Mercedes-Benz GLK-Klasse 204 facelift GLK 350 CDI, 265 PS, 7-speed automatic, all-wheel drive (2013–2015)

Research for this car

• Generation guide Mercedes GLK X204 (2008-2015): known problems and buying guide

  Reasonably reliable by ADAC figures, but check the diesel timing chain, the M276 tensioner and the 4MATIC transfer case before you buy.

• Gearbox guide Mercedes 7G-Tronic (722.9) 7-speed automatic: problems, costs and what to check

  Buy only with fluid records and a clean full-system scan, and avoid any car that has run in limp mode or judders at a steady speed.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

From the gearbox guide

1. Read the shift pressure data with XENTRY or an equal Mercedes scanner. Bad result: pressure deviations above 0.5 bar, or adaptation values above 30 percent. Those point to valve body wear.
2. Read the full gearbox fault memory with a full-system scanner. An engine-only OBD2 reader does not show it. Bad result: speed sensor codes P0717, P0718, P0722 or P0793, or any stored limp mode.
3. Test drive cold and warm, and pull away from a stop. Bad result: stuck in 2nd, slipping between 1st and 2nd, or limp mode at about 48 km/h (30 mph).
4. Hold a steady light throttle at about 60 km/h. Bad result: a shudder or hum. A scanner shows converter slip; 5 to 25 rpm is normal, and above about 80 rpm points to clutch wear.
5. Ask for the fluid invoices and check the fluid. Bad result: no change after about 80,000 km, dark brown or black fluid, a burnt smell, or a fluid other than the one for the build. A wrong fluid can cause code P0741. Red-amber is the correct colour.

Running costs

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

ADAC versions