Bluetec or Gas?
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Joined: Sep 2013
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2001 E320, 2010 E350 Sedan, 2009 E350 Wagon, 2014 E350 Coupe, 2015 ML 350
Bluetec or Gas?
I everyone, looking at getting an ML 350 between 2013 and 2015.
Was wondering how the reliability is on the diesels? Anybody own a high mileage copy that wouldn't mind sharing what if any repairs they've had done and how much they cost?
I asked my mechanic about them, he specializes in Mercedes Benz and advised me to stay away from the diesels as they can develops costly issues in the emission system. How often does this happen? Or does it?
Thanks for any input!!
Was wondering how the reliability is on the diesels? Anybody own a high mileage copy that wouldn't mind sharing what if any repairs they've had done and how much they cost?
I asked my mechanic about them, he specializes in Mercedes Benz and advised me to stay away from the diesels as they can develops costly issues in the emission system. How often does this happen? Or does it?
Thanks for any input!!
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 55
Likes: 2
2013 ML350 BlueTec
I agree with previous post...if mostly highway driving and towing then, diesel, otherwise gas. I have 2013 ML350 bluetec. Dealing with the turbo lag since I got it CPO in January...seriously thinking about trading it in for the new blue Honda Pilot.
Do you want to worry for the next few years about the DEF heating system, oil cooler system and the host of things that can go wrong specific to a diesel engine.
Since I've had the car CPO in Jan, I had to take it back for:
- Engine light then limp mode on the night I picked up the car
- Out LED light on running board (same night)
- washer fluid sensor incorrect
- blown brake light bulb
- wind screen on sun roof loose
- trunk opening latch adjustment
- Just got engine light last week (service apt. Tues)
What they cant fix:
- lots of creaking
- turbo lag
- delay when shifting from drive to reversal
- getting a faint suspension noise from under car
-
Do you want to worry for the next few years about the DEF heating system, oil cooler system and the host of things that can go wrong specific to a diesel engine.
Since I've had the car CPO in Jan, I had to take it back for:
- Engine light then limp mode on the night I picked up the car
- Out LED light on running board (same night)
- washer fluid sensor incorrect
- blown brake light bulb
- wind screen on sun roof loose
- trunk opening latch adjustment
- Just got engine light last week (service apt. Tues)
What they cant fix:
- lots of creaking
- turbo lag
- delay when shifting from drive to reversal
- getting a faint suspension noise from under car
-
Last edited by mikel212; Sep 16, 2016 at 09:05 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,118
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'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
Mb diesels are expensive to maintain. I had the same info from my service advisor. Before I bought my gas ML I went to for a long test drive and went for the gas version because I will be keeping the car for a very long time. You will be amazed how good the gas version with gas even in city driving. Good comparison is my c300 drinks the same amount of gas in the city.
One other thing.....make sure to get a 2014 as it will have the surround camera and the sliding door compartment in the middle will be clad in wood where as the 2013 does not have those.
One other thing.....make sure to get a 2014 as it will have the surround camera and the sliding door compartment in the middle will be clad in wood where as the 2013 does not have those.
Last edited by shotgun_banjo; Sep 16, 2016 at 09:55 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 69
From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
Six cylinder diesel...
New 2014 ML350 Bluetec delivered in Feb of 14. 73K miles. Great road warrior.
Problems encountered........turbo inlet duct seal bad and caused some wetting on the front of the engine. Fixed for 400 bucks. I was out of warranty when this happened, unfortunatley.................got a engine light around 71k. Downloaded the fault and it said NOX sensor (has two of 'em). Replaced both and cost 2K to do so.
Nothing else to report. Vehicle is the quietest vehicle I've owned including a 2011 CL550. I've no idea what I'm going to replace it with when the time comes. Won't be the four cylinder diesel for sure. Maybe the GLS 350 diesel but I think it's too large for my tastes.
By the way, concerning quiet cars........the ML350 and CL550 are the quietest cars in the MB line imho. I've driven the E350 loaners and E250 loaners plus the CLS 550 and they are noisy at speed. I also have a 2013 SL550 and let it be known that is a NOISY car on the interstate vs ML. ROAD noise is what I mean. As in MO tires or runflat noisy tires. Test drove a S550 class and I'd swear the CL is or was quieter.
My definition of a non-noisy car is.........turn the radio on at 30mph and listen to the music...........drive at 80mph and listen to the music without having to turn the volume up to overcome the road noise.
Gas version??? Had one of those for a loaner. A bit disappointing to tell you the truth. No guts. The diesel six cylinder beats it hands down.
Problems encountered........turbo inlet duct seal bad and caused some wetting on the front of the engine. Fixed for 400 bucks. I was out of warranty when this happened, unfortunatley.................got a engine light around 71k. Downloaded the fault and it said NOX sensor (has two of 'em). Replaced both and cost 2K to do so.
Nothing else to report. Vehicle is the quietest vehicle I've owned including a 2011 CL550. I've no idea what I'm going to replace it with when the time comes. Won't be the four cylinder diesel for sure. Maybe the GLS 350 diesel but I think it's too large for my tastes.
By the way, concerning quiet cars........the ML350 and CL550 are the quietest cars in the MB line imho. I've driven the E350 loaners and E250 loaners plus the CLS 550 and they are noisy at speed. I also have a 2013 SL550 and let it be known that is a NOISY car on the interstate vs ML. ROAD noise is what I mean. As in MO tires or runflat noisy tires. Test drove a S550 class and I'd swear the CL is or was quieter.
My definition of a non-noisy car is.........turn the radio on at 30mph and listen to the music...........drive at 80mph and listen to the music without having to turn the volume up to overcome the road noise.
Gas version??? Had one of those for a loaner. A bit disappointing to tell you the truth. No guts. The diesel six cylinder beats it hands down.
Last edited by HAILERS2; Sep 17, 2016 at 11:40 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 55
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2013 ML350 BlueTec
Since you mentioned NOx sensor, thats the code I'm getting(I think 227F)...I'm getting 2 codes so hopefully its both sensors sinces its still under warranty.
I have 2013 w/ 48k.
Austin94, if youre in the NY area, let me know if youre interested in buying my car. Fully loaded, and Hailer is right...it is super quiet and pretty awesome to drive on highway.
I've noticed while having a 2016GLE350 as a loaner petro, when you floor it, it downshifts as much as 2 or 3 gears. On the 350BT it downshifts 1 gear..probably due to low RPM and such high torque.
I have 2013 w/ 48k.
Austin94, if youre in the NY area, let me know if youre interested in buying my car. Fully loaded, and Hailer is right...it is super quiet and pretty awesome to drive on highway.
I've noticed while having a 2016GLE350 as a loaner petro, when you floor it, it downshifts as much as 2 or 3 gears. On the 350BT it downshifts 1 gear..probably due to low RPM and such high torque.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 69
From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
Since you mentioned NOx sensor, thats the code I'm getting(I think 227F)...I'm getting 2 codes so hopefully its both sensors sinces its still under warranty.
I have 2013 w/ 48k.
Austin94, if youre in the NY area, let me know if youre interested in buying my car. Fully loaded, and Hailer is right...it is super quiet and pretty awesome to drive on highway.
I've noticed while having a 2016GLE350 as a loaner petro, when you floor it, it downshifts as much as 2 or 3 gears. On the 350BT it downshifts 1 gear..probably due to low RPM and such high torque.
I have 2013 w/ 48k.
Austin94, if youre in the NY area, let me know if youre interested in buying my car. Fully loaded, and Hailer is right...it is super quiet and pretty awesome to drive on highway.
I've noticed while having a 2016GLE350 as a loaner petro, when you floor it, it downshifts as much as 2 or 3 gears. On the 350BT it downshifts 1 gear..probably due to low RPM and such high torque.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 55
Likes: 2
2013 ML350 BlueTec
Just got the car back today. If the car only has two NOx sensors, then both upstream and downstream were replaced. Sounds premature at 48k miles, then I read that it can be soot build up and to drive diesel harder to blow out build-up. Maybe the previous owner never used the kick-down switch.
Dealer added about 7 miles to get the sensors reading correctly. So, I think 100 miles might be a bit much. That is at lease 2 hours of driving, doubt mechanic will spend 2 hrs driving your car to "test".
This is a 2013 blutec ML350, UPDATED part number is:
000-905-36-06
000-905-37-06-28
Dealer added about 7 miles to get the sensors reading correctly. So, I think 100 miles might be a bit much. That is at lease 2 hours of driving, doubt mechanic will spend 2 hrs driving your car to "test".
This is a 2013 blutec ML350, UPDATED part number is:
000-905-36-06
000-905-37-06-28
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 3
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ML 350Bluetec
Hey guys,
New member here! Just picked up the 2013 ML350 Bluetec this morning.
Can you tell me how do I access the system, I got an engine light come on two hours after driving it off the lot, so I would like to find it what could it be. I still have warranty until spring 2017 so I'll be taking the car back to the dealership tomorrow.
New member here! Just picked up the 2013 ML350 Bluetec this morning.
Can you tell me how do I access the system, I got an engine light come on two hours after driving it off the lot, so I would like to find it what could it be. I still have warranty until spring 2017 so I'll be taking the car back to the dealership tomorrow.
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 55
Likes: 2
2013 ML350 BlueTec
I would do that right away. Me also, the day I took my car home, the engine light went on and limp mode. That is pretty embarrassing for the dealership.
Before you go in, check the color of your oil. My was already black after just a few miles. To this day, I suspect that they just follow the service interval for CPO. In other words, if the car has 35k miles and not due for oil change until 40k, they will wait until 40k even if its a CPO. Some dealerships are individually owned, and some by MBUSA. Its pretty bad of me to think that of my dealership in White Plains, buy from what I experienced from their service dept, I dont trust them.
Before you go in, check the color of your oil. My was already black after just a few miles. To this day, I suspect that they just follow the service interval for CPO. In other words, if the car has 35k miles and not due for oil change until 40k, they will wait until 40k even if its a CPO. Some dealerships are individually owned, and some by MBUSA. Its pretty bad of me to think that of my dealership in White Plains, buy from what I experienced from their service dept, I dont trust them.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 69
From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
Hey guys,
New member here! Just picked up the 2013 ML350 Bluetec this morning.
Can you tell me how do I access the system, I got an engine light come on two hours after driving it off the lot, so I would like to find it what could it be. I still have warranty until spring 2017 so I'll be taking the car back to the dealership tomorrow.
New member here! Just picked up the 2013 ML350 Bluetec this morning.
Can you tell me how do I access the system, I got an engine light come on two hours after driving it off the lot, so I would like to find it what could it be. I still have warranty until spring 2017 so I'll be taking the car back to the dealership tomorrow.
As for driving the ML hard................I drove it on Tx hwy 130 that is a 80 + mile long toll road that skirts around San Antonio to Georgetown, TX and the legal speed limit is 80 mph for about half of it and 85 mph for the other half. I drive the speed limit plus five almost everywhere other than a school zone or the like. The ML just cruises along not even breathing hard. Love states that have 80mph speed limits in places.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
2001 E320, 2010 E350 Sedan, 2009 E350 Wagon, 2014 E350 Coupe, 2015 ML 350
Thanks everyone! Bought a gorgeous ML350 Gas, 2014 with 15k on the odometer. This thing has every option possible I think...original sticker was $78,000. Even has the $6,000 Bang and Olufsen sound system!!
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 3
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ML 350Bluetec
I own a Innova OBD2 diagnostic tool to download faults. A hobby of mine. That's how I found out what the code was. I'd recommend just taking it to somewhere like PEPBOYS and let them download the fault. I've heard, but never experiecned this, but they say that Pepboys will do it for free. Ask first.
As for driving the ML hard................I drove it on Tx hwy 130 that is a 80 + mile long toll road that skirts around San Antonio to Georgetown, TX and the legal speed limit is 80 mph for about half of it and 85 mph for the other half. I drive the speed limit plus five almost everywhere other than a school zone or the like. The ML just cruises along not even breathing hard. Love states that have 80mph speed limits in places.
As for driving the ML hard................I drove it on Tx hwy 130 that is a 80 + mile long toll road that skirts around San Antonio to Georgetown, TX and the legal speed limit is 80 mph for about half of it and 85 mph for the other half. I drive the speed limit plus five almost everywhere other than a school zone or the like. The ML just cruises along not even breathing hard. Love states that have 80mph speed limits in places.
I took the ML back to the dealership, seems like the check engine light came on because of the O2 sensor, which is an oxygen sensor. So they went ahead and replaced the NOX sensor since it's still under warranty from MB. Problem solved!
