Mercedes ML/GLE W166 in W167 GLE53 style: new-gen facelift – what’s included and is it worth it

Mercedes ML or GLE with the W166 body (2011–2018) can be converted on the outside to the style of the newer-generation W167 — in the AMG GLE 53 or GLE 63 version. For this, the catalog includes two GBT facelift kits with composite polypropylene (PP) bumpers supplied unpainted. The kit changes the front and rear, but not the silhouette: the roof, doors, glass, wheelbase, and interior remain from the W166. Below is what’s known about the contents, how the options differ, and when such a conversion makes sense.

Contents

• Quick overview of the W166 to W167 facelift
• How the ML, GLE W166, and GLE W167 differ
• Which kits are available for W166 and what’s included
• GLE 53 or GLE 63: which style to choose
• What to check before ordering: body, headlights, trim
• Is it worth converting a W166 to a W167
• If a full conversion is too much

Quick overview of the W166 to W167 facelift

• What changes. Front end and rear in W167 style: in the kit photos — an AMG front bumper with a grille featuring vertical slats, W167-style headlights, rear lights, and a rear bumper with a diffuser.
• What stays from W166. Roof, glass, doors, pillars, wheelbase, and interior.
• Material. Bumpers are composite polypropylene (PP); everything is supplied for painting and installs into the factory mounting points on the W166 body.
• Contents. In the product pages for the two W167 kits, the contents are not listed — the exact parts list should be confirmed with the manager before ordering.

How the ML, GLE W166, and GLE W167 differ

The factory code W166 applies to two vehicles. From 2011 to 2015 it was the Mercedes ML (M-Class). In 2015 the model was updated and renamed to GLE: a larger vertical grille appeared, along with new headlights, LED tail lights, and a different rear bumper. The body itself remained the same W166. The next-generation GLE — W167 — has been produced since 2019, and in 2023 it received an update with new bumpers and lighting.

The key takeaway from the table: the W167 has a wheelbase that is 80 mm longer and an overall longer body. That’s why a W166 in W167 styling looks like the new generation from the front and rear, while from the side the proportions remain the old ones — a trained eye will notice the shorter wheelbase and W166 doors.

Which kits are available for W166 and what’s included

On the Mercedes ML/GLE W166 facelift kits page, there are currently three sets, and next to them — a GLE63 AMG body kit for the GLE W166. The manufacturer of all four is GBT.

So there are two different goals. The “to W167” kits give the look of the new generation. The “ML to GLE” kit and the GLE63 body kit keep the car within the W166 family: an ML becomes the updated GLE, and a GLE gets the AMG exterior of its own generation.

GLE 53 or GLE 63: which style to choose

Both options are styling for the AMG versions of the W167, not a conversion into an AMG: the engine, brakes, and suspension remain from your car. The difference is in the character of the exterior:

• GLE 53 style is more restrained: a grille with vertical slats, neat air intakes, and a rear bumper with a diffuser and dual round tips on each side. It suits those who want the “new generation” look without emphasizing the most powerful version.
• GLE 63 style is a more aggressive front end of the most powerful W167 version. Choose it when you want maximum impact from the front.

The choice between them is a matter of taste, not compatibility: both kits are stated for W166 2011–2018. Before ordering, ask the manager for the exact list of parts in the chosen set — the GBT contents for the two versions may differ.

What to check before ordering: body, headlights, trim

• Body. ML models from 2011–2012 are often confused: in those years both W164 and W166 were on the market. Send the manager a photo of the front end to determine the generation accurately.
• ML or GLE. The bumpers, grille, and headlights of the ML and GLE W166 are different. Tell us which car you have — an ML up to 2015 or the updated GLE — because this affects which additional parts may need to be replaced.
• Lighting. If the car has factory xenon, the kit headlights usually connect to the factory wiring; with halogen, repinning may be required, and for the US version — coding. This work is done by an auto electrician.
• Sensors and camera. Confirm with the manager the parking sensors, front camera, and AMG Line package if it is already installed — the holes in the new bumpers should be checked before installation.
• Painting. All parts come unpainted to be painted in body color, so plan time and budget for prep and paint.

This is full bodywork: test fitting, adjusting panel gaps, painting, and final assembly. The kit can be installed at the network of certified DD Tuning service centers — the manager will advise the nearest one.

Is it worth converting a W166 to a W167

Yes, if the car is in good technical condition, you’re satisfied with its engine and interior, and only the outdated exterior bothers you: after the conversion, the front and rear match a modern GLE, while the car itself remains familiar and easy to maintain. It’s especially logical for cars that, after an accident, need a new bumper, headlights, or hood anyway — part of the repair costs can be redirected to the facelift.

No, if the goal is a true W167 with its longer wheelbase, new interior, and engineering: from the side and inside, the car will remain a W166. In that case it’s more honest to compare the real models — in our piece “New BMW X5 G65 or Mercedes GLE W167 Facelift”. And W167 owners may find useful the подборка “What to install on a Mercedes GLE W167”.

We covered the same “new generation on an older body” approach for the S-Class — in an article about the W221 facelift in the style of W222 and W223.

If a full conversion is too much

You don’t have to change everything at once. For the GLE W166 there is the GLE63 AMG body kit — bumper, grille, arches, and diffuser without replacing the headlights and hood. For the ML up to 2015 — the “ML to GLE AMG” kit, after which the car looks like the updated GLE of its own generation. The rest of the options are in the W166 body kit sets section and on the ML/GLE W166 tuning page.

The illustrations for the article are generated and are not photos of a specific vehicle.

We deliver with Nova Poshta throughout Ukraine.