite enough to keep pace with the 335i, which hits 60 mph in 5 seconds flat, or the G37, which does it in 5.2. The C350's naturally aspirated V6 offers adequate low-end torque for accelerating out of the slow corners on Carretera del Bailadero, but of course it isn't the kind of instantaneous grunt you get with the turbocharged 335i.

Nor does the C350's seven-speed automatic transmission match revs (though we're pretty sure G37-style automated throttle blips would have reduced our passenger to a quivering pile in the footwell). At least downshifts are respectably quick in Sport mode. Paddle shifters aren't available, and don't even ask about a manual gearbox — nobody in America wants a three-pedal Benz.

Less Efficient Than Europe's D.I. V6
Gear ratios haven't changed on the seven-speed automatic, but engineers have made various improvements to reduce torque-converter slip and frictional losses. These updates, along with the new engine, will result in slightly better fuel economy — Mercedes estimates the 2012 C350 will get 21 mpg combined versus 20 combined for the 2011 model.

This probably isn't the dramatic improvement you've been expecting from the direct-injected Mercedes V6, and that's because the U.S. version won't get all the fuel-saving measures on our Euro-spec C350 tester. The European-market 2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 uses stratified-charge combustion in low-load situations up to 3,800 rpm. This cuts consumption by 10 percent. But the U.S. can't have it because our higher-sulfur gasoline would destroy the NOx catalyst.

Our European-spec C350 also has a start-stop function. Although we find it unobtrusive when it engages at stop lights, Mercedes executives aren't convinced we won't freak out when the engine shuts off, so no U.S.-bound 2012 C-Class will have it.

The 2012 C350 still won't inspire many 'just because' drives.

If you're bent on saving fuel, you're better off with the entry-level 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250, which has a new turbocharged and direct-injected 1.8-liter four-cylinder, rated at 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. It comes with the seven-speed automatic, too, and will get 30 mpg on the highway, says Mercedes. (May be coming in a low cost base GLK)

In between, there's the C300 4Matic. It has a carryover, port-injected 228-hp 3.0-liter V6. It's no quicker than the C250 (7.1 seconds to 60 is the claim), and it's the least fuel-efficient of the three models (20 mpg combined), but it's the C-Class sedan to get if you want all-wheel drive. The C250 and C350 are rear-drive only.

kyoshiro

^ could be quite possible the new transmission is not designed to work with 4Matic yet as well. So we may see a GLK250 with tubo and GLK350CDI but both of em will possibly have no 4matic and the 4Matic will only be on the current 3.5L
but I dunno, just speculation

slk55er

Thanks for the heads-up WRT DI and the Edmund's take -- helps in deciding whether to keep our leased '10 GLK when the time comes.

Stesl

in italy we already have it on sale from about a month, with the new 7g tronic PLUS tranny...

and i think is the same for all the european version...


well we ''need it'' it because gas cost 1.60 €\liter while you american need it for the 30 extra horses...not to hurt noone obviously...a prius is less expensive...

gorewest

Is this the same engine as will be in the 2012 SLK, 60 degree V?

kyoshiro

dont think they said the new SLK is getting the CDI engine actually

gorewest

Thank you for the comment. I was told by a sales rep that the SLK 2012 would have a new V-6, 60 degree, 300 HP+

Stesl

yes exactly 60 degrees

yes slk 250 cdi 204 hp and 480n\m with manual gerbox...but i don't know if will it be exported to usa...

EnigmaAW

i read the the 2012 c350 will have the new 300hp engine, so i bet the GLK will definately get it

Stesl

yes exactly

kyoshiro

2012s arent getting anything new except relocating the media thing to the center console

mac911

MBUSA put out a press release to the press today.

The 2012 GLK is one of the VERY FEW cars keeping the old M272.

It will continue with 3.5 V6 with 268 HP.

The R Class is getting the Direct Injected V6 if you want that beauty.

GLKKa2H

With the exception of this: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/11/m...ntle-nip-tuck/
- may be?

mac911

Not according to the press release today. Nothing but the media thing to center console.

mac911

The more I think about, this more concerned I get about Mercedes soon to be all Direct Injected lineup.

Is there anyway to prevent this? 3 oil changes a year or something?

What would be the solution when it gets this bad? What could they do?

Just doesn't make sense to me, to put these cars out there, if they are really going to look like that after 40k miles.