'08 GL320 CDI - The 350,000 mile report
02-22-2021, 08:28 PM
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'08 GL320 CDI - The 350,000 mile report
For anyone interested in life with a high mileage GL, I thought I'd check in. About a week ago the '08 GL320 CDI turned over 350,000 miles. For a bit of history on the experience, here are the older posts:
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...000-miles.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...-bearings.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...le-report.html
There is little to report this time. Another new set of tires about the first of the year - still using the Firestone Destination; supposedly new and improved. I replaced the alternator a month or so ago. This last one had gone only a bit over 100,000 miles. It was just as well it went as we found significant play in the water pump shaft bearing once the belt was off. I was glad to catch that as it would have failed catastrophically at some far more inconvenient place and time. The water pump may have been the last auxiliary component that was original from the factory.
We are chasing down a few creaks and groans that occur at unpredictable intervals. New sway bar bushings took care of probably 90% of them. We will take a look at the control arms bushings next oil change. Speaking of which, the oil consumption has changed little, if any, during my ownership (about 240,000 miles and six and a half years); about a quart and half between oil changes. I still adhere to the 10,000 mile oil change interval. I understand, and respect the argument that this is too long, but I'm getting an oil and filter change every four months as it is!
Everything still works. Anything that fails, I get it fixed. The car owes me nothing at this point, which coincidentally is its approximate market value. One often hears of people abandoning cars because the cost of some repairs are more than the car is worth. In my case, this occurs every time I need a full tank of fuel. But it drives perfectly, runs perfectly, is perfectly comfortable, still looks great, and is everything it was when new. I get exactly the value out of it I would with a new one.
I am not at all sure where the bail-out point will be. When the engine grenades, I suppose. But even then... well we will just see.
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...000-miles.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...-bearings.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-...le-report.html
There is little to report this time. Another new set of tires about the first of the year - still using the Firestone Destination; supposedly new and improved. I replaced the alternator a month or so ago. This last one had gone only a bit over 100,000 miles. It was just as well it went as we found significant play in the water pump shaft bearing once the belt was off. I was glad to catch that as it would have failed catastrophically at some far more inconvenient place and time. The water pump may have been the last auxiliary component that was original from the factory.
We are chasing down a few creaks and groans that occur at unpredictable intervals. New sway bar bushings took care of probably 90% of them. We will take a look at the control arms bushings next oil change. Speaking of which, the oil consumption has changed little, if any, during my ownership (about 240,000 miles and six and a half years); about a quart and half between oil changes. I still adhere to the 10,000 mile oil change interval. I understand, and respect the argument that this is too long, but I'm getting an oil and filter change every four months as it is!
Everything still works. Anything that fails, I get it fixed. The car owes me nothing at this point, which coincidentally is its approximate market value. One often hears of people abandoning cars because the cost of some repairs are more than the car is worth. In my case, this occurs every time I need a full tank of fuel. But it drives perfectly, runs perfectly, is perfectly comfortable, still looks great, and is everything it was when new. I get exactly the value out of it I would with a new one.
I am not at all sure where the bail-out point will be. When the engine grenades, I suppose. But even then... well we will just see.
