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Mercedes-Benz GLE: OM642 3.0 V6 diesel oil cooler seal leak (W164/W166 ML/GLE)

OM642 3.0 V6 diesel oil cooler seal leak (W164/W166 ML/GLE) is a very common fluid leaks fault on the Mercedes-Benz GLE on the 2005–2019 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $2,500 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 7 documented faults on the Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Vehicle
Mercedes-Benz GLE
Engine
3.0L
Years
2005–2019
Fuel
diesel
System
Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Mercedes-Benz GLE as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mercedes-Benz GLE faults7 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Turbocharger yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 3.0 V6 diesel (OM642) used across the W164 ML and W166 GLE is famous for oil-cooler seal leaks. The seals sit in the hot valley between the cylinder banks and harden, weeping oil that shows as 'oil level low' messages, a dropping dipstick and oil pooling at the back of the engine. The cooler is buried under the intake and turbo, so the job takes a workshop the best part of a day - the parts are cheap, the labour is not. Mercedes improved the seal material around 2010 but leaks still occur.

What you would notice

  • 'Check oil level / oil level low' messages
  • Oil level dropping without smoke
  • Oil pooling at the rear/centre of the engine valley
  • Burning-oil smell after a drive

How to check it

Where to look. Oil cooler in the valley between the cylinder banks, under the intake

  1. Open the bonnet and look down into the centre-rear of the engine valley for oil wetness.

  2. Check under the car for oil around the bellhousing area, and the dipstick/oil messages.

  3. Ask if the oil cooler seals have already been done (the purple/Viton seals).

Parts involved: Turbocharger.

What it costs to put right

$2,500 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Have the OM642 oil cooler seals been replaced?”
  • “Does it show 'oil level low' or use oil between services?”

Now check the Mercedes-Benz GLE you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • idpartsblog.com Mercedes oil cooler seal leak on 3.0L V6
  • benzworld.org W166 M/GLE 'diesel oil cooler leaks' thread

Mercedes-Benz GLE buyer questions

Is om642 3.0 v6 diesel oil cooler seal leak (w164/w166 ml/gle) serious on a Mercedes-Benz GLE?

We rate it major and very common on the Mercedes-Benz GLE. The 3.0 V6 diesel (OM642) used across the W164 ML and W166 GLE is famous for oil-cooler seal leaks. The seals sit in the hot valley between the cylinder banks and harden, weeping oil that shows as 'oil level low' messages, a dropping dipstick and oil pooling at the back of the engine. The cooler is buried under the intake and turbo, so the job takes a workshop the best part of a day - the parts are cheap, the labour is not. Mercedes improved the seal material around 2010 but leaks still occur.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mercedes-Benz GLE?

$2,500 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mercedes-Benz GLE years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2005–2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Open the bonnet and look down into the centre-rear of the engine valley for oil wetness. Check under the car for oil around the bellhousing area, and the dipstick/oil messages. Ask if the oil cooler seals have already been done (the purple/Viton seals). Look here: Oil cooler in the valley between the cylinder banks, under the intake