Jan AMG

Hi guys,

I have a question -> what is the best engine for the GL? Some say 420CDI is the best, some say 500 (550) petrol ... I got 2008 S500 4-Matic now and I'm pleased with the engine very much. Great power / consumption I'd say.
I decided not to get another diesel engine after 4 diesel cars in a row and I'm very happy I chose petrol over diesel this time. But for GL, the torque can be a good argument. What do you think?
Please share your experience, I'll appreciate it. Thank you.

Just to add, I'm from Europe and I don't travel many Km so consumption is not a very big issue to me. I'm looking for the best match in this class.

Brocktoon

Three litres of diesel is all you need. The rest are nice, but 90 percent of the time, all they are doing is burning more dead dinosaurs. I say 320 cdi.

StevethePilot

Not too terribly fair as we can't evaluate the 420CDI here in the USofA, but I'd say the 320CDI - above the Bluetec!

STP

Max Blast

I'd really like to try the 420CDI just to compare it to the 320CDI which is all the motor I need.

Fourdiesel

420 CDI is clearly the best - that's why we can't get it here in the US (or up where the maple leaves are dominant)

Jan AMG

Alright, according to the poll, 320CDI is the best yet - but isn't this engine the same Jeep Grand Cherokee has? If it is so, it is a very good engine. I had it as a loaner once and it had enough power and seemed quite agile overall.

What about standard / optional equipment, are there features which would justify getting the V8 instead?
eg.
Standard on the Mercedes GL550 but optional for the lower trims include a power tilt/telescopic wood/leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls (replacing tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls), leather upholstery, memory system, power liftgate, premium sound system, navigation system w/voice recognition, rear radio controls, rearview camera, and heated rear seats.

What is the difference between 320/350CDI BlueTEC?

thebishman

We have the 320CDI and it's a great engine, however if we could have purchased the 420CDI here in the US, I would have had it instead. Personally in the real world I wonder if you wouldn't get better economy with the 420CDI over the 320CDI since the engine wouldn't have to work so damn hard to move all the mass. Plus, you can never have enough (diesel) power!! lol
Bish

2thdr

I am not sure if it is different in the US, but in Canada, when you order the GL350, you cannot get the adaptive suspension. After having moved from an X5 to the GL350, my only complaint aside from turbo lag is the sloppy handling.

For that reason, I would go with the GL550, if wasting decayed dinosaurs does not bother you.

mortenmol

I have an 420 cdi, and some days i love it, others not so much. Some days it doesn't pull evenly in 1. 2. gear it revs to 2500 as if it had no low end torque, then in 3-> it pulls from 1200, i think it's to protect the gearbox.

You def. wouldn't get better economy with the 420! I av. around 14L/100km which is decent. because i drive a lot of city miles, but the 320 would be much better.

I would think that the real world dif. between the 550 and 420 would be small economy wise, and since the thread starter said he didn't drive many miles and the fact that the 550 is to be obtained very reasonable used, I would go for the 550.

Mine is close to 100k KM (63K M) after 3 years.

sang55

Man, I loved my 550 . it is fast and handle well for big SUV .

alx

the 320/350.

performance - the truck is a handling dog so if you want performance- you are looking at the wrong platform to begin with. thus, the smallest suitable engine will suffice ie the 320/350. the 7 gears sure help too.

economy - 27 mpg on the highway and 22 around town is untouchable by any other engine

but dont listen to me- look at depreciation rates.. the 320/350 have a very very owner-favorable one while the 450/550 are pits.

alex

dieseldoc

320cdi great power and good economy

dbtk

GL350 BT = 400 lb ft torque / 28 mpg = how can you go wrong?