ltpro

The engine in my 2011 GL350 needs replacing and I'm wondering how can I make a 2008 engine work ? I'm sure some things must be different but I'm wondering what those things are and if I can make it work ?

BlackML550

Spend extra time and find an engine closer to the date if your car. The earlier M272s had balance shaft and timing chain issues (sorted by 2009). Whatever time and cost you lose now you'll gain later.

Attached is the MB Bulletin that highlights engine number ranges to avoid for the M272s that you should note before buying a replacement. Best of luck

eric_in_sd

OP is asking about the diesel engines.

ltpro

That’s correct and thanks for the reply . I went ahead and picked it up and now that it’s sitting here I cannot find any difference but I know there has to be something because the wiring harness part number isn’t the same . I spent many years doing performance on Mercedes and other brands but when it comes to knowing things like this I have limited knowledge.any and all help is greatly appreciated and welcomed . The engine I picked up is low miles and I not only seen it running in person I also conducted a compression test and that turned out amazingly well which is why I went ahead and picked it up .

eric_in_sd

I am unfamiliar with the diesel engines, but I would start with the functional differences. The later engine has blue def injection. So, if as with the gas engines, the ECU is mounted to the top of the engine, you would find that the later model engine has harness components that connect from the def system to the ECU. That might be why the harness is different.

I would transfer over your wiring harness. At the least I would look at where the harness connects to the rest of the vehicle to see what connectors are different.

I highly doubt that MB made significant changes to the motor itself. That is an enormously costly undertaking.

ltpro

what’s crazy is Ive rebuilt both these years multiple times over the years but when I get engines I always ask for all wiring and accessories to be removed,both are the same but now I have to carefully look over each and every section of the wiring to see where it leads and what it connects to . I posted here because I’m sure there has to be someone else that’s been through this before , way too many of both these engines out there for someone else not to had done this before. If this post does not get any definitive answers I’ll be sure to post what my findings were . I need to finish an engine I’m working on now then pull mine to start the process.

eric_in_sd

There is only one regular on here that has a diesel, and he is happy to have not undertaken such a repair, so your findings will be appreciated, whatever direction they may point.

BlackML550

Haha 😀😀 he'd still be better off! My mistake. Best of luck

eric_in_sd

Apparently the pre-DEF diesels were (are) pretty good.

EPA feces-from-a-male-cow basically terminated consumer automobile diesels as an option.

BlownV8

More like there is only one that still has a running OM642........ I kid, I kid. There are probably tens of tens that still have a running OM642 in their 320.

Max Blast

The CDI was the om642 avaible in 2008, and replaced by Blutek in 2009 onwards.

id just be aware that I might be trying to put a CDI motor into a blutek chassis and all the things that might entail.

both are garbage imho but if you must you must.

eric_in_sd

Isn't Bluetec just spraying DEF into the exhaust? That is why I am speculating that the core motor remained the same.

vesiadog

I almost made the mistake and bought a DEF GL diesel. I watched enough videos on the leaking oil coolers that MB smartly put in the valley yes the valley under the intake.. pretty much one of the hottest spots to put an oil cooler. The Sprinters do not share that spot…the oil cooler on a sprinter is external just like most diesels.
Back in my horse hauling bird dog days I had 3 different Fords with a 7.3 Powerstroke.. all with external oil coolers you could work on and change out in minutes Not 20-24 hrs like a MB SUV…

Max Blast

The CDi cleaned exhaust with an aggressive egr type system while the Blütek did away with some of that in favor of urea in the tailpipe.
Core motor may be the same, yes.

eric_in_sd

ha ha ha ha
For those unaware, ü is pronounced while making duck lips.

eric_in_sd

Based on that, it would seem the later vehicles would be more reliable, not less. Perhaps the below note helps explain.

I think at that point the MB engineers had given up and were just being silly.

Max Blast

That’s how Siri saw that one, but I meant to say Blewtech