sim0628

Hello! This is my first post and need some insight. In the market for a Luxury SUV..looking at 2014 MDX, 2014 Lexus GL 460 and 2013 Mercedes GL

I did some research on reliability for Mercedes. I have not had much luck regarding the 2013 model and was wanting feedback. Also Intellichoice states GL350 Bluetec 2013 to be excellent in reliability wheres as the 450 to be poor. Why is that if they are the same group?

Wanting to find out how much trouble anyone has had with 2013 GL 350 Bluetec.

Many thanks!!

Sim0628

JimBarnhart

32K on mine and only issue I have had is one soft close door stopped soft closing.

43221B

That's a good question because mechanically they are the same except for the engine and I haven't really heard of a problem that is widespread on either of the engines. Can't remember reading of even one problem with the Biturbo V8. Both appear to be very reliable. Warping rotors seem to be the only problem common to most '13 GL's. That seems to be getting resolved. Just comparing complaints on this forum to what I saw the first two years of the X164 (07-12), it is night and day. The X166 seems to be very very solid. Sometimes sites like Intellichoice use data from older models to predict future model reliability. But that doesn't explain why they would say the Bluetec would be excellent in reliability.

sim0628

So in your expert opinions, has the GL been revamped since 2013 and has less reliability issues than previous years models? We are looking either into a blutec or gl 450. Consumer Reports gave it a low score on reliability based on previous years' performance. Maybe they have upped their game since 2013?

43221B

Redesigned for 2013. Totally different vehicle and yes, much more reliable.

Consumer reports knocks any expensive product. I canceled my subscription after I purchased a vacuum based on their rating. It was so heavy that the person that cleans for us didn't want to carry it up and down the stairs. Consumer Reports dissed the Dyson on its cost. I threw the Sears vacuum out and guess what, now I don't have to worry about our cleaning person falling or throwing out her back going up and down the stairs. It also doesn't cost me an arm and a leg to replace bags and I don't have to listen to complaints. If any part breaks, even from abuse, Dyson will send a new part, no questions asked. Cheapest isn't always the best.

Ed Wolcott

All I can tell you is that we have a 2014 GL Bluetech, and the reliability has been excellent so far (1 year and 17,000 miles). The panoramic roof seems to cause some trouble from what others in this forum have said. While we have a bare bones vehicle (only options were automatic, HID headlights, 3 zone climate control and a trailer hitch) it has been very satisfactory. Even with our basic vehicle, learning the control system takes some time, from what I have heard, the navigation is a complex system to learn (we use an add on Garmin--very easy to use and easily transferred to a rental car). One other trouble that some other forum users have mentioned is fuel injectors dying right after delivery, according to fabrisd, one our most knowledgeable contributors, this is due to the dealer filling the vehicle with gasoline instead of diesel.