Just wanted to get some feedback on some issues I have had with my GL450 with 11,500 miles and wanted to know if anyone else had the same issues and if so what was the resolve.. So her it goes:

Rear Brakes squeaking: Took to dealer, Replaced Pads, Covered under warranty.. Squeaking Stopped.

Front Brakes Squeaking: Took to dealer, Could not replicate, Taking to another dealer for second opinion. I read somewhere there was a recall on the front brake pads..

Noise when putting tranmission in gear: Motorized sounds for a couple of seconds whenever changing from Park to Drive to Reverse. Having this checked out at the dealer this week also.

Rubber Burning Smell: Posted Earlier on this one and can't figure it out.. Just glad to know I am not the only one having this issue. Will have this checked out this week also.

 

I have a GL320 CDI and have not experienced any of these issues. However, I have noticed the noise when putting the transmission into gear. That's been discussed here before and apparently is normal.

 

The trans. noise is normal.......aside from that and after 17,000 miles I have had no problems whatsoever!

 

9000-miles-no-problems

 

42,000 miles, have had it for a year and a half. The front brake pads have been replaced twice...still squeaking. I've got used to it by now.

Aside from that, its been absolutely perfect. Throwing around the idea of trading it for a 320...hmm.

 

Ok, here is my running list....

940 miles front main seal oil leak (repaired)

1100 miles dead battery (tested and showed a 4.6 amp draw with nothing on)

1356 miles DVD player dead

They had my car a week and all they did was reset the control module. The DVD system starting working again and the battery no longer showed a draw. Waiting to see what happens next and if it is really fixed

 

Have owned the vehicle for a little over a year & 21,000 trouble-free miles.

 

15 months and 15,000 miles. Zero problems.

 

9 months and 10,000 miles...perfecto!

 

You guys are making me jealous Though you do give me hope that once these "bugs" are worked out I should be in the clear

 

I haven't had a single problem with my 450.

Well, because I have a 320, and we have our own set of problems! HA!

 

"Problems" to date:

Squealing brakes--Not big enough of a deal for me to take it in....

Hatch/Liftgate--Sometimes it works right, sometimes it doesn't--Again not big enough of a deal for me to take it in although I probably should.....

Transmission--Had that hard downshift issue when I first got it but after first thousand miles have not noticed it........

Overall very happy although I can't believe I am going to replace tires at 20,000 miles..............

 

Ugh! Always the accountant!

 

One year, almost 14K and zero issues!

 

18452 miles: Problems:

1) Exterior lift gate failure, replaced by dealer (6000 miles)

2) Rear brake pads replaced because of squealing (5000 miles)

3) Front left strut replaced (12000 miles)

4) Airmatic failure, relay and compressor replacement (12500 miles)

Now, ask me if I love my GL450?! Yeah, baby!

 

I am at 21,500 in 12-months, NO issues, no service visits other than for the scheduled... Best first year of any car, including a 2-yr old Lexus IS-350

 

I think this is the post the gets me to 'member', so seems fitting that the post is about my experience with by GL450.

I bought mine with 8,000 miles on it, and I'm a little embarrassed to say I've put 14,000 miles on it in 7 months. Lot's of trips to Lambeau Field and horse shopping. Plus I'm experiencing "let's have Jim drive" when with others because they want to be in the GL (didn't have this with the ML500 before)

I'm at 22,000 miles and really haven't had anything wrong. My rear latch needed adjusting, but it's working fine now. I've had a few gremlins in the electrical system (e.g. sometimes the cruise control gets disabled where you can't set it without turning the car on and off).

I just had it detailed this spring for my birthday to get the winter muck out. It's one awesome ride.

 

Don't get me wrong.. I love my GL too... But they had a similar thread for my CLK55 and helped me out greatly when trying to diagnose and troubleshoot. Thanks again!!!

 

If you notice my signature, it says something like "Then: GL450 Premier Edition" well we used to have it until we traded it in for the ML63 because of all the problems we had. When we first bought the car, the car needed more oil, so we re-filled it, then about 2 or 300 miles later, it wanted more, so we gave it to it. We figured well its a new engine, its still in its break in period, maybe thats why it wants soo much. Then at around 800 miles, it wanted more, and at 1200 miles it wanted more. Finally, all of those urges for oil stopped for about 1000 miles, but during those 1000 miles, one day while driving, I got a message saying air compressor cooling down,..ohh, btw, weve gotten messages showing a picture of the car with an arrow pointing up, and underneath it said "MALFUNCTION" and also "VISIT WORKSHOP". Being this happened on Christmas Day, we couldnt take it in. So the next day, there were no errors or anything so we left it without taking it in. Luckily, for about a week it was fine until when driving, I got a message saying AIR COMPRESSOR COOLING DOWN. I thought that was a little strange but when I got home, the car was about an inch from the running boards touching the floor. No joke. So I got in, and it was driveable but I called Mercedes and had them tow it to the dealer and while it was there, I had them check why the car needed so much oil. Bottom line about the suspension, something in the front driver and passengers suspensions needed replacement. So that was replaced. But back to the engine, they decided to run some tests involving draining the oil, refilling, driving for 200 miles, emptying and refilling and adding 200 miles again, so they did and they came up with the conclusion that we had a defective engine and that the entire engine needed a replacement. So I went along with the repairs, luckily, no charges on my behalf, and they replaced it and it was all fine. Then later the charcoal canister needed replacing, so that was done, but the final thing that made me get rid of the car was when I pulled into a parking garage, and in a parking spot, I tried turning the wheel and it wouldnt move. So I got out and there were all of the cars fluids underneath and on the floor. So I called Mercedes Benz, Downtown Motors because I was in LA and they took the car, and also because I take my cars there for servicing, and then I called Mercedes Benz of South Bay, where I buy my cars and they took the car back because of lemon law, and I got a check for $81,000, the full amount I paid, (car was paid in full) and got the ML. I was actually shocked when they gave me full amount because the car was in 2 accidents prior and they were fully aware. But luckily, the ML has been trouble free. Can anyone top that? lol

Bottom line, the GL was the worst car we've ever owned. And yes I do understand it was one of the 1st 750 made.

 

That is one wild report! I believe you are the winner.

 

Haha! Whats my prize?

 

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. I have always tried not to buy the first production year of a new model or drive train. No matter how much testing they do at the factory, it seems like they always have issues to work out. This is one of the main reasons I ended up with a Silverado Duramax, after driving Ford diesels for 25 years. I didn't want to be the "guinea pig" for testing Ford's new engine.

 

I bought a first year model redesign Honda Accord in 1985. Honda had completely redesigned their 1986 models and I bought one...it was my first new car. Up until that time, I had always driven a Ford. I bought a Honda because everybody told me how great & reliable they were.

I should have had Honda buy back that lemon 1986 Accord! But I was 18 at the time and didn't know any better. It was in the shop at least a dozen times in the first 6 months I owned it. The automatic transmission died at 70,000 miles. I replaced the transmission (Dad was a mechanic) put another 70,000 miles on the car & sold it.

After all of the initial bugs were worked out, it was a good car (minus that tranny problem). I went on to buy a '92 Accord and an '05 Civic.

I was hesitant to buy the GL because it too is a first production year model (I have an '07), but so far it's been super reliable and I love it. My love for the design outweighed any concerns I had about first production year issues. But hey, I'm a girl and we sometimes ignore facts and go with our hearts

 

I have your car!!! I bought it at South Bay...

 

Should've waited a year to buy that Civi...I bought my daughter an 06 Si. I LOVE that car.

I agree. I was very nervous about owning not only a first year vehicle, but a totally new model for MB. However, I too have been quite pleased.