Michael Allnutt

Hello!

I’m new to the forums and to Mercedes. Mercedes is in the process of buying back my GLS 63 after the engine failed with just 1000 miles on the odometer. They are telling me that this is a freak occurrence with no other reports of this happening.

They originally said they thought that it was the hybrid battery. They replaced it twice. They then said it was possibly the ECM. They replaced it as well. Three weeks later they tell me that there is metal in the oil and that the motor as seized. I’m not sure how or why it took so long to diagnose the engine failure.

There was zero warning when it just shutoff on me while driving on the highway.

My questions are: Has anyone seen or heard of this happening so soon? And, would you reorder another one or look at something else to replace it?

superswiss

Sorry this happened. The M177 is overall a very solid engine and is in use throughout the entire AMG 63 range, so it has lots of real world mileage on it in the meantime. There's occasionally a bad one coming from the factory with some issues, and looks like you got one of them, but I wouldn't hesitate one bit to reorder.

Michael Allnutt

That is fantastic news! I fell in love with it the day I saw it on the showroom floor and was borderline nauseous watching them drag it up onto the flatbed to carry it away.

Thanks so much for the feedback!

nc211

Don’t know if same engine, but neighbor’s 2019 E63S ate its own engine at around 13,000 miles.

chassis

Yes, same M17x engine. 4.0L V8 TT.

jbattan

I have always worried about my M177. It runs so hot that the fan will stay on for ten minutes after even a leisurely drive. Now keeping my fingers crossed.
I had one in my 2019 S63 Cab too, but sold that car after 12K miles due to the terrible MCT transmission.

OnlyGerman

Failing V8 engines, am I on a BMW forum??

places

M177 overall a very reliable engine. I wouldn't be concerned, just got a bad one.

rpl77

Hilarious! When I owned an E92 M3, a failing engine was the talk of the forum

superswiss

That's just to cool the turbochargers inside of the Hot-V, so they don't heat soak. All turbochargers get very hot, but with the Hot-V arrangement all the heat is concentrated inside of the V, so after you park and the turbochargers are hot it'll run the fan to cool them. Very common behavior on all engines with a Hot-V setup.

chassis

MB has a chequered past with V8 engines, similar to but likely not as well known as BMW. M156 and M278/M157 have their sometimes serious, sometimes fatal quirks.

DubDub12

My ‘21 GLS63 has been in the shop twice now for a Check Engine light. Once at 1900 miles and again last week at 3800 miles.

The first time the dealer had the vehicle for 2 weeks. The code was for a reoccurring mis fire. They ran numerous tests and put 400 miles on it while trying to diagnose. They ended up replacing one of the turbo exhaust clips that was leaking and called it fixed.

Last week it came on again for the same issue (Cylinder misfire (4)). This time they went straight to MBUSA and bypassed some of the diagnosis and there is a new software update to take care of the fuel trim levels. It’s not a public release yet but came straight from the PTSS case.

After 250 miles on the road and three days in the shop they declared victory.

So far it has worked as advertised since the last update. Fingers crossed that this solves it for good.

The rumor from my shop foreman was that MB already had to detune the engine for US Regulations and fuel mixes and apparently it wasn’t quite enough so this new software update is taking that into account.

rob.anderson

I had the exact same issue with my '21 GLS63. It was in the shop for 5 weeks diagnosing the check engine light that was apparently due to misfires on cylinders 1 and 4. Mercedes-Benz was starting the buy back process when miraculously they were able to correct it...The car now has 1,100 mile on it and the check engine light has behaved.

DubDub12

Wow - well I’m glad you didn’t have a buy back. The dealer last week said the same to me (they might buy it back). I was not looking forward to that or having to replace it in this market. I already had to buy this one from out of state in January since no dealer would do a dealer trade for them. But I got it spec’d to 99% of what I wanted. I love driving it. So much fun.

TNS550

Don't mean to hijack thread, just want an education......if they buy back the vehicle and you want another, does MB just replace with the same spec vehicle or do you have to negotiate a buy back price, then go through purchase negotiation process again?

rayzam

They just give you a check for what you paid for the car and you are free to use it for whatever you want. If planning to use it to buy another MB, you will need to start from scratch like any other customer.

superswiss

I've never gone through the process myself, but from what I've heard it depends. I've heard cases where they replaced the car with an equivalent spec and no money changed hands. Other situations are as described above where they send you a check. Depending on how long you had the car they will deduct the use of the car you had and you may need to negotiate. It's also not guaranteed that you get back the sales taxes if you paid it upfront. A buy back is not always desirable, especially if you end up losing the sales tax and then have to pay sales tax again on the replacement car.

c4004matic

That's what I surmised too. I've only experienced it after giving the car a hard flogging and then parking it.

LindseyTX

Yep! Our 2018 GLS 550 v8 TT seized at 36,000 miles. Metal shavings found in the oil pan. No one is taking responsibility so it’s a complete loss. Only had it for 3 months.

chassis

Sorry to hear. Which model year is your GLS?

nc211

I’ve come to the conclusion that anything AMG related is something to avoid with MB. My neighbor had a E63s whereby the engine essentially destroyed itself around 15k miles, and now this, and my 2014 E350 sedan has the AMG 18” wheels that bend at the slightest sneeze. I simply won’t buy or spec out a MB with AMG parts anymore. And the drilled brake rotors, don’t even get me started…

chassis

MB has genealogy between engines as most manufacturers do. One example is the current M264, which shares a large number of important parts with the M274 which is becoming increasingly known for fatal piston cracking.

The M17x could be an example where the fatal cylinder scuffing behavior of the earlier M157/M278 has been passed down to the latest M17x.

Hope to get clear root cause information from any M17x low mileage failures.

Piston cracking and cylinder scuffing are examples where it’s too easy for the manufacturer to skimp on cost with unfortunate consequences for the customer.

LindseyTX

2018

CaliBenzDriver

I almost fell off my chair reading your narration, thank you.

This seems related to the way the engine oil pressure is managed by the ECU.
Of course uncontrolled batches of pistons with bad alloys and extra thin oil all contribute to rush the outcome.
The best or nothing!

Silvernt15

This is my second GLS 63. The first was replaced due to comfort package not being installed properly. I received a replacement no $$ out of pocket. Dealership was fantastic.
I got the check engine light and wasn’t worried until they told me today it was mid fire and then I came here. I love the vehicle. And even got an update from 23-24. I’m anxiously awaiting to hear what they find.