Full service history at all interval levels from Mercedes Orlando and Tampa 106K and "looks clean", being offered at a Toyota dealership. I'm assuming a trade in. Can I trust a 12' @ $14,000K? Would it be safe to assume its fairly well maintained and up to date until this point with the service history? Can I get it to 200K? Sounds like compressor, loose timing chain, and control arms are the weak spot in this model. Fairly competent on repairs and maintenance on my own and understand major stuff is big $$ Are these rigs reliable long term? Been searching for a while in the LR4, X5, Q7 GX460 category. Any suggestion or critiques would be greatly appreciated.

 

My 2007 bit the dust from a leaking sunroof and it had more than 250k miles. Keep your sunroof drains clean, cycle often, and lubricate your sunroof even if you don't use it. There is no reason you can't get 400k plus miles with proper maintenance. You will wear out faster than the GL450 if it is maintained properly.

 

Take it to the nearest MB dealer who will give you a copy of the Vehicle Master Inquiry and get a pre purchase inspection from them.

Don’t assume anything until you know the vehicle’s maintenance history and current needs.

 

If it was a fully MB maintained vehicle I also guarantee you the reason why it ended up in a Toyota lot is because it sags on suspension overnight and prior owner couldn’t stomach the $5000 bill that Mercedes wanted to replace air springs.

Every
single
GL
I have seen on a lot around 100 K is sitting on its original, leaky air springs.

So the first thing you’ll be doing is swapping air Springs!

 

would this be noticeable in photos? I’d be purchasing from out of state. I’ve narrowed my searches to full service records but maybe that’s not enough lol. It shows drive belt replaced, suspension compressor replaced at 27k, front struts on three separate occasions (odd?) and “suspension serviced” at 99k

 

 

 

It is not, you should get a PPI.

 

Spoke with MB of Traverse City service dept. They confirmed air suspension springs replaced under warranty at 56,000 miles. Struts in 2013, 2015, 2018, pneumatic spring (unknown which) in 2016, AC compressor replaced in 2019.

 

Allright, she’s in the window of needing new air springs again. Usual replacement window is 4-5 yrs, 80-100k miles.

use this as negotiation leverage, unless you already bought the car.

although these these don’t rust much, anything that has spent any time in the rust belt

will benefit from a PPI.

 

Good advice. I called the TC MB dealer since it was the closest to me. Gave them the VIN and they relayed the info. The MB has spent its whole life in Florida. Watched a few vids on air bag replacement. Seems surprisingly pretty straight forward.

 

If you plan on keeping the car for some time, get Arnott struts and airbags from a reputable vendor who will honor the Arnott guarantee. They come with a lifetime warranty and will fail eventually just like the new MB branded ones.

 

When you ask can I trust it, can I get it to 200k miles … I assume you mean with minimal cost.

that Won’t be the case.

At 100k miles, that GL is ready for $3000 worth of regular maintenance on the Airmatic suspension. The rubber air bags that serve as springs are limited life components. So of course are hydraulic shock absorbers on any vehicle, and while the fronts are struts and you’ll replace them along with the springs, on the rear they are separate but also ready for renewal. A spring failure is a you can’t drive it event.

if this maintenance has already been done with typical aftermarket parts, the life won’t be 100k miles. If the rubber springs have been replaced by steel coils the vehicle has essentially been destroyed and it’s value is next to zero.

PS many gush over Arnott, but that’s psychological because these items are cheap. Many gush over the free replacement and many post they needed it but again that’s part of being cheap … you indeed get what you pay for. The Mercedes parts are not overpriced for what they are … which is better.

 

Bilstein also make airmatic components for the x164 and are of higher quality than Arnott, but at a higher price point.

I’ve been using Arnott bags in mine and replace the rear bags, free of cost; appx every 2-3 yrs and I don’t tow heavy with it.

once you get the hang of it it’s a 30 minute job a side.

 

This. If you have an unlimited pocketbook, go with the Bilstein or factory(probably rebranded Bilstein). Like Max, I chose the lesser expensive Arnott's. I found them to outlast the stock units by 50%. I got over 150k miles out of the Arnott's. The factory units barely lasted 100k miles. If you tow, I would go with the OE rear bags due to the rating of the factory bags even though the Arnott's outlasted the factory units by a long way on my GL450.

One of the few things I would recommend as a necessity for factory parts is the OE wheel speed sensor. Go with OE factory MB wheel speed sensors or you will replace the aftermarket ones every 20k miles or so. Not a big deal to change but the cost over time savings is not worth it even if you do yourself.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I’m gonna try to dig deeper and see what the “suspension serviced” entailed at 99k. Glad the replacement on the bags isn’t overly complicated.

 

Go to an independent for the shocks/struts or DIY. Will save you a boatload of cash. Same with brakes.

 

In the meantime, set up a PPI at the dealer nearest to that car.

 

Some great advice on this thread from some of the most credible members of the site.