medphreak

All -

I have finally decided it is time to step up to a larger car and the GL seems to be my favorite option. I have always said that when I purchased a newer Mercedes I would get a diesel engine, but I am absolutely unable to find one in a 50 mile radius to drive. The only new 2013 350 that my dealer can find in the system is in California. The only one not sold in the country!

I was hoping that current 350 GL owners could chime in about their opinion of the diesel drivetrain. I know that owners are thrilled with the gas mileage. I was hoping current owners might comment on drivability, power, and any lag. This would be particularly useful if you have driven a gas GL as well.

Thank you.

Flyingman

Medphreak,

I've been waiting on my order since March, so can't comment on a GL I own. (delivery is expected in September) I did however test drive a 2012 GL350 BT and can atest that the "diesel" aspect is very subdued, in that you won't really know the difference by sound or handling. You will know it at the gas pump when you see your amazing MPG.

I also test drove a ML 350 gas, and again, not much of a difference.

My daily driver is a BMW 335D (3.0 liter diesel) and I wouldn't trade it for any similar gas version.

Probably the only negative side of the diesel is filling it up. Diesel is oily and leaves a smell. I've learned to choose my stations carefully and to fill my tank to avoid spills, which can be a smelly proposition. Grab a few paper towels to grip the handle and avoid topping it off without special care. This might vary by vehicle type of couse.

You won't regret the GL350, but you'll have to get in the back of the line I'm afraid.

cookstar

I was hesitant on buying a 550 versus a 350 ( yes I know big difference), ended up buying the 350 and have zero regrets. Price of gas alone is higher these days, 1.40+/Liter for premium which the V8 versus 1.20-1.25 for diesel, the gas version also used more fuel and I have heard diesel engines last longer which made no difference for me as I don't plan to put 400,00 miles on my car. I would hold off until 2014 model year, I have a feeling the 550 will get the same 455 hp that they have in the new S550 versus the 429hp we get on the 2013's.

medphreak

Thanks for the early information. I'm happy to wait a little bit. It looks like MB is pretty much making the diesels to order. I can get an allocation now with the dealer telling me the diesel GL is deliverable in August. I was thinking it couldn't be delivered until the Fed/CARB approvals were in, late September at the earliest.

Anybody have any comment on maintenance cost differences between the gas and diesel versions of the GL??

Thank you.

Mbenz260e

Maintenance will be a little more depending on how/where you do the Urea fills. Fuel filters are also more frequent but I believe 40k for 2013+ so not too bad. Still won't outweigh your savings on MPG. We have our third BTC now. When the GL came out last fall we test drove a GL450 we could have bought right then off the lot. Instead we waited 3 months on an ordered GL350. GL450 was definitely nice too, but I guess I was expecting the V-8 to wow me a bit more than it did as I have been driving MB diesels for a few years.

cookstar

The GL450 has the exact same engine as the 550 and is very under-powered, they cancelled the 450 for 2012 and will probably cancel it going forward, the power that the 450 makes can be easily pushed out of a turbo 6 cylinder, I see no logic as to why a twin turbo V8 would make V6 power with V8 fuel consumption. Maserati is pushing out well over 500 hp out of a 3.8 liter V8.

BlownV8

The turbo v8 is very conservatively tuned. They could get 1000 hp out of it if they wanted; in fact, AMS offers a package for that level. Just an ECU tune will get you over 500 hp with no other changes.

cookstar

Yea AMS does crazy numbers, 1000Hp on 100 Octane for G550/63, GL550/63, its very pricey though, simple ECU tune for couple hundred bucks will get you in the 600 hp range which is more than enough.