Considering purchase GL550
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Joined: May 2020
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2004 S430
Considering purchase GL550
Greetings!
We are test driving a 2012 GL550. I am a mechanic and have owned a lot of vintage mercedes. All I knew to look at with this one is the air suspension and cost. This car has 80k miles. One owner. They want $10k (friend deal).
I am curious what any known issues are? Things I could research and look into to learn future repair costs. Its the V8 AWD. Maybe all 550's are? Thanks!
We are test driving a 2012 GL550. I am a mechanic and have owned a lot of vintage mercedes. All I knew to look at with this one is the air suspension and cost. This car has 80k miles. One owner. They want $10k (friend deal).
I am curious what any known issues are? Things I could research and look into to learn future repair costs. Its the V8 AWD. Maybe all 550's are? Thanks!
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: CA
11 ML550, 95 Supra TT, 14 Audi S4
Air suspension is pretty much guaranteed to break. Arnott has lifetime replacement on their replacements, so you only have to pay for parts once and replacement is not difficult. The fronts fail pretty often, the rears not so much, and the compressor will fail eventually with enough miles. Another common issue I haven't had on my 08 550 is the conductor plate in the transmission, which is VIN locked, although there are ways around taking it to a dealer to get a new one which is the "official" and very expensive way to fix it. Beyond that, normal stuff breaks once you get higher mileage. I'm about to hit 250K on mine, and I've replaced everything but the water pump that rotates on the front of the engine, done suspension bushings and had to replace a driveshaft and transfer case. The transfer case is also a pretty common failure point >100K miles although IMO, with regular fluid changes, it would probably last longer (MB doesn't have any service recommendations for it). Mine is probably going to be retired soon since I'm getting a bunch of error codes that appear to be timing chain related, which I'm not going to invest the time and money needed to fix, but I liked it enough to pickup a replacement in the form of a 2011 ML550 (no longer need the third row). It is a lot of car for $10K assuming it is in relatively good condition.
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Joined: Nov 2017
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2006 R500
2012 puts you well past the early M273 and 7g-tronic problems (mostly 06-08 models). That should last you a long time, especially with only 80k miles. All 550s have the 5.5 L M273 engine.
Does it have the 4 corner air suspension or only the rear load-leveling air springs? It has the 4 corner ADS system if it has the sport comfort button for the suspension in the center console.
Check for leaks, particularly in the spare tire compartment and the battery well underneath the front passenger seat. These areas are known to accumulate water and cause all sorts of electrical issues.
Does it have the 4 corner air suspension or only the rear load-leveling air springs? It has the 4 corner ADS system if it has the sport comfort button for the suspension in the center console.
Check for leaks, particularly in the spare tire compartment and the battery well underneath the front passenger seat. These areas are known to accumulate water and cause all sorts of electrical issues.
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Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Staten Island, NY
2010 MB S550, 2017 MB SLC 300
I have a 2011 GL550. I bought it in 2021 with 64,000 miles on it. I'm at 97,000. My front air suspension failed 8 months later. It was covered under warranty, I wound up doing the rear airbags abd ADS shocks as they were well worn. I did the compressor too. Most of that work was covered under warranty. I also had a serpentine belt tensioner failure which caused the car to need to be towed. That was covered under warranty as well. I changed all the fluids and do oil changes every 7500 miles. The most recent issue was an intermittent rough idle. No check engine lights, no active codes. Pending codes for the engine running lean on one side, and rich on the other. It was a cylinder 1 coil pack failure. I replaced the plug and coil and it's all good now. I am getting ready to do the 100,000-mile service.
It's a good car, a nice car, very comfortable, lots of power. It's not as nice as my 2010 S550. The interior reminds me more of an E-class trim. I have a beige interior which I am not a fan of at all. I think if it was in black it would present itself better. The vent tabs have a tendency t break off, and the nets on the back seat will come apart of they are stuffed with to much stuff, or kids put their feet on them
It's a good car, a nice car, very comfortable, lots of power. It's not as nice as my 2010 S550. The interior reminds me more of an E-class trim. I have a beige interior which I am not a fan of at all. I think if it was in black it would present itself better. The vent tabs have a tendency t break off, and the nets on the back seat will come apart of they are stuffed with to much stuff, or kids put their feet on them
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
550 has ADS which if the shocks are leaking; is costly to replace even with Arnott parts.
At 80k it should have had two trans services and at least one set of airbags; if not plan for both.
KEEP your OEM shocks if they aren’t leaking!
otherwise great deal.
oh, look for water intrusion under passenger seat on battery compartment and in trunk.
At 80k it should have had two trans services and at least one set of airbags; if not plan for both.
KEEP your OEM shocks if they aren’t leaking!
otherwise great deal.
oh, look for water intrusion under passenger seat on battery compartment and in trunk.
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
Super Member
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From: CA
11 ML550, 95 Supra TT, 14 Audi S4
True, but I've never had to replace the front springs on a car once much less 6+ times. Not a normal level of wear, although to be fair the 2 sets of MB fronts lasted longer than the 4+ sets of Arnotts that went on. If you don't do your own work, a significant expense to consider.
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From: Portland, OR
GL320 CDI
My issue here is that you are presenting this information as if standard struts/shocks do not require replacement. All things being equal, I've found the air suspension to work fabulously, it's inexpensive to DIY replace, and the parts are available with lifetime warranty.
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
My issue here is that you are presenting this information as if standard struts/shocks do not require replacement. All things being equal, I've found the air suspension to work fabulously, it's inexpensive to DIY replace, and the parts are available with lifetime warranty.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: CA
11 ML550, 95 Supra TT, 14 Audi S4
My issue here is that you are presenting this information as if standard struts/shocks do not require replacement. All things being equal, I've found the air suspension to work fabulously, it's inexpensive to DIY replace, and the parts are available with lifetime warranty.
After getting a W164 with a standard suspension, I can't say I miss the air suspension at all. Far more trouble than it is worth IMO. Marginally smoother ride, but it has a more disconnected feel and it is a recurring problem that never goes away. I just replaced the shocks on my W164 at 107K miles and expect the replacements (and original springs) to last at least another 100K before I would need to replace them at my leisure. Not something I'd ever predict for the front shocks on an X164.
Last edited by EWT; Aug 19, 2023 at 11:26 PM.
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Mercedes gl450
