Stuck ! GL350 or 450 ?
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SL55 SLK 320
Stuck ! GL350 or 450 ?
I am sure this has been covered guys but time is of the essence as I need a replacement SUV asap. Drove a 2011 GL350 last night and really liked the truck but of coarse there is so much badness on the internet about this engine I am having trouble choosing. Can I get some clarity please ? I am a very competent mechanic have done it all before. This dosen't mean I want to spend all of my time under my new truck though.
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2010 Mercedes GL450; 2000 Mercedes ML55 AMG; 2016 VW GLI SEL Stick!!!
I am sure this has been covered guys but time is of the essence as I need a replacement SUV asap. Drove a 2011 GL350 last night and really liked the truck but of coarse there is so much badness on the internet about this engine I am having trouble choosing. Can I get some clarity please ? I am a very competent mechanic have done it all before. This dosen't mean I want to spend all of my time under my new truck though.
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From: Bethesda, MD
2010 Mercedes GL450; 2000 Mercedes ML55 AMG; 2016 VW GLI SEL Stick!!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: Bethesda, MD
2010 Mercedes GL450; 2000 Mercedes ML55 AMG; 2016 VW GLI SEL Stick!!!
I’ve had normal issues that are common to all gl models.
The 350 will have exponentially more issues than a 450 or 550.
Just normalstuff, some annoying stuff
brake wear harness. Handles. Intake manifold. Struts and airbags. Multiple idler pulleys. Tensioner. Belts. Sway bar end links, blower, PCv valve Etc.
thats all I can remember right now.
The 350 will have exponentially more issues than a 450 or 550.
Just normalstuff, some annoying stuff
brake wear harness. Handles. Intake manifold. Struts and airbags. Multiple idler pulleys. Tensioner. Belts. Sway bar end links, blower, PCv valve Etc.
thats all I can remember right now.
Last edited by kombifan; Feb 19, 2019 at 02:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 100
Likes: 5
From: Chicago
SL55 SLK 320
I’ve had normal issues that are common to all gl models.
The 350 will have exponentially more issues than a 450 or 550.
Just normalstuff, some annoying stuff
brake wear harness. Handles. Intake manifold. Struts and airbags. Multiple idler pulleys. Tensioner. Belts. Sway bar end links, blower, PCv valve Etc.
thats all I can remember right now.
The 350 will have exponentially more issues than a 450 or 550.
Just normalstuff, some annoying stuff
brake wear harness. Handles. Intake manifold. Struts and airbags. Multiple idler pulleys. Tensioner. Belts. Sway bar end links, blower, PCv valve Etc.
thats all I can remember right now.
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From: Bethesda, MD
2010 Mercedes GL450; 2000 Mercedes ML55 AMG; 2016 VW GLI SEL Stick!!!
it's an amazing platform that can tackle anything you throw at it. It has never left me stranded. Never not started.
Its comfortable. Safe. Planted and is as happy at 130 as well as 30. It fits 7 adults. Fully grown 6ft adults and it is comfortable getting in and out. It swallows up people and luggage. It can tow and is amazing with the air suspension with towing and heavy cargo.
I'm just mentioning some issues that might happen and they're not all that bad.
An infiniti qx80 drives like a pig. It's uncouth and just plainly is horrible to drive. The tow hitch is a pain to get to.
The escalate is a joke.
The disco doesn't compare to comfort. And anyway it has even more expensive issues. It's smaller and less luggage space.
Navigator and expedition twins are just not comparable in ride quality.
I think that's it.
The gl is really the best in its class.
And ive had the expedition. Had the infiniti and suburban escapade for a couple months as rentals.
Just a note about what you could expect.
I am very particular about my car...so every detail and noise gets scrutinised for wear and gets sorted. The blower got replaced because I found it to loud. End links because they were worn. Tensioner and pulleys because of squeaks. Etc.
So ymmv
Last edited by kombifan; Feb 19, 2019 at 10:58 PM.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 100
Likes: 5
From: Chicago
SL55 SLK 320
quite the opposite.
it's an amazing platform that can tackle anything you throw at it. It has never left me stranded. Never not started.
Its comfortable. Safe. Planted and is as happy at 130 as well as 30. It fits 7 adults. Fully grown 6ft adults and it is comfortable getting in and out. It swallows up people and luggage. It can tow and is amazing with the air suspension with towing and heavy cargo.
I'm just mentioning some issues that might happen and they're not all that bad.
An infiniti qx80 drives like a pig. It's uncouth and just plainly is horrible to drive. The tow hitch is a pain to get to.
The escalate is a joke.
The disco doesn't compare to comfort. And anyway it has even more expensive issues. It's smaller and less luggage space.
Navigator and expedition twins are just not comparable in ride quality.
I think that's it.
The gl is really the best in its class.
And ive had the expedition. Had the infiniti and suburban escapade for a couple months as rentals.
Just a note about what you could expect.
I am very particular about my car...so every detail and noise gets scrutinised for wear and gets sorted. The blower got replaced because I found it to loud. End links because they were worn. Tensioner and pulleys because of squeaks. Etc.
So ymmv
I have owned several Mercedes and currently have an SL55 as the summer toy. I look around and honda pilots used cost as much as the GL450. I’m sure the honda will be very easy to live with but the GL is much more appealing to me. I do get tired of the constant chasing of issues the Germans can give me at times though.
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From: Bethesda, MD
2010 Mercedes GL450; 2000 Mercedes ML55 AMG; 2016 VW GLI SEL Stick!!!
I just sold my Navigator which was a terrible truck in my experience. Granted it was a used vehicle but just over 100k and it always needed something plus was a terrible driving machine to me.
I have owned several Mercedes and currently have an SL55 as the summer toy. I look around and honda pilots used cost as much as the GL450. I’m sure the honda will be very easy to live with but the GL is much more appealing to me. I do get tired of the constant chasing of issues the Germans can give me at times though.
It was pretty much tired. Left me stranded multiple times and had multiple paint defects. Put me in a ditch a couple times. Cut out in a 3 lane highway regularly.
The gl meanwhile is at 9 and 90k and is as tight as a drum.
Invest in xentry or star and you'll save yourself a lot of guess work.
Last edited by kombifan; Feb 19, 2019 at 11:25 PM.
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From: CT
GL 450, 993TT, Cayenne Diesel, 964C4
How much emissions parts can you delete? My '09 GL with 70K miles have been reliable outside of emission parts. Currently sorting out a swirl motor/intake manifold issue properly before selling it.
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2015 S550
I bought my GL550 with 40k miles in Dec, 2017. I currently have almost 52k miles and the only things I have done is change the front pads & rotors and 1 oil change. This vehicle has been spot on reliable (knocking hard on wood with one hand as I type with the other). I spent $5300 on a warranty for 4 yr, 45k miles and so far it hasn't had to pay out one cent. The other shoe can drop at any moment....but so far so good.
But I did have a full paint correction & ceramic coating last summer and did buy some 19" wheels clad with Toyo Celsius tires for winter driving (the OEM Conti's on the stock 21's are scary as hell on snow and ice).
But I did have a full paint correction & ceramic coating last summer and did buy some 19" wheels clad with Toyo Celsius tires for winter driving (the OEM Conti's on the stock 21's are scary as hell on snow and ice).
Thread Starter
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From: Chicago
SL55 SLK 320
I have an SL55 and I may spend $1k per year and that’s a bunch more demanding car.
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E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Maybe for a 350. GL450 should be trouble free for another 100k+ miles with the exception of struts but those can be purchased cheaply with a lifetime warranty.
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From: Chicago
SL55 SLK 320
trouble free would be great but I’m sure something will come up. Regardless I am fairly certain it will not be thousands of dollars per year.
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2010 Mercedes GL450; 2000 Mercedes ML55 AMG; 2016 VW GLI SEL Stick!!!
If uou do your own work. Much much less. Especially if you buy from a place with a lifetime warranty on parts.
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SL55 SLK 320
like FCP you mean ? I do not know of others that offer the lifetime warranty. I really haven’t ever had to replace many things twice. I imagine the airmatic stuff is the one on this car you can plan on replacing every 60k or so.
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But yes fcp euro. I’ve had Idler pulleys and tensioners go more than once, as well as the end links.
The suspension for sure. That’s every 60-80 for oe bilstein or mb or much less for Arnott or other brands.
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2015 S550
It's more than the Airmatic that is prone to failure. Those early M278 motors had issues with oil seals and turbo seals. The 7 speed auto was also prone to problems which can be very costly. COMAND can have problems in all years of the GL & ML trucks, as well as other electronics. Perhaps you'll get lucky and avoid many of these well known issues, but they are very expensive to fix when things go wrong, even if you're handy with a wrench.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 100
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From: Chicago
SL55 SLK 320
It's more than the Airmatic that is prone to failure. Those early M278 motors had issues with oil seals and turbo seals. The 7 speed auto was also prone to problems which can be very costly. COMAND can have problems in all years of the GL & ML trucks, as well as other electronics. Perhaps you'll get lucky and avoid many of these well known issues, but they are very expensive to fix when things go wrong, even if you're handy with a wrench.
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From: Chicago
SL55 SLK 320
the arnott bags do not last as long as the oem ? I would think they would last longer since they offer the warranty.
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2015 S550
That trans was problematic for several years. I believe 2011 is when the M278 4.7 bi-turbo motor debuted in the GL. It is a great motor and highly tunable, but the earlier models did have issues with oil and turbo seals. Cylinder compression issues were also fairly common throughout several years.
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From: Bethesda, MD
2010 Mercedes GL450; 2000 Mercedes ML55 AMG; 2016 VW GLI SEL Stick!!!
That trans was problematic for several years. I believe 2011 is when the M278 4.7 bi-turbo motor debuted in the GL. It is a great motor and highly tunable, but the earlier models did have issues with oil and turbo seals. Cylinder compression issues were also fairly common throughout several years.
