sraza

thank GOD , no codes yet-- seems like a crank shaft sensor, maybe battery (showing low voltage- it is also really old).. full diagnostics in progress at this time..

any reply/suggestion is appreciated

alx

no, no... you want codes.

the worst problems are ones that dont log anything.

sraza

this is true--
today the crank sensor was changed- now just in verifcation mode--

sraza

was the crank sensor- sorry late post here- it was faulty when hot- and apparently gives no codes but it when it doesnt crank its because its hot and then works when cooled off- its the time to change it--

SoCalBenz

Wow! A lot of GL owners with similar problems. We also have a lot of friends that have had electrical issues, trim peeling, suspension, and other issues with the vehicle. It was great when it wasn't in the shop, but ultimately too unreliable for us and Mercedes (including two dealers) were not willing to help.

So, for the first time in 17 years I am Mercedes free. We traded the GL450 for an Infinity JX. It has a bit less power, but surprisingly, more interior space, a lot more bells and whistles, and it drives less like a 5,000 pound truck and more like a car for my wife. We've been very happy. Better gas mileage, but I do miss the power at times.

I bought a Tesla Model S and retired an E55. The Tesla is by far the best vehicle I've ever owned -- by a factor of 2. Game changing on every level. I told my BFF mercedes dealer that if Mercedes made a car half as cool then I'd come back to Mercedes. The Tesla is a rocket, it is 100% electric, 300 mile range, $25/1000 miles, no oil change, no fluids, no emmision checks, no maintenance, no nothing! This car is the future. Driving any other car now feels like using a rotary-dial telephone.

zam2000

I have 09 Gl450, bought exactly one year ago. CPO warranty expire tomorow.

Car has 64k mile, looks and drives beautifully, when not in shop for repair. My wife only drives 5-6k mile a year.

Over the last 12 months, several visits to dealer, for just about everything seen here: sunroof, door lock, command/gps, steering rack, steering pump, both front struts, cps sensor, battery, some trans sensors...

The stack of repair records is thick. All repairs could add up to $15k easily if not for cpo coverage.

On top, I travel a lot, and the truck often broke when I am about to leave, or away from home.

I have been shopping for ext warranty, but most of the quotes were too high. I was contemplating selling the truck and get my wife a Lx570 instead.

Yesterday, via this forum, I found one dealer in east coast who sold the Mb ext warranty for another 2 years, at very reasonable price, so I bought it. I figure whatever poorly built, would go out in next year or two, and once bad parts are flushed out, it should be a decent truck.

Of the 4 years I have the escalade Esv and 6 years I owe the S, hardly have to repair anything. I bought ext warranty for the escalade when the org warranty expired, but have not used it so far (a year)

jw1977

I have an 07 GL450 with 57,000. THis is driven and pampered by my wife. She loves the car but thank god we have an 3rd party extended warranty which we still have a year left of. So far we've had to replace the rear door lock, transmission reset, cam plugs leaking, power steering reservoir, both front struts, rear suspension, centrifuge, window trim, seatbelt replacement. As i mentioned, she still loves the car and how it drives but I don't think i can justify keeping it past the aftermarket warranty. I'll probably end up getting one of the new bodystyle GL's since there aren't that many options if you need 3 rows with storage capacity.

flint8521

07 GL450 with 110,000 miles; bought it new, mostly highway miles;

no warranty anymore; have the peeling (parked outside in the NE so not abnormal); replaced airbag suspension recently for $800; have broken control button (GPS etc.) which I was quoted $700 at dealer so did not fix; have now trunk refusing to latch (is in shop right now to estimate); other than that not much I remember fixing;

The thing is what do you need to spend to replace the power, the room (7 seats), the luxurious finishing inside? Maybe better to spend $2000 per year in repairs on a truck only worth $20,000, than buy a $70,000 new replacement of lesser quality.

Not saying it's right things are breaking down, but the new cars they make aren't made as well as the old ones. Would hate to give up my 07 GL 450, it looks as new inside (other than the fact I cannot operate my GPS anymore).

Cali_ML

Which dealer and how much?I'm also looking to purchase extended warranty and my local dealer was asking $3.8k for 2 years.

efibendor

2007 GL450 69K Miles : peeling, seat belt, front struts, navigation, power steering pump, balance shaft. Will not be buying MB again. 7 seater with storage? heck Honda Pilot has 3rd row seats for adults and even more storage then that. VW is working on a 7 seater. if maintenance cost are a consideration, forget the star.

philfna

Had 09, and now an 11 no major issues other then the airmatic issue. Car is garaged, but by no means is it babied...I always get the CPO warranty, and trade in before it expires. I'd never own a Mercedes without a warranty. Heck any german car without warranty. I've had BMW's and Audi's same issues with different models.

I'd agree the Tesla is by far the best car I've owned in terms of cool factor, and torque the way the battery is in the undercarriage creates an amazing center of balance in that car. BUT our dog and our luggage with guests won't fit in it. Ironically the cockpit has many mercedes parts in it...

Anyway for my money the GL350 diesel is the only option for a truck.

PieWalt

I have been a MB advocate for years. Family has been, I even worked for the brand for years. Always loved the product but my 07 GL450 has been a train wreck as well. Only 63k on it and driven lightly in the Chicago suburbs by my wife. Here's my list

- On my 4th set of tires
- Ball joints went at 45k
- Problems with alignment and pulling since purchased
(Between 4 dealers in CT and IL, none could get it fixed right)
- Exterior rear door moldings fell off
- Power steering pump leaking
- Rear lift gate motor crapped out
- Cover for vanity light on passenger sun visor broke off
- Ash tray spring worn out and not working
- Rear seat entertainment operates only sporadically
- Air suspension sensors needed replacement
- Cam shaft adjustment sensors went bad
- O2 sensors needed to be replaced


I literally cannot turn around without something else falling apart or not working properly. I am really disappointed and honestly think this will be my last MB. My wife is already looking at a Toyota Sequoia because she can't wait to get out of our MB and just wants something that she can count on.

kochie

My 2007 GL 450 had front and back struts go and almost kill me. Replacement cost installed was $3,643.25. Although not completed at Mercedes, I checked and price was going to be slightly higher there. parts came from Mercedes.

My GL, third Mercedes vehicle owned, has been a HUGE disappointment. I will not buy MB again.

boxster964

I don't drink the coolaid but i love cars, its my drug of choice. But i cannot stand this POS any longer it has been the worst car i have ever owned. Also the dealership was a absolute joke they call them advisors (aka idots with clever title) knows nothing about cars. These morons had my GL320 for 3 months to replace a turbo. Some how my GL stopped running while it was there PS i drove it into the shop in limp mode to them it ran fine started but could not go over 35mph. I purchased the GL320 with 43k on it thinking low milage would give me less problems and longer life. Boy was i wrong this thing breaks on MONTHLY BASIS.
43K TURBO $5000.00
43.5K Sunroof motor
45k exterior moldings peeling
45K DIESEL GLOW PLUG RELAY
48k front stuts airmatic faults
the whole time ac vents falling apart you go to shane the air vent direction and it falls apart in you hand. 3 vents need replacing.
between the total incompetence of the dealership and extreme low quality parts.
i can assure you i will never be so stupid as to buy such a peace of extremely over rated crap.
all of my other cars from the 1980 to 2015 together have not been broken as much as this one poor excuse of a car.
The 1st owner apparently traded it so some poor idiot AKA ME could continue to provide full financial support for Merceds Benz service.

Ben_Caron

I traded *up* to a 2007 GL450 from a Lexus GX470 because of the more comfortable third row and the more car-like road manners. Outstanding engine and 7-speed tranny but everything else around the power-train is flimsy, poorly built, poorly assembled, unreliable and prone to breaking, cracking, peeling, rusting and burning out just by looking at it.

My experience with the GL past the 40,000 km mark? A very pricey lemon...

N_Jay

I would post how well my 2008 (purchased in Jan 2013) is doing at 121K (purchased at 96K), but I don't want to jinx my luck.

alx

Most of th x164 do and age well. We just hear about the bad ones from vocal owners. True story.

Once the front shocks, rear bags, compressor, tranny valve body and cooler seals (for the cdi) are replaced they are pretty much bullet proof for a loooong time. Throw in the ocassional cv joint or two... But I am starting to see cdis with over 300k miles still clattering nicely

The adblue years however have problems with adblue heaters, pumps and nox sensors. Somewhat annoying...

N_Jay

I purposely avoided the Adblue and only shopped 07 and 08 cars.
Mine is dead center, with a first month build date for an 08.
I actually looked at an almost identically equipped 07 with a build date in the previous month. The only noticeable difference was the center console glove box cover.


Good to hear others are seeing long lives, as my minimum goal is 200K, and assuming nothing bad happens I can see keeping it as a work truck as long as I can.

BlownV8

The first 100,000 miles were more problematic than the second 100,000 miles on my 450. It has been an amazing car. It is still so tight I can't believe it.

eric_in_sd

I'm hoping you're right. I'm at 110K and hoping to squeeze another 50K out of it. I now have a catalytic converter issue, but I'm hoping changing the downstream O2 sensors will straighten that out. Drinks a bit of oil, too, but it shouldn't go intolerable in the time I want to own it.

Ben_Caron

In other words, once you paid twice for nearly all the major components, you'll get one decent life out of your GL! That's the opposite of Acura and Lexus, i.e. pay once, get two cars' worth in terms of durability!

Anyhow, yesterday my windshield wipers started doing a "clunking" noise on every pass... More joy from my luxury lemon!

eric_in_sd

That's a feature, not a problem. In your COMAND menus, you can toggle "Windshield Wiper Clunk" on and off.