X164 GL550 Buying Advice
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 169
Likes: 63
From: Denver
2005 ML500, 2011 E350 4M, 2012 GL550
Ah, I'll take a look at those. They're significantly cheaper than struts so probably not a bad starting point....
Does anyone recommend replacing the sway bar bushings themselves as well? I haven't looked at mine very closely but if they're a regular wear item I'll get the Lemforder kit from FCP that has all the links and these bushings included. They look very accessible.
Does anyone recommend replacing the sway bar bushings themselves as well? I haven't looked at mine very closely but if they're a regular wear item I'll get the Lemforder kit from FCP that has all the links and these bushings included. They look very accessible.
Probably in the summer time I`ll overhaul the entire front suspension, upper and lower control arms, ball joint and the front air struts.
Both of the outer CV boots are slightly seeping, so its a good time to get them taken care of as well.
As nice a vehicle as this beast, it requires constant attention and something always pops up, thankfully nothing big and expensive but little annoyances can make one frustrated easily.
These days couple of doors don`t work with the Keyless Go and also I`m getting a Right Front Seat Belt PreTensioning is not functioning message every time I turn the car on.
Just spent entire Saturday changing power steering pump and reservoir, tensioner, pulleys and belt, front and rear crankcase vents, spark plugs and since it crumbled in my hands had to replace the coolant reservoir and hose.
Wonder how much would it cost me even at an indy shop.
Anyway, thanks for letting me vent a little lol.
Last edited by 01blackhawk; Feb 10, 2026 at 11:39 AM.
Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 126
Likes: 58
From: Gresham, OR
GL450
Just spent entire Saturday changing power steering pump and reservoir, tensioner, pulleys and belt, front and rear crankcase vents, spark plugs and since it crumbled in my hands had to replace the coolant reservoir and hose.
Wonder how much would it cost me even at an indy shop.
Wonder how much would it cost me even at an indy shop.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 782
NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Just add 10 hours of book labor at 150 bucks an hour for almost every job, and a 35% premium to the parts you bought and that would be your savings expressed in a good enough for the girls this is for kind of fashion.
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 169
Likes: 63
From: Denver
2005 ML500, 2011 E350 4M, 2012 GL550
I'm the same way, I spend a ton of time working on my cars and justify it by telling myself I saved a lot of money. But I often wonder how much exactly. I don't have time to go get quotes from shops, and there's all the additional surprises like your crumbling reservoir. I'd like an app on my phone that I could enter what parts I replaced, which car, how much I bought the parts for, and how much time I spent. The app would tell me "You saved $4,462 by not going to the Mercedes dealer, and $2,400 by not going to a independent shop. Since it took you 20 hours, counting the time spent watching DIY videos and reading mbworld.org, you saved $120/hour".
My main reasoning is, keeping a track of the maintenance, according to my logbook I`ve changed my Transmission fluid and filter October 7th 2023 at 123K and now at 154K I can still go a few thousand miles but with the slight shutter I get when breaking or accelerating, its about time for another transmission service.
Now I really started to believe the phrase "when it rains it pours", I have 3 MBs, one of them is a project car, a W163, still not running and driving yet and a 2007 Infiniti G35, GL started throwing some issues at me, front suspension started squeaking recently and I know those bushings are shot at 154K, CV boots both have small leaks, my W212 needs some work with the cooling system, new thermostat, temp control sensor, reservoir etc, Infiniti also needed a thermostat recently I just changed along with pulleys and belt and it was a royal PITA, now both rear door outside handles froze and broke due to extreme cold we had here a few weeks ago, now we can`t open the back doors from outside....Sigh
Last edited by 01blackhawk; Feb 14, 2026 at 01:22 AM.
Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 169
Likes: 63
From: Denver
2005 ML500, 2011 E350 4M, 2012 GL550
I honestly don`t know what would be the price mark up for the parts but here is an example I experienced about a year ago. My buddy was looking for a Crank Position Sensor for his W163, I called the stealership for pricing, they asked $183 or 193 something like that just below $200, a mechanic friend with a shop account with the same dealership called and got a price of $116 and finally with my advice he ended up ordering the part from FCP for $26 or 36 if I remember correctly, go figure....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 782
NGL450 w/EORP, S550
Yes, but…
that $26 part may or may not be OEM like quality.
it’s a crap shoot with Chinesium injects into auto parts supply chains.
at least, if you buy the park from the dealer, you know it’s Mercedes and the best quality, but it comes to a higher price tag. Now that being said surprisingly, there are some very good deals to be had from the dealer parts counter from time to time. Some parts are exceedingly expensive for example, if you need to buy the whole assembly, but then every now and then you find something that is very good value. I’m speaking generally here are based on my experience over the last 15 or so years.
that $26 part may or may not be OEM like quality.
it’s a crap shoot with Chinesium injects into auto parts supply chains.
at least, if you buy the park from the dealer, you know it’s Mercedes and the best quality, but it comes to a higher price tag. Now that being said surprisingly, there are some very good deals to be had from the dealer parts counter from time to time. Some parts are exceedingly expensive for example, if you need to buy the whole assembly, but then every now and then you find something that is very good value. I’m speaking generally here are based on my experience over the last 15 or so years.
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