Hi, all just wanted to introduce myself. I've been lurking the x164 section for quite a while but only recently pulled the trigger on a diesel GL (boy are they hard to find).

For the past 3 years our family has been struggling with trying to find the goldilocks family SUV. We have 2 very large dogs, tow a Offroad pop up trailer (Soon to be travel trailer), tow a race car with gear, and we drive over a the Sierra Nevada mountain range extensively through the winter. So our vehicle has to be pretty versatile to say the least. First we started out with the Escalade ESV platinum and that was a great vehicle but it was starting to show its age and it was starting to show it's shortcomings when either trailer was hitched to it. Even with a 31 gallon tank the range was abysmal. So after the Cadillac my wife allowed me to indulge me inner child and we picked up a Cayenne Turbo. The Porsche is a great vehicle it tows like a champ and drives like a sports car. After a few trips in that car we realized the dogs hated it and also that it couldn't fit all of our things sufficiently so it had to go.

I then started looking for GLs. I searched for quite some time but it was abundantly clear that I was not going to be able to find one close to me (Lake Take NV area) and the ones I did find were horribly overpriced. I ended up stumbling on on that was 95% what I was looking for. I was looking for a Black exterior and black interior vehicle with 3 zone, tow package, and Bi xenon lights. I ended up settling for a Black exterior, macadamia interior, P1&P2 package, 3 zone climate, tow package, and Bi xenon car that also came with a fat stack of service records. I had to fly 2300 miles to get her but we couldn't be more pleased.

Recently we went on a camping trip to Pinecrest campground in CA (beautiful campground and awesome fishing lake). The trip was around ~160 miles each way for use and it includes traveling through Sonora Pass. Which entails a steady 8% gradient with maximum gradients of 26%, 9600ft peak and roughly 4600ft of elevation gain. It strained our Escalade pretty hard navigating this pass WITHOUT a trailer so I was a bit concerned with the GL. To my surprise we traversed the pass without any trouble. We had plenty of power climbing the hills, we probably had 600-700lb of occupants + equipment in the GL, the trailer had its water reservoir fully loaded and also the deck had most of our heavy items on it. We did all this while averaging close to 19-20mpg.

Needless to say I think we've found our 'goldilocks' family SUV.

 

Very nice! 2007 or 2008? macadamia interior is the best! And yes, 320s are hard to find for sale. Because it's that awesome.

 

Welcome! Read a bunch on this forum, or others, and figure out the few items that you have to check/replace when you buy a used CDI. I have the same rig, turbo seal and intake pcv seal is a must replace, they all leak and get gooey after time. find them cheap on Ebay less than 35$ for both... I installed an oil catch can on mine, so no oil is now going back in the intake, I guess that is optional for many and a must for some of us.

 

Pics of catch can?

I have been contemplating this. Just seems very cramped. Eventually I plan to have intake cleaned when have to address oil cooler seals. Have never been gone to my knowledge. At this point I'd like to keep all oil out.

 

I will try to snap some later, I used the Mann provent 200. I ended up removing my engine cover, I don't want it anyway as it keeps the engine too hot, per some experts!

 

They're NOT experts!

 

Sweet ride. We've been happy with ours as it fits our family well. It's our first MB and it's been a learning curve. I must say that this forum has been very good though at helping.

 

congrats on the find.
i just pulled the trigger on an '08 320CDI with 88k miles myself

we just purchased a new home where the commute to work for my wife would be around 1h each way. some of our winters can be semi harsh and I wanted something that felt beefier than her 400h lexus.

that and two dogs, so we keep the 3rd row stowed away with the pet divider and we're good

it will make a good daily highway runner for bad weather imo

 

Absolutely. One of the best available.

 

2008, it seems like 2008 was the best year to buy the Diesel. I've read too many horror stories of the Bluetec era vehicles causing serious issues.

Love the Macadamia interior, I cant believe we actually found a Gl with the leather package let alone a diesel with the leather package.