Dawgtrick

This is the first MB I have owned so looking for a little advise . The GL has just over 100k on it and I am staring down some hefty maintenance bills in the near future . Engine and transmission mounts are loose and need to be replace and I have been told ~$2500 for that . Rear Airmatic bag appears to have a leak and I need to replace , another big job . This past summer I replaced the ac compressor . My wife loves the car but I’m just scared there could be coming and the car isn’t worth more than about $15k now . Thanks for feedback !

rapidoxidation

Both of those jobs are to be considered normal maintenance and are DIY. Buy the right tools, spend some time at Youtube University, and do it.

mtm

Rear airmatic bag is not a big job by any means. Get both bags from Arnott and replace them yourself in less than an hour: Take out the fuse, take off the wheel, disconnect the air line, pop off the old bag, put in the new one, push in the air line - done.

The engine mounts are a pain to replace. But $2,500 is way too much. Find a place that will do it for less than half that amount.

Dawgtrick

Thanks for the replies . Unfortunately I have not been blessed with the skill or time for DIY.
I have been told by several repair shops that a nitrogen tank is required to fix the airbags so as to not overheat the compressor. All local mechanics are referring to dealer for work. Dealer is quoting me a very high figure that makes no sense giving the value of the car.

mtm

Nitrogen tank story is pure BS. The compressor will not be working during bag replacement (that's the fuse you remove in the beginning). Then it just needs to inflate the new bag - that's well within the compressor's ability

Yeffsy

Here's the video for replacing the rear airbags. I replaced the rear airbags and struts on my 2005 ML500 and the rear airbags on my 2015 GL350 with Arnott parts. No problems. The service guy at my MB dealer even recommended them (MB had them on backorder). The hardest part of replacing the rear airbags is taking the tire off. If you can change a tire, you can do this!

Motor and transmission mounts are a lot more work. They don't require dealer specific tools or programming, but you've got to get your car off the ground and then support the motor and transmission as you twist them around to remove the mounts. Can you DIY this? Sure, but it will take some time on your garage floor, on your back, fiddling with a jack. This is a job where a lift and a transmission jack make the job sooooo much easier. Check around for a good independent shop. If you post your location, maybe someone on here can recommend one.

Jeff

Dawgtrick

Thank y’all !!
Seems very doable for my local mechanic . Parts on internet are reasonable .
Can’t figure out why MB would have told me $7500. They must be pricing out valve lock, compressor etc. I think I just need the bag(s) switched out.
then I have to deal with the motor mounts . Honestly love the car but might just trade it . Not sure I can take another large ticket item on a car worth $15k.