rich4368

2007 GL450 Black/Black, only options are Black Leather, Ambient Lighting & Sunroof package. leased on 9/2/2006 for 39 months.
Here are some numbers on the lease contract:
Amt paid at lease signing: 5000
Gross Capitalized Cost: 55357
Capitalized Cost Reduction: 3443
Adjusted Capitalized Cost: 51913
Residue Value: 35883
Depreciation: 16030
Rent Charges: 12669
Total Base Monthly Payments: 28699
Divide by 39 months: 735/month + taxes
Mileage allowance 48,750
Bought in California Bay area

My lease ends on 12/2/2009
Residual Value: $35,883
Odometer reading 35,000 miles
A couple of small dents on the side door (from those irresponsible drivers at the parking lot) not noticeable unless looked very closely.

I have just completed these services within last 2 months due to messages on the dashboard or worn out:
Rear Brake - $300
Service A - $250
Changed 4 tires (Yokohama V4S - pretty good tires and reasonable priced, better than Dunlop SP5000 it came with, which were too soft) - $700

During the service A a few weeks ago dealer fixed an oil leak by replacing oil pan gasket under warranty. He said they also did a computer software update. Since this repair my car's acceleration has suffered, it doesn't accelerate like before (used to hear the V8 is roaring and the car accelerates immediately with just a tap on the accelerator). I notice this because my commute route requires me to do a lane merging with on going traffics and loved that acceleration. Now the gas pedal feels a little spongy and takes a second or so for car to accelerate. I brought it back to service advisor at dealer and he kept saying nothing wrong, in order to prove his point we did a test drive. He would hit the gas pedal really hard so rpm goes above 6 then the car accelerate really fast. I told him I didn't need to hit the pedal that hard, still said nothing wrong.

Two questions:

1. I called Mercedes Finance and try to negotiate down the price they refused. I spoke to the sales Manager at dealership and he said will try to negotiate with MBZ Finance but nothing reduced. I like the car except the problems mention in question 2. Should I keep the car at $35,883 with low mileage 35k? I was hoping to get it around $32k which were the Auction prices in Nevada that the Sales Manager showed me. How can I get that?

2. The acceleration suffers and felt like not a V8. I did notice a slight improvement in mpg. We had minor problems like replacing the door lock, engine oils leaking and worn wipers. All replaced under warranty. Being a first production year car and low Mercedes reliability, 4 year/50000 warranty is coming up, repairs are very expensive. Do you think this acceleration issue is common and should I still keep the car?

Thankyou so much in advance and all comments welcome. I need to decide by 12/2/2009.

AMGTTV8

Hopefully I can give you some worthwhile advice...

1 - MBF won't negotiate - don't waste your time

2 - You leased the car, why would you want to keep it? Just roll-over into a new one - it makes no sense to assume the asset (we all know what depreciation has done recently)

Unless you are somehow mentally attached to the car let it go and lease another one (if you liked it enough to purchase again)

Can you justify purchasing it as-is from a financial standpoint? I can't.

Best,

Chris

rich4368

Chris, Thanks for your reply.

2. I was thinking since I paid for 48k miles but used up only 35k miles there are some values in the asset that I might enjoy for another 3 years (versus leasing a new GL450 or the bluetac, which are my 2nd options). I am thinking if the GL gas engine and > 95% of the car still the same then there is not much incentive for me to change. Leasing another one for 3 more years is about the same cost that I will pay right now to buy it off. My big concerns are the reliability issues and costs of repairs after taking the ownership. You're right that I grew to love the GLs.

MKW

Then why drive a three y/o car ( with this new " updated " throttle response you abhor ) that will be out of warranty in 9 months , when for the same monthly cost you can drive a new GL with all the improvements since '07 , fully warranted ?

AMGTTV8

+1

AMGTTV8

maybe it's just me, but the beauty of leasing is that you pay an affordable premium to not have to worry about any losses on the back end...

ima55r2

Just lease a new one and avoid any potential out-of-warranty problems on the old GL. Your costs would be reduced too with the $1500 gift card if you're a member of MBCA.

rich4368

How is that MBCA $1500 gift card works? Is the rebate through MBZ? I also read somewhere that MBF has a promotion that pays the 1st two payments (lease?). I am going to look it up. With all these additional incentives it's tempting to lease another GL.

As Chris said, enjoy the car but not it's problems, that's why I started leasing too. On the other hand, I expect my old GL to last another 3 years without any significant problem (< $1000 abnormal repairs total, except wears and tears). After 3 more years then my GL will be 6 years old and I probably won't want to keep it (it will look old and not as exciting). The only thing to gain was the salvage value at the end of the 6th year, probably $15k? By factoring all these in the beauty of leasing kicks in again.

Anyone else has any thought?

GLguy

Sounds like you already have problems that dealer cannot fix. I say return the car and get a new one.

ima55r2

If you have been a MBCA member for a year, the MBCA loyalty reward program is a great freebie. After buying or leasing a car, you get a gift card, good for a year, at MB dealers for $1500 toward parts, service, or another car.

Doctodd33

how much/month would a sign and drive put you back on a new GL lease? Agree with above......why not get a new one?

rich4368

Thanks for all your comments.

I am now about 80% sure to return the old GL. I kind of guessing my car's acceleration problem might be related to the transmission. The trans has been a little rough recently compare to 6 months ago (my wife pointed that out).

I looked into the winter deals offers by MB for a new GL450, $719/month plus $6500 due at signing. I also found the 2010 BMW X5 4.8i with 3rd row seat for $629/month and $6300 at signing to be attractive. I know the 3rd row is smaller for X5 but fitting a 7 year old should probably ok.

I apologize for changing the subjects but want to keep the continuity and there is still 20% chance that I might keep the old GL...

Danno4x4

For your problem with lack of pickup...

Try this "sneaky" ECU drive by wire throttle reset.

If you have keyless go, you will need to remove the button and use the actual key.

Put the key in and turn the ignition on to accessory, floor accelerator for 5 sec then turn ignition off while pedal still depressed... wait at least two minutes before restarting.

The throttle in newer Mercedes vehicles is a drive by wire and it will adapt to how it is driven. Drive like a grandma, and it will adapt to that over time and try to replicate that style.

This procedure resets the throttle to the default setting. There are quite a few examples on this forum where folks have "reawakened the beast" by using this procedure.

Be sure to report back on your results.

rich4368

Thanks a lot Danno4x4, my GL is now awake!!!

I only test drive from home to downtown since it is rush hour didn't hop on the freeway. The pickup is definitely improved from 0 mph at the stop sign. Yes I could hear it roar with just a tab on the pedal. I will keep it quite until wife drives it tomorrow morning and want to hear from her. Wish I knew this earlier. Didn't the service advisors at the dealership know these? He could have told me to reset... maybe he doesn't know as much as I thought.

I do feel better about my old GL but still stand at 80% of returning it. I called the dealership twice wanted to schedule a lease end inspection but no one call back. I already complaint to the MB Finance once, will complain again tomorrow.

hcetzneb

There have been lots of improvements since 07 with the GL problably the most noticeable is the new command which blows away the old style with the hard drive navi and intergraded bt and hd radio. But there have been upgardes through out with the tranny, engine, interior.. My chose would be to re lease and shop around you might be able to get a better deal.

rich4368

Thank you all. Here is what I decided. I returned my 2007 GL450 and drove home the new 2010 GL350 BlueTEC. Here are some numbers on my lease for your reference:

$746/month + Tax for 39 months
Cash out at signing $7118
sales price $60000

Black with Java leather interior

Options:

P01 Package
Parktronic
Pre-wired for rear seat entertainment

Perk: Free tank of gas

nalaskier

I hope you mean a free tank of diesel.

rich4368

Oops, I meant Diesel.

The std 20 in wheel looks real nice. I was playing with how to maximize the pickup of this car, it felt a little slower than the GL450 that we used to. Found it to tap the pedal slightly from stop and press it harder to speed up to improve the pickup (turbo lag?). The diesel rattle from engine in idling and very low speed (like 10mph) still take a bit to get used to... but looking at the gas gauge, it's very noticeable that it moves very slowly. Not bad for such a big car to have such a good mpg. Will calculate the exact when I get to the next pump.

Fourdiesel

I've checked the car computer's presentation of fuel usage (and therefore the mpg calc) against the actual fuel pump gallons delivered and found the computer to be very accurate - 2008 Gl320 CDI. So accurate I don't worry about it anymore, I just go by whatever the computer says for current and tank mpg.

StevethePilot

My 2007 GL320's pretty close as well, based on how accurately I'm "filling 'er up." Since I'm always hunting for good prices (they've gone from at or even below regular unleaded prices to at or above $3.00/gal, above premium unleaded most times, here in the Phoenix area over the past couple months) I can't vouch for the accuracy of precisely how much fuel is in when the pump auto shuts-off. I never go more than one more "top off" attempt, just in case it was a fluke, but as inaccurate as all that is, it's usually within 1/2 mpg of what the computer says when I calculate it out.

STP

BJ021

Congrats on the new GL! You made the right decision with the diesel! My 2008 GL320 lease is up in May and I really don't want to let it go! Have had zero issues with it!!

rich4368

Thanks. I learnt something on my last lease. Don't mind to share with you all here.

Mercedes Finance always offer to pull forward at least three payments on GL (sales manager told me). Exercise that if you on a 39 month lease because you can save $500+ (in California) on your liscence registration by returning the car before the previous year's registration expires. The DMV doesn't allow partial payment (or they make it so difficult that I won't even attempt). When you are leasing, go for the 36 months residue (I think it is standard now) and ask for 39 months payment options. In this case you get additional 3 months of mileage allowance and lower monthly payments if you return at the end of 36 months. I asked the sales manager and his boss both confirmed that if you pull forward the payments, you can use the mileage allowance for the unused months (can someone who has done this confirm that as well?). I had to change tires, rear brakes and service before returning at the end of 38 months that costs me about $700 + $550. That could have been saved if I would have pull forward three months because the service light for brakes and service A came at 37 month. Again, everyone drives differently and different tires wear differently so might not applicable to everyone.

vexed

Does the pull ahead apply only if you lease another GL or will they do if you lease another MB regardless of the model? It's my wife's car and she does not want another one.

We have a 33 month lease and including this month have 4 left. And like you we had to replace the tires, and brakes although I did the brakes myself since the dealer's price was ridiculous.


TIA

rich4368

From what I know you can apply pull forward to any new Benz up to 5 payments depending on which model. This is their promoted Winter Sales.

Cal

Thanks Rich. This is great advice. Congrats on the 2010 GL350. I'm thinking of doing the same thing as well (getting a 2010 GL350). The only thing keeping me away from the GL in general is the NAV/entertainment system. Even with the enhanced voice commands (introduced for model year 2009), the entire system seems a little outdated, even though it is light years ahead of the 2007/2008 system. For one, the screen is way too small at 6.5", too low on the dash, and there is no knob to control things. It should be like the C, E, S, and GLK, where the screen is at the very top. I bet these things get corrected for the next generation. In any case, the rest of the GL is awesome, including comfort, space, and great gas mileage (in the bluetec).