Second Hand Mercedes-Benz GLS Drive Shaft

These are two different generations: the first-generation GLS (X166) ran from 2016 to 2019, while the second-generation GLS (X167) launched for 2020 onwards, so the two share no platform and a drive shaft from the X166 will not cross over to the X167. Even within each generation, fitment depends primarily on the engine code rather than the model year alone, so supply your engine code (from your V5 or a VIN check) to the breaker to confirm an exact match. Never assume year-to-year fitment across a generation boundary.

The engine code is the single most useful detail you can supply — drive shafts are engineered around the engine's output and gearbox pairing, so two GLS models from the same year but with different engines (for example a GLS 350 d diesel versus a GLS 500 petrol) will need different shafts. The year alone is not sufficient, and using it without the engine code risks ordering the wrong part entirely. Check your V5 or run a VIN check to find your exact engine code before approaching a breaker.

Trim level does not affect drive shaft fitment — AMG Line, AMG Line Premium, and base-specification GLS models share the same mechanical drivetrain components for a given engine and gearbox combination. What the trim level changes is cosmetic and interior specification, none of which influences the driveline. Confirm your engine code and gearbox type with the breaker and the trim name can be set aside entirely.

Both 2016 and 2017 GLS models sit within the first-generation X166 platform (2016–2019), so they share the same basic architecture and a shaft from 2016 may well suit a 2017 car. However, fitment ultimately follows the engine code and gearbox type rather than the year, so match these details first and ask the breaker to verify there were no mid-run specification changes against your specific registration. Do not assume the year match alone guarantees the part will fit.

This question spans a generation boundary: the first-generation GLS (X166) ended production in 2019, and the second-generation GLS (X167) began for 2020, bringing a new platform and substantially revised drivetrain. A drive shaft from a 2019 X166 is very unlikely to be compatible with a 2020 X167, but whether any specific shaft crosses that boundary should be confirmed with the breaker against your registration rather than assumed either way. Supply your engine code and gearbox type to give the breaker the best chance of finding the right match.

Yes — fuel type reflects a fundamentally different engine family, and the drive shaft specification is matched to the engine's torque output and the gearbox paired with it, so a shaft from a diesel GLS 350 d should not be assumed to suit a petrol GLS 450 or GLS 580 without checking. Always give the breaker your engine code alongside the fuel type and gearbox type (automatic in all UK GLS variants) to narrow down the correct shaft. Confirming against your registration is the safest step before any purchase.