Starting a G Wagon Search

[cruiserfred]

I have been looking for a 4x4 Rig I have looked at so many I'm narrowing it down and a used G Wagon keeps coming up .So many of the new SUV's out there look to much like a Soccer Mom 's car . I'm interested in looking for a used G Wagon but a little unsure where to start .I'd appreciate some help from you G lovers out there .I know this will take some time but I'm not a young puppy and the hunt will probably be very interesting.
Seriously Fred

 

[4D55 Performance]

Welcome

I was in your position about 18 months ago. Over the years I had owned a couple very nice LX450's and a couple nice Montero's but I wanted more power and refinement but excellent offroad capability.

The first place I would start is drive every Gwagon you can get your hands on, even if you have no intentions of buying it. This will help you know what they should feel like. Most of the Gwagons I drove prior to purchase had issues that the seller was unaware of or claimed to be unaware of. One had an issue with the throttle position sensor or the tranny. A couple others had issues with the transfer case engaging properly. Make sure the tcase reads "H" or "L" on the cluster. A blank box is bad and indicates tcase issues. A few had issues with the window regulators. The lockers also seemed to be an issue, but it may have been me just not knowing how to engage them properly. Now I know better and understand the sequence to engaging the lockers. I know many will recommend staying away from the 2002-03 because of electrical issues, but my 2003 has been pretty trouble free. Mercedes made a change to some of the electronics half way through the 2003 model year. So if you get a late 2003 model year you should be okay. If the steering wheel adjustments are on the column instead of on the door then it is a later model 2003.

Good luck

 

[RBA]

The ideal G for me would be a 2005 MY. I say that because even '04 had some electronic gremlins that some owners used to complain about. It's also the last year for the 5 speed transmission before they switched to the 7 speed which shifts roughly and by Mercedes standards is nowhere near as easy for servicing.

The '02 have smaller brakes which were upgraded in '03. The '03 also have the side markers built into the side mirrors, the '02 do not. Look out for paint flaking off the mirror posts or on the roof. In '07 they updated the center console slightly. It's getting harder and harder to find clean '02 with service records and many have between 120K and 150K miles now. That's a mileage range where there's greater potential for big ticket items to go bad if the truck wasn't maintained well. If you find something in the 80K-100K mile range you can probably get another 2 years out of the truck without major issues ($1K+) but I'm just generalizing. I ran my last '02 to 132K miles and it was going strong and I had complete confidence in it for another 20-30K Miles and wouldn't hesitate taking it cross country or deep into sticks but I had done a lot of preventive maintenance. Personally I would pay a little premium for the right truck (service records, '04+, mileage below 80K, no accident history, color I want, interior and exterior condition). An '03 would be my second choice.

 

[cruiserfred]

Thanks for the help guys It all helps
Fred

 

[otiswesty]

I know a few people with over 200K on their G500s with minimal maintenance issues.

While I have heard bad things about the 7speed trans in the GL and ML, I do not recall ever hearing of a failure in a G-class. Maybe it is a larger oil capacity or some other offroad modification to it that Mercedes has done. So seeing as it has been in service for 8 years now, the early reliability concerns seem unwarranted. In your position, I would buy the newest and lowest mileage vehicle you can find, G500 or G550. Very few real differences between 2002-2012.

 

[RBA]

To the O.P.

One thing you can do is post a request on pointedthree and clubgwagen and ask for any local G owners to give you a ride. I let a potential buyer meet with me and let him drive my truck with no intentions of selling but it gave the guy a chance to see G and drive it without any pressure. I explained the good and bad and that allowed him to compare what he saw with any future truck he was going to evaluate. You would be surprised but many current G owners would do the same. It's a pretty small but tight community.

 

[mk216v]

To the O.P.

One thing you can do is post a request on pointedthree and clubgwagen and ask for any local G owners to give you a ride. I let a potential buyer meet with me and let him drive my truck with no intentions of selling but it gave the guy a chance to see G and drive it without any pressure. I explained the good and bad and that allowed him to compare what he saw with any future truck he was going to evaluate. You would be surprised but many current G owners would do the same. It's a pretty small but tight community.

Indeed!
Where are you located Fred?

 

[RBA]

Indeed!
Where are you located Fred?

You don't have time to be meeting with folks and driving them around. You need to post and update your build thread!

Chop, chop....we're all waiting.

 

[mk216v]

You don't have time to be meeting with folks and driving them around. You need to post and update your build thread!

Chop, chop....we're all waiting.

LOL. I will chip away at it tomorrow for ya.

 

[cruiserfred]

Located in southern KC area on the split of the Kansas Mo. line

 

[mk216v]

Located in southern KC area on the split of the Kansas Mo. line

Hmm, Kerr used to be in MO I believe. Not many G's from there on the forums.

 

[cruiserfred]

Monitoring the sites

Thanks for the club wagon and pointed three sites I'll start keeping an eye on both.Looking for a steel gray or dark green the build I saw on expo was beautiful.
Fred

 

[mk216v]

Thanks for the club wagon and pointed three sites I'll start keeping an eye on both.Looking for a steel gray or dark green the build I saw on expo was beautiful.
Fred

Other good G-specific sites.
Replying to your PM now...

 

[4D55 Performance]

I bought my G500 out Kansas City about 2 years ago so nothing is impossible.

 

[cruiserfred]

Search over

Thanks for all your help guys,I decided to go a different direction.I'm putting to many miles on my rig not to get better mileage,bought a Diesel Grand Cherokee today ,thanks again for all your comments.
Fred