Hi All,

I am planning to buy a 2014 or 2015 GL450 CPO and was looking around for options and found one vehicle and got the VMI details.

I observed something which piqued my interest and wanted to check with experts on the forum before I reach back to dealer.

Attached is part of VMI and I just wanted to check if there is anything I need to worry about especially in vehicle history as I see some changes done in 2017.

Also would it matter if i buy 2014 which has V8 vs 2015 which has V6 engine as the vehicle is pretty big.

Thanks for your help.

 

I guess you're referring to the shaft replacement. Everything else seems to be part of the CPO process. I got the VMI for my recently purchased '14 GL450. Had a lot of stuff done, but with 2 more years of warranty, I wasn't that concerned. I made them put the car up on a lift to see it the engine was still leaking oil since the vmi said the rear main seal was replaced. Dry as a bone, and no evidence that it had ever leaked at all. Re V6 vs V8, I come from the school of there's no substitute for cubic inches. The vmi shows your car is nicely equipped, with a few things I wish I had. But life is a series of compromises.....

 

Thanks pjw for your feedback , yes even I was worried about shaft replacement i.e. should I be worried or is it part of CPO process and they just replaced it.

yeah even I was concerned about V8 vs V6 and so am still trying to decide if this makes sense or not.

What other options do you think would make sense as I want to make sure not to miss something and repent later after buying the car.

 

I wish I had the Bi-xenon, HK radio, adaptive headlights, all of which are on my wife's '14 ML350. I do have 3rd row air which also includes power pop out rear side windows. Your vmi says rear air which may not be the same. if you expect to have rear passengers a lot, the 3rd row air may be a benefit. VMI says you have some AMG add ons which are nice. I also have Parktronic which gives me the 360 degree camera. I think you have that with code 906 but you should check. My GL is like riding in an old Cadillac. Smoooooth. The hemi Durango I traded in was a raw beast. The '14 V8 seems to be just as responsive. I don't think you can go wrong here. Good luck.

 

Here's my msrp info. You can try to get yours for comparison.

 

Thanks again , i will ask dealer today about those 3 items to see if it has them or not.

 

Tires looked a bit worn out.

http://www.mercedespalmbeach.com/use...21bbea0026.htm

Interestingly, it says "Headlights Halogen" on the website vs Bi-xenon in the VMI. Definitely get the full MSRP spec sheet to know what packages were installed and how much the car originally MSRP for.

 

Thanks will do so and can I ask them to change tires if they are worn out?

 

Prior to buying, anything is negotiable, esp a wear item like tires, brakes, rotors etc.

 

I see the price is good so I will try to negotiate on these items rather than the price itself or would try to go 2k lower on price(doubtful about it)

 

Ok ... depending on which photos you look at. One of initial photos show the tire thread is at least 1/2 gone if not more. The later photos of the tire is showing pretty good, almost new.

This one shows it quite bare:

http://pictures.dealer.com/n/newcoun...pg?imwidth=640

This one looks almost new tire:

http://pictures.dealer.com/n/newcoun...pg?imwidth=640

Just make sure it has the following (absolute must for me)

1. lightning package for bi-xenon (vmi says it has it but website says just halogen)
2. lane tracking package (either passive or active)

Nice to have stuff (esp since I don't tow nor listen to music):

You already have the towing package, HK audio, appearance package. Also cooled seats if I'm not mistaken from the photos.

Personal preference:

Description says it is leatherette/mb-tex. I would personally prefer real leather esp for that price.

Even if it is missing the packages, nothing you can do. The dealership can't do anything either.

 

If I missed it I'm sorry. Make sure you get confirmation that you have 2 years +/- of nav updates so that when you get it serviced over here you don't have a problem.

 

Any car you get, negotiate in New tires, brakes (unless your inspector says not needed) ALL next major service items even if not yet due. You'll star from a new Star, effectively, with new engine air and all three cabin filters, new trans fluid, new wipers, new fuel filter, tires and brakes. Do not trust cpo to mean ****, not that there are unscrupulous dealers around. It's easy to negotiated services that cost you a lot of money, it's much harder to reduce the price by 2 Grand. Good luck.

 

As I live far away i.e. TX and car is in Florida so I will try to get a preinspection done even on a CPO just to make sure it has no issues. Is there any inspection service anyone would recommend as I was trying to search in forums and not coming up with much it could be I am not using proper search criteria or there is no such info. I found couple in google but don't know who to go with.

 

I left off brake fluid flush from my prior list
It's difficult finding an inspection service remotely that you can trust, one who's not already tied into the Dealer local network, I suppose. My only other suggestion would be considering finding an independent Foreign Car service shop nearby the selling dealer and see if they can send someone over to collect the car and Performing inspection at their independence shop for you. Just an idea.. On the other hand, if you're fairly reasonably satisfied the car has no recorded history of prior paintwork or the dealer will disclose to you honestly any prior paintwork it sees, then their only remaining issue is mechanical integrity. If you are satisfied with the VMI report, then move on to getting all the maintenance done and documented, you have to get receipts that they did all the things that they're giving you as part of your purchase they can't just tell you they did. At that point, you're buying a car remotely sight unseen but you have some peace of mind. I think you probably already know if you're searching on this forum that you should not buy the extended CPO protection from the selling dealer unless you first check with discount sellers like Jeff Jackson at Taffel Motors.
Incidentally, if you've already talked to the dealer like 2 or 3 times about the same car, they probably know they've got you hooked already and it may be too late for you to get a bunch of stuff thrown in. If you just talked to him once, the next time you call you can say look, I need to inspect this car and I'm going to want a bunch of service items brought all the way up to date so the car I get from you is like buying a new car from a service and wear-and-tear standpoint, I won't have to do anything to it for so long that it says if I bought a new car. So I want to get the inspection and then I will have a list for you based on last service points in the VMI and what the inspector says, and then we can negotiate the purchase price and the items to include. Again, if you been on the phone with the same guy three or four times probably they know they don't need to budge cuz you want this car. Usually when I buy a car remotely and I've done that a few times I try to deal with the sales director and try and keep it straight forward because those guys are busy but they're also closers. They also know that the dealerships actual service costs are a fraction of the retail prices charged. If they sell the car for a price s/he likes, maybe a thousand below what they're asking, but they throw in what would be retail service charge to you as $1,500 or $2,000 worth of items, he knows it only cost them a fraction that much to do that work. But to you, you're effectively getting full value on the stuff they tossing.

 

V6 or V8 is a non-factor.

Get the best equipped, condition and warrantied truck for the money.

 

Just a quick update that this car is sold off, someone came locally and brought it without even discussing anything. Looks like some other salesman made the deal. Thanks all for the feedback..

found a new CPO which has same features i.e. black leather, 3rd zone climate, lane assist active,distronic plus,11k miles,soft rear entry,lighting package,appearance package,P1,keyless go,hk speakers. He is quoting 52k.

I asked him about maintenance and he told me the below and gave all checks performed in both attachments.


1. Replace brake fluid - Checked but not replaced
2. Replace brake pads, rotors - Checked but not replaced
3. Replace air filter, dust filter,combination filter. - Checked but not replaced
4. Check propeller shaft - Checked
5. oil and oil filter change - Replaced
6. Tires changed - Checked but not replaced

 

Oops

 

Seems like a good price. I bought a 2015 in May with similar options plus illuminated star, illuminated running boards, parktornic for 51k and it was not a CPO. Bought it from a non MB dealer. It had 14k miles on it
Mine does not have leather or distronic