Hello all,

Just got the news that my GL 450 has just arrived at the dealership. I will swing by on Monday to pick it up, and will take some photos as soon as I can. Below is the order sheet info. Any thoughts or recommendations when I pick it up in Houston and drive all the way to San Diego? Should I limit speed or mileage to a daily limit or is the vehicle going to be broken in after the first 500 miles?

Thanks



MSRP 2007 GL450 VIN : 4JGBF71E87A286254
PO : 0770520270
Dealer Information
MERCEDES-BENZ OF HOUSTON
GREENWAY
3900 SOUTHWEST FREEWAY
HOUSTON,TX 77027
Vehicle Information
20071 GL450
Region :Central
VPC :null
Code Description Price
GL450 $54,900
197 Obsidian Black $700
201 Black Leather $1,650
P01 P01 Premium I Package $4,500
U40 : Cargo Net
220 : Parktronic
242 : Power Passenger Seat w/Memory
249 : Autodimming Mirror
275 : Power Dr Seat & Steering Col w/Memory
389 : Phone Prewiring
441 : Telescoping Steering Column
500 : Power Folding Mirrors
519 : Rear Audio Controls
530 : DVD COMAND Navigation
536 : SIRIUS Satellite Radio
810 : Harman/Kardon Sound System
890 : Power Liftgate
R31 18" 5-Spoke Alloy Wheel
057 iPod Integration Kit $365
070 Chrome Package $85
218 RearView Back-Up Camera $500
219 Distronic $3,150
289 Wood/Leather Steering Wheel $540
319 319 Lighting Pkg: Curve-Illuminating Bi- $900
600 : Headlamp Washing System
615 : Bi-Xenon Active Light System
619 : Cornering Fog Lamps
324 324 Sunroof Pkg: Glass Sunroof, Power Re $1,500
414 : Glass Sunroof
848 : Power Rear Quarter Windows
334 334 Off Road Pkg: Adaptive Damping Sys, $2,200
U89 : Skid Plate, Front & Rear
214 : ADS-Adaptive Damping System
430 : 2-Locking Differentials
481 : Front & Rear Underbody Skid Plates
406 406 Multicontour Seats Pkg: Driver & Pas $800
404 : Driver Multicontour Seat
405 : Passenger Multicontour Seat
581 581 3-Zone Climate Control Pkg: Rear Cli $1,320
581 : Multi-Zone Climate Control
582 : Climate Control/Rear Compartment
596 : Infrared glass
731 Burl Walnut Wood Trim
846 Running Boards $500
864 864 Rear Seat Entertainment Pkg: Dual Sc $2,650
876 Interior Ambient Lighting
889 Keyless Go $1,100
SUBTOTAL $77,360
DESTINATION & DELIVERY $775
TOTAL $78,135
Pricing is subject to change. Mercedes-Benz reserves the right to make changes without
notification.

 

I don't know how it is for the gas engines, but for my diesel they recommended that I not use the cruise control for the first 1000 miles, vary the speed and go easy on the acceleration.

FWIW.

STP

 

Looks sweet. Just Drive it is what I say

 

Thanks for the recommendation STP and thanks for the compliment OKNISH. I had already planned on taking it easy and staying off the throttle, but I will heed your advice and curtail the cruise control for the first 1,000 miles or so. My route should give me inherent varying speeds, but I will attempt to throw some variation into the 1500 mile trip.

 

The only thing I avoided was wide open, full throttle acceleration for the first 500 miles...............check your tire pressures: should be 38 in the rear and 35 in front. Mine had 40 in the front and I could feel them "bouncing" a bit until I adjusted the pressure. Enjoy the ride.........I have never owned a finer vehicle of this type!

 

Get those pictures up as soon as you can! I've kept mine below 4500 rpm for the first 1k miles, which will be up by this weekend. Vary your speed/rpm's - don't cruise along at a set rpm for an hour.

 

Boxboss, you and STP have both commented on avoiding prolonged driving at the same speed/rpm. What is the story behind this? Does it have something to do with breaking in the engine? I can't even begin to predict the reason.

Thanks for the recommendation

 

The brochure indicates that ipod integration is not available with rear entertainment package. I have the rear entertainment package and was told the ipod kit would not be usable.

 

I'm actually going to the dealership in an hour or two to go see if my dealer got me a good deal. Nice looking car this gl450

 

Montesquieu,

Congratulations! Isn't it amazing how quickly a $54,900 vehicle can turn into one that costs $78,135? Nothing like $40,000 worth of options!

Have fun on that drive and let us all know what you think!

 

Looks like I need to learn how to use "Preview Post" before submitting, or at least not attempt math after enjoying a bottle of wine with dinner.

Anyway, meant to say... "Nothing like a boatload of options increasing the price over 40% above sticker." There! Let's see how that looks on the forum.

 

78K, just about every option you can get! Congrats, I'm eager to see pics!

 

Trust me all those options are frigging worth it. Now that these GLs are showing up in SoCal, it's a fun game trying to guess what option each has. My son is getting good at it too

I do wonder if montesquieu1748 (shorten that nick, bro ) got a deal. Did you order this car or picking it off the lot?

 

Amazing - what a loaded GL. Are the any options you missing? What did you end up paying? Did you go to Houston for a deal?

 

It is missing 2 options. Trailer hitch and heated second row. The trailer hitch because I wanted an excuse not to tow things, and the heated rear seats because I was told that they were mutually exclusive to the wood and leather wrapped steering wheel. I thought about ordering the heating package for row two, and adding the nicer steering wheel at the dealership, but thought it probably would end up being a problem. I figure I really won't get any use out of the second row heated seats.

As for a deal, I ordered it with all these options and I will let you know how I make out on monday when I pick it up. I am on the east coast right now, and will pick it up on monday in Houston because that is my hometown. I wanted to buy a vehicle that is registered in my state of residence and I knew the dealership in Houston. Had a really good rapport with the internet sales manager there. He was very helpful, and always got the answers I needed.

Also will post pictures as soon as I can. Just realize I am in the process of a move to SoCal from North Carolina so it is going to be a trip, and I am closing on a home in the next three weeks.

 

Concerning the Ipod kit, I think the brochure refers to the dealer installed rear seat entertainment system (single screen rear center console) that probably takes up the auxiallary jack in your electronic wiring. I believe the factory installed RSE (dual screen rear head rests) actually is wired in to be compatible, but I could be wrong. I will see on monday.

 

You're 100% right. You can have an iPod kit installed and have factory installed RSE. I have it and so do others. All iPod kit does is deletes the Aux Jack in Glove compartment (next to CD Changer).

 

It is true that you can't get wood wheel with heated second row seats. I can't figure out why since I prefer wood wheels. In my case, I mainly have two car seats in the rear seats so really don't need the heating. Plus, living in SoCal, I have only used the seat heating maybe once or twice.

 

Yes this is true, I went through this with mine and went for the wood wheel, it's really nice. The kids can have cold butts for a few minutes, I wanted the wheel!

 

Yes it does. I'm familiar with BMW and MB and engines from those companies (I suspect most HP engines) recommend a breaking in period.

The inital running of the engine/tranny sets up wear patterns and seat valves, rings, seals, etc. The theory is that if you run the engine at the same rpm for an extended time, these initial wear patterns will be in one place rather than "spread around." A better explanation than I can provide is here: Engine Break-in

 

Thanks for the link Boxboss, and OKNISH for clarifying the Ipod details.

 

Try moving to Colorado... you'll have those heated seats cranked from Labor Day to Memorial Day. My daughter (8) can hardly wait for the heated seats. She's a little tired of the Trailblazer's ice cold leather.

 

I don't have to move to believe you, bro. Your word is good for me

I like wearing shorts at Christmas time

 

Only bested by wearing shorts and a short-sleeve shirt, with the windows down on Christmas eve, calling ALL your relatives back in New England to see if they're going to the mall last-minute, too, and why don't they think of you in the pool while defrosting their hot toddies!

 

montesquieu1748 i know how you feel, i jus picked up a fully loaded gl450 yesterday and i love it. reaaly the best suv ever . . . i'll post pics later . . .