Hi. Potential GLE 350 owner.

[Caravan4eb]

Hi. UK based questions. I am due to look at a 2018 350GLE AMG LINE premium plus with 82k miles. It has a full service history, independent, but what should it have had done at that mileage? Chains/belts/etc etc ?? Any common faults with that vehicle/engine/year etc etc ? Thanks for any info

 

[onefortheroad]

Gearbox and transfer box serviced at 77,500 or 5 years. It's a timing chain ,so no worries there.

Niggles can be suspension rattles and tapping.

Check all tyres are of equal tread and pattern, it's a 4x4 and all tyres should be identical ideally.

Front tyres crabbing/skipping/banging in the cold. Unless winters or all seasons . On half to full lock.

Oil leaking from turbo inlet seal . Renew seal £10 eBay .


Swirl flap motor and wiring soaked in oil from the above seal not being changed.

Pcv pipes worn ,soaked in oil or leaking oil mist . Change the pcv unit . Not expensive.

Check the brake discs for wear , they are from memory 34mm new , mb recommend you change them at 32mm . £550 for all 4 corners ( brembo ) discs n pads if you DIY ,mb will charge £1300.

Change the rear diff oil . especially If you intend to tow.

Oil cooler seals can fail , but not at that mileage. £1200 job .

Check the ad blue on the dash menu in service is giving you a range in miles. If it's on zero or simply blank , it's been deleted from the ECU and the car will be let's say illegal on UK roads as the emmisions police won't be happy.

I'm on my 3rd om642 engined car , pretty much bomb proof and very powerful. The 350 also comes with a sports exhaust for the extra 30 bhp over the 320 .

Sports + mode is simply nuts .

I based my answers on it being an automatic diesel.

 

[SmartAmg]

 

[Caravan4eb]

Gearbox and transfer box serviced at 77,500 or 5 years. It's a timing chain ,so no worries there.

Niggles can be suspension rattles and tapping.

Check all tyres are of equal tread and pattern, it's a 4x4 and all tyres should be identical ideally.

Front tyres crabbing/skipping/banging in the cold. Unless winters or all seasons . On half to full lock.

Oil leaking from turbo inlet seal . Renew seal £10 eBay .


Swirl flap motor and wiring soaked in oil from the above seal not being changed.

Pcv pipes worn ,soaked in oil or leaking oil mist . Change the pcv unit . Not expensive.

Check the brake discs for wear , they are from memory 34mm new , mb recommend you change them at 32mm . £550 for all 4 corners ( brembo ) discs n pads if you DIY ,mb will charge £1300.

Change the rear diff oil . especially If you intend to tow.

Oil cooler seals can fail , but not at that mileage. £1200 job .

Check the ad blue on the dash menu in service is giving you a range in miles. If it's on zero or simply blank , it's been deleted from the ECU and the car will be let's say illegal on UK roads as the emmisions police won't be happy.

I'm on my 3rd om642 engined car , pretty much bomb proof and very powerful. The 350 also comes with a sports exhaust for the extra 30 bhp over the 320 .

Sports + mode is simply nuts .

I based my answers on it being an automatic diesel.

Thanks for the reply. There’s a lot to take in. Would the rear diff oil have been changed, as part of routine servicing, at an independent MB specialist??

 

[00slk]

Hello and welcome

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

 

[onefortheroad]

Thanks for the reply. There’s a lot to take in. Would the rear diff oil have been changed, as part of routine servicing, at an independent MB specialist??

Doubt it . It's an easy enough job for anyone though . For peace of mind . I did my GLC 350 as soon as I got it. The rest is covered by a mb service plan.

 

[sonic]

Thanks for the reply. There’s a lot to take in. Would the rear diff oil have been changed, as part of routine servicing, at an independent MB specialist??

I have never changed diff oils in over 50 years of motoring. Never had an issue with a diff.

 

[onefortheroad]

I have never changed diff oils in over 50 years of motoring. Never had an issue with a diff.

It's a £10 job TBF. Have you towed caravans for 50 years ?

 

[Caravan4eb]

It's a £10 job TBF. Have you towed caravans for 50 years ?

What would an independent MB specialist charge for the job ???

 

[onefortheroad]

What would an independent MB specialist charge for the job ???

Half an hour plus the oil. Or just ask for it at a service to be done. 75W-85 GL-5 oil.

I dropped mine out at 33k , it was black in comparison to the new oil.

 

[sonic]

It's a £10 job TBF. Have you towed caravans for 50 years ?

Yes I towed caravan for 10 years in the 70’s & 80’s. Never heard of anyone changing diff oil then, or any issues with diffs.

 

[onefortheroad]

Yes I towed caravan for 10 years in the 70’s & 80’s. Never heard of anyone changing diff oil then, or any issues with diffs.

Loads of cars suffering diff whine in those days , they used oils that weren't upto today's standards. Fords , vauxhall, Volvo , jaguar were notorious for it. You must of been lucky. You must remember ' slick 50 '

It's preventative maintenance for most diyers, dropping the diff oil .

 

[Caravan4eb]

The 2018 GLE350 AMG line premium plus has been serviced 6 times in 82,000 miles at a main dealer and independent. It is for sale at a small “back street” car dealer and comes with 12 months mot and 3 months warranty. Would you go for it or would only buy used approved from MB with a 12 month warranty???

 

[onefortheroad]

The 2018 GLE350 AMG line premium plus has been serviced 6 times in 82,000 miles at a main dealer and independent. It is for sale at a small “back street” car dealer and comes with 12 months mot and 3 months warranty. Would you go for it or would only buy used approved from MB with a 12 month warranty???

If it's had 6 , then find out if the gearbox and transfer box were done. These cars are pretty much problem free and bomb proof. But like anything else they can be abused by previous keepers and the next buyer foots the bill. You can always buy a warranty.

Do check the ad blue system though , it's fortunes to fix .

The diff oil is just something I'd personally have done . It's got a fill and drain plug for a reason.

Is it on auto trader ?

 

[Caravan4eb]

Hi. Thanks for the replies. I now have a choice of 2 vehicles. One is 1 owner 17 plate with 71k and air suspension. One is 3 owners 18 plate 82k with standard suspension. Both full service history. Same colour/specs etc etc. Both within £1200 of each other ????????

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I’d put a link to the adverts up to get constructive comment on both cars from the forum

 

[onefortheroad]

I’d put a link to the adverts up to get constructive comment on both cars from the forum

Bit pointless otherwise, mayswell be in a padded cell ,muttering

 

[Caravan4eb]

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

The guy that runs High Peak Autos has a YouTube channel and seems a decent bloke

He also uses a good Merc Specialist for repairs

A couple of videos from their channels