how good/bad is mb reliability these days?..really......an honest answer would help.

 

Did you attempt to do a search? There are tons of recent threads regarding reliability. It may not be as good as the Japanese yet, but I would say that it's coming back.

 

I don't know about the Japanesse comparison. They may have had the quality in the 80's and 90's but Toyota for example has had numerous recalls this year and last. I think more than even Chrysler.
I was once a steel rep. to many of the manu. plants in the US. I think I have been in all in the US and I was most impressed by Mercedes in Al.

 

i'm asking, because if i am going to spend 70k on a mb, the gl450, i don't want it to be in shop most of the time, or have break down..etc...can i confidently buy a mb and not worry about these things or should i be reluctant and buy a lexus or a buick, the enclave, for that matter?....
then again, neither those are a "mercedes"...if you know what i mean...

what do you guys think?

 

How long can you wait? Have you test driven one yet? IMO, I'd probably wait a year or two until they get the problems fixed, and by then it may get a more powerful engine.

 

they are usually nothing more than an electrical issue. Our 04 ML has had ZERO problems, and our 03 E320 has only had radio issues.

 

Concur. Having had quite a few MBs, most issues are quirkiness, not disabled vehicle conditions.

MB is generally excellent in standing behind their product, and if you do have to take it in, you can schedule an appointment where a FREE loaner car is available. The loaner cars, at least in my area, are always MB vehicles. So, at least if you are incovenienced, you are not driving around a piece-of-junk Chevy or something.

 

A close friend is a shop foreman at a local MB dealer and he is always honest about MB's recent quality issues and has mentioned to me that the GL is one of the best cars he has seen come out of MB in some time.
He wants to get one for himself.