Hello, just thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Danny (dano) and I just picked up a 2013 GLK 250 Bluetech and so far I'm loving it. This is somewhat of a new arena for me cause I'm a hot rodder, and now I have what is pretty much a modern day station wagon. But I'm a sponge for information and love to share what I know and learn.

 

Dano, welcome aboard. I wish you luck with the 250. Mine wasn't so good. My daughter bought one and we ended up trading it due to emissions issues. She bought a new Mazda to replace old Blue. I have since purchased a 2015 GLK 350 for my wife.

There's tons of helpful information on this forum for both of us. Take some time reading some of the threads. It's likely you'll encounter some of the same issues as others. Good luck with your new vehicle.

 

I've already run into emissions issues with it. It got to 8 starts remaining. It's a 8 year old vehicle with 135k on it so it's way long past warranty. But I took it back to the dealer who I bought it from and they tried to fix it but had no luck. Anyway, I found someone who had an OBD tune module with with an option to remove AdBlue. So the dealer bought it for me and I installed the tune and removed AdBlue. It's been running great since, and I don't have to add DEF.

 

Maybe the previous owner took care of all the gremlins. It's a wonderful engine when everything is working correctly. Powerful and economical best describes it.

 

so far so good. The tune bumped up the HP so somewhere close to 230 and bumped the torque to around 400 lb ft. It's a beast. I'm averaging just over 33 MPG and it's as smooth as silk.

 

Mine has been very reliable. A great little do-it-all SUV.

 

In USA we have pending AEM for those vehicles, what will cover all emission repairs, give you 4 years extended warranty and send you $2600 check for your suffering.
So you might want to restore your vehicle to factory specs and take it to real dealer.
https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/daim...vil-settlement

 

Yeah I thought of that. But I called the dealer when it had 7 starts remaining they told me they wouldn't take it that way. They said I have to bring it in and have all the necessary repairs done to it to clear the no start and emissions issues. Then once there are no issues remaining they'll do the AEM update.

 

I would've called a different dealer. You need to have no modifications on the car in order for them to proceed with the AEM. A competent dealer would perform the AEM regardless of the countdown, since they are putting new software on it anyway, along with the hardware changes. My dealer accepted it with the Check Engine Light (CEL) on for AdBlue issues, no comments or complaints.

I would revert it back to stock, make sure your DEF tank is at least half full. You should be able to register your car for the AEM, get that packet in the mail, schedule the work to be performed and drop off the car while being provided a loaner. They will likely take more than the 4 hours they'll quote you, so I wouldn't waste my time waiting for it.

But definitely get the stock software back on there and take it in for the work. You can always put your tune back on after, but they won't touch it if there's a tune on there now.

 

AEM started over a month ago and lot of things is still in working.
The legal settlement says that extended warranty applies AFTER AEM, but several members had failed DEF heaters replaced during performed AEM. Those heaters are not even listed in the warranty, so maybe this was dealer goodwill, maybe MB USA headquarters decision.
Than some items are replaced by AEM, so not knowing what triggered your countdown, we can only guess.
Point is that the dealer you used butchered your vehicle and you are might be loosing big time on this.
Those are not vehicles that you can drive without some education. Start with getting a scanner and reading the codes.
And correct the typos in model description.

 

My issues don't have anything to do with the dealer. The car was working great when I brought it home. But after a while I got a CEL telling me that it was a bad DEF sensor. Then later I got a 10 starts remaining message. So when it got to 8 starts remaining I called the dealer to ask if they know anything about this and they told me to bring it in and they'll have a look. Out of they're pocket they replaced two DEF sensors but that didn't fix the problem. So they called Mercedes about the AEM and that's when they were told that they wouldn't do the AEM on a vehicle with a CEL. That's when I started digging in and found the tune up / DEF delete module as an alternative. The dealer I got the car from gave me the money to buy the module, so with this, I'm up and running. If I learn that Mercedes will do the AEM even with a CEL, I'll put the stock tune back on it and take it to them with 7 starts remaining.

 

You are making lot of guessing without checking the codes.
That will not go far with modern vehicles.

 

What gives you the idea that this is all guesswork. I have several code scanners, that's how I know the CEL was for a faulty DEF sensor. The dealer I got the car from replaced both of them. But we had no way of resetting the 8 starts remaining. MB said it has to be reset via their STAR software. Unfortunately they wanted about 1600 to run the scan and reset everything. That's why I opted for the tune module with Ad Blue delete. Simple and a lot less expensive. The MB dealer said they wouldn't do the AEM unless everything is working properly and they wanted to charge an arm and a leg to make that happen. So I opted for the module.

 

You never presented the codes, while you keep talking about "DEF sensor".
There is no such thing on those cars.
Again, your choice is to educate yourself, or pay the stealers.

 

Dano, our point is that the dealer who gave you this module did you a disservice. I highly doubt they're an authorized MB dealer, or they wouldn't have sold you (given you?) such a device to defeat the emissions system.

You need to take your car to an authorized MB dealer for the AEM work, not the dealer you bought the car from.

Contrary to what kajtek1 says, the DEF system has not just one sensor but several as part of the system.

Inside the AdBlue/DEF tank are housed the DEF pump, the heater, and the fluid level sensor. Then there is a DEF sprayer/injector in the tailpipe which has its own sensor built in. There are more sensors in the entire emissions system than in some other cars altogether; that's what makes the Bluetec so problematic for a lot of people.

The AEM work that MB has authorized is not intended to fix these problems, weirdly. They are intended to address what some have described as lax emission controls leading to "more pollution." That's what MB is addressing, as a result of their agreement with the EPA and CARB.

Again, go find your local authorized MB dealership and have them perform the AEM as required. In doing so, they will put new software in the ECU for more aggressive pollution control, they will swap out the diesel particulate filter and probably a couple of sensors associated with it. They have to accept the vehicle in running condition, regardless of the check engine light being on.

They WIL NOT, however, accept a vehicle that has any modifications made. So first put the original software back on, go get your money back for the device the other dealer gave you, then go to a real MB dealership and let them do the AEM. Chances are that after resetting the ECU software with the original, you might not have any CEL on. That would be your opportunity to drive straight to the dealer and have them start the AEM work.

 

Oh I'm sure that the tune and Ad Blue Delete is most likely not legal, but it is a work around for the limited starts. As far as the P codes go that isn't really a problem since I can read the codes with my scanner and turn off the CEL (which will come back at some point). My issue is that the MB Dealer will not take my car in with the limited starts active. Everything has to be in perfect working order for them to perform the AEM. They want about $1600 to make that happen before they will perform the AEM. When I installed the Tune and Ad Blue delete, this also eliminated the engine no start issue (forever). Now if the MB Dealer will do the AEM with 7 starts remaining I can always put the original software back on and bring it to them. But they tell me they won't do that. So, I'm left with no other choice than use the work around. and quite honestly, the car runs much better than it did prior to the tune and Ad Blue delete. Not only that, but I don't have to add DEF, nor do I have to worry about limited starts. Again, our local MB Dealer say's they will NOT accept the vehicle to perform the AEM if there's a CEL or limited start message. Otherwise I'd be more than happy to let them do their thing.

 

You keep whining "they will not take the car" when you keep avoiding posting the facts.
Since you are refusing to post the codes, we can assume there is more to the story?
MB dealers have to take the car in for AEM and if the affected items are part of AEM, they will do it.
If the affected items are not part of AEM - they will present you with repair estimate.
Once you perform AEM you will get $2600 check and 4 years extended warranty.
You figure out that not paying potential $1600 is worth more for you.
There must be more to the story.....

 

I don't know why you have to be so disrespectful, I'm not whining about a damn thing. I'm just stating what the MB Dealership told me about installing the AEM. They don't want to do it, then fine, I found a work around. As far as the CEL codes go, I don't remember what they were and tossed the paper I'd written them on. I know I keep referring to DEF / Ad Blue. But now that I've given it some thought, the codes (what ever they were) said that the NOX sensor(s) were bad. So that's what was replaced. But that didn't fix the problem, that's when I opted for the work around. If the MB Dealership decides to take my car in for the AEM then I'll reinstall the original programming, until then I'll keep on driving it as it is.

 

Your car falls under EMC9 modification and NOx sensor is part of it.
as I said - there must be more to the story and I am getting impression that your attitude makes dealer not wanting to work with you.
https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/daim...vil-settlement

 

Don't let katjek1 get under your skin, there will always be curmudgeons around

The workaround is one that some of us have used, prior to getting the AEM work performed. The point we're driving home is that the MB dealer should be accepting ALL vehicles that are due for this recall, regardless of CELs being on or other error messages, as long as there are no modifications done. You should try a different MB dealer.

If you're able to, I would schedule the AEM with another MB dealer, switch back to the stock software and take it straight in. By placing the original software back on, you are resetting the system, so it should not give you the "XX starts remaining" message for awhile. Heck, it might even reset the NOx sensor issue(s).

The reason we're asking for P codes is because with specific trouble codes you might be able to find specific info on how to fix those issues. Oftentimes the diagnosis doesn't actually match the real error(s), because some sensors have multiple functions (for example, DPF pressure sensor may also read DPF temp).

The other thing is that simply replacing a sensor without telling the car it has a new sensor (called adaptation or learning) results in the same error, because the computer isn't even taking readings from that location anymore. I'm quite certain the dealer that replaced the NOx sensor(s) does not have the MB Star/Xentry system to adapt the new sensors to the car, or they just replaced the wrong sensor. The fact that they then sold you a workaround device indicates they are not an authorized MB dealer.

If it were my car, I'd find another MB dealer, I'd put the original software back on and drive it straight to the dealer. I'd leave it running while they prep to take it in (sometimes the CEL won't come on until the next startup) and just let them do the work. The MB dealer telling you they won't touch it with error messages active is BSing around; they are supposed to accept it as long as it's running and there are no modifications found.

 

Yeah, I think what I'm going to do it to schedule my AEM on the MB website and let them tell the dealer it's coming in. Then once I get a date scheduled I'll reinstall the original software and take it to them. I just don't think our local MB Dealership want's to schedule it simply because they said they're about two months out before they can take more in. I did learn that I can go through the MB web site and set up an appointment. I did reset it to the original software and unfortunately the 7 starts remaining was still there. that's the primary reason I'm running the current software, I don't want to get stranded.
Thanks for your input

 

Well then you have the wrong impression of me, my attitude is fine, however, I think yours is in question.

 

Another reason the local MB dealer may not want to touch it (besides being backed up) is that MB has only allotted 4 hrs to perform the recall. That means unless there is significant reasons for it taking longer than 4 hours, the dealership won't get paid for more than 4 hrs worth of work. The parts have to also be available before they start, which is why some dealers are so backed up. And that's why they're trying to bilk you for $1600 to "fix" something they'll be replacing on MB's dime anyway.

Your approach sounds reasonable: register for the AEM on the mbbluetecsettlement site (if you haven't already) and wait for your packet in the mail. This will contain the claim form for the $ reimbursement, along with the info on what parts are being specifically replaced and what the extended warranty covers. Then find another MB dealership, schedule your Bluetec for service and specify the AEM recall work (ask for a loaner), put the original software back on and drive it straight in.