Help Vote buying GL320 Cdi yea or no
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BenzBallin (04-29-2020)
04-30-2020, 09:23 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Wow thanks" i think thats what im leaning towards maybe a gL450 ..but its V8 though.. isnt v8 a gas guzzler ? and why is the gl320 soo bad though is it the manitnence or do they break down alot ? i still havnt heard the entire story ..just curious though really wanna know i liked thq idea of V6
04-30-2020, 08:19 PM
#5
MBWorld Fanatic!
I get 18 mpg average, I live in the country. It’s also a big car and per the manual it takes premium gas - but several board members have rolled on regular with no adverse effects for years.
fuel costs are the least of keeping a car so the difference between 18 and 26 mpg is negligible in the grand scheme of things.
any “fuel cost savings” you will see with the diesel will immediately be offset by the much higher maintenance costs.
pretty much any gl you will find in the 08-13 year group will have maintenance needs wrt airmatic suspension and basic stuff like brakes, fluids and filters so choose carefully - buy the one with the most complete maintenance record; with receipts for work done using quality parts.
Everything fails around 80-120k on the GL so if airmatic components haven’t been replaced, negotiate a steep discount and diy it - or walk.
Look for water intrusion in the trunk and passenger front footwell - if there is standing water here just walk away, it cannot be saved.
fuel costs are the least of keeping a car so the difference between 18 and 26 mpg is negligible in the grand scheme of things.
any “fuel cost savings” you will see with the diesel will immediately be offset by the much higher maintenance costs.
pretty much any gl you will find in the 08-13 year group will have maintenance needs wrt airmatic suspension and basic stuff like brakes, fluids and filters so choose carefully - buy the one with the most complete maintenance record; with receipts for work done using quality parts.
Everything fails around 80-120k on the GL so if airmatic components haven’t been replaced, negotiate a steep discount and diy it - or walk.
Look for water intrusion in the trunk and passenger front footwell - if there is standing water here just walk away, it cannot be saved.
04-30-2020, 11:31 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I get 18 mpg average, I live in the country. It’s also a big car and per the manual it takes premium gas - but several board members have rolled on regular with no adverse effects for years.
fuel costs are the least of keeping a car so the difference between 18 and 26 mpg is negligible in the grand scheme of things.
any “fuel cost savings” you will see with the diesel will immediately be offset by the much higher maintenance costs.
pretty much any gl you will find in the 08-13 year group will have maintenance needs wrt airmatic suspension and basic stuff like brakes, fluids and filters so choose carefully - buy the one with the most complete maintenance record; with receipts for work done using quality parts.
Everything fails around 80-120k on the GL so if airmatic components haven’t been replaced, negotiate a steep discount and diy it - or walk.
Look for water intrusion in the trunk and passenger front footwell - if there is standing water here just walk away, it cannot be saved.
fuel costs are the least of keeping a car so the difference between 18 and 26 mpg is negligible in the grand scheme of things.
any “fuel cost savings” you will see with the diesel will immediately be offset by the much higher maintenance costs.
pretty much any gl you will find in the 08-13 year group will have maintenance needs wrt airmatic suspension and basic stuff like brakes, fluids and filters so choose carefully - buy the one with the most complete maintenance record; with receipts for work done using quality parts.
Everything fails around 80-120k on the GL so if airmatic components haven’t been replaced, negotiate a steep discount and diy it - or walk.
Look for water intrusion in the trunk and passenger front footwell - if there is standing water here just walk away, it cannot be saved.
05-01-2020, 12:11 AM
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
I’d say you would be ok with a 2007 or 2008 diesel, but maybe not with later versions.
I've had my ‘07 since new and have had very few motor problems ... o-rings, water pump, etc. no problem fixed has reoccurred. The glow plug controller was $140 and the fuel pump relay was $20.
Later versions have stricter emissions requirements and the solutions seem to be proving a bit unreliable. In addition you’ll be stuck with run flat tires and no spare.
The thing to understand buying any used GL is that it has a suspension system that naturally requires component replacements beginning around 80K Miles and this maintenance will not be cheap. This is not a defect, just the nature of it, and the longer air spring replacement is delayed the more components fail.
I've had my ‘07 since new and have had very few motor problems ... o-rings, water pump, etc. no problem fixed has reoccurred. The glow plug controller was $140 and the fuel pump relay was $20.
Later versions have stricter emissions requirements and the solutions seem to be proving a bit unreliable. In addition you’ll be stuck with run flat tires and no spare.
The thing to understand buying any used GL is that it has a suspension system that naturally requires component replacements beginning around 80K Miles and this maintenance will not be cheap. This is not a defect, just the nature of it, and the longer air spring replacement is delayed the more components fail.
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05-03-2020, 04:52 PM
#9
MBWorld Fanatic!
Benz, I've been very happy with my '08. It's been a great car - 20mpg around town, can hit 30 on the highway if I'm gentle. From the quick math I've done in the past, the diesel still wins out in fuel cost/mile - or at least it's roughly the same. Two quick reasons that I like the diesel... I'm running oil through the engine for power (a big part of the reason that diesel engines last so long) and the highway cruising is super smooth - it pretty much never downshifts on highway hills or when passing - just stays in top gear. That's not to say anything bad about a gasser - I wouldn't do that as everybody has their opinions and the gassers are certainly nice cars, too. Those are just my thoughts.
In my opinion, the biggest downfall is that EGR gasses are recirculated through the engine and seem to gunk up faster in the intake runners than other cars. But I fixed that be eliminating that feature!
In my opinion, the biggest downfall is that EGR gasses are recirculated through the engine and seem to gunk up faster in the intake runners than other cars. But I fixed that be eliminating that feature!
Last edited by DennisG01; 05-03-2020 at 04:54 PM.
05-06-2020, 08:22 PM
#10
Member
I've got a 2008 GL320CDI and love it. Bought it 2yrs ago and it's really been fantastic for a family of 5 due to the full size 3rd row seating. We took a 7hr trip to Coeur d'Alene Idaho over the Holidays and got 24MPG; you'd never see that in a V8.
If you don't turn your own wrenches or have experience working on cars, you might second guess purchasing a ~100K miles luxury brand vehicle that will certainly be out of warranty and certainly require normal maintenance.
If you don't turn your own wrenches or have experience working on cars, you might second guess purchasing a ~100K miles luxury brand vehicle that will certainly be out of warranty and certainly require normal maintenance.
05-09-2020, 05:06 PM
#11
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Hampshire , UK
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2008 GL420 CDi and 2015 S500
I bought a 2008 GL420 18 months ago, I have done about 13000 miles in it as it is not my main vehicle, it has about 107000 miles on the clock now. Last autumn I had a lot of work done on the air suspension, compressor, rear airbags and both front struts complete , at the moment, touch wood, no issues with any other mechanical items.
A great versatile vehicle, very comfortable, on a decent journey without hammering it you can get 27/28 mpg. I did a trip to Cornwall last summer and averaged 68mph and 26mpg on the trip down, virtually motorway all the way and early in the morning so limited traffic, very pleased with that.
The V8 does not sound like a diesel at all, a great engine, also used it a couple of times for towing a car trailer with a car on it and you hardly know it is towing.
I bought it for the 7 seats and replaced my 2003 Grand Cherokee 4.7 Overland with it, loved the Jeep but with numerous family and grand children I needed a 7 seater.
A great versatile vehicle, very comfortable, on a decent journey without hammering it you can get 27/28 mpg. I did a trip to Cornwall last summer and averaged 68mph and 26mpg on the trip down, virtually motorway all the way and early in the morning so limited traffic, very pleased with that.
The V8 does not sound like a diesel at all, a great engine, also used it a couple of times for towing a car trailer with a car on it and you hardly know it is towing.
I bought it for the 7 seats and replaced my 2003 Grand Cherokee 4.7 Overland with it, loved the Jeep but with numerous family and grand children I needed a 7 seater.
05-10-2020, 01:29 AM
#12
MBWorld Fanatic!
I bought a 2008 GL420 18 months ago, I have done about 13000 miles in it as it is not my main vehicle, it has about 107000 miles on the clock now. Last autumn I had a lot of work done on the air suspension, compressor, rear airbags and both front struts complete , at the moment, touch wood, no issues with any other mechanical items.
A great versatile vehicle, very comfortable, on a decent journey without hammering it you can get 27/28 mpg. I did a trip to Cornwall last summer and averaged 68mph and 26mpg on the trip down, virtually motorway all the way and early in the morning so limited traffic, very pleased with that.
The V8 does not sound like a diesel at all, a great engine, also used it a couple of times for towing a car trailer with a car on it and you hardly know it is towing.
I bought it for the 7 seats and replaced my 2003 Grand Cherokee 4.7 Overland with it, loved the Jeep but with numerous family and grand children I needed a 7 seater.
A great versatile vehicle, very comfortable, on a decent journey without hammering it you can get 27/28 mpg. I did a trip to Cornwall last summer and averaged 68mph and 26mpg on the trip down, virtually motorway all the way and early in the morning so limited traffic, very pleased with that.
The V8 does not sound like a diesel at all, a great engine, also used it a couple of times for towing a car trailer with a car on it and you hardly know it is towing.
I bought it for the 7 seats and replaced my 2003 Grand Cherokee 4.7 Overland with it, loved the Jeep but with numerous family and grand children I needed a 7 seater.
much to beat the om642 v6 diesel.
05-10-2020, 08:05 AM
#14
MBWorld Fanatic!
I bought a 2008 GL420 18 months ago, I have done about 13000 miles in it as it is not my main vehicle, it has about 107000 miles on the clock now. Last autumn I had a lot of work done on the air suspension, compressor, rear airbags and both front struts complete , at the moment, touch wood, no issues with any other mechanical items.
A great versatile vehicle, very comfortable, on a decent journey without hammering it you can get 27/28 mpg. I did a trip to Cornwall last summer and averaged 68mph and 26mpg on the trip down, virtually motorway all the way and early in the morning so limited traffic, very pleased with that.
The V8 does not sound like a diesel at all, a great engine, also used it a couple of times for towing a car trailer with a car on it and you hardly know it is towing.
I bought it for the 7 seats and replaced my 2003 Grand Cherokee 4.7 Overland with it, loved the Jeep but with numerous family and grand children I needed a 7 seater.
A great versatile vehicle, very comfortable, on a decent journey without hammering it you can get 27/28 mpg. I did a trip to Cornwall last summer and averaged 68mph and 26mpg on the trip down, virtually motorway all the way and early in the morning so limited traffic, very pleased with that.
The V8 does not sound like a diesel at all, a great engine, also used it a couple of times for towing a car trailer with a car on it and you hardly know it is towing.
I bought it for the 7 seats and replaced my 2003 Grand Cherokee 4.7 Overland with it, loved the Jeep but with numerous family and grand children I needed a 7 seater.
05-10-2020, 11:48 AM
#15
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Join Date: Aug 2003
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
The OM629 is the ultimate MB diesel engine for passenger cars. I was so disappointed it was not available in the States when I purchased my GL 13 years ago. The OM642 just did not have enough oomph for me and, in hind sight, so glad I didn't get the 320.
The OM629 would be the ultimate conversconversion for a blown OM642. That would be a worthwhile project if you could sneak an engine from MB Tuscaloosa before it is exported. Slap a tune on that and you would have more power than you ever needed and could tow a house without breaking a sweat.
The OM629 would be the ultimate conversconversion for a blown OM642. That would be a worthwhile project if you could sneak an engine from MB Tuscaloosa before it is exported. Slap a tune on that and you would have more power than you ever needed and could tow a house without breaking a sweat.
