Looking at a high mile GL450 - owner experiences
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 23
Likes: 7
From: Philadelphia, PA
'14 MB GL450, '14 Audi Allroad
Looking at a high mile GL450 - owner experiences
New guy here.
I'm looking at a high mile 2009 GL450 (170k).
I've read through the threads, watched Youtube videos, I'm familiar with the known issues. I'm a competent home mechanic, I do all my own work unless I'm too lazy to do it, have a large garage with heat and air, engine hoist and stand, tools, and the know-how to use them.
Having said all that, I'm not scared off. I like wrenching and embrace when it's time to tear something apart. I've owned Corvettes so I'm familiar with the "name" tax when it comes to buying parts.
I'm curious how many of you have high mile GL450s and your experience with them. I know I've seen plenty of old school Mercedes with 500k plus on the Odo. Not sure if the new tech Mercedes' have proven themselves to be up to that task yet or not though.
I'm looking at a high mile 2009 GL450 (170k).
I've read through the threads, watched Youtube videos, I'm familiar with the known issues. I'm a competent home mechanic, I do all my own work unless I'm too lazy to do it, have a large garage with heat and air, engine hoist and stand, tools, and the know-how to use them.
Having said all that, I'm not scared off. I like wrenching and embrace when it's time to tear something apart. I've owned Corvettes so I'm familiar with the "name" tax when it comes to buying parts.
I'm curious how many of you have high mile GL450s and your experience with them. I know I've seen plenty of old school Mercedes with 500k plus on the Odo. Not sure if the new tech Mercedes' have proven themselves to be up to that task yet or not though.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 628
From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
I think since you have read all the threads, you have already answered the question for yourself.
Overall the design is sound as is the build. The motor and transmission, especially, are very well built and will last a very long time with proper care.
Many of the peripherals, not so. German software and firmware is rough, to say the least. See my thread "weak spark" for the difficulty in diagnosing a problem. One has to be patient and resourceful. One also has to struggle around all sorts of cutesy features, such as the tumble flaps on the intake manifold. They wired with literal self destructing wire insulation; see the various headlight threads. I used to say you cannot own one of these without a competent indy; now I say you must be willing and able to do literally everything that a dealership can.
If you are not a religious man, I advise you to change that; prayer for the strength to not lose hope has gotten me further than I could have otherwise. An atheist would likely have given up.
I regret having gotten involved with the GL in the first place, but now I have a massive infrastructure of tools, knowledge, and parts, so I am inclined to stick with the machine. What else do I do, it drives great but is a persnickety beast.
Overall the design is sound as is the build. The motor and transmission, especially, are very well built and will last a very long time with proper care.
Many of the peripherals, not so. German software and firmware is rough, to say the least. See my thread "weak spark" for the difficulty in diagnosing a problem. One has to be patient and resourceful. One also has to struggle around all sorts of cutesy features, such as the tumble flaps on the intake manifold. They wired with literal self destructing wire insulation; see the various headlight threads. I used to say you cannot own one of these without a competent indy; now I say you must be willing and able to do literally everything that a dealership can.
If you are not a religious man, I advise you to change that; prayer for the strength to not lose hope has gotten me further than I could have otherwise. An atheist would likely have given up.
I regret having gotten involved with the GL in the first place, but now I have a massive infrastructure of tools, knowledge, and parts, so I am inclined to stick with the machine. What else do I do, it drives great but is a persnickety beast.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,212
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
I have over 250k miles on mine. Very reliable vehicle with minimal maintenance. My GL needs a new steering rack and the sunroof is seized shut since I never used it. Most likely will get rid of the GL before I replace/repair. Also, the idler sprockets are worn so the CEL is always on since the timing is slightly off. Cheaper to replace the engine than to repair the sprockets. No doubt the engine would be good for over 500k miles if I repaired the timing chain sprockets. Just not worth spending the money to fix. Even with the issue, the car runs great and is still very reliable. After 14 years of ownership and more than 250k miles, it's showing some age.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 782
NGL450 w/EORP, S550
215k here, once you’ve taken care of the big ticket items (or picked one up from someone who did) such as keeping the airmatic in good working order, making sure no water gets into the cabin or trunk it’s pretty much just tires, brakes oil and the occasional tranny service from there on out.
buy it cheap with a long service history and viciously DIY everything, and be pragmatic about the things that can stay broken (intake flaps, secondary air injection etc etc) and you’ll not lose your lunch money.
theres not so much any name tax at the parts counter, OEM MB parts are more affordable than you think, and for those few parts where there is sticker shock the aftermarket has a response.
buy it cheap with a long service history and viciously DIY everything, and be pragmatic about the things that can stay broken (intake flaps, secondary air injection etc etc) and you’ll not lose your lunch money.
theres not so much any name tax at the parts counter, OEM MB parts are more affordable than you think, and for those few parts where there is sticker shock the aftermarket has a response.
Last edited by Max Blast; Feb 9, 2022 at 09:07 PM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 505
Likes: 288
From: Sammamish, WA
2011 E350 Wagon, 2010 GL450
I think you and I are in very similar boats in terms of tools and knowledge, so I'll say you probably have little to worry about. I agree that overall the build quality is very good but since it's a more complex vehicle, there's more that can go wrong. My gf picked one up about 6 months ago (so my experience is albeit limited) with 170k miles that had a lot of neglected maintenance so we ended up spending around 10k getting things up to snuff. It was fine because we got it for a song, comparatively. That said, there was plenty I did that could have been put off or skipped entirely. I did a lot of things like the water pump while I had everything else pulled off the front of the engine, the intake manifold because I like everything working as designed and not throwing codes, lug bolts because rusty lugs look awful, things like that. After driving it for a while I figured out we still need to replace some brake parts, rear shocks, and the alternator, but for now they're fine.
It's my opinion that once you get the car up to snuff and keep up with maintenance, you shouldn't be spending a ton of time or money on them. Things do happen like eric_in_sd described but they're the exception, not the rule. I also have a '11 E350 and it's been about the same. I spend about 1500 a year on this or that for maintenance which sometimes involves pet projects. I'm sure I could get to 300k without anything drastic.
You probably already know this, but FCP Euro and their lifetime warranty is a lifesaver. Next time a front airbag goes out, all I'm paying for is return shipping!
It's my opinion that once you get the car up to snuff and keep up with maintenance, you shouldn't be spending a ton of time or money on them. Things do happen like eric_in_sd described but they're the exception, not the rule. I also have a '11 E350 and it's been about the same. I spend about 1500 a year on this or that for maintenance which sometimes involves pet projects. I'm sure I could get to 300k without anything drastic.
You probably already know this, but FCP Euro and their lifetime warranty is a lifesaver. Next time a front airbag goes out, all I'm paying for is return shipping!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 628
From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
Not long ago, I drove a more recent vintage MB. The cutesiness had been ramped up considerably. Scotty Kilmer has a video about a poor fellow who bought a newer MB; one of the error codes the computer issues pertains to the "perfume atomizer".
If you run out of gas, down toward about the last gallon, the trip computer range display is replaced with a drawing of a car at a gas pump.
I am an old school racer, so in my opinion anything at all that does not absolutely need to be on the vehicle should go away. I want a tach with big, bold numbers and a big, bold needle. No pretty lights or modern looking fonts. The addition of that junk is what makes this truck a less than stellar contender.
I do not know if the creeping ghey got to the base mechanicals in the more recent vintages, but like I said, the core mechanical structure of these (07-12) GLs is terrific. Normally aspirated 4.7 or 5.5 liter V8; robust 7-speed transmission; sturdy suspension (air bags notwithstanding) - what's not to love?
Have patience, be creative, and it will last a long, long time. If you simply like driving it, that will help a lot too. Since you are mechanically adept, you should make sure the body, interior, and frame are tip top - that is what really counts for you.
If you run out of gas, down toward about the last gallon, the trip computer range display is replaced with a drawing of a car at a gas pump.
I am an old school racer, so in my opinion anything at all that does not absolutely need to be on the vehicle should go away. I want a tach with big, bold numbers and a big, bold needle. No pretty lights or modern looking fonts. The addition of that junk is what makes this truck a less than stellar contender.
I do not know if the creeping ghey got to the base mechanicals in the more recent vintages, but like I said, the core mechanical structure of these (07-12) GLs is terrific. Normally aspirated 4.7 or 5.5 liter V8; robust 7-speed transmission; sturdy suspension (air bags notwithstanding) - what's not to love?
Have patience, be creative, and it will last a long, long time. If you simply like driving it, that will help a lot too. Since you are mechanically adept, you should make sure the body, interior, and frame are tip top - that is what really counts for you.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 622
Likes: 202
From: CA
11 ML550, 95 Supra TT, 14 Audi S4
It's my opinion that once you get the car up to snuff and keep up with maintenance, you shouldn't be spending a ton of time or money on them. Things do happen like eric_in_sd described but they're the exception, not the rule. I also have a '11 E350 and it's been about the same. I spend about 1500 a year on this or that for maintenance which sometimes involves pet projects. I'm sure I could get to 300k without anything drastic.
Last edited by EWT; Feb 10, 2022 at 03:14 PM.
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Super Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 505
Likes: 288
From: Sammamish, WA
2011 E350 Wagon, 2010 GL450
Nice! The M272 and M273 are extremely similar as one would expect, and the 450 and 550 engines are nearly identical except for displacement. If you have a 4matic E, you'll also have a driveshaft going through the oil pan. I've heard by many that the M278 is preferable to the M273 because of the increased power, but the older E's are probably much easier to find for less. From what I hear they're both pretty stout.
I'd absolutely love a V8 in mine but they never made E550 W212 wagons sadly, and the E63s cost several times more.
I'd absolutely love a V8 in mine but they never made E550 W212 wagons sadly, and the E63s cost several times more.
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