Used Mercedes-Benz GLE Body Control Module

Yes, the GLE has a Body Control Module (often called the SAM unit — Signal Acquisition and Actuation Module — in Mercedes terminology), which manages a wide range of electrical functions including lighting, wipers, central locking and power windows. It is fitted across all GLE variants regardless of engine or drivetrain. If you have seen it referred to as a SAM module or ZE-SAM, these are the same family of units, so make sure you and your breaker are using the same terminology when getting a quote.

These two vehicles fall into different generations — the W166 GLE ran from 2015 to 2019, while the V167 GLE launched for 2019/2020 — so a 2016 W166 SAM unit is very unlikely to be compatible with a 2020 V167, as the electrical architecture changed significantly between generations. You should always source a SAM unit from the same W166 or V167 generation as your car. Confirm the exact part number with the breaker against your registration plate to be certain.

Trim level — whether your GLE is an AMG Line, Sport, or any other specification — does not fundamentally change the SAM unit in the way it does cosmetic parts. However, the SAM module is programmed to the specific options and electrical equipment fitted to each individual vehicle, so a unit from a higher-spec car may have been coded for features your car does not have, or vice versa. The part will need to be coded or adapted to your vehicle by a Mercedes specialist or using appropriate diagnostic equipment, regardless of which trim it came from.

The W166 Mercedes ML-Class and the W166 GLE share the same platform — the GLE was effectively a facelift and rebadge of the ML, introduced around 2015 — so there is a reasonable basis for compatibility between corresponding units from these two vehicles. That said, equipment levels and option packs can affect coding, and you should confirm the part number directly with the breaker against both registrations before buying. Never assume fitment without that check.

A 2017 GLE will be a W166, which was the generation produced from 2015 until 2019; the V167 replacement did not arrive in the UK until 2019. It matters significantly, because the SAM unit is generation-specific and a V167 unit will not swap directly into a W166. When contacting a breaker, give them your registration and ask them to confirm their donor car's chassis code matches W166.

The W166 GLE received updates during its production run, and while the overall platform remained the same, changes to electrical equipment mean the SAM unit may differ between earlier and later W166 cars. Naming the boundary precisely is difficult here, so you should give the breaker your full registration and ask them to cross-reference part numbers between your car and the donor vehicle rather than relying on model year alone.