timing chain, motor mounts, all 4 airmatic struts (preventative at 105k), new aircompressor (preventative), differential pressure sensor on DPF, Nox Sensors, Swirl Flap Motor and Oil cooler at 46k, Vacume pump base gasket, Oil filter housing base gasket,
Lots of maintenance, oil changes at 5k miles, transmission changes at 20k, transfer case every oil change.
ditched run flats at 31k, been on Michelin LTXs on the 20" rims.
Knock on wood seem to be in a phase of replaced parts! Even with the issues I have had its better than a Suburban or similar. I have 5 kids and tow a Airstream and need a large SUV and the mileage is awesome.
I am up to 140k now, last 25k have been great. I think I have replaced most of the common areas of issues. I continue preventative maintenance and it keeps giving me good service. Transmission shifts a little lazy when cold though.
2008 GL 320 CDI with 196K miles. Engine running like awesome. No oil leaks no oil burning no engine issues whatsoever.
Have replaced:
New fuel tank at 155k- $4200 at dealer broke my bank. Due to a piece of metal i ran over in the highway.
All 4 Air bags at 180k
New A/C at 165k
New alternator at 185k
New OEM acceroy and main battery at 190k.
Since Mobil discontinued the 5w/40, I have been using the MB branded 5w/30 229.52. I think I like the idea of the 5/40 better though in my hot climate..
Since Mobil discontinued the 5w/40, I have been using the MB branded 5w/30 229.52. I think I like the idea of the 5/40 better though in my hot climate..
thats probably not much different that the ESP formula
I have posted before. I currently use liqui moly 5w40 leichtlauf high tech. It gives me good protection and great reports from black stone oil analysis. It is a 229.5 so one would need a program and dpf removal which also keeps oil cleaner by turning off her. I previously was using Castro turbo diesel because I wanted to stay with a 5w40. But it became too hard to find. But my reports from BS markedly improved. Although I wasn’t sampling with the Mobile one. It gets hot in Louisiana and since I started with a 5w40 and had over 100k. I didn’t want to change
Hey, this is a great thread - but would we like to update it with cost of ownership per mile type data? I think that would be very interesting.
I'm just listing my reactive type maintenance until we figure out a construct for the cost capture per mile.
2007 GL450 with EORP and ADS - 191,000 miles and counting. Came to me from a former MB tech at about 150K or so with a full VMI through 120K.
Power steering o-ring and reservoir at 150k
Rear Arnott airbags at 170k
Sway bar bushings at 180K
Cabin and air filters at 180K
There's more, stand by for edits.
2007 GL450, standard - 123,000 miles and counting. Came to me from a shady lot at 114K but was CPO'ed through 80K.
Power steering o-ring and reservoir at 114K
Rear Arnott Airbags at 117K
Voltage regulator at 117K
Rear Arnott non-ADS shocks at 120K
Transmission service at 120K
Airmatic Compressor at 122K
Cabin and Air filters at 122K.
Oil changes every 6-8000 miles with LiquiMoly 5W-30, depending upon usage and time.
I run Goodyear Wranglers on both in 18's for off-road traction and interchangeability. It's decently quiet on road as well.
What oil do you use? I Use the oem recomended Mobil 5w30 ESP formula. Should I keep using it or change to something like a high mileage type?
I stick with the 5w30 ESP and change it myself. I used to change it at dealer but all the time after a few thousand miles it would ask to add oil. Whether they were not putting enough or were putting cheap barreled oil, I have not had that issue ever since I started doing it myself.
A month ago I bought another one - 08 ML 320 CDI with 121k miles. I plan on sticking with the 5w30 mobil esp formula for both.
Now that is an MB owner after my own heart. Toolin' down the road at a leisurely pace, engine ticking over at 1500 rpm, nice day outside, Check Engine and low fuel lights on, not a care in the world. Livin' the dream.
Now that is an MB owner after my own heart. Toolin' down the road at a leisurely pace, engine ticking over at 1500 rpm, nice day outside, Check Engine and low fuel lights on, not a care in the world. Livin' the dream.
My '07 GL 450 was purchased from the original owner with low mileage three years ago. It just turned over 80,000 during this weekend's road trip to Kernville. Regular maintenance of changing oil with Liqui Moly 5W40 every 8,000 miles with Blackstone analysis. Changed diffs and transfer cases with Redline. New filters. Trans flush @ 50k, another coming up @100k. Cam plugs and oil separator valve. One rear air spring went out, replaced w/ Arnott. Rest are fine so far.
Non-wear items were rear shocks @15k, transmission gasket @23k, and most recently air compressor grenading and causing some damage needing new pullies, idlers, belt, etc. @68k.
My M273 engine build falls within the problematic production run, so fingers crossed I dodge the idler gear bullet. I've been doing Blackstone to check for elevated wear levels, and so far nothing to worry about! Changing the oil this weekend, and will send in another analysis. If I have a good engine, then the only big problem I'm expecting is for the swirl flap arm to go at some point. That, air springs, hatch latch, and front bearings seem like the big ticket items that border on regular maintenance with these vehicles. It's such a great vehicle for our family, I hope to make it last till 150k, which at our current annual mileage would be five more years. At that point we will probably replace it with a used Lexus GX 460 only because I want a proper 4WD vehicle with low range and lockers. Otherwise the GL meets our needs wonderfully! So much, that if I really don't need the off-road capability, I'll stick with another GL.
FYI, over the 35,000 miles since we purchased it, fuel consumption has been 14.8MPG. That kinda sucks, but we can't justify a third vehicle, so need something that can do it all.
Purchased my 2011 GL550 about 9 months ago w/ 172K on it and I am sitting at 180K now. Other than routine Maint (oil change and brakes) the only issue I've had is the A/C just went out on me. Hoping its not the compressor, but we shall see. Everything else so far so good...........car looks great, and can tow 8000lbs of my boat. If I get 75-100K out of her, will be a great car!!!
Purchased @~78k miles 4 years ago and now has 152,xxx. The usual maintenance items have cropped up with 2 rear airbags, pads/rotors, and currently getting a new (used) front differential. Starts every time and has been easy to drive and own. We liked it so much we kept it after buying a new 2019 GLS 450 last year.
My '07 GL 450 was purchased from the original owner with low mileage three years ago. It just turned over 80,000 during this weekend's road trip to Kernville. Regular maintenance of changing oil with Liqui Moly 5W40 every 8,000 miles with Blackstone analysis. Changed diffs and transfer cases with Redline. New filters. Trans flush @ 50k, another coming up @100k. Cam plugs and oil separator valve. One rear air spring went out, replaced w/ Arnott. Rest are fine so far.
Non-wear items were rear shocks @15k, transmission gasket @23k, and most recently air compressor grenading and causing some damage needing new pullies, idlers, belt, etc. @68k.
My M273 engine build falls within the problematic production run, so fingers crossed I dodge the idler gear bullet. I've been doing Blackstone to check for elevated wear levels, and so far nothing to worry about! Changing the oil this weekend, and will send in another analysis. If I have a good engine, then the only big problem I'm expecting is for the swirl flap arm to go at some point. That, air springs, hatch latch, and front bearings seem like the big ticket items that border on regular maintenance with these vehicles. It's such a great vehicle for our family, I hope to make it last till 150k, which at our current annual mileage would be five more years. At that point we will probably replace it with a used Lexus GX 460 only because I want a proper 4WD vehicle with low range and lockers. Otherwise the GL meets our needs wonderfully! So much, that if I really don't need the off-road capability, I'll stick with another GL.
FYI, over the 35,000 miles since we purchased it, fuel consumption has been 14.8MPG. That kinda sucks, but we can't justify a third vehicle, so need something that can do it all.
Power steering O-ring @85k. I tried to get at it myself, but got frustrated and took it into to the indy.
Can somebody elaborate which Power Steering O-ring you are replacing? I'm just curious in case I start to chase oil leaks; it's nice to be able to know where to look rather than just look.
Can somebody elaborate which Power Steering O-ring you are replacing? I'm just curious in case I start to chase oil leaks; it's nice to be able to know where to look rather than just look.
I'm noticing the higher mileage reports on diesels here seem to be 2006-2008 model years. If I understand correctly these use the OM642 DE 30 non-LS engine variant.
The non-LS version does not use urea injection, is this correct? Does the non-LS version use EGR? Does "LS" mean "low sulfur"?
The specific design differences during the time period of BlueTEC and urea introduction are not well explained IMO.
With no urea system I can see the 2006-2008 models achieving high mileages, with normal maintenance. Ditto for other vehicles using the non-urea engines.
The ones getting to higher mileage are the OM642 pre urea. My brothers 320 diesel went to around 200k before having expensive issues so he sold it for next to nothing. Before that, it was rock solid and got stupid good mileage. The only ones that seem to last are the ones that are driven 24/7 with few starts and stops. Frequent starts and stops seem to destroy the OM642 as does the urea/emissions system.
My '08 GL320cdi now has 325,000 mi. It is very likely the lack of stop-and-go driving is a major factor in this car still being on the road, along with fanatical maintenance. My office is a 50 mile round trip. We went out for groceries last night - a 42 mile round trip. We have an 800 mile destination (each way) we do four to five times a year that involves exactly two stop lights over the first 740 miles. So the miles pile up with (relatively) little wear and tear.
There are comments above on subframe creaks. I've not encountered that, but did have an intermittent creak that turned out to be rear control arm bushings.
Note re: Airmatic suspension. I replaced the factory airbags with Arnott bags a bit over 200,000 miles ago. I've not had a moment's problem since.
One of the problems with driving high mileage cars is that you are in largely unknown territory. Many parts that the factory deem "lifetime" have long since come and gone. I've had many items lubed that no maintenance schedule ever thought about.
Where once I drove this car 40,000 to 50,000 miles a year, I now do less than half that. Even so, I seriously expect to make 400,000, but we shall see. I do not like to think about a replacement - I've seen nothing produced any time this last decade I would like even half as well.
That is the plan. I am going to order a pair of complete assembled shocks and work on it myself later this month.
John
I’ve had bad experience with arnotts. They were leaking. They started one at a time and within 6 months they all sunk. After 20k miles I had to replace all arnotts with bilsteins. No more leaking issues.
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
