jj1400

Ok friends, now something really hard to decide....really need your help.
I currently own a 08 GL450, PO2 package, 31k, CPO.
I've been searching the internet and all said the GL is problematic. catch on fire, transmission not shift, etc...
In one year I have swtched 4 cars, from a 2007 ML500 to 2010 E350 (only 700 miles), and then I switched to an 2007 S, from an individual seller, even trade, yes, it's kinda a bad deal. The S broke down 2 weeks later, then I have no choice, I traded my S in plus 5k cash for this 2008 GL450 cpo. Now I really miss my E, at least it is new, and it will last. The GL is fine now except for some minor problem, such as transmission hash-shift in the morning when the weather is cold, like all other used cars.
Now I don't have extra cash to spend on this car,at least right now, so si the GL really last long? or should I just sell it for about 40k and get something cheapter but newer? I traded in my S for 45k and plus 5k for the GL, I do loss some money if I sell it now. but, guys, can this car really last a long time? someone said even if you take good care of it, it will break down and give you a surprise. Any comment on my transaction? It is the same as I trade in my 2010 E and plus 5000 cash for this 2008 GL. Am I really stupid?
Any advice is highly appreciated..

Innocent_Stud

My 07 GL450 is perfectly fine with over 68,000 miles on it which I daily drive.

I think you'll live. Just breathe.

jj1400

Innocent Stud, do you own this car from the begining? I bought it used but it is a cpo so should not have many problems. Do you experience the transmission problem as I did?

Innocent_Stud

Actually no. I got it used nearly a year ago with 50,000 miles w/o a warranty. Yes I did it without the warranty however if I have issues I just go to my pop's auto repair shop where he's got certified diagnostic equipment and has relations with the Benz dealer nearby.

Either way, I put over 18,000 miles already on it and it's fine with me. My transmission still shifts just fine under WOT and cruising. I nearly screwed the transmission once though by accidently pressing the Park Button while I was going nearly 25 mph...

BJ021

how cold is cold in the morning? If's it's truly cold as in under freezing, you need to let the big engine warm up a few minutes. At least take it easy driving starting out - let the fluids warm up. I've had my GL320 for over 4 years - zero issues. Same tranny... You shouldn't have much for issues with it - the fires were very isolated incidents. But in realty - any used car can have issues. Good luck.

aggst1

Nothing happens when you are cruising and accidentally you put it in Park. The software is programmed to ignore erroneous requests by the driver.

Innocent_Stud

Oh really? Explain the "weird crunching" noise my friend and I immediately heard and how the car involuntarily slowed down to a dead stop.

jj1400

The problem kicks in at around 35F in the morning, I can always hear a instant clutch noise (or I can describe it as "metal-like" noise) when the transmission shifts from 2nd to 3rd gear. After that, the transmission is fine but shakes when shifts--this only apply to cold morning. But the interest thing is, if I deeply press the gas pad to make the engine speed higer, the noise won't happen. Any thoughts?

JimBarnhart

I have 97,000 and 4.5 years on my 2008 GL450. My problems have been:
1) Comand unit broker, replaced under extended warranty
2) Shock and suspension air bag puncture...partially covered under extended warranty
3) Rear hatch motor and switch broke, replaced under extended warranty

So I don't believe I had any repairs under the 50,000 mile warranty and a few issues between 50,000 miles and 100,000. I don't consider this to be a problem car. There are people who have had issues, forums are a good place to find problems. I will say that MB's are expensive to repair, you need to realize that.

jj1400

Thanks a lot Jim. Now I can take a breathe. BUt as the car get older and older, you do "feel" it depreciate, right? It's just not as solid as when it is new, but may not have a problem. When I bought my 07 ML500 last year, it has exactly the same transmission issue as my GL.I guess I should just do some sort of transmission flush. Did you do it? if you did, did you transmission shift better after the flush? Oh by the way, I don't have a garage, is it really bad for the car?
Thanks

JHEM

I've got an '07 with ~55K miles and it feels as tight as when i got it, still draws approving stares and is a hoot to drive. So no, I don't "feel" it depreciating.
Neither are any of us.
Transmission flushes before 100K or more miles are basically a ripoff and can be harmful if performed by less than qualified individuals, like those capable of leaving drain plugs out of cars that are supposedly ready for pickup. Besides, aren't the transmissions on our GLs sealed units?

As others have mentioned in some of your other threads, just let it warm up a bit on cold mornings and see if things improve.
Out in State College? Yeah, probably not a good thing, but all my cars (save my wife's E class) live outdoors, are washed and waxed frequently and don't appear much the worse for the wear.

jj1400

JHEM thank you for your information and congrats on your Mercedes. My car dosen't have any problem when the egine is warm, I say warm, mean after driving for a few miles. I think not only the egine but also other parts of the car needs warm up. Does your S make you feel different in the winter?

aggst1

If you were driving at more than a few mph then the arrow under the P should not have been on and therefore the transmission would never have gone to P. These arrows show you the permissible gears you can go to at all times. Also, you can't go directly from D to P as you have to go to Neutral first. So you are the only one that can say what happened. You either put it to neutral, or put it to Park by pressing the selector twice but at low speeds. It's all in your manual.

JimBarnhart

I trust my dealer to tell me what I need to do.

aggst1

I don't have a GL but both my R and ML have the same transmission and both require transmission fluid replacement at 39K miles. I assume the same is REQUIRED for GLs. Don't listen to folks telling you it doesn't need anything for 100K miles. Listen only to the manufacturer that states so in the maintenance schedule.

Innocent_Stud

It's been a while but if you're talking about the gears, then I was likely still in 1st gear at around 20 mph when it happened.

Is 20 mph still "low" speed? I only pressed the park button once from memory. Never went into neutral.