Good morning all,

I have been researching G-Wagons for a few months now in preparation to purchase one. I’m interested in a 2002-2010 G500 or 55. Now I can do tech research all day long but when it comes to pricing I’m somewhat lost. Here’s what I’m looking at:

2004 G55 -approx 25,000miles $57,000. Overall it’s very nice with minimal wear and minimal rust underneath

2005 G55 Approx 66,000 miles $58,000 very nice and almost no wear or rust underneath

2007 G50 approx 107,000 miles $49,000 nice but obviously a bit more wear, only 2 owners since new

2005 G50 99,000 miles $51,000 in similar condition as those above

2003 G55 89,000 miles $55,000 also in aimilar condition

I’ve checked and all have good Carfax reports.

Except the ‘07 they are all from the South or Midwest so rust isn’t an issue.



There appears to be plenty of knowledge of this sight so I’d love you folks to share some and give me suggestions. Is the ‘07 with high miles going to be better then a ‘03 G55 with only 89,000?



Are these prices fair, high, low?

Is the ‘05 G55 the best of the bunch or the ‘04 G50 with only 26,000 miles? (Low miles is appealing but that low makes me wonder if the truck spent more time in the shop then on the road)



Are G-wagons similar to other cars when it comes to making an offer? Or due to their caché not come with much wiggle room? I’d think in this market and with $6 fuel prices buyers would have a bit of an advantage.



I’ve read on the forum that there is a fair amount of difference between the 02-04 vs the 05. Is this correct?



as always any help is appreciated!

 

Have you memorized this information? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merced...0%E2%80%932018)

Where are you getting the price data/listings?

What do you know about the service histories? What is a "good" carfax in your opinion?

 

I’ve read over the wiki info but prefer information from actual owners.

Listings can be found on autotrader or ebay

To me a “good Carfax” shows a vehicle with no wrecks, odometer roll back, and that has not lived the bulk of its life in an area known for having lots of winter weather that’s hard on cars. I also like to see any mechanical issues that have been resolved and the duration of time each owner kept the vehicle.

 

Have you driven one for any significant amount of time? Beyond the hype, they are actually quite awful to drive. Chasing the heavy steering wheel just to stay in your lane, distracting reflections from the side windows, bouncy suspension, cramped interior, poor turning radius, wind noise and poor tracking at highway speeds,etc. You already know about the fuel mileage. Repairs will be expensive as any shops who will work on them will charge extra (they won't tell you this) due to their difficultly. Hopefully this won't be a daily driver, that would be exhausting. If I wanted one (I don't) I would pick a G55 as you'll have a real AMG with a little more power and a known bulletproof driveline. The '04 with 25k would be my pick. And of course I'd try and negotiate the price. If it's still for sale, that means nobody's bought it ☺️ I'd never pay $50k for anything with close to 100k or more miles. Expect to have oil leaks to repair from the rear main seal and valve covers at this age. If you want something nicer to drive consider a GLE63.... with a warranty.

 

Thanks for the reply!
So regarding my purchase I have other vehicles so it will not be my only daily driver. I will however use it a lot, my drive to work is only 3 minutes each way. I am very lucky to have such a close office.
I have not been in one for an extended period of time however, I have owned a H1Hummer for almost 20 years and nothing can ride as bad as that thing! I love it, but It’s like driving a farm tractor! Even the civilian interior and independent suspension cannot cover up that awful ride! Like the fuel mileage I certainly would never own a Hummer or G-Wagon planing on a silky smooth ride.
im very mechanically inclined so what I can work on I will and understand that repairs will come up and in some cases they will not be cheap.
The ‘07 with over 100k miles seemed high to me and it sounds like you second this feeling. So that knocks one out of the race. I’m really torn between the 03, 04, and 05 G55’s. Can anyone give me a bit more advice on if there will be much difference. I’ve read the 03-04 will have a harsher ride (bet it’s not as bad as that H1!) and have also read the 05 offers significantly more power, can anyone attest for this?
Regarding the “hype” it’s really not any part of the driving force behind my interest in these vehicles. I like the design, engineering and capabilities of these machines. If anything the celebrity connection slightly turns me off from them.

 

I used to have a 5 minute commute and I was miserable. I found myself going the looong way even taking an on ramp somewhere just to enjoy my daily driver then. Today I hate this remote environment. I can technically work remotely and my job allows it but I go onsite anyway just to be able to drive.

 

My best advise is to get as much seat time in any G that you can. They're definitely not for everyone and take a bit of compromise to justify owning one. Maybe try renting one on Turo, finding a dealer with one willing to let you take an extended test drive, or asking around the forums if there are any local members willing to meet up and share their experiences. Here or ClubGWagen I found are the most active.

This is my view of the bunch after owning my 2005 G55k for the past 2 years/30k miles

- The 03-04 G55's have the harshest suspension, so it is a must to swap that out.
- The 2005+ G55's are 'softer' slightly but still very harsh. It's harsh on a whole different level than harsh on any other vehicle I've ever been in. So plan for changing out the springs and shocks. This can range anywhere from $2k to $10k+ depending on how normal or exotic you want to go.
- Pretty much everything E55GreaseMonkey said is true. But you should drive one and see if you're willing to look beyond all those fault and find the charm in the G platform. I personally love it and will be keeping mine forever, even if literally any other SUV is a better 'car' technically. I wouldn't compare it to something like a GLE63 since they're completely different vehicles.
- The 2005+ added the Kompressor/Supercharger on the 5.4L M113. This ups the power from the ~350hp range to ~500hp range. The increase in power is dramatic between the two, but I still won't consider the G 'fast'. It's more about the drama and sound than actually going quickly by today's standards. It will get up to highway speeds quicker than you would think given how heavy it is, and is definitely a riot to redline.
- 2005 also added the side curtain airbags and rear ISOFIX seat anchors if those are of any concern to you.
- 2007 added the Command system, so if you plan on any audio upgrades, the head unit/amp/CD changer are all linked, so you have to replace them all.
- At the 15 year/100k mile mark, you'll be due for a lot of maintenance - Rear Main Seal leak, valve cover leaks, new spark plugs (16!!) Wires, and Coils, Replacing rubber suspension bushings, Swivel Ball Seals, Tie Rods, etc.
- Any drivetrain issues will be a large job. There aren't too many shops familiar working on G drivelines, but think $4k if you need to rebuild an axle. Parts alone for seals, bearings, boots, etc is in the $1200 range.
- Most things on the G can be done DIY if you're used to working on heavy vehicles and have the tools (you've had a hummer, so you should be ok) - I've done almost everything myself except tearing into the axle.
- Test out the differentials are working correctly as they're usually never used and can get clogged/frozen
- You said little to no rust, but check the common spots - around the windshield, around any rock chip, top and bottom of all 5 doors, lower rockers, around all the other windows

If you want a novel to read, check out my thread as I tried to walk through my ownership over the past 2 years in detail.

I left some comments on the G's you listed.
2004 G55 -approx 25,000miles $57,000. Overall it’s very nice with minimal wear and minimal rust underneath
- super low miles and a higher price to reflect it. 2004's will command a lower sale price than the 2005's due to the lack of supercharger.

2005 G55 Approx 66,000 miles $58,000 very nice and almost no wear or rust underneath
- still pretty low miles. G55k's with this type of mileage were trading around this price for the past 2 years. Check BAT for references.

2007 G500 approx 107,000 miles $49,000 nice but obviously a bit more wear, only 2 owners since new
- 100k miles really isn't an issue, but it will be due for some normal maintenance that can add up. Price seems a little high but not too bad.

2005 G500 99,000 miles $51,000 in similar condition as those above
- The 2007 makes more sense for the price even with 8k more miles. The 2007 freshened up the infotainment slightly and the steering wheel/gauge cluster but that's about it.

2003 G55 89,000 miles $55,000 also in similar condition
- This seems expensive for a 2003 with these miles.

 

The 2004 with 25k miles would be the only one I would take a serious look at.

 

General rule of thumb is to find and buy the best example you can afford.

IOWs, newer is better than older.

A clean CarFax is nice to have but can't be relied upon 100% there is nothing bad in the vehicle's past. CarFax is only as good as the databases it taps into for its info. There have been a number of posts by owners who report that in some cases serious accidents did not show up on a CarFax report. These were previous owners of the vehicles in question and knew of the accident.

You need to be able to inspect the vehicle and to a level you can recognize signs of accident repair. If you can see this the quality of the repairs comes in for suspicion. The general rule of used vehicle buying is to avoid any vehicle with an accident or a story.

As for pricing all I can offer is price is not fact only an opinion.

However, currently used vehicle prices are strong -- though there are signs of softening. You can start your negotiation at a lower price -- you can always raise your lower offer to a higher offer but you can't ever lower your higher offer to a lower offer.

You can help your negotiation but having a list of vehicles. These don't all have to be G-wagons. There can be the G-wagon you are interested in at the top of the list followed by similar but *less* expensive models of other brands of vehicles with models listed similar to some degree to the G-wagon.

You want to impress upon the dealer that you are there to buy a vehicle today provided you can arrive at a mutually agreeable deal. If not you have a list and will visit the next dealer on your list and so on until you buy something.

This puts pressure on the dealer. He fears if he fails to make a deal you walk out and end up buying at another dealer. You won't be back the next day ready to pay his price. He faces paying a flooring cost for (or having his money tied up in) a vehicle that is losing value as the used vehicle market cools. If he sells he can floor less expensive models and several of them or use his money to buy less expensive models. He can swell his stock of used (or new) vehicles by several vehicles.

Be sure you are talking with the sales manager/general manager. A car salesman can only say no. A sales manager/general manager can say no too but they can also say yes to an offer the salesman would never accept even if he had the freedom to say yes.

Sure the dealer may tell you to take your low offer and hit the road and happy shopping. But maybe not.

 

there's a huge difference in the range from 03- 11'( a few hundred HP).... Carfax's are meaningless for these IMHO, most owners could afford to repair on their dime to avoid claims impacting resale...I can't tell you how many I looked at that had "stories" untold... Service is a huge factor, deferred maint. is a real thing..... these don't sit well, so low miles may mean leaks or other issues, or just lack of service....the newest 55 is 12 years old and almost all soft items are worth considering to be replaced. A PPI by a trusted Merc specialist is key - ask me how I know.....ugh. That said I love our new truck and consider it a "rescue" despite a lighter wallet, as it's flaws were limited and fit my larger build plan of a built motor. windshields and front axles plus pulling tranny codes and testing lockers are also all things I'd prioritize.

This board is a great resource - but I'd suggest driving one for an extended period.... as noted they all but demand a revised suspension setup and wider tires/ stance to be DD worthy...

Best of luck with your search and keep us posted.

 

The '05 G55 is the one I'd be looking at most closely. The supercharger definitely makes a difference. 66,000 miles isn't bad at all. There will be some maintenance items to address on it most likely (it's 17 model years old at this point), but a good independent shop should be fine. As you mentioned, you can do a lot of it yourself. As others have mentioned, they aren't "fun" to work on. Not much room in the engine bay, so it makes things tricky.

Somewhat silly question, but what colors are they? I'm basing my recommendation on the '05 being white, black, or silver. If it's some crazy color I'd probably be less inclined, or negotiate a significant discount from their ask. Mid $50K range is reasonable for that truck assuming a standard color. It's been trading in the range for the past several years, and probably won't go down much.

 

Know nothing about these two examples but they showed up recently at this dealer.

https://www.mbofnwa.com/used-invento...ositeType=used

 

Both vehicles I’m looking at are Silver with black interiors. Regarding the low mileage’04, the extremely low miles somewhat worries me since I have found ultra low miles to be a sign of just sitting. I was able to get extensive photos of both trucks and the ‘04 almost looks like it just left the factory; even underneath. Between the 04 & 05 there is an $8k difference in price and that could repair a good amount of deferred maintenance, replacing soft components or just fixing general repairs as needed.
Cars have been a hobby of mine for over 25 years and it’s a love hate relationship! The oldest I’ve owned was a 1908 Buick and newest Is a 2017 Navigator. My cars are an eclectic blend and some require more attention then others but none of them are “fun” to work on!

 

If my budget was $50K- $60K, I'd buy a new Rubicon instead of a 15 year old G. I have a '16 Rubicon and a '19 G550, and while the Jeep ain't a G, it's been a reliable and problem free ride over 55K miles, with only new tires (@45K), a new battery (@5 years), and oil changes (every 5K). IMO, any 15 year old vehicle is going to be an endless saga of surprise repairs, and a G's won't be cheap.

 

I would have to agree wholeheartedly either the 04 or 05 would be my pick. I was in the market back in '20 when my dealer had a 05 E55 with 82k miles asking 52k, but i choose to let it go after researching issues which prior member has noted. Seems most MBs have oil leaks, need call cover gaskets, and rear main seal leaks! Good luck with any purchases
R,
2Merks

 

Wait a couple weeks market is coming down and so will prices as there never was a shortage of G wagons as there are about 600 2018 and down on Autotrader alone.

I have a S Class for daily and just re bought a 2017 G63 after immediately regretting selling my 2015 G550. The newer version just isn't for me its too polished in the interior as how do you get in there after plowing through mud?

I know the early G55's had rougher suspension but they also handled fairly well. Call me the minority but I love the way the G Wagon drives and rides. It is a small car and coming from an S or 7 daily it is so easy to park and drive around town. It isn't a highway cruiser but thats not its intention.

The idea that it is so basic and vault like is its selling point for me. You state you have daily cars and that is ultimate G Wagon set up. As always get the best one you can afford. the early models may lack a few bells and whistles but are basically the same truck.

There is a Burgundy G500 on Autotrader for $50k that looks like good deal.