GL420 Head gasket issues

[Mercedeschris]

Afternoon.

I have recently sold my ML420 CDi as I do a lot of heavy towing and wanted to replace it with a GL extra length makes a much better towing vehicle. A friend of mine is getting shut of his 2009 with 102k on it. He's been told the head gaskets have gone!! I've had a few OM629 ML/GL with much more mileage IE 180k plus. and never had an an issue with coolant loss.
So before I jump in an buy it has anyone on here had coolant loss problems on ML/GL420s?? My friend said he had the low coolant light come on out of the blue....thought nothing of it topped it up and a few days later on again. He notice coolant had been overflowing at the header tank...the brown colour staining was all over the inner wing.
Said he had it diagnosed and confirmed head gasket/gaskets gone and a million pounds to repair (slight exaggeration) but needless to say a large bill.

Any feedback greatly appreciated

 

[AndrewOl]

I had a 2006 GL420 with over 150k on it. Engine was sound using no coolant or oil to speak of. The engine was about the only thing that didn’t go wrong with it! Still miss Big G though.

 

[grober]

Mercedes-Benz OM629 engine - Wikipedia

Exquisitely engineered complex engine almost certainly built with the aid of robotics in the factory-split-level aluminium block with cast-iron liners----so many bolts to be torqued accurately! so many surfaces to be machined accurately ! the list and expense goes on and on----good ones will go on forever but once thermally compromised I reckon they are beyond economic repair in most cases? good luck

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