mkaresh

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Looks like you have a 2008. It'll probably be a few months before I start collecting data on the 2008s, depends on how soon enough are signed up that it looks like I'll end up with a usable amount of data.

With the 2007s, I have responses from 16 owners for a total of 40 months. To post a result, I need at least 15 owners (that parts done) and 45 months. So between two and five more 2007 owners will have to respond, depending on whether they've responded in past months.

mkaresh

Now 17 owners with 44 months total. It doesn't get any closer than this--one more response will do it. Since there is another week left in the data collection, the GL will most likely be in the next set of results.

There will be an asterisk for insufficient sample size. I'd like to have more responses the next time around, to get rid of that asterisk.

Also might be able to start collecting data on the 2008 soon. Among Mercedes owners, GL owners have been the most helpful. Thanks, guys.

Vehicle reliability research

dunderhi

I joined tonight, so I think you should have made your minimum. Good luck.

mkaresh

Thanks. Made the minimum, and posted an asterisked result (for insufficient sample size) to both the site and this forum.

With more participants, we can get rid of that asterisk with the next update, in February.

As it is, this is the first Mercedes I was able to provide a result for--thanks, guys.

Auto reliability research -- need more GLs!

mkaresh

I'll know in about a month whether enough people have responded to get rid of that asterisk. It's possible but not likely, as 31 owners of the 2007 are signed up. A few more could make all the difference.

12 2008s signed up already, a strong start. If this keeps up there should be an initial result for the 2008 in May.

Auto reliability research

mkaresh

19 responses so far, need 25 by the end of the month to get rid of the asterisk with the February results.

Need more participants for both 2007 and 2008.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

Ended with 19, so there will be an asterisk. But a result nonetheless. Thanks, guys, for making this possible.

With more participants, we can get rid of that asterisk in the nect set of results.

For the details and links to the enrollment forum:

Vehicle reliability research

infamily

I just signed up .. I have GL320, hope your data is by model type and not just combined for all GLs

mkaresh

I review the repairs reported for a model. If many of them are powertrain-related, I then report results by powertrain.

This has only been necessary in one case so far, but will probably be more common with older vehicles. Most of the combinations in the current results are 2006 or newer. With newer vehicles, powertrain problems tend to be rare.

mkaresh

Updated results for the 2007 in May. No results for the 2008 until more owners have signed up. Additional 2007s would also be helpful.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

So far we've received 20 responses for the 2007 and 11 for the 2008.

Need at least 15 for an asterisked result and 25 for a full result.

So in both cases another 4-5 participants would be very welcome.

Even with the very small sample sizes, the repair rates are very similar, suggesting that neither is far off the mark.

To help us provide the best possible results for your year:

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

Updated results for both years next week. The number of responses is marginal, but the results are identical for both years, which suggests that they are reasonably accurate.

Would like to have larger sample sizes with the next update. Additional particiipants would be very helpful.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

Those results have been posted.

They weren't quite identical in the end for both years, but were still close enough that the difference could be a matter of the small sample size.

Both years appear to be worse than average, but not much worse.

With the prompt quarterly updates, we'll be able to track any changes, for better or worse, as these GLs age.

For the full set of results, and sign up to help (if you haven't already):

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

mkaresh

Updated results in August, with a preview for participants this month.

The results for the GL will probably still be asterisked, for marginal sample sizes. A few additional participants would be very helpful.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

It's looking like we'll still have those asterisks.

If you've signed up to participate but haven't yet responded to the survey (via a link in the email you received), please do. And if you haven't signed up yet, I hope you'll consider doing so. I'd really like to get rid of these asterisks and provide more precise results.

Vehicle reliability research

occarfan

I signed up all 3 of my car/SUV

mkaresh

Thanks, I appreciate it.

The August results include both the 2007 and the 2008, again with asterisks because the sample sizes are low.

The 2007 is now about average, while the 2008 is worse than average. When they were newer, the 2007s had a repair rate much like the 2008s now appear to have. So this might be a case of an issue or two in the first year, and then fewer problems after those are taken car of.

Or it might just be a matter of imprecise results from small sample sizes.

More precise results are possible--just need more participants.

The latest set of results:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

sfgold

I signed up my 2008 GL450, which I just bought on August 23rd. Looking forward to participating and reviewing the reports. I'm hoping I don't have too many repairs to report!

mkaresh

Que sera sera...but I doubt you'll have many to report, very few people do these days.

Another 2008 is certainly appreciated--nearly twice as many 2007s are signed up.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

Updated results for both the 2007 and 2008 soon.

Additional participants would be very helpful.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

It's been three months, so the results for the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class have been updated again.

Repair rates, in terms of successful repair trips per 100 vehicles per year:

2007: 125, worse than average

2008: 99, worse than average

Sample sizes were small for both years, so these results can only serve as rough indicators of the actual repair rates. With additional participants, we could provide more precise results in future updates.

For the full set of results, and to sign up to help:

TrueDelta Vehicle Reliability Survey results

mkaresh

This month's survey is the last before the February results. Sample sizes have been marginal for the GL-Class, so additional participants would be very helpful.

Mercedes reliability research

mkaresh

We have updated results for the GL-Class. In terms of successful repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2008: 150, worse than average

2007: 134, worse than average

In both cases the sample size is marginal, so on the site these results are asterisked and visible only to members. Their similarity does suggest that these results are accurate. Oddly, we have far more people signed up for the 2007, but more owners responded for the 2008. I'm baffled by the low response rate for the 2007.

A big thanks to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May, August, and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

We now have a separate results page for each model that includes the results for competitors. The page for the GL-Class:

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class reliability comparisons

mkaresh

In a little over a month we'll start previewing the next set of results to participants. More always helpful.

Car reliability research

mkaresh

That preview soon. Hoping for a better response rate for the 2007 this time around.

In other news, I've added all UK powertrains for Mercedes to the database. So people with a non-US powertrain can now also participate in our real-world fuel-economy survey. Results so far for the GL-Class here:

Real-world Mercedes-Benz GL-Class gas mileage