2011 GL350 Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
2007 GL 450 (lease returned, like new, cried when we left it at the dealer), 2011 GL350 BlueTec
2011 GL350 Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Any thoughts on the below would be greatly appreciated...
2011 GL350 BluTec just paid off (low interest rate, but
).
This is our second GL, first diesel.
94,500 miles. MBUSA Extended Warranty (ELW) to 125,000 miles/7 years.
Great interior and exterior condition. Even the techs at MB can't believe how new it looks. Love this car, but without the Extended Warranty we would have hated it.
Replaced:
-Steering Wheel Column (2013)
-Crack Engine Mounts (2013)
-Repaired Rear Hatch Mechanism (2013)
-Replaced Back-Up Camera
-Air Conditioning Unit (2014) (caused by dealer repair)
-Oil Cooler (2014)
-Front Struts (2015)
-Exhaust Manifold and Brackets (2015)
-One Key (stolen)
Was looking forward to no payments for a while, but wondering:
-if selling it with some of the ELW (would have to be private sale) and transferring the equity (~$35k) into a new/used GL with certified and ELW warranty makes more sense.
- waiting for new integrated cell phone/GPS technology is a good idea
Concerned that:
- new GL doesn't have the cargo barrier hooks which is disappointing
- one electronic problem could be $$$
- have used the WeatherTech mats and CanvasBack for all three cars, would probably have to reinvest in these
- it's practically a new car with all these whole replacements which could be less to go wrong in the future
- we'll be regretting after the first big repair bill when the ELW expires that we should have just put the $ into a new car
Thoughts! TIA!
2011 GL350 BluTec just paid off (low interest rate, but
). This is our second GL, first diesel.
94,500 miles. MBUSA Extended Warranty (ELW) to 125,000 miles/7 years.
Great interior and exterior condition. Even the techs at MB can't believe how new it looks. Love this car, but without the Extended Warranty we would have hated it.
Replaced:
-Steering Wheel Column (2013)
-Crack Engine Mounts (2013)
-Repaired Rear Hatch Mechanism (2013)
-Replaced Back-Up Camera
-Air Conditioning Unit (2014) (caused by dealer repair)
-Oil Cooler (2014)
-Front Struts (2015)
-Exhaust Manifold and Brackets (2015)
-One Key (stolen)
Was looking forward to no payments for a while, but wondering:
-if selling it with some of the ELW (would have to be private sale) and transferring the equity (~$35k) into a new/used GL with certified and ELW warranty makes more sense.
- waiting for new integrated cell phone/GPS technology is a good idea
Concerned that:
- new GL doesn't have the cargo barrier hooks which is disappointing
- one electronic problem could be $$$
- have used the WeatherTech mats and CanvasBack for all three cars, would probably have to reinvest in these
- it's practically a new car with all these whole replacements which could be less to go wrong in the future
- we'll be regretting after the first big repair bill when the ELW expires that we should have just put the $ into a new car
Thoughts! TIA!
Last edited by revets; Nov 30, 2015 at 02:45 AM. Reason: Added replaced items
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
2007 GL 450 (lease returned, like new, cried when we left it at the dealer), 2011 GL350 BlueTec
Why for the gas versions, but not for the diesel?
Our service rep did admit that the diesel engine requires more maintenance.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
If you go with another diesel, you are going to have a repeat of what you have already had go wrong. With the gasser, you won't have the issues. Since your problems have been adressed, your diesel should be relatively reliable albeit with more maintenance than the gasser.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,850
Likes: 56
From: New York
2025 Range Rover, 2022 BMW M850 , 2017 MB E400 Coupe
If you go with another diesel, you are going to have a repeat of what you have already had go wrong. With the gasser, you won't have the issues. Since your problems have been adressed, your diesel should be relatively reliable albeit with more maintenance than the gasser.
Replaced:
-Steering Wheel Column (2013)
-Crack Engine Mounts (2013)
-Repaired Rear Hatch Mechanism (2013)
-Replaced Back-Up Camera
-Air Conditioning Unit (2014) (caused by dealer repair)
-Oil Cooler (2014)
-Front Struts (2015)
-Exhaust Manifold and Brackets (2015)
-One Key (stolen)
I am not a mechanic, but looking at his list - how many of those repairs related to a diesel ? Perhaps just one - Oil cooler (may be). Why are you so negative about diesels and so positive about gas engines ?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
2007 GL 450 (lease returned, like new, cried when we left it at the dealer), 2011 GL350 BlueTec
Just an update...no we're in and out of limp mode due to the car throwing torque converter codes. Second time it's been in the shop for this. Now, it needs to go back a third time. I would say that's engine related.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
He did this :
Replaced:
-Steering Wheel Column (2013)
-Crack Engine Mounts (2013)
-Repaired Rear Hatch Mechanism (2013)
-Replaced Back-Up Camera
-Air Conditioning Unit (2014) (caused by dealer repair)
-Oil Cooler (2014)
-Front Struts (2015)
-Exhaust Manifold and Brackets (2015)
-One Key (stolen)
I am not a mechanic, but looking at his list - how many of those repairs related to a diesel ? Perhaps just one - Oil cooler (may be). Why are you so negative about diesels and so positive about gas engines ?
Replaced:
-Steering Wheel Column (2013)
-Crack Engine Mounts (2013)
-Repaired Rear Hatch Mechanism (2013)
-Replaced Back-Up Camera
-Air Conditioning Unit (2014) (caused by dealer repair)
-Oil Cooler (2014)
-Front Struts (2015)
-Exhaust Manifold and Brackets (2015)
-One Key (stolen)
I am not a mechanic, but looking at his list - how many of those repairs related to a diesel ? Perhaps just one - Oil cooler (may be). Why are you so negative about diesels and so positive about gas engines ?
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Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 87
Likes: 6
2010 GL350
I'm kinda with aeggroup who questions dissing the diesel. Sure I've had a boatload of problems with my GL350, but exactly one has been diesel related and that was related to the DEF tank.
Are the diesels built in a different plant than the gas versions?
Yes diesel maintenance is more expensive. (Those f---ing fuel filters!) But the diesels make up for some of that in better mpg.
Are the diesels built in a different plant than the gas versions?
Yes diesel maintenance is more expensive. (Those f---ing fuel filters!) But the diesels make up for some of that in better mpg.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,268
Likes: 253
looking at the list of replaced parts i would say very little is left of the usual suspects to go wrong- i dont see only the rear airbags and the urea heater which are problematic. the rear airgbags will be about $1000-1500 to be replaced with oem units and the bluetec heater will be about $2000 when it shorts out.
it is your call. i would keep it. the diesel value is driving it into the ground.
it is your call. i would keep it. the diesel value is driving it into the ground.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
2007 GL450
You probably answered your own initial question. It is my experience that a GL over six years old is going to cost you $5~10k a year to maintain. At some point it's going to approach 50% of the car value. Mileage is not as important as age on those GLs because things like gasket will break down with age.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 286
Likes: 19
e320
you guys must all use the dealerships for everything
i am not spending 5-10 grand a year keeping my suv on the road
i buy my own parts and have an excellent indie
not saying they are super cheap to maintain but my numbers are nowhere near that high
i am not spending 5-10 grand a year keeping my suv on the road
i buy my own parts and have an excellent indie
not saying they are super cheap to maintain but my numbers are nowhere near that high
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
2007 GL450
Yes, $5~10k is of course dealership price. I imagine majority of GL owners would go that route. Finding the right part and the indie shop takes time, affort and knowledge. Lots of Gl owners won't have the determination and luck to pull this off.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
I don't think I've spent more than a few hundred a year for the last few years on my GL and that includes a recent plug change. The initial 100k miles would have been close to. $1k per.year but it was under warranty. Tires get changed about once in 3.years and that does run about $800 -$900.
