Airmousam

Hi, thinking of moving from my 2010 E350 to a 2010 GL550. Looks super clean so it appears that it was well cared for. How's the reliability on these? Anything to look out for? Thanks much!!

Airmousam

Car fax is clean, nothing has been replaced or serviced....not sure if that's good or bad

BlownV8

Judging by the diesel owners posts, it's much more reliable. The mileage is much worse though.

Airmousam

Thanks, more concerned with the suspension, wonder what % of owners have an issue. These forums always have owners who are unhappy....can't be as bad as it seems

BlownV8

You are going to have airbag issues regardless. If you are out of warranty, use the Arnott replacements. It's really not too bad as far as maintenance costs go. My GL450 has been very cheap to maintain after the warranty ran out. I had more issues in the first 100k than I've had in the, close to, second 100k.

2010GL550

We have a 2010 GL550 (for the wife, actually). Everyone mentioned that the front air springs usually go at around 60k miles. She just hit 61k and the front passenger side would be sagging every morning. I replaced both front units myself and saved about $400 in labor (that's what a local independent shop quoted me). I forget what the two replacement air springs cost, but you can look that up on the Arnott website. I did just the air springs, NOT the whole assembly.


If your candidate vehicle has the 21" wheels like ours does, the tires are stupid expensive. We have gone through at least 2-3 sets so far.


We had an oxygen senor go bad about a year ago, plus the rear door latching motor. As of today, the front passenger door doesn't lock properly. I've yet to investigate this issue. Otherwise it has been a solid vehicle. We have ~63,000 miles on it now.


It rides so well and has great power. There's plenty of room and even the third row has ample leg room. With gas prices falling, the low MPG isn't as big of an issue as it was many months ago.

BrianD

I have a 2010 gl550. Is a great suv when considering the amount of seats and cargo area. Great power and engine sound. I still have a cpo warranty and it will be up in April 2015 and I'm wishing I bought the extended warranty. I started reading about the GL after I bought it. 40k miles and lost the front passenger strut a power steering pump, and the seat latch. All covered under warranty thankfully. Had a Lincoln aviator before this suv and think the Lincoln was a better ride, but it probably has to do with the 21" AMG wheels on the GL. I do really like the car but instead of buying the GL outright (44,300) back in March of 2014 maybe I should have leased a 2014 for 2 years and kept my cash

1Cigarette

I had my 2010GL550 for 5 years. Logged 98k and not one warranty issue . The GL550 was much better on fuel than the G550 I drive now.

JediJD

My wife's GL550 is the most amazing vehicle we've ever owned...and we usually go through 'em but this one has stuck. Yeah...you'll put airbags on it, and probably some front end seals and maybe a transmission block at some point, the AMG wheels go through tires a little more quickly than you like, and possibly even some small engine stuff, but its sort of the cost of doing business. In exchange, you get great power and ridiculous comfort and quiet for seven, and you are equally at home pulling into Home Depot, the valet at the Jekyll Island Club, or traversing the occasional volcano (in a pinch). It is simply a beast...and not a particularly ravenous one. Follow the forums and do most of the stuff yourself/with an Indy (or pay the dealer...they have nice coffee and sandwich bars). At the end of the day, the pieces are probably more expensive than you want, but its not like the other options are cheap.


Just my $.02.

Airmousam

Great info all, really appreciate it...

2010GL550

LOL, good points JediJD. I forgot to mention, I have taken the wife's 2010 GL550 to the deer lease five times. The first time we towed a large camping trailer. After we unhooked we scouted the place out (about 600 acres)...while I was following some friends in their worked-over/converted-to-ranch-duty Jeep Cherokee. Rock/dirt roads, elevation changes (as much as you can have in west Texas), through creeks and brush. Raised the suspension (which to this day is still pretty damn cool) and followed them EVERYWHERE. I even got a chance to use the downhill speed limiting function. They kept looking behind them to see if I was still there...damn right I was!


When my son and I returned home a few days later, we DID clean the car and buff out the minor bush/tree branch scratches before the wife saw it again. I still blame her for the rashes on the rims, but that could have been me too! Either way I fixed that myself and they look great.


Sorry for rambling. It's a high-end quality vehicle that can make an impression as an awesome luxury SUV or travel the "rough and tumble" off road better than most.

JediJD

<chuckle> I feel a little out of place on this forum sometimes. People putting 24" magnificent wheels and wrapping and blinging these things...very impressive, pretty stuff. However, I absolutely love the fact that several times I've taken it off road into god knows what looking at tracts of land for development; during Atlanta's last snowmageddon...when everything was stopped for literally a day, we weren't even bothered; and once took it up a chained off logging trail to the top of a mountain overlooking Lake Chatuge with my son and drove golf ***** from the peak of the mountain down into the lake a couple thousand feet below (well...I didn't actually carry it, but it felt great trying). Airmatic and stability and grade assist and all the supercrap these things do...absolutely amazing when they get off asphalt. I get that most carry kids to soccer and I love that its an incredibly safe vehicle for the wife to take to the grocery store...but the secret sauce is definitely that it can traverse volcanoes and ford twenty something inch water. Admittedly, bought the first one because the wife wanted it, but we bought another and kept the first because, perhaps just for me, its the best pickup truck on the planet. I'll buy the occasional airbag and tire. Happy new year. Enjoy the ride.

Airmousam

Thanks again for the feedback. Finally had to time to drive it, very tight, and clean for the most part. Wood on steering wheel and door panels have numerous cracks. have the same wood in my E350 same year no cracks. Lotta power and fun to drive...can see why you guys like them so much ;-). Hitch receiver was perfect not a scratch inside,,,so has not towed. 2010 GL550 with 65k miles $36k..thx

BlownV8

I would be worried if it was in an accident with cracked wood. That's pretty rare for a newer MB.

Shellbmb

My 2009 has some cracks on the interior wood trim. No accidents.

LukkyStrike

I do not know what your budget is, but I spent a very reasonable amount on a 2012 GL450. I am not sure why anyone would want the 550. Other than a bigger, and therefore thirstier engine, I do not sense why I would ask for one. I would be leery of purchasing a larger engine in this truck. I have been VERY surprised with the "get up and go" nature of my GL450, and a bit confused as to why anyone would want a less efficient engine in this truck unless they were going for the AMG.

If I towed I would go get the GL350CDI and forgo that issue all together. I would recommend evaluating your budget and test driving a later model 450, you might be surprised with the driving dynamics. You might be able to get the same options and lower mileage with a GL450 for the same price.

Just my 2 cents. I am very happy with my new to me GL450, just thought I would throw a bit of my opinion in there for you.

N_Jay

EDIT FOR CLARITY:

My 08 has cracks in the wood on both front doors.


(the car) Lived for the first 5 years in the heat of TX (with its 1st owner) and the last 2 in the cold of Chicago.


Did not notice the cracks till a cold spell last winter.

srfrboy

The GL550 in my opinion a much sportier looking vehicle than the GL450. Bigger wheels, fender flares. The larger engine isn't the only thing that the GL550 offers. When it comes to making the decision, it makes sense to go with what you think best fits your needs.

EWT

+1 The flares and wheels (although fragile) really give it a beefier look that I like.

I also liked the option combos better on the 550. I forget the details, but I didn't want the radar detector killing coated glass that came with another option I wanted (3 zone HVAC?) on the 450.

Ours gave the CPO warranty a very good workout (engine and trans both taken apart, new steering rack, front shocks + a bunch of misc. repairs), but the only thing that has needed fixing since it expired a year ago was the rear air springs, which are pretty easy to replace. Hopefully the trend will continue. Other than the fear of expensive no longer under warranty repairs, we really like our 2008. The interior has held up really well, and it isn't a bad drive for a 7 passenger SUV that can tow 7K+ lbs. We've got 120K on ours now, and will probably keep it for the long haul since it is paid for, and there isn't a replacement worth the incremental cost for me.

Bimmer777

Mine is a 2008 (GL320) and the wood on all 4 doors shows hairline cracks. The truck has been a Maryland car all its life and is now in and around NYC.

Airmousam

Thanks again guys, I bailed on the GL and got a 2010 E550 with 50k miles with P2 and distronic plus + 3 years CPO for $32K. Was a deal from a Benz dealer I could not refuse, and got a lot more for my E350 than I would have from the BMW dealer that had the GL550. Happy motoring!