Thoughts on 2008 gl 320 cdi ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

biopete · #1 05-10-2017, 11:39 PM

So I happened on one of these today. It was my ex wife's she bought in august 2016 from car max. She can't afford to own it so I traded her a good ole Infiniti g20 amd said I'd sell it or keep it and pay her when I sell it or decide to keep it.

Do people like these ? Id like it if I didn't just buy a 2009 town and country tourong loaded with heated seats and dvds and swivel seats. I have to have a van for camping and hauling.

This Benz would have done the job ok though. It drives good , I like the diesel. But dang the stuff that breaks on these and when it does it's not easy and it's not cheap even if you diy usually. Personally I could accept the higher parts prices of stupid **** didn't break.

Anyway, the cdi has 213000 miles , has the tow package , DVD , screens in seats , auto lift gate , command blue tooth , Ipod connectornin glove box , sun roofs in back and front. Nicely equipped. Black on black. Awd.

It's got a couple issues -- demt and scratch in back rear side by tailgate. The DVD says : drive error , and the rear hatch doesn't lstch. I read that hatch is a common issue.

she just put brand new tires and brakes on it. And it seems like it would make an awesome utility vehicle with the tow package and diesel. Anyone have one these like them ? Anything I should check on engine ? Is this a blue Tec ? I don't think it is. She paid 12k plus 1000 in taxes at car fax.

As a comparison I paid 6850 out the door for my Chrysler and it has more options and 143000 miles and automatic doors and rear door and heated rear seats and touch screen radio and 3 DVD screens and it all works. I know it has 70k less miles. So we'll see how it holds up. But the previous generation t&c held up awesome. I had two with almost 200k and they are still going. They have been easiest to maintain cars I've ever owned. Gas mileage is worse on van by 5 mpg. the Benz drives stiffer and better not surprisingly.

Anyone interested owning this ? I searched and didn't see s single post on s gl 320 cdi. Lol. Thanks

compress ignite · #2 05-11-2017, 12:28 AM

https://www.google.com/search?q=problems+with+2008+gl+320+cdi&oq=problems+with+2008+gl+320+cdi&aqs=chrome..69i57.10344j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

BUT! That's a V-6 Common Rail.
Do not be mislead the Original CDI's in N.A. were INLINE sixes.(Only MY 2005 and 2006 in the W211 chassis)

The V-6 is another whole universe of difficulties...

jay_bob · #3 05-11-2017, 07:27 AM

I have that vehicle's near twin, the 2008 ML320 CDI.

If by 213k it's not leaking oil, chances are the oil cooler and crankcase breather have been redone. If not it's not the end of the world. That is really the only bad problem on these engines. The glow plugs are annoying because they changed the design so you have to change all 6 and the controller if one goes bad.

I had a cam position sensor go bad, but that can happen with pretty much any modern engine. Fortunately it threw the code and dropped into limp mode before it totally let go, so it did not leave us stranded.

Ours has 140k and it's still doing great after the oil cooler seals. Handed it down to my kids to drive while they're both at college and bought another (2014) on CPO for my wife (same engine except with AdBlue).

It's initimidating to see under the hood for the first time but once you start taking things off (the air filter boxes have to come off for just about anything) it's really not too bad. I've worked on American V-8s from the 70s that make the 642 look like a cake walk.

Only drawback to the late 2000s models is that they were designed in the early 2000s smack in the middle of the dark days of Daimler-Chrysler. Your door jamb label says Daimler AG but the design was all D-C. By the 201xs the designs were all back in the control of Daimler and the quality is much better as I have noticed in my 2014.

I've had the ML since 2013, so feel free to ask questions or do a search on my user name and OM642.

oldsinner111 · #4 05-11-2017, 08:02 AM

aluminum block diesel no thanks.

biopete · #5 05-11-2017, 09:37 AM

Thanks jay bob and all. First I love chryslers

so I'm hoping this Mercedes got a little Chrysler reliability built in

At the mileage she bought it I'm hoping no oil leaks and no rack problems.

What about Black Death ? Do these have same problem?

biopete · #6 05-11-2017, 10:14 AM

Oh and no sbc right ? You can just bleed brakes normally? What kind of gas mileage do these actually get ?

biopete · #7 05-11-2017, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compress ignite

https://www.google.com/search?q=problems+with+2008+gl+320+cdi&oq=problems+with+2008+gl+320+cdi&aqs=chrome..69i57.10344j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

BUT! That's a V-6 Common Rail.
Do not be mislead the Original CDI's in N.A. were INLINE sixes.(Only MY 2005 and 2006 in the W211 chassis)

The V-6 is another whole universe of difficulties...

Thanks. Ha ha. I followed link and first thing on repair pal is "this is in the most expensive class of vehicles to own 86/100". That is exactly what I told her and why she dumped it.

Good info. I appreciate it.

zakkkk · #8 05-11-2017, 04:39 PM

I have an 2007 ML CDI I bought new -with the same engine as the GL CDI.
'07 and '08 have the same CDI, non UREA engine and they have spare tires so no run flats are required.
I gave the ML to my # 2 son with 240,000 miles and it now has 260,000 and going strong. That car can fly!
My big issues were CPS replacement, trans reprograming and sensor change, leaky turbo seal. All were repaired under warranty.
I have an 2015 ML 250 I bought new and love the car but the ML CDI engine is way more powerful.
If I needed another SUV I would by an 07 or 08 GL CDI no problem.

jz

biopete · #9 05-12-2017, 08:08 AM

Nice. I see one of these is my future one day. This one a friend bought. I put it on the lift and it's a beast. Seems tough. So I guess they worked out the 4matoc issues ? I used to hear complaints about that on earlier cars.

Question -- what do the DSR buttons do ? One has downhill and one has bumpy road. Can you turn off all wheel drive ? Any ways to get better fuel economy ?

I'm changing trans oil and motor oil and fuel filter today. Autozone showed an air filter costs 100.00 ???? Is that right?

Glad to hear these things are ok. Jay bob I know what you mean about the old vans with v8 tucked into a tiny nose. That's another thing great about the new t&c. It has a big engine bay like a truck with a v6 in there. It's like a jungle Jim. The cdi looks like you just have to take off little stuff here and there like you said. It's like a compact power plant. Kind of nest in that sense.

jay_bob · #10 05-12-2017, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biopete

Nice. I see one of these is my future one day. This one a friend bought. I put it on the lift and it's a beast. Seems tough. So I guess they worked out the 4matoc issues ? I used to hear complaints about that on earlier cars.

Question -- what do the DSR buttons do ? One has downhill and one has bumpy road. Can you turn off all wheel drive ? Any ways to get better fuel economy ?

I'm changing trans oil and motor oil and fuel filter today. Autozone showed an air filter costs 100.00 ???? Is that right?

Glad to hear these things are ok. Jay bob I know what you mean about the old vans with v8 tucked into a tiny nose. That's another thing great about the new t&c. It has a big engine bay like a truck with a v6 in there. It's like a jungle Jim. The cdi looks like you just have to take off little stuff here and there like you said. It's like a compact power plant. Kind of nest in that sense.

Yes it is truly a beast. That is our nickname for the 2008. The 2014 is white and much more refined, so we call it "Belle" from the Disney movie.

They are tough. 7k towing capacity. The 4matic has nothing in common with the 1990s system except the name. Very trouble free.

DSR - Downhill Speed Regulation - when descending a trail, you set the max downhill speed on the cluster display and the vehicle will not exceed that speed using the transmission and brakes to regulate.

Bumpy road - off road mode - tunes the systems for off reading

4matic is permanent and can't be shut off

Air filters (need 2) and you have to do adaptations after changing with Xentry.

Oil is special Mobil 1 Formula ESP 0w-30 and the special fleece filter.

Great vehicle all the way around.

biopete · #11 05-14-2017, 12:16 PM

Thanks Jaybob. That vehicle was way over kill for either of us. if I hadn't of just gotten my minivan for road tripping that would have done nice. I miss a diesel. She sold it to my buddy for 6250 and I changed oil and tranny fluids and filters. I read a post somewhere on Benz world where someone said their iron levels in an oil analysis was better (less iron) with the Mobil 1 euro 0w-40 than the ESP. And I couldn't find esp so I used that.

My buddy got a good deal I think. The passenger mirror was broke off , had a dent in rear and it was dirty and the rear hatch wouldn't close. But it had new tires and new brakes all around. I think she sold it a bit cheap. I would have done 7000

Thanks for info.

jay_bob · #12 05-14-2017, 07:48 PM

You can't use the euro 0W-40 on that engine, it will ruin the particulate filter. Need a low SPAsh oil, which is the ESP series that meets MB 229.51 spec.

That is why there is a huge label next to the oil fill that says 229.51 only for the oil.

Did you use the 722.9 specific transmission fluid MB Part No. A001 989 45 03 13?

biopete · #13 05-23-2017, 01:59 AM

Thanks jay bob. So much conflicting info on the internet. Lol. Where is this particulate filter ? And how long does it take to ruin it ? I bet it is easier to replace than engine. I'll pass this info on to the owner though.

I used mb trans fluid. I had some in the shelf. .14. Costs 16.00 a liter. This is why I hate new German cars. frwaking 250.00 just in fluids and filters.

My Chrysler town and country -- 20.00 gallon of synthetic atf 4 plus 2 more quarts , 5 quart jug of any motor oil special you want. Done. It was also way easier to service them the Mercedes.

Next time I change the fluid on my 1997 e300 I'm going to try the atf4 my guess is it's got to be similar. Be interesting to do oil analysis with the various fluids. I'll research it a little more. One mechanic said it was ok to use.