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Braingears
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: St Petersburg, FL
Vehicle(s): G320 & ML320
Posts: 1450
| Newer G-Wagons
I currently have a 1998 G36 (with nearly 300,000 miles), and I'm considering a newer year. I haven't compared the newer models in a long time, and lost touch with the pros & cons of the newer engine / transmission combinations.
Ultimately, I'm looking for the most reliable year with the least amount of bugs; both electrical & mechanical. I also want to ensure that it has or can install the towing package. There were a number of years, it wasn't available in the US. I know to stay away from the 2002-03 because of the numerous issues. What years and models should I be targeting? |
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Otiswesty
Administrator
Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3004
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
I would just stay away from 2009-2012 which lack the towing attachment on the rear frame. All of them are good, even teh 2002-2003 should be well sorted.
I think a Carfax location history combined with vehicle mileage would be my biggest criteria.
I think Dutch's 2000 G500 is still available as well |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
otiswesty - 4/5/2020 1:42 AM
I would just stay away from 2009-2012 which lack the towing attachment on the rear frame. All of them are good, even teh 2002-2003 should be well sorted.
I think a Carfax location history combined with vehicle mileage would be my biggest criteria.
I think Dutch's 2000 G500 is still available as well
It is, and meets all of Chuck's requirements.
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GwagenLover
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Winston Salem, NC USA 27104
Vehicle(s): 2016 G550 & 2016 GLE350
Posts: 473
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
I guess everyone has their thoughts, so here are mine....
The 2002 I owned was OK, but it had a bucket full of electrical problems.
The 2016 has dual turbos.
The local shop replaces trubos at an alarming rate. Not MBenz though.
Turbos reach a whooping 900 degrees and requires excess cooling.
That in itself makes me edgy about the life of the turbos.
I am thinking I would prefer to own Dutch's 2000 that is proven reliable.
If you do the research, Mbenz only makes new vehicles with turbos.
I have bought my last trubo vehicle.
A plus to take note of:
Later models have 9 & 1/2" wide X 19 diameter rims.
I had to replace them with with 8 X 18 inch wheels from the 2002.
The wife kept complaining that the steering was excessive and difficult to keep in the road.
Take notice, Dutch's vehicle had 16 inch wheels and tires.
The ride is better and the handling is far greater.
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Floobydust
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2014
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Vehicle(s): 1995 E320 Cabrio, 2003 G500, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8
Posts: 284
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
GwagenLover - 4/6/2020 1:07 PM
. . .
The 2016 has dual turbos.
The local shop replaces trubos at an alarming rate. Not MBenz though.
Turbos reach a whooping 900 degrees and requires excess cooling.
That in itself makes me edgy about the life of the turbos.
. . .
This is precisely why I have been looking for a good 2013-2015 - I get the hitch, but not the long term maintenance wallet-ache of the hot V twin turbos (no auto start-stop either!). |
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ychung
Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2015
Location: SO CAL
Vehicle(s): 2004 G500, 2014 ML350, 2008 S550
Posts: 196
| RE: Newer G-Wagons
I have a 04 with 210,000 mils and it has been a problem free for the last five years except seat control modules. |
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GwagenLover
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Winston Salem, NC USA 27104
Vehicle(s): 2016 G550 & 2016 GLE350
Posts: 473
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
Floobydust - 4/6/2020 9:44 PM
This is precisely why I have been looking for a good 2013-2015 - I get the hitch, but not the long term maintenance wallet-ache of the hot V twin turbos (no auto start-stop either!).
Beleive you me, that auto start stop is about to drive me nuts.
I asked Mbenz maintenance to turn it off, but they refused.
Edited by GwagenLover 4/7/2020 4:12 PM
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
How far are you willing to go to kill the start/stop? http://www.canm8.com/canm8-ed-off.html
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Floobydust
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2014
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Vehicle(s): 1995 E320 Cabrio, 2003 G500, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8
Posts: 284
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
Mid City Engineering in Chicago also offers a solution: https://www.midcityengineering.com/product/eco-off-for-mercedes-benz... I did one for a friend of mine on his C-class.
I have also seen on one of these forums an OBDII port plug in option that someone has developed. Can't find the link to that at the moment.
I agree, auto atart/stop has to go!
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ewalberg
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Past: San Francisco. Present: Germany
Vehicle(s): 2000 g500
Posts: 1887
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
Honestly, I'd either hold out 5-6 more years and get a 2019/2020 with the independent front suspension, or I would hold out for the lowest mileage 2000 you can find. I don't really see the benefit of a 2015 over a 2000 accept lower mileage and less age on the plastics. The interior is a step backward in my opinion.... granted I don't live in climates that are brutally hot or cold, where I do understand newer trucks have higher output HVAC systems. The interiors on the 1990-2000 trucks are just now really starting to have a classic charm to them. I've always liked it, but now it's getting more and more interesting for people when people get into it. Since I've imported mine to Germany, I've decided to spend an absurd amount of money to have it fully repainted at a shop that specializes in restorations. The primary goal is to give it another long stretch of reliability against rust, so it's had all the trim, windows, everything removed to identify and fix any rust spots, repainting, then waxing all the parts before they're screwed back together, with documentation of what condition it was found in, and what work was done to repair it. It's got 200k on it. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
ewalberg - 4/16/2020 2:53 PM
Honestly, I'd either hold out 5-6 more years and get a 2019/2020 with the independent front suspension, or I would hold out for the lowest mileage 2000 you can find. I don't really see the benefit of a 2015 over a 2000 accept lower mileage and less age on the plastics.
When you get a 2000 that's been garage parked for 18 years when it's not being used (mine!). the plastics are in excellent condition.
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Braingears
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: St Petersburg, FL
Vehicle(s): G320 & ML320
Posts: 1450
| RE: Newer G-Wagons
So there are no additional preferences on engines or transmissions? |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: Newer G-Wagons
Braingears - 4/16/2020 5:41 PM
So there are no additional preferences on engines or transmissions?
The M113 and the 5-speed 722.6 tranny are quite bullet proof. |
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ewalberg
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Past: San Francisco. Present: Germany
Vehicle(s): 2000 g500
Posts: 1887
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
Shameless plug!! 
Mine was almost never garaged, but I'm amazed how well the interior has held up, in that sense I'm certainly thankful for mild California coastal weather. But in any case, yeah, your truck would be exactly what I'd be looking for if my truck were unexpectedly totaled for reasons out of my control. I do prefer silver, but I'd say the condition of the truck is a bigger deal to me than color. The only plastics I've found that have really deteriorated were the little accordion gaskets that serve as cable routing protectors between the doors and the body (for wiring) and the gussets on the rear door hinges. All fresh now.
In Germany I've decided to keep my truck in a parking garage (not temp controlled) but still it rains too often and then the salted roads in the winter. |
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ewalberg
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Past: San Francisco. Present: Germany
Vehicle(s): 2000 g500
Posts: 1887
| RE: Newer G-Wagons
Yeah, here in Germany the M113 and the 722.6 are considered hallmarks of Mercedes engineering quality/reliability. |
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Floobydust
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2014
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Vehicle(s): 1995 E320 Cabrio, 2003 G500, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8
Posts: 284
| RE: Newer G-Wagons
DUTCH - 4/16/2020 5:47 PM
Braingears - 4/16/2020 5:41 PM
So there are no additional preferences on engines or transmissions?
The M113 and the 5-speed 722.6 tranny are quite bullet proof.
Yes indeed, IMHO, the M113/722.6 combination was the best drive train Mercedes ever produced, regardless of the chassis in which it was used. |
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Otiswesty
Administrator
Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3004
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
I have been looking into the newer models out of curiosity.
As mentioned earlier, the 2009-2012 models lacked frame mounted towing points and utilized a lower duty skid plate mounted tow hitch. Otherwise, the vehicle have incremental improvements in interior options and appointments.
The 2013 model saw the return of frame mounted towing, but was released with the ability to lock diffs in low range only. It must have made sense to someone at MB, but was met with dismay and this change was eliminated in 2014 models I believe.
2014 saw the introduction of stop start function in the AMG G63. The G550 would not get stop/start until the biturbo model was released in 2016.
2016 was the release of the newer G550 with 4L biturbo motor and start stop function for fuel economy. On other Mercedes models, it is possible to disable this with sport mode selection. I wonder if selecting low range or center diff lock would disable start/stop function temporarily as well.
To me, the sweet spot for newer G-class would be 2014-2015 G550 with naturally aspirated motor, good towing ability, and no start stop function. It is a very complex vehicle with respect vehicle management systems, so for a 10 or 15 year old car that has been used off-road on many occasions, this may not hold to be true over the long term.
I think the same could be said for the 2005-2008 models which I would also consider to be strong choices for the few rare low mileage well maintained vehicles out there.
My preferences are the earliest G500 models with the m113 V8. They are very hard to find now with low mileage and the level of care seen with Dutch's truck and only a few others. It should be noted that the 722.6 trans had updates over the years with the final and most reliable versions issued 2001+ according to my transmission rebuilder.
For the 10+ year and older cars it can be a real crap shoot with respect to rust, accidents, deferred maintenance and benign or willful neglect. The newest 2019 and 2020 have the independent front suspension which is nice for road manners, but less desirable off road as mentioned before. These are only available as turbo charged gassers as well, so....
I would say I am a 463a enthusiast to describe myself in general terms.
I would welcome any corrections or additional information on these new models. Most of the discussions I have seen about them are centered around wheel size or cosmetic accessories.
Edited by otiswesty 5/1/2020 11:49 PM
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Floobydust
Veteran
Date registered: Mar 2014
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Vehicle(s): 1995 E320 Cabrio, 2003 G500, 2000 SL500, 1980 TR8
Posts: 284
| RE: Newer G-Wagons - sealed the deal today
I sealed the deal today on a CPO black on black 2014 G550 with 58K miles. I've been looking for over a year for exactly the right 2013-2015 G550 (no turbo, no auto start/stop) to replace my tektite gray 2003 G500 which had many pending issues. Haven't taken delivery yet, but the truck is in excellent nick and I am looking forward to driving it for a long time. |
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Otiswesty
Administrator
Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3004
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
That is awesome. Congratulations.
Post up a couple of pics once you are able. |
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JamesG
Regular
Date registered: May 2006
Location: Conifer, Colorado
Vehicle(s): 2011 G550, 2000 L.C.,1997 L.C.1987 FJ60
Posts: 98
| Re: Newer G-Wagons
I had a 2002, sold it and three years ago I bought a 2011 M.B. certified used G550. Relatively problem free but I can't lock my diffs in high range; a bummer. I put 16" wheels on it, fox shocks and OME springs. I am happy with it. |
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