Newbie - Home mechanic
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Newbie
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 3
Toyota Tundra
Newbie - Home mechanic
Greetings, new guy here and new to Mercedes Benz brand. I'm considering the purchase of a 1st gen GL (possibly 2nd generation) for a dd family hauler. Having never worked on a Mercedes Benz I am curious if there is too much work or maintenance that is out of reach for the average home mechanic with a Mercedes Benz.
Last edited by 80ME; Aug 18, 2020 at 03:55 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Welcome! Please post a photo of the GL when it arrives.
Avoid the diesel engine. MB is in the middle of a lawsuit on this, search this site and Google.
Avoid air suspension if you can. It might be standard on GLs, I’m not the expert on this.
Mercedes require more maintenance and repair than most brands. The systems are more complex than most brands. The parts are usually not available in the Walmart auto section or at Pep Boys.
If none of the above dissuades you, go for it. I do most of my own maintenance and enjoy it. I would say the majority of people on this site who daily a Mercedes do not DIY their own repair and maintenance. Classic Mercedes are another story, as with most classic cars.
How many people and pets need to sit in the vehicle? Consider the latest model W166 ML or GLE if your budget allows. This is arguably the most reliable, or tied for most reliable, platforms from Mercedes in the past 5-10 years.
Avoid the diesel engine. MB is in the middle of a lawsuit on this, search this site and Google.
Avoid air suspension if you can. It might be standard on GLs, I’m not the expert on this.
Mercedes require more maintenance and repair than most brands. The systems are more complex than most brands. The parts are usually not available in the Walmart auto section or at Pep Boys.
If none of the above dissuades you, go for it. I do most of my own maintenance and enjoy it. I would say the majority of people on this site who daily a Mercedes do not DIY their own repair and maintenance. Classic Mercedes are another story, as with most classic cars.
How many people and pets need to sit in the vehicle? Consider the latest model W166 ML or GLE if your budget allows. This is arguably the most reliable, or tied for most reliable, platforms from Mercedes in the past 5-10 years.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 3
Toyota Tundra
We are a family of four. But I'm large fella, 6'4". I also want larger(est) vehicle for saftey considerations. Suburban was also a consideration. Thanks for response. I hope to find a deep knowledge base of tech articles somewhere. I come from a landcruiser forum with well organized and thorough posted about just about any issue you can run into. I don't mind additional feeding and care needed to keep sweet ride moving.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,678
Likes: 4,578
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
@80ME Yes!
The OM642 engine with post-2008 emissions equipment is a horrible setup, similar to the VW diesel engines of the same era. Diesel emissions fluid (DEF, using a process known as selective catalytic reduction or SCR), DEF heaters and pumps, diesel particulate filters (DPF), diesel EGR and NOX sensors all have high failure rates and are expensive to repair. All of the above mentioned systems are present on the Mercedes OM642 and VW engines that were involved in Dieselgate. Added to this is Mercedes' often questionable engine reliability in the form of oil leaks and turbo failures, which the OM642 has had its share of.
Steer a wide berth around the diesel.
The GL450 with the 3.0L twin turbo V6 from 2015 onward is likely the most reliable GL, based on the M276 engine architecture which is proving itself to be one of the more reliable engines from M-B in a while. The GL450 with 4.7L V8 (pre-2015) and the GL550 would be the next most reliable options. Being V8s, they will consume more fuel and cost more in terms of oil changes and spark plug changes.
The OM642 engine with post-2008 emissions equipment is a horrible setup, similar to the VW diesel engines of the same era. Diesel emissions fluid (DEF, using a process known as selective catalytic reduction or SCR), DEF heaters and pumps, diesel particulate filters (DPF), diesel EGR and NOX sensors all have high failure rates and are expensive to repair. All of the above mentioned systems are present on the Mercedes OM642 and VW engines that were involved in Dieselgate. Added to this is Mercedes' often questionable engine reliability in the form of oil leaks and turbo failures, which the OM642 has had its share of.
Steer a wide berth around the diesel.
The GL450 with the 3.0L twin turbo V6 from 2015 onward is likely the most reliable GL, based on the M276 engine architecture which is proving itself to be one of the more reliable engines from M-B in a while. The GL450 with 4.7L V8 (pre-2015) and the GL550 would be the next most reliable options. Being V8s, they will consume more fuel and cost more in terms of oil changes and spark plug changes.
Last edited by chassis; Aug 18, 2020 at 09:05 PM.
