I've learned so much from this forum that have helped with several builds over the years that I feel it's time I contribute by sharing my experiences on a new-to-me 2004 Mercedes G500.
I've been on the search for a G-Wagen for quite some time. I've studied and traveled a lot to do my best to find the perfect rig. My suggestion to those who are on the hunt for a G...drive as many as you can, regardless of your intent to buy. I drove a G55, a G550, and G500 during our family vacation to the Northwest. I knew that two of the three were out of my price range, but driving them gave me key feedback on what a low-miles vehicle should feel like....and that is one of the treasures about the G-Wagen...the platform is largely unchanged from 2002 to 2014. If you want to know what a perfect 2004 G-Wagen should feel like, just drive a 2012.
I discovered a 2004 G500 through an online ad in the San Francisco Bay Area. I live near Lake Tahoe, so it was a commitment to see it in person. I made the drive, fell in love, and then learned a new lesson. When the lockers didn't immediately lock-up, I feared there was something wrong. They all locked, but things didn't happen immediately like in my Jeep Rubicon with electronic lockers. I walked away from "the one" because I didn't know enough about the vehicle. On the way home, I stopped at a Mercedes dealer in Fairfield, CA to test the lockers on a 2011 G550....they behaved the same way. The following week, I drove back to San Francisco and purchased it before it became, "the one....that got away."
It's a one owner vehicle that was purchased in Nevada and then immediately moved to San Francisco. It has 39K miles. It has the original tires (manufactured in the 50th week of 2003...still with plenty of tread!) and the original Mercedes Battery (Date stamped on the top of the negative terminal.) The interior looks as though it has never been touched and the paint is in unbelievable shape. On the day after getting it home, I removed the running boards....not only were the bolts not rusted or corroded, they weren't even dirty. I'm not sure it has ever been driven in the rain. While it's kind of a drag to immediately need to start spending money on tires, battery, etc, it's something I would have done anyway and the original equipment tells a story on how this vehicle has been treated during it's first 10 years of life. This G500 drives as well as any other G-Wagen I have driven, regardless of age.
Day One:
Later in the day with no running Boards:
After much study and a little luck finding Goodyear Wrangler MT/R in 275 70 18 (5th tire on backorder and will arrive on August 4th):
Upcoming projects:
Odyssey Group 49 battery arrives tomorrow
30mm spacers arrive and will be installed on Thursday
Computer will be changed using the details described on the first page of this thread.... http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...-Sizes-Lift-Height-and-Computer-Reprogramming
Fridge/cargo slide installation
National Luna Powerpack installation
Thanks for sticking with me during a lengthy first post. I promise to keep it more brief as the thread develops, while keeping a log of how things are going. I'm confident this rig will never match the detail of many that are detailed on Expedition Portal, but I'll do my best to contribute when it makes sense.
Also, a big shout-out to Jeremy...he's already been a big help in early decisions. :victory:
I've been on the search for a G-Wagen for quite some time. I've studied and traveled a lot to do my best to find the perfect rig. My suggestion to those who are on the hunt for a G...drive as many as you can, regardless of your intent to buy. I drove a G55, a G550, and G500 during our family vacation to the Northwest. I knew that two of the three were out of my price range, but driving them gave me key feedback on what a low-miles vehicle should feel like....and that is one of the treasures about the G-Wagen...the platform is largely unchanged from 2002 to 2014. If you want to know what a perfect 2004 G-Wagen should feel like, just drive a 2012.
I discovered a 2004 G500 through an online ad in the San Francisco Bay Area. I live near Lake Tahoe, so it was a commitment to see it in person. I made the drive, fell in love, and then learned a new lesson. When the lockers didn't immediately lock-up, I feared there was something wrong. They all locked, but things didn't happen immediately like in my Jeep Rubicon with electronic lockers. I walked away from "the one" because I didn't know enough about the vehicle. On the way home, I stopped at a Mercedes dealer in Fairfield, CA to test the lockers on a 2011 G550....they behaved the same way. The following week, I drove back to San Francisco and purchased it before it became, "the one....that got away."
It's a one owner vehicle that was purchased in Nevada and then immediately moved to San Francisco. It has 39K miles. It has the original tires (manufactured in the 50th week of 2003...still with plenty of tread!) and the original Mercedes Battery (Date stamped on the top of the negative terminal.) The interior looks as though it has never been touched and the paint is in unbelievable shape. On the day after getting it home, I removed the running boards....not only were the bolts not rusted or corroded, they weren't even dirty. I'm not sure it has ever been driven in the rain. While it's kind of a drag to immediately need to start spending money on tires, battery, etc, it's something I would have done anyway and the original equipment tells a story on how this vehicle has been treated during it's first 10 years of life. This G500 drives as well as any other G-Wagen I have driven, regardless of age.
Day One:
Later in the day with no running Boards:
After much study and a little luck finding Goodyear Wrangler MT/R in 275 70 18 (5th tire on backorder and will arrive on August 4th):
Upcoming projects:
Odyssey Group 49 battery arrives tomorrow
30mm spacers arrive and will be installed on Thursday
Computer will be changed using the details described on the first page of this thread.... http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...-Sizes-Lift-Height-and-Computer-Reprogramming
Fridge/cargo slide installation
National Luna Powerpack installation
Thanks for sticking with me during a lengthy first post. I promise to keep it more brief as the thread develops, while keeping a log of how things are going. I'm confident this rig will never match the detail of many that are detailed on Expedition Portal, but I'll do my best to contribute when it makes sense.
Also, a big shout-out to Jeremy...he's already been a big help in early decisions. :victory:
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