Buying a G Wagon - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Lord Hemming · #1 10-20-2007, 10:30 AM

I have always wanted a G-wagen, and am ready to start having a look at what's currently available on the market. I will probably go for the G500 as I can't afford the AMG.

What are the known problems these cars have, what should I look for? I will buy as new as I can and with the lowest possible milage with my budget. But, like most cars there's always seems to be a known problem for certain years of manufacture or when the vehicle reaches a certain milage or age. Any insights would be appreciated.

aTOMic · #2 10-20-2007, 12:07 PM

SPELLING POLICE! you're BUSTED!

G-wagen.

sorry I can't help with your real question!

Lord Hemming · #3 10-20-2007, 12:24 PM

Thanks Atomic, I will get it right next time

ILUVMILS · #4 10-20-2007, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Hemming

I have always wanted a G-wagen, and am ready to start having a look at what's currently available on the market. I will probably go for the G500 as I can't afford the AMG.

The 463 chassis is a proven, durable platform on which to build a capable off-road vehicle. It looks like a heavy duty vehicle and it drives like a heavy duty vehicle. Since the chassis and drivetrain are relatively simple, they don't seem to have many issues. Some early U.S. G's needed modified steering damper brackets to cure a vibration when driving on bumpy roads. Others had problems with premature traction system intervention due to the vehicles' high center of gravity. This was cured by modified software in the ESP control module. All in all though, pretty reliable.

Some of the G-Wagen's electrical systems are nearly identical to the W203 C-Class. The climate control system, power seats, and a few other things are all borrowed from the 203.

Before you take the plunge though, make sure to get as much "seat time" as you possibly can. If you plan on owning a G-Wagen as your daily driver you've got your work cut out. I had the use of a G500 for two weeks back in July and I was glad when it was over. The steering requires much more effort than any of the other MB trucks, the doors are hard to close, and the ride just plain sucks. At the end of a tough day, the G-Wagen doesn't offer much in the way of comfort. Another thing that bugged me was driving at night. Every piece of glass on the G-Wagen is flat. It was like driving around with a bunch of mirrors in the truck. The headlights of the surrounding traffic coming and going made for a distracting ride. Of course, these are personal observations. You may find the G-Wagen to be a dream ride. Good luck

DUTCH · #5 10-20-2007, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Hemming

I have always wanted a G-wagen, and am ready to start having a look at what's currently available on the market. I will probably go for the G500 as I can't afford the AMG.

What are the known problems these cars have, what should I look for? I will buy as new as I can and with the lowest possible milage with my budget. But, like most cars there's always seems to be a known problem for certain years of manufacture or when the vehicle reaches a certain milage or age. Any insights would be appreciated.

I've been driving a G for 23 years; and, while ILUVMILS is certainly entitled to his opinion, the ride is not bad in most models. I've driven my early W460 cross country from GA to UT and back nonstop many times; and have done the same with my current W463. Neither was any better or worse than many others vehicles I've owned.

There are a couple of well known problem years in the MBUSA lineup. Drop me a PM, if you'd like to discuss this topic further.

grane · #6 12-02-2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILUVMILS

The 463 chassis is a proven, durable platform on which to build a capable off-road vehicle. It looks like a heavy duty vehicle and it drives like a heavy duty vehicle. Since the chassis and drivetrain are relatively simple, they don't seem to have many issues. Some early U.S. G's needed modified steering damper brackets to cure a vibration when driving on bumpy roads. Others had problems with premature traction system intervention due to the vehicles' high center of gravity. This was cured by modified software in the ESP control module. All in all though, pretty reliable.

Some of the G-Wagen's electrical systems are nearly identical to the W203 C-Class. The climate control system, power seats, and a few other things are all borrowed from the 203.

Before you take the plunge though, make sure to get as much "seat time" as you possibly can. If you plan on owning a G-Wagen as your daily driver you've got your work cut out. I had the use of a G500 for two weeks back in July and I was glad when it was over. The steering requires much more effort than any of the other MB trucks, the doors are hard to close, and the ride just plain sucks. At the end of a tough day, the G-Wagen doesn't offer much in the way of comfort. Another thing that bugged me was driving at night. Every piece of glass on the G-Wagen is flat. It was like driving around with a bunch of mirrors in the truck. The headlights of the surrounding traffic coming and going made for a distracting ride. Of course, these are personal observations. You may find the G-Wagen to be a dream ride. Good luck

The G500 can seem like a handful especially when turning. . Why? The G understeers. And it is heavy.

To help make the car more neutral, one can add pressure to the rear tires. This is why the tire pressures with the standard tires is aproximately 5n lbs rear, 4n lbs front, ie, to compensate for the understeering.

How does one compensate for the understeer when driving?

Because it is full time AWD, I find the best thing to do, reasonably, is to turn smartly into turns and apply throttle early. This will tend to make the car turn in better and avoid body roll. Body roll aggravates the understeering and you can get into trouble because of inertia.

I suggest you practice this and get used to it in a safe place. Or better yet, go to an inexpensive safety driving school such as sponsored by the Corvette clubs, etc. Can you imagine wha they will say when you show up with a G?

Now this is a much different technique than you would use with a rear or mid engine car where you use trailing throttle going into curves and accelerate out. Think of a 911.

If you get this technique down a G500 can handle quite well, but its still a heavy truck!

Proceed with caution.

Grane

ILUVMILS · #7 12-02-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grane

......Or better yet, go to an inexpensive safety driving school such as sponsored by the Corvette clubs, etc.....

Corvette club my a$$. I've been going to the same "inexpensive" driving school since i got my drivers' license. It's called the New Jersey Turnpike.

The G-wagen still handles like $hit.

iwrock · #8 12-02-2007, 10:28 PM

I got a G500, and I can offer some things to look for.

1) Look for any little bits of surface rust on the underbody. On my 2002 G500, I had to do an undercoating as many of the bolt underneath werent quite rust proof. Not to mention we use our G500 as the snowmobile, and it spends alot of time in salty conditions.

2) Make sure the Navigation CD works and is in there. We bought ours, and the dealer couldn't find the Nav Discs. We got new ones out of it, but make sure that you get the WHOLE set. All discs. Make sure the headunit accepts the discs, and ejects smoothly. Ours had two CDS jammed in it, but it super easy to take the head apart and remove the discs.

3) The front windows get a little slow after a while, so if they are slow, make sure that the motors for the windows arent super stressed out, and give the tracks a nice cleaning and lube.

4) The Sill Plates. Make sure that they work. Inverter boxes are $$$.

There is some other stuff to look for, but I gotta run....

Dee8go · #9 12-03-2007, 09:32 AM

Are the G Wagons built better than the MLs? I've heard a lot of negative comments about the quality and reliability of the MLs, but not too much about the G Wagons.

HoustonM3 · #10 12-03-2007, 10:51 AM

A good friend of mine drives a 04 G500. She likes it because it feels "Safe" and because she just had a baby. Everytime you close the door the baby wakes up because they slam so loudly. I was with her when the transmission would not move due to something with the locking diff. We had to toy with it to get it to go into drive. She had it fixed under warranty.

DUTCH · #11 12-03-2007, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILUVMILS

Corvette club my a$$. I've been going to the same "inexpensive" driving school since i got my drivers' license. It's called the New Jersey Turnpike.

The G-wagen still handles like $hit.

Do you own one? Have you driven one long enough and far enough to be able to make your statements from real experience?

Yes, the G is a truck; but a darned comfortable one, for sure!

iwrock · #12 12-03-2007, 03:33 PM

Meh, it handles well for its size, and weight.

I actually like how it drives and handles. Makes it fun. Not to mention that the V8 under the hood makes it feel pretty damn peppy. Mine will sprint to 60 in under 8 seconds.

My G500 doesnt have alot of body roll as people describe.... Its actually quite planted, and easy to slide around corners in it....

mortinson · #13 12-09-2007, 05:39 AM

It's amazing to see the number of sel-proclaimed "experts" giving their opinion about the G-Wagen, when they've never owned one....

If you think that the G-Wagen handles like $hit then you don't have a darned clue about what the G-wagen is because it handles better than any off-road truck in the market... and it has for the last 30 years. Or better still, get yourself a Ferrari... the G is obviously NOT your car.

Gurkha · #14 12-09-2007, 08:06 AM

The G Wagen and TLC are the absolute off roaders in the market, no other vehicles come close to these two in terms of overall package. The G Wagen has phenomenally good ride for a vehicle with live front and rear axle. If you are looking for a true non pretender hard core off road vehicle, the G Wagen is for you. I would prefer diesel over gas but thats up to personal preference. If you want good handling pretenders, there are many on the market currently and the list is too big to name. The corrugated panel square body of the G is the toughest in the industry and the overall feel of the G is like a bank vault.

ILUVMILS · #15 12-09-2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mortinson

It's amazing to see the number of sel-proclaimed "experts" giving their opinion about the G-Wagen, when they've never owned one....

If you think that the G-Wagen handles like $hit then you don't have a darned clue about what the G-wagen is because it handles better than any off-road truck in the market... and it has for the last 30 years. Or better still, get yourself a Ferrari... the G is obviously NOT your car.

Congrat's on your first post. Glad to have you aboard. Since you took the time to quote the "$hit" reference in my seond post to this thread, I'll assume you're referring to me.

Sorry for the mis-understanding, but I'm not a "self-proclaimed" expert. I'm just a guy who has worked on lots of 463's.

Read the comments at the end of my first post one more time. Pay particular attention to the part where I say that it's just my personal opinion.