Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLK 220 CDI, 170 PS, 7-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Research | €535 | €13,990 | 289 | Diesel | 651916 | Automatic (7) | 2012–2015 |
| GLK 220 CDI, 170 PS, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research | €554 | €13,990 | 289 | Diesel | 651912 | Automatic (7) | 2012–2015 |
| GLK 250 CDI BlueTEC, 204 PS, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research | €561 | €13,999 | 132 | Diesel | 651912 | Automatic (7) | 2012–2015 |
| GLK 350 CDI, 265 PS, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research | €629 | €15,400 | 72 | Diesel | 642835 | Automatic (7) | 2013–2015 |
At a glance
- What it is: the Mercedes GLK compact SUV, built 2008-2015 on the C-Class platform, with a facelift in 2012. Diesels are the OM651 and OM642. Petrols are the M272, M276 and M274. Gearbox is the 7G-Tronic automatic or a 6-speed manual. Drive is 4MATIC all-wheel or rear-wheel.
- Main faults: the OM651 timing chain and early piezo injectors, the M276 chain tensioner oil supply, the 4MATIC transfer case, and jerky 7G-Tronic shifts.
- Reliability: 3/5. ADAC's breakdown index falls from 42.7 for 2009 cars to 7.7 for 2013 cars, and TÜV rates the car well. The chain, injector and transfer case faults are real, though.
- DIY: 1/5. The chain, tensioner and transfer case jobs are workshop work. Za Rulem calls the chain repair labour-intensive.
- Prefer: a 2012 facelift or later car. The ADAC breakdown index is 11.8 for 2012 cars and 7.7 for 2013 cars, against 22.3 for 2011 cars. Ask for the chain and injector history.
- Avoid: an early diesel with no proof of injector work, a 4MATIC car that shudders or grinds, and an M276 with a rattle on start-up or no tensioner record.
Engines and gearboxes
- OM651 2.1 diesel (200, 220 and 250 CDI): chain and injector faults are in the OM651 guide. DPF and EGR clogging is in the table below.
- OM642 3.0 V6 diesel (320 and 350 CDI): the oil cooler seals leak with age, see the table below.
- M272 3.0 and 3.5 V6 petrol: balance shaft gear wear, see the table below. Za Rulem and Kolesa also report cylinder scoring after about 100,000 km. Za Rulem, Kfz-Dietrich and a DRIVE2 garage blog report intake flap breakage. Za Rulem and the DRIVE2 garage blog report chain stretch.
- M276 3.5 V6 petrol (306 PS): the chain tensioner can starve of oil and damage the engine, see the table below.
- M274 2.0 petrol (250, 2013-2015): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 7G-Tronic automatic: jerky shifts and torque converter wear, see the 7G-Tronic guide.
- 6-speed manual: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing chain stretch and cold-start rattle | OM651 2.1 diesel (651912, 651916) | From about 150,000 km | See the OM651 guide |
| Piezo injector failures | OM651 2.1 diesel, cars with piezo injectors fitted until 2011 (651912, 651916) | Up to about 100,000 km | No confirmed price |
| M276 chain tensioner oil supply | M276 3.5 V6 petrol (276957) | About 100,000 km | No confirmed price |
| 4MATIC transfer case and front shaft wear | 4MATIC all-wheel drive | 100,000-150,000 km | No confirmed price |
| M272 balance shaft gear wear | M272 V6 petrol (272948, 272971) | 70,000-100,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Jerky shifts and torque converter wear | 7G-Tronic automatic | From about 50,000 km | No confirmed price |
| OM642 oil cooler seal leaks | OM642 3.0 V6 diesel (642961, 642832, 642835) | With age | No confirmed price |
| DPF and EGR clogging | OM651 2.1 diesel (651912, 651916) | About 100,000 km (EGR) | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Timing chain (scanner needed). Start the engine cold and listen for a metallic rattle. Ask a Mercedes workshop to read the fault codes with a Mercedes-capable scanner. Bad: a rattle, or stored timing codes. A jumped chain can destroy the engine.
- M276 chain tensioner (scanner needed). Ask for records of tensioner or chain work. Start the engine cold and listen for noise from the timing area. Bad: a rattle, or no record of the work.
- 4MATIC transfer case (no tools). On a test drive, listen for a shudder when accelerating and a grinding noise. Look under the car for oil at the transfer case. Bad: a grinding noise, a shudder or oil on the case.
- Piezo injectors on cars built until 2011 (scanner needed). Ask whether the injectors were replaced with electromagnetic units, and read the fault codes. Bad: a fault code, or piezo injectors with no service record.
- 7G-Tronic shifts (scanner needed). Test drive the car from cold. Note jerks on reverse and when shifting from 2 to 3 or from 5 to 6. Ask for the oil change record. Bad: jerks, or no fluid change record.
- DPF and EGR (scanner needed). Ask whether the DPF or EGR was removed or tuned. Read the DPF and EGR data with a scanner. Bad: a tuned car, a warning light, or limp mode on the test drive.
- M272 balance shaft (no tools). Ask for proof of balance shaft or engine work. Bad: no proof of the work on a car with 70,000 km or more.
- OM642 oil cooler (no tools). Look into the engine V and at the back of the engine for oil. Bad: wet oil traces, or oil in the coolant.
- Recall VIN check (no tools). Ask a Mercedes dealer to check the VIN for three campaigns: the power steering pressure line, the diesel fuel filter and the OM651 chain tensioner seal. Bad: any open campaign.
Running costs
| Operational | €217 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €163 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €186 |
| Total per month | €566 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €94 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 641
- 25th percentile
- €11,400
- Median price
- €13,999
- 75th percentile
- €17,300
- Median mileage
- 178,000 km
- Median first registration
- 2013
- Dealer share
- 56.9%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €19,054
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.