Regular struts on GL?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 271
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
09' GL550, 05' S55 (sold), 04' Yukon Denali XL, 05' 745il (sold), 01' 740il (sold)
Regular struts on GL?
Just curious to know have anyone installed regular struts/shocks and get rid of the air suspension on GL?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 251
Likes: 20
GL550
I saw a video that showed a GL with the conversion and it looked great. However, I cannot find anything about it now. My mechanic mentioned that he did a conversion on another Customer's S class. He warned the Customer that he probably wouldn't like it...and he didn't. Apparently the ride quality really goes down the drain.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 271
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
09' GL550, 05' S55 (sold), 04' Yukon Denali XL, 05' 745il (sold), 01' 740il (sold)
I saw a video that showed a GL with the conversion and it looked great. However, I cannot find anything about it now. My mechanic mentioned that he did a conversion on another Customer's S class. He warned the Customer that he probably wouldn't like it...and he didn't. Apparently the ride quality really goes down the drain.
I did a conversion on my 01' 740iL a few years back, did not notice the difference.
with all the air strut issues, a conversion would definitely help.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
Are the MB air springs really that much worse than the rest of the industry?
My brother just bought a Jeep GC (last of the Daimler/Chrysler designs) and almost didn't with conventional springs till he drove an air-spring model.
I can not imagine spending money to downgrade the suspension to convectional springs.
My 2008 has an exceptional ride for a SUV of its size and weight, fantastic stability on the highways which you would lose, and self leveling for loaded driving. (I use mine to haul stuff and tow.)
My brother just bought a Jeep GC (last of the Daimler/Chrysler designs) and almost didn't with conventional springs till he drove an air-spring model.
I can not imagine spending money to downgrade the suspension to convectional springs.
My 2008 has an exceptional ride for a SUV of its size and weight, fantastic stability on the highways which you would lose, and self leveling for loaded driving. (I use mine to haul stuff and tow.)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 271
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
09' GL550, 05' S55 (sold), 04' Yukon Denali XL, 05' 745il (sold), 01' 740il (sold)
Are the MB air springs really that much worse than the rest of the industry?
My brother just bought a Jeep GC (last of the Daimler/Chrysler designs) and almost didn't with conventional springs till he drove an air-spring model.
I can not imagine spending money to downgrade the suspension to convectional springs.
My 2008 has an exceptional ride for a SUV of its size and weight, fantastic stability on the highways which you would lose, and self leveling for loaded driving. (I use mine to haul stuff and tow.)
My brother just bought a Jeep GC (last of the Daimler/Chrysler designs) and almost didn't with conventional springs till he drove an air-spring model.
I can not imagine spending money to downgrade the suspension to convectional springs.
My 2008 has an exceptional ride for a SUV of its size and weight, fantastic stability on the highways which you would lose, and self leveling for loaded driving. (I use mine to haul stuff and tow.)
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
You have to considerer the cost of changing EVERYTHING to springs vs, the cost of fixing a few air springs if they fail.
My guess is you would need to keep the car a couple of 100K miles to break even, all the while suffering from decreased comfort and usability.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 711
Likes: 11
From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
There is probably an increased accident risk also. The stability control system is programmed to 'do it's thing' using the parameters of the standard air ride system, the installed spring rates and response / dampening rates. Unless you are willing to completely reprogram and certify the stability system you may find yourself in a situation where the SCS does the wrong thing at the wrong time. I wouldn't mess with it at all!
AND, if your insurance company found out after an accident, they might deny coverage on the grounds that the car is no longer the Mercedes GL they committed to insure because you changed it.
AND, if your insurance company found out after an accident, they might deny coverage on the grounds that the car is no longer the Mercedes GL they committed to insure because you changed it.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 2
97 S600 coupe/gf 16 C300 Lux. Former: 08 GL450, 83 300D, 97 C230, 08 c300 luxury, 92 500SL, 93 400E
I just can't imagine why. All the techs (and my tech friend at MB) say "don't buy the GL, buy the ML," it's less trouble and doesn't have the air suspension.
Yeah, but.......the ML also doesn't ride as well, looks like a Pacer compared to a GL........more importantly, if you want to haul a load that is larger than what you could fit in the back of an Accord, you better fold the rear seats down, and in the GL you've still got a 5-passenger vehicle when you do that; in the ML, you will now have a 2-seater Pacer for a luxury SUV.
Maybe some of you overpaid, bought new and are now stuck with massive depreciation and the future worry of $20k in repairs between year 5 and 10.
For me, as I'm not a millionaire, and have now done this 4 times, I purchase CPO (Starmark back in the day) and have patience while I find the right car, that happens to be about the oldest left to qualify for CPO, and I buy the most extended warranty you can get , and right around 60-70k, which on every mercedes made for at least the past 20-40 years, is about the mileage where all the rubber starts to rot, electronics start to go awry, and - you guessed it - the air springs fail.
I paid $2800 for 3/135 on my 08, and in one year I estimate I've received about $5k in repairs. It's going in for more next week. I figure i'll have between $10-$15k in new parts and repairs by the time it's out of warranty, and if it's running well, I'll keep it. If not, I'll dump it.
Better strategy IMO than trying to overbuy a GL and then spending $5k to turn it into a Jeep to avoid spending $5k to keep enjoying the ride and capabilities you bought the vehicle for
Yeah, but.......the ML also doesn't ride as well, looks like a Pacer compared to a GL........more importantly, if you want to haul a load that is larger than what you could fit in the back of an Accord, you better fold the rear seats down, and in the GL you've still got a 5-passenger vehicle when you do that; in the ML, you will now have a 2-seater Pacer for a luxury SUV.
Maybe some of you overpaid, bought new and are now stuck with massive depreciation and the future worry of $20k in repairs between year 5 and 10.
For me, as I'm not a millionaire, and have now done this 4 times, I purchase CPO (Starmark back in the day) and have patience while I find the right car, that happens to be about the oldest left to qualify for CPO, and I buy the most extended warranty you can get , and right around 60-70k, which on every mercedes made for at least the past 20-40 years, is about the mileage where all the rubber starts to rot, electronics start to go awry, and - you guessed it - the air springs fail.
I paid $2800 for 3/135 on my 08, and in one year I estimate I've received about $5k in repairs. It's going in for more next week. I figure i'll have between $10-$15k in new parts and repairs by the time it's out of warranty, and if it's running well, I'll keep it. If not, I'll dump it.
Better strategy IMO than trying to overbuy a GL and then spending $5k to turn it into a Jeep to avoid spending $5k to keep enjoying the ride and capabilities you bought the vehicle for
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Joined: Mar 2014
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gl450
When I purchased my GL 450 2007 in 2008 I just loved the truck, paid 50,000 drove it now going on 7 years accumulated 170,000. kept it clean by learning to do my own repairs - saved a lot of money these last few year , people are scared of the high repair cost in fact I have only spotted 2 other same model trucks in our area. Truck is
Paid off still looking good - think I am going to drive this truck till the wheels fall off !
Paid off still looking good - think I am going to drive this truck till the wheels fall off !
