evoddoc

Hi all,
I plan to buy a local one owner 2003 G500 with 172K miles. I know it has many miles and I will have a PPI done after we agree on a price. However, I just want to know if it is worth pursuing or if it is a money pit. I do not know much about the reliability and problems with this model year.
Thanks all

pdeacon

It has more of a potential of being a money pit than not. If you are pursuing this deal because of what appears to be a cheap price be sure you have adequate reserves to attend to its needs going forward. In my experience you might be better off combining those reserves with a purchase price for a later model lower mileage vehicle. A high mileage G can reduce your bank account pretty rapidly.

Floobydust

In my limited experience, the engine and transmission in the M113/722.6 G500s seem to mechanically go forever, so high mileage is probably of no concern here. But G550s do seem to have a couple of unofficial "maintenance" schedules in addition to the usual service items that need to be considered. Front wheel bearings, CV joint boots, homekintetic shafts and shaft boots, and steering components seem to need service/replacement every 80K-100K miles so a vehicle with 170K on it may be approaching its second time around on some of these. If you can't DIY these, they can set you back some significant money (if you can even find a mechanic who can do it). The second schedule consists of random, but regular failure items like transfer case motors/controllers, window regulators, window regulators (yes, that's on purpose), door latches and power lock actuators. These will annoy you and will cost some money to fix, but they are probably no more likely on a high mileage G than a lower mileage one. The value of older, high mileage G500s seem to bottom at around $25k range more or less regardless of their condition. If all of the maintenance has been done (which is rare), this could represent a decent value. But more often that not, you are better off going for a lower mileage, newer G. For what it's worth. . . .

invictusmaneo

Clean 80-120k G500s from 02-03 hover around 30-35k depending on how meticulously maintained and the condition..crappier/questionable, and higher mileage versions go down from there but as mentioned seem to bottom out at 25k.

Rust is an issue (on all parts, and esp body since it is expensive to fix) on the older trucks. Rubber parts wear and cause leaks/failures as is usual. Otherwise I agree, mechanically they are great. As long as maintenance is kept up, it is no different than a lower mileage version (except you'll need to expect the usual round of higher mileage needs like spark plugs and cables, diff fluids, etc.) This mechanical robustness seems to be better than the newer 550s and any 7 speed truck. That being said, they are all victim to the same issues in terms of seat switches, lock actuators, window regulators, transfer case motors, etc...and they can add up quickly. The only oddball thing I've had pop up recently is one of my motor mounts has collapsed and I am at 118k, The bill to do all the mounts is about 1500, so not terrible.