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Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class GLE 63 AMG S Coupé common faults.

2015–2020, SUV, petrol, 585 HP.

The fault list covers: M157DE55AL engine, MB7229 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

4 fault write-ups. All are important. 5 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

4 important faults

7G-Tronic (722.9): mechatronics and conductor plate

expensive

In the Mercedes 7 speed 722.9 automatic (7G-Tronic / 7G-Tronic Plus) the mechatronics unit and the conductor plate (Leiterplatte) age over time: jerking on shifts, delayed engagement, a "Getriebe schützen" message, and fault codes on the gearbox electronics.

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The repair is typically replacing the mechatronics unit or the conductor plate together with an oil change: not the whole gearbox. The complaint is most common on the longitudinal platforms from around 2005 to 2015 (C/E/ML and the early GLC).

The 9G-Tronic (725.0) is a different design; this applies only to the 7G.

between 100,000 and 220,000 km

What to check

  • Try it cold and warm: a delayed 1 to 2 or 2 to 3 shift is suspect
  • Watch for the gearbox warning or the "Getriebe schützen" message on the dash
  • Ask for a fault code read on the gearbox controller (not just the engine codes)
1 more steps in the write-up

Airmatic air suspension: leaking air spring, overworked compressor

expensive

The Mercedes Airmatic system holds the ride height with air springs and electronically controlled dampers. The most common faults over time are the relay, the compressor and a leaking air spring or air line.

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The rear air springs of the 2003 to 2009 E-Class (W211) are particularly prone to leaking along the clamps. If the system leaks, the compressor runs continuously, overheats and fails, so an unrepaired leak takes the compressor with it.

Symptoms: one corner of the car sinks by morning, an "Air Suspension" or level control fault message, and compressor noise while standing. It was an option (or standard) across several generations from the W220 S-Class onwards; the estate E-Class often has air springs with level control on the rear axle as standard.

between 100,000 and 220,000 km

What to check

  • In the morning, before setting off, look at all four corners: an uneven stance means a suspected leak
  • With the car standing, listen to the compressor: continuous running indicates it is overworked
  • Ask for a fault code read on the suspension controller (level and pressure sensor codes of the C1132 / C1144 kind)
3 more steps in the write-up

Silitec cylinder liner: the ring does not seal on a scored wall

expensive

The cylinder wall is formed by a Silitec liner: a silicon-carbide aluminium surface that is hard and conducts heat well. This material, however, does not cope well with high temperature and occasional detonation, and the cylinder wall becomes scored as a result. The maker finally switched to the Nanoslide coating precisely because of Silitec's cylinder scoring problems.

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On a damaged wall the piston ring does not seal, so oil gets into the combustion chamber: oil consumption rises and compression falls. The wear is reported from 120 000 kilometres, and it is faster the more the engine is run under high load.

The symptom is rising oil consumption and blue smoke under load. The repair involves opening up the engine, because the pistons have to come out to change the rings, and if the wall is already scored, changing the rings alone is not enough.

At a purchase the oil consumption is the measurable sign: ask how much has to be topped up between changes, and ask for a compression or leak-down test.

above 120,000 km

What to check

  • Ask how much oil has to be topped up between changes
  • Watch the exhaust under load: blue smoke means oil burning
  • Ask for a compression or leak-down test: the wear is measurable here
2 more steps in the write-up

Chain tensioner: the engine number decides, not the mileage

expensive

At a cold start a rattle comes from the top of the engine, and it is loudest when the car has stood for hours. The cause is the secondary timing chains slapping until the oil pressure builds up in the tensioner system.

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It is not the mileage that marks out the affected cars but the engine number. The maker issued a service document for this in June 2013, and in it the examples with an engine number below 157 9xx 60 022333 are the affected ones; that runs up to production in December 2012. The engines built after that already received the revised parts.

The repair is a revised secondary chain tensioner, and with it a check valve in the oil supply passage: that holds the pressure with the engine stopped, so the tensioner gets oil sooner at start-up. The engine does not have to come out, but the work takes more than a day and costs between 3000 and 4000 pounds. On some cars the maker carried it out under warranty.

According to owners the rattle was not followed by engine damage, and there were cases where it did not get louder in six years. That does not change the fact that the revised part is the right direction, and at a purchase the question is simple: is there an invoice for it.

What to check

  • Start it cold and stand next to the car: the rattle is audible from outside, perhaps not from the driver's seat
  • Ask when it last stood for hours: that is when it is loudest
  • Check the engine number: the examples below 157 9xx 60 022333 are the affected ones
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class GLE 63 AMG S Coupé

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

Faults of this model

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Official recall5 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

Most recent: 23 December 2022

22V955000FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULEFUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE23 December 2022 · NHTSA (USA)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2012-2014 ML550, 2012-2015 ML350, AMG ML63, 2015 ML250, ML400, 2016 GLE450, GLE300, 2016-2018 GLE350, GLE550, 2016-2019 GLE400, 2017-2019 AMG GLE43, and 2016-2020 AMG GLE63 vehicles. Water might accumulate in the spare tire wheel well and damage the fuel pump control unit, which could cause an engine stall while driving.

Risk: An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install a water drain plug, inspect for water intrusion, and replace the fuel pump control unit as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010002 and 2023010003.

The authority's notice

16V903000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONAIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION15 December 2016 · NHTSA (USA)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic Bluetec, GL550 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe, GLE450 4Matic, 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, and 2017 GLS63 AMG vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, to May 10, 2016. The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) calibration may be incorrect, and as a result, the system can incorrectly classify the occupant as a child seat, deactivating the front passenger air bag.

Risk: If the front passenger air bag does not deploy as necessary in the event of a crash, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

The authority's notice

16V759000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS20 October 2016 · NHTSA (USA)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 GLE 300d 4MATIC, GLE 350, GLE 350 4MATIC, and GLE 400 4MATIC vehicles manufactured October 14, 2015, to November 23, 2015. The low beam headlights on the affected vehicles may not be properly adjusted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

Risk: If the low-beam headlights are out of adjustment, the driver's visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the headlight adjustment, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in November 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

The authority's notice

A12/00045/22Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

The vacuum-controlled coolant pump may not be tightly sealed between the coolant and vacuum circuits. This may result in the coolant leaking into the vacuum circuit leading to an electrochemical reaction, increasing the risk of fire. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/0849/18Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The connectors for the transmission oil cooler hoses may not have been correctly moulded. As a consequence, the transmission oil cooler hoses may work loose while the vehicle is being driven, leading to the loss of oil in the transmission and depriving the vehicle of forward propulsion.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

M157DE55AL

395–430 kW (537–585 HP) · petrol

MB7229 · 7G-Tronic / 7G-Tronic Plus, longitudinal (Mercedes 722.9 / NAG2)

automatic · 7 speed

Torque limit700 Nm
MakerMercedes-Benz

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
GLE 63 AMG S Coupé
Body
SUV
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
5461 cc
Power
430 kW (585 HP)
Drive
AWD
Production
2015–2020

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)

  • Spark plugs, petrol

    • 60,000 km or 6 years
All W166 versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms