I need to replace my 1998 Navigator that I use mainly for towing my boat. I am trying to keep it under $10K for the next one. I stumbled across the GL320 and like it. Am I crazy or is this a good vehicle? It seems to have problems with the air suspension.

LarryK

 

No, don’t buy this as a tow vehicle.
Don’t buy a diesel GL at all, in fact.

If you must tow with a gl get the 450 or 550. Still the same air suspension but loads less problems with the drivetrain. It’s rated for 6500 lbs but gets real squirrely that heavy.

get you an old 3/4 ton Burb or something similar.

 

The air suspension problems are, for the most part, a common thing with any vehicle with air suspension. The air bags are rubber so they wear out over time. I have an '08 320 and it's a wonderful tow vehicle. The way the power comes on so strong, early in the RPM band, is fantastic. The trailer stability program (using the vehicles brakes) is excellent. Towing a boat that was probably about 6K or 6.5K pounds, I've purposefully swerved hard enough to engage the program and it brings everything right back in line very nicely. It did soo well, that I just had to do it a bunch more times! Overall, I was (and am) very impressed with it's trailering characteristics. It has a nice, composed ride - even while trailering heavy (comparatively).

You're looking at an '08 so you won't have any of the DEF stuff to deal with - which just makes life simpler. It does have it's quirks, though, that are specfic to the diesel platform. But, these can be addressed and they pretty much go away. Oil cooler seals are a plague. MB didn't do a good job of designing the way the cooler seals with little o-rings. I'm going to guess that they're good for about 50K miles. But, these can be sealed even better with some gasket sealant - or even move the oil cooler to a different spot and the problem completely goes away. The other main thing is the way the exhaust gasses are recirculated back into the intake - it goops up the little flapper valves inside the air intake runners that MB uses to adjust the amount of air coming in. Eventually they fail. This can be fixed by something as simple as an "elephant snorkel" (google it) which is practically a free fix - an oil catch can - or even bypassing the sensor part of the intake flapper valves so you don't get a code.

Now... how much are you going to tow? While this a great vehicle for trailering, it's certainly not going to compare to a full size truck with a diesel engine - they're a whole 'nother ballgame. Or... I may have a 3/4 ton Suburban with a diesel engine (re-built from the ground up to be even stronger) that would be available soon... But then, it ain't going to ride as nice as the Merc! That thing is a tank - and you know it!

 

I was looking at the 2008 gL320 because of the gas mileage. There are a lot more GL450 for sale, I guess that there is a reason why. Are there any years of the GL450 that are better than others?

 

I would be looking at a vehicle with over 100K miles, so I was thinking that most of the problems would be worked out. I have seen some with the air system replaced completely with standard suspension (I did the same thing with my Navigator). I will be towing about 5,500lbs trailer and boat.

 

I think the reason there are a lot more 450's for sale is simply because there were a lot more produced. By far, the majority of people in the US prefer gas - it's quite different in Europe, for example.

I really wouldn't worry about the air suspension - it's actually a pretty simple system to fix and then get many tens of thousands miles on the car before a possible issue pops up again.

 

you’d be looking for a 2008 and up GL450s with a thoroughly documented maintenance record, from Mercedes - this is called a VMI (vehicle master inquiry) that says that all services were done on time. Usually the cars that were CPOs received this kind of maintenance. The giveaway for those cars is the sticker (or remnants of) on the drivers b-pillar. If it’s over 100k you’re at least looking for two transmission services and a new set of air springs all around to have been done by previous owners.

id avoid any spring converted gl for towing because the ESP program that helps you stabilize high loads isn’t optimized for steel spring rates. It’s made to work with the factory airbags and shocks. There is good data driven discussion on this board as to which aftermarket bag brand to avoid if you’re towing.

dennis makes very good points about the GL320CDI - I had one as well and did not have a good ownership experience. They can be decent vehicles but require loads of extra care and attention on top of the gas version, which does everything just fine with a minimum of fuss.

 

When I was shopping for 3rd row family cars, I came for the spacious 3rd row, but the diesel sold me. I've only towed once and it was just a large bark dust trailer. But damn, the overall experience towing was great. Mileage while towing is not great for any car, so don't get too wrapped around the axle for MPG's.

My ownership with my GL320 has been fantastic. I regularly comment how it's been such a fantastic rig for our family. Bought a few years ago with 90K miles and we've done road trips from Portland to Seattle, Portland to Paso Robles, Portland to Yellowstone and Portland to Coeur d'Alene and it generally gets 24MPG at 75MPG and holds 2 adults and 3 teenagers very comfortably.

Maintenance or unplanned maintenance is always a killer on European cars. At 100K, any vehicle is going to require attention. While I've played with German cars most of my life, it's my Japanese cars that continually astound me with how little maintenance they require. I do all of my own maintenance. I've replaced all air springs, fuel filter, diagnosed & bypassed the swirl motor, DPF service, differential pressure regulator, transmission filter service, and now I'm about to do the rear shocks as well. You can take your car to an Indy for work, but you'll pay for it. This is the case with EVERY car. There is no specifically failure prone issue with the GL CDI that makes a gasser "better".

Lastly, if you think that buying a European vehicle with 100K miles is a good idea because "most of the problems have been worked out" then you are in for a great surprise. You've got to want this truck and the engine you choose and then YOU need to baseline the vehicle when you get it. Just a simple fluid service on any used vehicle - differential, transmission, filters, brakes - can run over $500. I had a sagging air spring in the first few months and foolishly replaced just the one. A few months later another started to sag so I replaced the remaining 3 (all Arnott - really fantastic quality replacement bags). All in my driveway with hand tools.


Final note, if you are going to be towing, please add another $1500 into your budget and get a quality set of tires. The GL is a big truck and you'll need the strength of a high quality tire, especially for towing.

 

My 2007 GL450 vehicle has been one of if not the most reliable MB I've ever owned. Has over 250k miles and the second 100k was more reliable than the first 100k miles. If you plan to keep the vehicle long term, get shocks/airbags that have a lifetime warranty. You will us the warranty because the air shocks/struts will wear out and fail over time. Gas version will suffer from the intake flappy failure and possibly leaky cam seals. The intake flappy does not need to be repaired and the cam seals are cheap. Buy the newest 450 you can afford since they early ones have idler gears that wear out and need replacement. Problem is, it is cheaper to swap the engine than to pay someone to fix the idler gears. My GL suffers from the idler gear issue, it is outside the engine number that should be affected, but it still runs strong.

As stated above, buyer beware of the diesel. Don't let the MPG's sway you since the gas version runs regular unleaded just fine and, when you factor everything into the equation, the gasser will be much, much, much cheaper to operate per mile. Now, if you were towing 70% of the time, the diesel would be the vehicle for you. Towing once in a while, get the gasser.

 

Granted there is no air suspension but it is a diesel and rated to tow 7,200 lbs I believe. Low mileage and price is negotiable. Beautiful vehicle

 

would be a much simpler problem - if you don’t need a third row. Good put.

 

I don't need he third row, but I do like the bigger cargo area. I plan on driving this vehicle ~ 3K a year. I have a Subaru Outback for daily driving. The GL320/?? will be used mainly for towing the boat and dump/home depot runs. With this in mind, the diesel might be better.

 

If by "as a tow vehicle" you mean you will be towing it, you have chosen wisely.

( for @DennisG01)

 

100%
100% 100% 100%

did I mention I agree

Seriously, I'm on to 180k miles and the thing runs amazingly well on marathon road trips. When I quit flying, I started doing road trips instead, and have now racked up 7500 miles on three trips. I did one 1100 mile single day (yes really) and stopped for gas just twice. About the only time I wished I had a diesel was when I pulled in to a combination Flying J and Chevron, only to find out the Flying J only sold diesel, so the price at the Chevron was bend-over-and-grab-your-ankles.

It is an astonishingly comfortable and reliable long distance hauler.

If you were towing regularly, I would get the diesel. But an occasional hauler, I'd definitely get the gasser. And yes I confirmed it burns regular gas just fine a long time ago.

 

I will be towing at least 80% of the time. A few trips to LA (500 miles each way) a year and that is it. Thanks for the good advice, I will keep looking and see what happens.

 

For the gas vs diesel fuel price and mileage, in my area it seems the diesel still wins out here since the diesel is only about a 10% premium over 87 octane. In some places I go, it's even less. I can't say for sure as I don't own a gas GL, but I would think the diesels get higher than 10% better mileage vs gas.

BUT... the main reason I logged back in is that I wanted to mention that my GL320 has been so reliable that I STILL have yet to replace spark plugs, wires or coils!

 

I realize that these are estimates and actual mileage will vary.

2008 GL450 13/18 mpg
2008 GL320 18/24 mpg

 

Larry, I keep very good fuel records, both by the computer and hand calculated. Of course, these are just my numbers and someone else's might be different, but it does seem (from what I've read over the years) that the diesel consistently gets better than advertised. In mostly city traffic, I get 19-21mpg. In full highway, I easily get 26+, while trying to maintain 75mph. If I drop down to around 55 I can touch 30mpg... which I only did once to try it out!

 

Thanks Dennis......Due to the low miles that I will put on it, I am going for the GL320. I will take my time finding the one I want, then I will be back online here to figure out what I need to do to the diesel engine.

 

holy crap i just realized i neglected the spark plug wires in my 450

 

I ran mine past 200k miles. Super easy and cheap to change.

To the OP and if you are in the US, you may want to get the 350 version since it will come with a nice warranty on the engine. That is, assuming the previous owner did not remove/modify the emissions systems.

 

Double post.

 

Why seek out pain and lawsuits by getting the AdBlue system that the 350 has.

 

The 320 will still suffer from many issues that will be covered under the 350's extended warranty. If the OP is not going to drive a bunch, the warranty will cover him for 4 years and 48k miles. After the warranty is up, ditch like a hot potato. Again, I'm not recommending any OM642. Get the gasser and sleep well at night.

 

No, there are no problems with 2007-8 diesel GL. After that ...