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Check Engine Light on Brand New GLE 350d

21235 Views 20 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  HDGFND
Just purchased a 2016 GLE 350d and last week we had an issue where the check engine light came on, took it to the dealer on Tuesday and of course the light went out. Dealer checked the code and came up with a sensor issue with the DPF, a strong plastic burning smell was coming from under the hood after we would drive it. Today the check engine light came on again and have booked an appointment to get this further checked out. Has anyone had this issue before and if so what was the fix. The GLE has less than 1000 miles on it so a bit frustrated when I purchased a Mercedes because they are to be high quality.

Thanks.
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Haven't heard of this problem yet so you're the first person I've heard of having this problem. Hope your dealership can help you fix it asap but it stinks that it's happening to a new car.
Beyond Frustrated

I had this problem twice within the last two weeks!!! I have a GLE 350E, check engine light was on 1st week in Nov, I didn't get an appointment until a week later, by then the light distinguished but kept my appt with the dealer. The dealer ran some test and stated I had an O2 sensor issue which was "fixed". So now yesterday, Dec1st the check engine light is back on, and i have an appointment next week. I'm beyond frustrated!!!!!!
I had this problem twice within the last two weeks!!! I have a 2016 GLE 350E, check engine light was on 1st week in Nov, I didn't get an appointment until a week later, by then the light distinguished but kept my appt with the dealer. The dealer ran some test and stated I had an O2 sensor issue which was "fixed". So now yesterday, Dec1st the check engine light is back on, and i have an appointment next week. I'm beyond frustrated!!!!!!!!!
I can bet the light will turn off by the time you go in and they'll tell you the same thing
This might be a good time to look up reviews on that dealer and see if any red flags come up. If there are, start looking for another one. Not all tech's are made the same and not all dealerships and companies have good culture. So it might just be a change of dealer that does the trick.

Which dealer have you been going to?
That happens a lot of times. Just because it's an MB dealer doesn't mean they follow the same quality and customer care standards as every other one out there. Douches will be douches.
That happens a lot of times. Just because it's an MB dealer doesn't mean they follow the same quality and customer care standards as every other one out there. Douches will be douches.
That's what I discovered and many people over the course of years.

Too bad the default logic is that dealerships are the best places to go for servicing. From experience, I found that finding and independent shop that specializes in your make/model of vehicle is the best way to go.

Only worth going to the dealer if its something only they can do or if your experience is good enough.
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As with bwdownie but at 11K kms, the engine smell was similar- a burnt hydrocarbon/plastic odour.

A 2016 GLE 350D with engine light- on again off again over approximately 3 weeks.

This'll be the 3rd time in to the dealership after 2 sensor replacements; 1 of them the DPF.

The engine has gone into the limp mode on 2 occasions as well; this last time in the mountains (Rogers Pass) at night..... so not just an "oh well, the technician will show up eventually and get it right the third time"

Will keep you "posted."
Thanks for keeping us posted. You'd think they would fix this by now or issue a recall. Maybe there's a lemon law you can look into or the dealership can help you lodge a complaint?
As with bwdownie but at 11K kms, the engine smell was similar- a burnt hydrocarbon/plastic odour.

A 2016 GLE 350D with engine light- on again off again over approximately 3 weeks.

This'll be the 3rd time in to the dealership after 2 sensor replacements; 1 of them the DPF.

The engine has gone into the limp mode on 2 occasions as well; this last time in the mountains (Rogers Pass) at night..... so not just an "oh well, the technician will show up eventually and get it right the third time"

Will keep you "posted."
You've had it too long for it to be covered under a lemon law I would presume. Does the dealer at least cooperate and give you a loaner and what not ?
Lemon laws I think sometimes depend on where exactly you live so checking with that will be a good start, might be some standard issue way to go about this.

Keep us posted on how that goes, hopefully all happens in good timing, can take a while for a resolution.
Probably experienced the same smell as we have your engine too but in a '15 ML250 BlueTec-- definitely the particulate filter. I believe it's what you get the first time the DPF fires up for cleaning (e.g., not that you'd notice on the open road but if you arrived home, parked in the garage and turned the engine off mid-operation). It is not something you continue to notice (and, we have >40K). To me it smelled like cosmoline being burned off. In our case, however, no trouble light was associated with the event.
Did you end up changing out the particulate filter or did the smell go away after a while?
Did you end up changing out the particulate filter or did the smell go away after a while?
It stunk to high heaven and had to back the car out or garage. The operating temperature of MB's DPF is extremely high:

Mercedes-Benz also offers an optional, maintenance-free particulate filter system, which reduces particulate emissions by a further 99 percent. The particulate filter (volume 2.5 litres) replaces the underbody catalytic converter and is connected to the upstream converter close to the engine by an air-gap-insulated exhaust duct. The particles retained on the walls of the filter ducts are burned off at an exhaust temperature above 600 degrees Celsius.

The particulate filter system developed by Mercedes-Benz regenerates itself without the use of additives and remains effective over a very high mileage, which distinguishes it from previously available processes of this kind. Dispensing with fuel additives, whose purpose is to help burn the soot particles trapped in the filter at low temperatures, has a positive effect on fuel consumption, durability and engine output. Studies have shown that fuel additives used to clean the filter remain in the filter ducts as non-regenerable ash, and can block these after a high mileage. This increases the exhaust counterpressure and therefore the fuel consumption, while the output of the diesel engines correspondingly reduced.

With this filter system, high mileages can be achieved by the diesel models in the new A-Class without any additional servicing. The exhaust temperature required for particulate regeneration is reached either at high engine speeds or by appropriate adaptation of various engine functions. These are controlled as a function of the exhaust pressure and temperature at the particulate filter. Variable, second-generation common-rail technology makes a major contribution in this respect, as it allows a brief post-injection of fuel depending on the operating status and filter condition. This specifically increases the exhaust temperature, burning off the particles trapped in the filter in a controlled manner.
Just purchased a 2016 GLE 350d and last week we had an issue where the check engine light came on, took it to the dealer on Tuesday and of course the light went out. Dealer checked the code and came up with a sensor issue with the DPF, a strong plastic burning smell was coming from under the hood after we would drive it. Today the check engine light came on again and have booked an appointment to get this further checked out. Has anyone had this issue before and if so what was the fix. The GLE has less than 1000 miles on it so a bit frustrated when I purchased a Mercedes because they are to be high quality.

Thanks.
I have the same problem on my 2017 350GL. Took it to several places and they were adding coolant. Finally, took it to M-Benz dealership, where I bought the car and they said I should take it to the Dealer, where I live now, which is in Palm Springs. Now, they are keeping my car for 5 days already and replaced some part, but the light still goes on. The mechanic from the dealership called me today and said that it might be irreparable engine problem and car might need to be taken back by the M-Benz factory. I was completely shocked and very upset. Called my dealer in Beverly Hills, looked around Internet for different reviews - everyone complains about the same problem - and it is irreparable. So, the dealership in Palm Springs will try tomorrow something else, if it does not work, I will need to surrender the car (it is leased) to the factory representative, they will return all my money and I will need to go back to Beverly Hills and lease another car. Total disaster!!! I think they should recall this model, because everybody complains about the same problem - light on, showing problem with the engine and some unpleasant smell from the engine, like burning plastic. I am very upset and disappointed.
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Just purchased a 2016 GLE 350d and last week we had an issue where the check engine light came on, took it to the dealer on Tuesday and of course the light went out. Dealer checked the code and came up with a sensor issue with the DPF, a strong plastic burning smell was coming from under the hood after we would drive it. Today the check engine light came on again and have booked an appointment to get this further checked out. Has anyone had this issue before and if so what was the fix. The GLE has less than 1000 miles on it so a bit frustrated when I purchased a Mercedes because they are to be high quality.

Thanks.
I have the same problem with my new 2017 M-Benz 350GLE. Light is going on, showing that something is wrong with the engine. I stopped at several stations and they were adding coolant to the engine. Then, I drove back to M-Benz dealership in Beverly Hills, where I leased the car, they looked at this problem and sent me back to my present dealership location, which is in Palm Springs. In this dealership they have been keeping my car already for 5 days. Today, my mechanic called me and reported that they ordered some part, replaced it, but the light is still on. They will try something else tomorrow, but they are afraid that it is irreparable engine problem. Which means, that I will need to return car back to M-Benz factory, get all my money back (it was leased, thank, God) and then, go and buy a new car from my Beverly Hills dealership. It is outrageous! I looked around the Internet and found out that everybody is complaining about the same problem: the light is on and some smell, like burning plastic, is coming out of the engine. I think, it is a major manufacturing defect and M-Benz needs to recall all 350GLE cars and fix their manufacturing defect. I am very upset and frustrated.
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It stunk to high heaven and had to back the car out or garage. The operating temperature of MB's DPF is extremely high:
Holy moly it was that bad ?! What did you end up doing??
Holy moly it was that bad ?! What did you end up doing??
There is nothing you can do about it other than waiting for the car to cool down... outdoors. My conclusion is that if you are mostly on the freeway when driving, DPF burnout probably will be less frequent and chances are greater you won't be pulling into your garage when it does fire up; and, after a few burnouts you don't get a continuing odor of burning cosmoline.
I have the 2016 GLE450 AMG and just hit 30k miles and my check engine light came on. Do these vehicles trigger the check engine light when a service is due? I have an appointment for the service Wednesday but am concerned about driving it the next two days.
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