Value shopping a 2013 GL450
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
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'13 GL450
Value shopping a 2013 GL450
Heya,
Shopping for a 2013 GL450....
I live in Massachusetts and have found the used GL450's are more expensive here than out of state. NY seems to have the greatest quantity and are about $5k cheaper.
Another option is buying one from Hertz. Hertz pricing is $5-$10k lower than the local dealers here. The Hertz GL450's are pretty much optionless and do have the stigma of being a former "rental". Some dealers have told me they buy from Hertz and CPO them on their lots.
I need advice from you Benz veterans with any thoughts on purchasing a used GL450.
2013 is my target, since it has the biturbo. 20k miles or less.
20" rims, running boards and all the cool options are nice, but if I can snag a Hertz sold 2013 GL450 for $48k....that seems like the best value.
Thoughts?
Peace!
Shopping for a 2013 GL450....
I live in Massachusetts and have found the used GL450's are more expensive here than out of state. NY seems to have the greatest quantity and are about $5k cheaper.
Another option is buying one from Hertz. Hertz pricing is $5-$10k lower than the local dealers here. The Hertz GL450's are pretty much optionless and do have the stigma of being a former "rental". Some dealers have told me they buy from Hertz and CPO them on their lots.
I need advice from you Benz veterans with any thoughts on purchasing a used GL450.
2013 is my target, since it has the biturbo. 20k miles or less.
20" rims, running boards and all the cool options are nice, but if I can snag a Hertz sold 2013 GL450 for $48k....that seems like the best value.
Thoughts?
Peace!
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Get it from Hertz. You have to figure it was rented to people who payed a lot of money to rent. I'd imagine they took care of the car and did not abuse. Get the 450 and an extended warranty that will cover the airmatic and valve body in the tranny. Both were frequent failure points on the x164 and will probably fail on the x166 too.
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A gaggle of MB's
Most dealers I know - and I "know" quite a few" - don't shop open wholesale auctions such as Mannheim and the like to pick up pre-owned Benz's for inventory. All wholesale auctions are as-is - and frankly sooner or later - something comes up during CPO inspection that hurts.
Mercedes dealers I know will shop "closed" auctions - conducted by Mannheim for Mercedes Financial - which MB dealers get 1st pick - under those "closed" auctions if something unexpected comes up during CPO the dealer has recourse to work that our with MBFS.
On purchasing a pre-owned Mercedes based on YOUR ownership plan both time and miles-per-year - 1st is the features it has and does not have both for your value and to set current retail value and future resale/trade-in value - 2nd is condition of tires and brakes which are major service/expense items - 3rd service history and upcoming service expense during ownership (especially if pending 40K major service - 4th remaining warranty based on original date in-service and remaining time or miles - 5th CarFax record understanding any incident can take UP TO 2YRS TO BE REPORTED on Carfax is insurance is invloved, and if insurance is NOT involved may NEVER be reported - and 6th and last is general condition inside and out.
The "value" of CPO Unlimited Mileage warranty is in comparison to the cost of 3rd party warranties for similar coverage for your planned ownership term/planned mileage.
You are in the driver's seat on the selection/purchase decision - 3rd party value guides especially edmunds.com (the more accurate) are useful tools.
Mercedes dealers I know will shop "closed" auctions - conducted by Mannheim for Mercedes Financial - which MB dealers get 1st pick - under those "closed" auctions if something unexpected comes up during CPO the dealer has recourse to work that our with MBFS.
On purchasing a pre-owned Mercedes based on YOUR ownership plan both time and miles-per-year - 1st is the features it has and does not have both for your value and to set current retail value and future resale/trade-in value - 2nd is condition of tires and brakes which are major service/expense items - 3rd service history and upcoming service expense during ownership (especially if pending 40K major service - 4th remaining warranty based on original date in-service and remaining time or miles - 5th CarFax record understanding any incident can take UP TO 2YRS TO BE REPORTED on Carfax is insurance is invloved, and if insurance is NOT involved may NEVER be reported - and 6th and last is general condition inside and out.
The "value" of CPO Unlimited Mileage warranty is in comparison to the cost of 3rd party warranties for similar coverage for your planned ownership term/planned mileage.
You are in the driver's seat on the selection/purchase decision - 3rd party value guides especially edmunds.com (the more accurate) are useful tools.
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15 GL550
I rented a 2013/Hertz GL this summer. It was insanely beat up inside and out. I have literally never seen a more beat up Mercedes product of any kind that was only two years old. Door dings everywhere and the paint looked like they had used sandpaper to clean it routinely. There is no way I would ever buy a used rental of any kind and certainly not a Mercedes. This would particularly be the case if you plan to drive it after the warranty is up. You are buying a huge liability when you buy a Mercedes and a rental is not going to give you very good odds. I would stay away from any Mercedes dealership that CPOs rental cars. I guarantee you most do not.
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'13 GL450
Good feedback. Appreciate it.
I have looked at a few of the Hertz GL's. They were each base models with no bells and whistles. I looked at 4 of them and 3 were spotless. 1 of them smelled like an ashtray.
Obviously I'd skip one that appears beat or been hit.
I'm sure none of them ever ever saw anything other than 87 octane. ;-)
With how de-tuned the GL450's are, I highly doubt 90+ is required, but that is another topic.
I do plan to keep the GL for a long time. I usually get 8-10 years out of a car.
I've had a Sequoia since 2004. 190k miles of use out of it.
Bought it used with 10k miles on it. Was a great SUV for us.
In shopping for a replacement, we looked at lightly used Volvo XC90, BMW X5, Land Rover Sport and Audi Q7.
For new replacements we looked at Chevy, GMC and Ford.
The GL450, to me, is the best vehicle for my next 8-10 years.
I do plan to get an ECU tune to enjoy the real potential of the twin hairdryers under the hood.
Now I just need to find a good one.
I certainly plan to utilize the balance of Mercedes warranty, if needed, to resolve any issues that may arise.
Thanks again for feedback. Keeping those thoughts of service intervals/pending expenses is good advice. Are there any other common failure points other than airmatic and valve body/tranny issues?
I'll be pulling the trigger here soon. Just need to find her.
Peace.
I have looked at a few of the Hertz GL's. They were each base models with no bells and whistles. I looked at 4 of them and 3 were spotless. 1 of them smelled like an ashtray.
Obviously I'd skip one that appears beat or been hit.
I'm sure none of them ever ever saw anything other than 87 octane. ;-)
With how de-tuned the GL450's are, I highly doubt 90+ is required, but that is another topic.
I do plan to keep the GL for a long time. I usually get 8-10 years out of a car.
I've had a Sequoia since 2004. 190k miles of use out of it.
Bought it used with 10k miles on it. Was a great SUV for us.
In shopping for a replacement, we looked at lightly used Volvo XC90, BMW X5, Land Rover Sport and Audi Q7.
For new replacements we looked at Chevy, GMC and Ford.
The GL450, to me, is the best vehicle for my next 8-10 years.
I do plan to get an ECU tune to enjoy the real potential of the twin hairdryers under the hood.
Now I just need to find a good one.
I certainly plan to utilize the balance of Mercedes warranty, if needed, to resolve any issues that may arise.
Thanks again for feedback. Keeping those thoughts of service intervals/pending expenses is good advice. Are there any other common failure points other than airmatic and valve body/tranny issues?
I'll be pulling the trigger here soon. Just need to find her.
Peace.
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 239
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
'15 GL450
I would never buy ANY rental cars. People are people and they will drive a rental like they stole it. If my car is stolen, I don't want it back! The GL is not the most reliable SUVs out there and it needs a lot of attention and care. We are on our third GL and none of them have been very reliable with many visits to the shop. Shop wisely and go with a CPO for the warranty.
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Newbie
Joined: Dec 2014
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Mercedes-Benz 2013 GL550 CPO
I would never buy ANY rental cars. People are people and they will drive a rental like they stole it. If my car is stolen, I don't want it back! The GL is not the most reliable SUVs out there and it needs a lot of attention and care. We are on our third GL and none of them have been very reliable with many visits to the shop. Shop wisely and go with a CPO for the warranty.
Since you've had many GLs, have you ever owned outside the warranty? I'm looking at 2013s, and if I buy the full extended CPO, that only gets me a total of another 5 years, wanted to keep my vehicle for 8-10 like above.
Any recommendations for 3rd party warranties that last longer?
Thanks!
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From: New York
2025 Range Rover, 2022 BMW M850 , 2017 MB E400 Coupe
I don't see anything wrong to buy from Hertz if you check a car, it's in a good condition, currently on factory warranty and eligible for extended warranty from MB.
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 239
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From: SoCal
'15 GL450
Hey luv2sleep,
Since you've had many GLs, have you ever owned outside the warranty? I'm looking at 2013s, and if I buy the full extended CPO, that only gets me a total of another 5 years, wanted to keep my vehicle for 8-10 like above.
Any recommendations for 3rd party warranties that last longer?
Thanks!
Since you've had many GLs, have you ever owned outside the warranty? I'm looking at 2013s, and if I buy the full extended CPO, that only gets me a total of another 5 years, wanted to keep my vehicle for 8-10 like above.
Any recommendations for 3rd party warranties that last longer?
Thanks!
btw, our '15 GL450 has been in the shop for the last week+ for a check engine light; 2nd visit for the same problem. Our previous GLs ('09 450 and '11 350) spent many nights in the shop also for various issues and I'm not the type to take my cars in for the little things (squeaks, rattles, blown fuse, etc.).
We still like the GL so good luck finding yours. It's out there somewhere.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 22
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'13 GL450
Not a fan of the Third Party Warranties.
I'll purchase a MB extended warranty well before the existing 4 year warranty expires.
.....and I won't be shy about using it either.
By the sounds of it, the extended warranty is money well spent.
I'll purchase a MB extended warranty well before the existing 4 year warranty expires.
.....and I won't be shy about using it either.
By the sounds of it, the extended warranty is money well spent.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
2013 Gl450
I recently bough one from Detroit from a private party. It has almost all options with premium 2 except appearance package with 20K miles. I see that you should get one around 51K plus or minus 1K that is optimum price I fixed. J
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,653
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From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
I would never buy ANY rental cars. People are people and they will drive a rental like they stole it. If my car is stolen, I don't want it back! The GL is not the most reliable SUVs out there and it needs a lot of attention and care. We are on our third GL and none of them have been very reliable with many visits to the shop. Shop wisely and go with a CPO for the warranty.
