Mercedes-Benz GLS Camshaft Replacement Parts

Yes, every engine variant of the GLS has at least one camshaft — it is a fundamental internal engine component present in both petrol and diesel engines regardless of whether they are turbocharged or naturally aspirated. The GLS has been sold in the UK with a range of four-, six-, and eight-cylinder engines, and each one uses camshafts to control valve timing. You will need to identify your exact engine code to source the correct one.

These two vehicles sit in different generations: the first-generation GLS (X166) ran from 2016 to 2019, while the second-generation GLS (X167) launched in 2020, and the two share no common engine architecture. Even if the engine displacement sounds similar — for example a 3.0-litre diesel — the engine codes differ between generations, meaning the camshafts are not interchangeable. Always match by engine code, which you will find on your V5C or via a VIN check, and confirm compatibility with the breaker.

Trim and badge names on the GLS reflect the engine fitted, so in this case they do point to a genuinely different engine — the 400d is a diesel and the 580 is a petrol V8, each with its own camshaft design. However, within the same engine variant, trim level in the conventional sense (equipment level, interior specification) makes no difference whatsoever to camshaft fitment. What matters is the engine code, not what seats or driver aids the car came with.

The 2022 GLS 350d belongs to the second-generation X167 platform and is powered by the OM656 inline six-cylinder diesel engine, though you should verify the exact code on your V5C or via a VIN decoder as Mercedes-Benz occasionally updates engine specifications mid-production. Providing the engine code to the breaker is far more reliable than quoting the model year alone, since a matched code ensures the camshaft profile, journal sizing, and timing system are correct for your engine. Confirm full compatibility with the breaker before purchasing.

If the engine code is genuinely identical, the camshaft itself is an engine-internal component and the vehicle body it sits in is irrelevant to fitment — a camshaft from a GLE or older GL (X166-era) with the same stamped engine code may well be the same part. This can actually broaden your search and increase the number of quotes you receive from breakers. That said, always quote the engine code to the breaker and ask them to confirm the part number matches before buying, as ancillary components attached to the camshaft assembly can vary.

Yes, fuel type is critical — petrol and diesel engines have entirely different camshaft profiles because the valve timing and lift requirements are fundamentally different, and the parts are not interchangeable under any circumstances. Even within petrol or diesel, different engine codes within the GLS range will use different camshafts, so knowing whether you have, for example, an OM656 diesel or an M176 petrol V8 makes a significant difference. Always supply your engine code to the breaker rather than just stating petrol or diesel.