The Mercedes G-class model (in the original language - G-class) is known in all corners of the world, but, perhaps, only in our country this car has acquired the image of a truly cult - an indispensable hero of social and criminal chronicles. It was bought mainly in order to indicate their social status. The technical features of the machine were of little interest to the first owners - and so they knew that the device was made for centuries. Even pretty "former", it still costs a lot of money. Therefore, you should be very careful when buying a used car.
According to some servicemen, you need to look for a ten-year car. The more ancient ones have already undermined their technical health, so expensive treatment of the car with interruptions for short trips will fall to your lot. At the age of ten, the device has not yet lost the ability to overcome space without much strain, cutting through the air with its chopped forms.
In front of me is the famous “gelik” (“gelendyuk”, “gel”, “cube”, “refrigerator”, “booth”) manufactured in 1999 with a three-liter turbodiesel engine, automatic transmission, leather interior, Webasto preheater, huge chrome “ kengurin ”, with a declared mileage of 164 thousand kilometers and a price ... a million rubles with little bargaining.
If you find yourself in the same situation as me - do not rush behind the wheel. Start by checking your documents - a prestigious car has always attracted gentlemen of fortune. It is best to choose such an SUV in large car dealerships, which can guarantee that the car is not listed as stolen and does not go through other dubious cases. Do not be upset if there are several previous owners, as in my case - this is a payment for the brand's image. The first owners, specific guys, laid out astronomical sums for the car for reasons of prestige, but you buy it as a worthy, thoroughbred off-road vehicle. So it turns out that the Gelik reaches its target audience on the third or fourth attempt.
From documents - to the car. Inspection begins with the body. It perfectly resists corrosion, even without being galvanized. The number on the frame is easy to read - one less headache. The most obvious body defects for this model are corrosion of the windshield frame. Whether there is one on this car or not, you can’t check: the jeep is completely covered with a black matte film for the sake of the current fashion. By the way, the previous owner spent a lot of money on such tuning - he assures that he dumped 60 mowers. It looks, of course, chic, but in what condition its panels under the film are a mystery. Fingerprints remain on the matte surface, which makes the doors around the handles look dirty. Found that the rubber molding had come off on the rear fender. It can be glued with double-sided tape (a new rubber band costs 2150 re).
The leather interior is surprisingly well preserved. From the standpoint of today, the dashboard from the 1970s looks like a funny anachronism, it is only slightly enlivened by a restyled steering wheel with radio control buttons. From the last century, a pictogram requiring a seat belt, but many will like this retro look.
Small overhangs, high ground clearance, dependent suspension are important qualities for off-road. If you find clods of earth and withered grass in the chassis, it means that the car knew fields and copses. However, this one, it seems, did not move out of the asphalt. And the steering tips (4670 rubles per pair) finished off rather than roads, but time. An oily oil pan makes a terrible impression. But you should not be afraid - a new gasket costs only 640 rubles.
There is lubrication in the crosspieces - yeah, they still watched the car. The backlash in the cardan shafts is small - very good, because replacing two crosses with subsequent balancing will cost 12,480 rubles. Handout and box without drips. It is possible that the rear springs will need to be replaced in the near future; However, this is understandable - the car is heavy. As for the rear of the muffler, it must be changed in the very near future (13 thousand - and no problems). The diesel unit, according to the sensations, still gives out its 177 horsepower, well, 176 in a pinch. They say that the turbocharger does not live more than 150 thousand kilometers, but this one still responds with a peppy whistle. When kaput comes to him, he will have to pay 43 thousand. Against the background of such a high cost, the cost of a timing belt (2 thousand rubles) seems like a gift of fate.
For dessert - a test drive. The world from the window of the "refrigerator" really seems a little different. Absolutely everything parted before me - seeing a black “booth” in the mirrors, even the envoys of the former Soviet republics on generously tuned “priors” hurried to clear the left lane. (In part, self-made xenon creates such a “higher cross-country ability.”) If only they could hear how unpleasantly the side windows rattle in the half-lowered position - age! But the automatic box does not care about years - it shifts gears with virtually no jerks.
Having driven, I realized that people like me don’t need a “gelik”: it’s inconvenient in the city, it’s expensive for country roads. In addition, during a short test drive, I was stopped twice to check documents: the car is legendary in every sense ...
OUR REFERENCE
Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse (G - Geländewagen, off-road vehicle) has been produced from 1979 to the present. In some European countries it is known under the brand name Puch. It is also found under the Peugeot P4 VLTT brand. 3- and 5-door station wagons and 3-door convertibles are available. Equipped with petrol and diesel engines. Boxes - both mechanical and automatic (more of the latter). One of the few cars in the world that is equipped not only with permanent all-wheel drive and low gear, but also with locks for all three differentials: center, front and rear. There are versions in which the front axle is connected only off-road, but these are rare in our country. The most powerful is the G 66 AMG (444 hp). In 2009, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the model, a limited anniversary edition of platinum black was released with many options. The car is delivered to Russia officially, however, there are copies imported from Europe and America.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class: Legend wagonIt makes no sense to describe the design of Gelendevagen. Brick - he is a brick. Some love him for it, others despise him. Once I was among the latter, but one face-to-face acquaintance a few years ago was enough to forever imbue with respect for the “German UAZ » . It would seem that the popularity of the black tinted cube hung with kenguryatniks should have subsided along with the refusal of the progressive part of the male population from smoothly shaved heads for the sake of aerodynamics. But no, the tenacious Gelik did not perish under the onslaught of the Cayenne and X6, even using the same design geometric simplicity of the Range Rover is not a hindrance to it. The military past does not allow the old general to surrender.
A knowledgeable person will note that for a six-year-old car, this G500 looks unusually fresh. What is, that is - the hood and windshield frame were recently repainted on the car, the optics and the windshield itself were changed. No accidents or restyling, but only a necessary measure to maintain a decent appearance. The common belief that the front end of the G-class is mercilessly sandblasted, peeled and chipped, unfortunately, is true. You can't fool physics with this design. Both the hood and the frame quickly lose their presentation and are subject to corrosion.
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The silver Mercedes is a classic, but not in the G-Class universe. 60% of cars currently on the secondary market are black as night. And if we take into account only the versions released after the 2007 restyling, then the share of alternative colors will be less than 30%. In a word, a conservative car - a conservative audience. So it turns out that our 2009 silver G500 is still exclusive. Only when reselling this feature will come out sideways to the owner.
Inside
Before me is the classic G-class cabin, as it was before the radical update in 2012. Finished according to the Mercedes Designo individualization program, the interior is alien to the brutality of its fellows. Sicilian red marsala wine seats and dark wood inserts - this is not a banal duo of black leather and walnut root for you.Plastic in the G-Class evokes nostalgia for old Mercedes. Its texture exactly repeats the finish and. The fitting of parts also does not reach the level of modern passenger counterparts. But the manufacturer does not hide this and in every possible way emphasizes the status of a small-scale hand-assembled model. The birthplace of Gelandewagen, a factory in Austrian Graz, is open to the public - there you can personally admire the birth of the legendary car. Of course, people from the street are not allowed there, but the registered clubs of G-class owners arrange regular pilgrimages there.
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Shaking off the pressure of Gelik's charisma, I try to evaluate the salon from a practical point of view. It is believed that the G-class is very cramped for such a large car. There are really few places. But the whole joke is that the Gelik is actually not a big car! An impartial measurement “from mane to tail” will not lie: the length of the G-class (4.672 m) is even less than the “normative” length of the C-class car (4.686 m).
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The old warrior is poorly prepared for everyday urban exploitation. The glove compartment and door pockets are too small, and Gelik is deprived of various niches and shelves available from competitors. Another disadvantage is the suboptimal location of the display on the center console. The control of the old generation of the Comand system brought back pleasant memories of, but reading navigation readings from it while driving is inconvenient. Restyling solved this problem, but a tablet glued to the dashboard, with all the ergonomic convenience, will be a target for criticism of conservative customers for a long time to come.
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In move
A lot of myths relate to the features of driving a G-class. For some reason, many seriously consider it an analogue of the UAZ with a leather interior and a powerful engine. I have driven the G500 on dirt, off-road and asphalt and am ready to comment on the most common misconceptions.Myth #1
« Gelik» very hard and uncomfortable
The G500 is soft enough for a car on bridges. At the same time, it is not rolly, but has an optimal balance between stiffness and softness. The G500 has 18-inch wheels that are optimal for riding on all types of surfaces.
The myth about the rigidity of the Gelika was born solely due to the presence of AMG models (G55 and G63). Those have stiffer suspension, wider wheels and 20-inch wheels (on the G63). Of course, all this deprives the car of the original comfort.
Myth #2
« Gelik» unstable, easy to flip
It only seems so, thanks to the high profile of the body (as you know, one of the tasks in designing the military G-class was the ability to put soldiers in the cabin without removing helmets). But the Gelika actually has a very heavy frame, so the center of gravity is even lower than some SUVs.
Myth #3
« Gelik» impractical and uncomfortable on the track:« goat » , makes noise, eats fuel in buckets
Of course, it is foolish to expect from such a car as the G-Class, the comfort comparable to the movement in a business sedan. However, rumors about the "horrors of behavior on the track" are greatly exaggerated. "Gelik" behaves on the track like any other SUV. Yes, because of the continuous bridges and the archaic steering mechanism with a gearbox, the car requires attention to the steering wheel. However, the long-wheelbase G-class is normally on the track, it is quite comfortable to drive 140-160 km / h, depending on the quality of the asphalt (at speeds higher, control already turns into piloting), and the G500 has a highway consumption of 12-16 liters. Again, one cannot help but recall that this myth was largely born thanks to the monsters G55, G63 and G65.
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Myth #4
Modern G-class« not the same» . I read on the forums / saw on youtube / neighbor Vasya told how« Gelik» stuck where it went« Niva »
Even at the very « glamorous » "Gelika" today, the G65 AMG, has exactly the same frame, bridges, downshifts and hard locks for all differentials. The off-road component of the G-Class in the body of the W463 has not changed throughout history, although we are well aware that no one in their right mind will move off the asphalt on the G65 AMG. It must be firmly understood that off-road 80% of success depends on the rubber used. Of course, the owners of fresh Gelendevagens, who operate them on asphalt 99% of the time, do not put mud tires on their cars. This is where these stories come from - they may well be true. Put the G-Class on road tires in a swamp of clay, turn on the locks and step on the gas - the car, of course, will polish the surface with all four wheels, but at the same time stand still. Miracles don't happen. However, with the “correct” off-road tires, the Gelik is able to work wonders, and in full stock.
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Nevertheless, in the direction of the G63 / G65 AMG, one more note should be made. These cars have three massive radiators in front, covered with a bumper. This bumper, firstly, is plastic, and secondly, the clearance under it is 5 cm less. So there is a small amount of truth in the original postulate: AMG models of recent years can no longer be called « honest and uncompromising » SUVs. However, this does not apply even to the most modern G500.
Myth #5
« Gelik» very inconvenient for the city
Without comparing an SUV with an executive sedan, we simply bend our fingers for what is important in the city: 1. There is good visibility. Due to the large glass area, high landing and square shapes, the dimensions of the car and the situation around are perfectly visible. 2. Powerful dynamic engine to move in the stream - yes. 3. Small overhangs and high clearance to climb curbs / curbs - yes (the site does not approve of parking on the sidewalk, but the fact remains - ed.). 4. External dimensions to fit in the parking lot: as we said, Gelendevagen is narrower and shorter than most other SUVs. 5. Charisma to be respected in the stream and let through - yes. The G-class is hardly the ideal car. And if the gruff charisma of the old warrior does not impress, then he is not for you. But the charm of an off-road conqueror, capable, after leaving the ditch, to make a swift march to the nearest Michelin restaurant and not seem like a stranger there, is worth a lot.
History of selection and purchase
Anton's first car was a 1996 Ford Maverick. After a couple of years of ownership, carried away by off-road, Anton realized that a different car was needed for true off-road. The priority was the Nissan Patrol in the 60th body. The G-class as an option was considered only theoretically - Anton believed that the Gelik was quite expensive, and at that time he did not consider himself a fan of the model. But when I saw a 1993 short-base three-door SUV for sale, I could not resist. "Gelik" answered Anton in return, falling in love with him after the first trip. Unfortunately, over time, it became clear that for daily urban use, a three-door of such advanced years with a manual box is poorly suited. As a result, the veteran, left purely for off-road rides, went for a total rework to the workshop of master Alexei Kule (known on the Mercedes forum as qwert).
The choice of a candidate for everyday cars for Anton was, to the envy of many, simple and understandable. Either a new Mercedes M-Class or a used four or five year old G-Class. Most, without hesitation, would choose a more comfortable new car, especially since the modern Gelik is allegedly “not the same” and breaks down more often than old modifications. This is only partly true. Indeed, since the 2000s, the increased number of on-board electronics and auxiliary systems has had a detrimental effect on the reliability of the G-Class. Now we will not dwell on these issues - I recommend those who are interested to read the most detailed information from our technical expert Boris Ignashin. "Geliki" of the last decade - fast, powerful cars with a luxurious interior - in our country were bought by people of a certain warehouse, by no means farmers, and not at all in order to carry potatoes from the dacha. They tumbled into these machines, exploited them very harshly, while, as a rule, they did not carry out any work except for changing the oil in the engine (“this is a tank, why should he need it”).
The G-class is not a tank, but the Gelik has a lot of patience and a margin of safety, so tough exploitation even for many years gets away with it. But, of course, when such a car falls into the second or third hands, a long-term lack of attention begins to manifest itself. At the same time, it is difficult for a new unfortunate owner to explain that the Gelik is also a machine, and it must be monitored starting from the first year of operation, and not from the tenth. Perfectly understanding all of the above, Anton, without thinking twice, decided to link his fate again with the G-class. In the fall of 2014, with the help of the same Alexey Cooley, he began to search for a suitable specimen. We needed a long-wheelbase G500 with a seven-speed automatic transmission from 2009-2012 and definitely NOT black. The very first car that I had a chance to see live turned out to be exactly what I needed. G500 2009 release with a range of under 100,000 km was bought for 2,700,000 rubles. By the way, now, a year later, this is the minimum price for a car of this year with the same mileage. For comparison, a three-year restyled Range Rover with a Jaguar engine costs about 30% less. Such is the price of eternal values. In general, the myth that the G-class is rapidly losing value is also not true.
Sales market: Russia.
The Gelendvagen, or Mercedes-Benz G-Class, is a legendary SUV produced at the Steyr-Puch (now Magna Steyr) plant in Austria. It was developed as a military vehicle, and in 1979 a civilian version (W460) was proposed, utilitarian and functional, but at the same time having all the necessary attributes of comfort. Over time, the G-Class has become an expensive and status car, not without elements of luxury. The second generation of the G-Class (W463) was released in 1989, introducing a significantly updated chassis, ABS system, permanent all-wheel drive system. The interior has been modernized to match modern requirements, with wood accents and leather upholstery as an option. The characteristic features of the SUV have been preserved for decades: the rectangular outlines of the body and its frame structure. The lineup includes different body types. The five-door version of the G-Class Station Wagon is the main version of the model with an extended wheelbase (2850 mm) and a very comfortable interior, in the top version it provides the most luxurious performance of the G 55 AMG with a 507-horsepower engine.
The second generation of the G-Class went through several waves of upgrades, one of which, the fifth in a row, came in 2008-2009. The next restyling, as usual, updated the appearance of the car (new grille, wheel design), but the main changes took place inside. The quality of materials in the interior trim has significantly improved, new equipment has been added. For example, in the top version, this is the new COMAND APS infotainment system with navigation, a 6.5" color LCD display, DVD (with a six-disc changer) and a Bluetooth hands-free system. Other additional options include the Harman Kardon Logic7 surround sound system with 12 speakers with a total output of 450 W, TV tuner and reversing camera, multicontour ventilated seats for driver and front passenger, iPod interface.
Offered for the Russian buyer line G-Class Station Wagon 2008-2012 provides a choice of several powertrains. Thus, the "heavy fuel" versions of the G 280 CDI and G 350 CDI are equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 turbo engine with diesel direct injection: in the output options 183 hp. (400 Nm) and 224 hp (540 Nm) respectively. The more powerful of these two modifications of the SUV is capable of accelerating from standstill to 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds, and the less powerful in 12.3 seconds. Gasoline engines are equipped with versions of the G 500 and G 55 AMG. The first is an atmospheric 5.5-liter V8 with a return of 388 hp. (530 Nm). The second is a 5.4-liter V8-Kompressor, the power of which has been increased from the previous 500 to 507 hp. (700 Nm). Acceleration time from standstill to 100 km / h with petrol versions - 6.1 and 5.5 seconds. respectively. Transmission - automatic, 5-speed (G 280 CDI and G 55 AMG) or 7-speed, with manual shift mode.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class has both dependent suspensions. All-wheel drive - 4x4 full-time with 50/50 symmetrical torque split. The main feature of the second generation Gelendvagen (W463) is that it is one of the few models that are equipped with forced locks of three differentials: center, front and rear wheel differentials. The car comes standard with 16-inch wheels (225/75 R16 or 265/70 R16 tires), while 18-inch wheels (265/60 R18 tires) are available for the G 500 and G 55 AMG. Overall dimensions of the five-door G-Class Station Wagon: length - 4714 mm, width - 1864 mm, height - 1931 mm, wheelbase - 2850 mm. Ground clearance - 200 mm. The minimum turning radius is 6.7 m. The volume of the luggage compartment is 480 liters in running order and 2250 liters with the rear seats retracted. Trunk length - 950-1740 mm, loading height - 720 mm.
The safety of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class is given as much attention as the technical part. Serial equipment includes front and rear disc brakes (front - ventilated), front airbags for the driver and passenger, and side airbags and curtain airbags were installed for a surcharge (or standard in more expensive versions). The standard systems also include cruise control, a dynamic control system that includes an electronic stability program (ESP), brakes with Brake Assist and a four-wheel electronic traction control system (4 ETS). Options include a tire pressure monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and other equipment.
Despite the launch of the GL-Class in 2006, which was supposed to replace the G-Class, the latter is still in production and remains the longest-running model in Mercedes-Benz history. In the secondary market, it is considered one of the standards of reliability. According to Drome experts, the engines, automatic transmissions, hardware of the transfer case and axles are made with a margin for long-term operation and as part of a solid frame structure. However, it is the increased reliability of this SUV that often causes a delay in timely service, so a thorough check of components and assemblies is necessary for used cars.
Read completely09.12.2017
Mercedes Gelendvagen (Mercedes-Benz G-class) is a premium German G-class SUV, which is produced by the Austrian company Magna Steyr and sold under the brand name Mercedes-Benz. For 37 years of assembly, the appearance of this car has not changed much and today it is considered a classic - doors with external hinges, iron buttons on the handles and an always recognizable chopped silhouette. Such a brutal design attracts and repels at the same time. Recently, this car has become a real "Rolls-Royce" among all-terrain vehicles, and with each update it only becomes more expensive. Many fans of the model do not have enough money to buy a new Gelika, so they are forced to look for more affordable options in the secondary market. But how justified will the purchase of such a car be and what problems will be encountered during the operation of a used Mercedes Gelendvagen, now we will try to figure it out.
A bit of history:
The first Mercedes G-class was created in early 1926, at that time a trial Mercedes G1 equipped with two rear axles appeared on the German domestic market. The history of the modern "Gelika" began in 1972. It was then that the Iranian Shah Mohammed Rez Pahlavi, at that time one of the shareholders of the Mercedes company, asked to begin the production of special vehicles for the military personnel of his country. The Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, which is part of the Mercedes concern, was entrusted with the development of such a car. The first layout of the Mercedes Gelendvagen was made of wood, it was presented in April 1973, and the following year a metal prototype was created. The debut of the serial civilian version of the car took place in early 1979 at the circuit in Le Castellet, located near Marseille.
The second generation Mercedes Gelendvagen (W 461-463) was presented to the general public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1990. In the same year, the first serial copy of this model rolled off the assembly line at a plant in Austria. The peculiarity of the Gelendvagen is that, despite the large number of restylings carried out, outwardly the car has practically not changed to this day. The first update of Gelika was carried out in 1994 - front ventilated disc brakes and an immobilizer appeared. In 1996, the production of Gelendvagen in the back of a convertible began, which was called the "Mercedes-Benz G Cabrio". The next significant upgrade was carried out in 1999, but the changes affected only the top version of the G 500. After the upgrade, the main differences from the usual versions were: a steering wheel equipped with multimedia equipment control buttons, a more informative dashboard display, and the position of the keys on the instrument panel has changed.
The next restyling was carried out in 2000, after which the interior of the car underwent cardinal changes - the door trim was changed, the Command multimedia block appeared, and the location of the differential lock buttons also changed. In 2001, a more in-depth restyling of the SUV was carried out, this time the changes were extremely bold and affected not only the interior, but also power units and gearboxes (the Tiptronic function appeared in the automatic transmission). All changes corresponded to the new concept of the concern. A new multi-function steering wheel, multimedia display with steering wheel controls and climate control blended so well into the interior that the classic body styles faded into the background as the exterior changes consisted of new white headlights and taillights.
The debut of one of the most popular versions of the Mercedes Gelendvagen - G55 AMG, its power was 476 hp, took place in 2004. In 2006, 2009 and 2012, Mercedes carried out minor restyling, which, as a rule, carried minor cosmetic changes. In 2009, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the model, a limited edition of the G 500 Edition was produced from June to August. The premiere of the most charged version of the car - the G65 AMG with a capacity of 612 liters, took place in 2012. In 2016, engineers began work on the creation of the third generation Mercedes Gelendvagen (W464), which should debut in 2018-2019.
Weaknesses Mercedes Gelendvagen (W461-463) with mileage
The paintwork is rather weak especially on cars of the last years of production). Because of this, the paint in the front of the car, wheel arches and sills quickly sandblast and require constant updating. Many owners of the Mercedes Gelendvagen, in order to reduce costs, rushed to paste over the body with a protective film. Despite the fact that the car has smooth body lines, it turned out that the Gelik is one of the most difficult machines for pasting with a film, so the cost of such work is quite high. With increasing age, there are many questions about the corrosion resistance of the body. Door hinges are considered the weakest point - they begin to corrode after 5-6 years of operation. In the first years of a car's life, paint will peel off on the outer hinges, and rust streaks may also appear. On cars older than 5-8 years, significant traces of rust can be found on the welds, windshield frame, sills, tailgate and roof gutters.
On cars of the first years of production, the body mounting brackets, shock absorbers, rear support springs, without proper care, rot and fall off the frame. You can also find rust in the area of \u200b\u200bthe rear optics, and in the absence of a heat-insulating muffler screen, also on the floor of the body. A fairly common phenomenon is the development of corrosion under a layer of paintwork, the presence of such a problem will be notified by swollen areas of paint. If the problem is not solved for a long time, it may happen that the steel in this place will rot through. Also prone to corrosion are the exhaust system and the metal straps of the fuel tank. The five-door versions of the cars are more likely to crack the sealant at the joints in the rear, while the three-door versions and the convertible are free from this problem.
The Vin-number of the body also requires special attention. The fact is that it is located on the frame in the area of \u200b\u200bthe front wheel arch, and is exposed to moisture, dirt and reagents. The frame is another weak point of this car, if its condition is not monitored, then it can corrode to the point where operation is already contraindicated. Often, moldings and door seals add a headache to the owners - they peel off. The windshield, the owners often call it a consumable, since with frequent trips along the highway it has to be changed every 30-50 thousand km, and here the reason is not the quality of the glass, but its unfortunate location. Another of the chronic sores can be noted the wear of the axles of the windshield wipers and the souring of the hatch drive mechanism. For machines equipped with a sunroof, it is necessary to clean the drains, otherwise the sunroof may start to leak. Over time, the doors begin to close poorly, and the glass of the side windows begins to rattle, especially in the half-open state.
Power units
The line of Mercedes Gelendvagen engines was assembled from the best engines of the Mercedes-Benz concern. Depending on the volume of the power unit, the car was assigned the corresponding index:
- Petrol- 2.0 (113 hp) - 200 GE; 2.3 (126 hp) - 230 GE, G 230; 3.0 (170 hp) - 300 GE, G 300; 3.2 (210-220 hp) - G 320; 5.0 (240 hp) - 500 GE; 6.0 (331 hp) - 500 GE AMG; 5.0 (296 hp) - G 500; 5.5 (388 hp) - G 500, G 550; 3.6 (272 hp) - G 36 AMG; 5.4 (354, 476, 500 and 507 hp) - G 55 AMG; 5.5 (544 hp), 6.3 (440 hp) - G 63 AMG; 6.0 (612 hp) - G 65 AMG.
- Diesel- 2.5 (94 hp) - 250 GD; 2.7 (156 hp) - G 270 CDI; 3.0 (113 hp) - 300 GD and G 300 Diesel; 3.0 (177 hp) - G 300 Turbodiesel; 3.0 (224 hp) - G 320 CDI; 3.0 (136 hp) - 350 GD; 3.0 (136 hp) - G 350 Turbodiesel; 3.0 (224 hp) - G 350 CDI; 3.0 (211 hp) - G 320 BlueTEC; 4.0 (250 hp) - G 400 CDI.
Disadvantages of gasoline engines:
The weakest atmospheric power units M102 have a volume of 2.0 and 2.3 are not common - they were installed on cars produced in the early 90s. Of the common ailments of these motors, one can note a small resource of the camshaft and timing chain - 100-150 thousand km, "zhor" oil - appears as a result of wear of the valve stem seals, engine mounts quickly fail. To date, most of these power units have been overhauled, the only question is how high quality it was and what parts were used. When buying a Mercedes Gelendvagen with an M102 power unit, you need to be prepared for anything, and in the event of a serious breakdown, it is better to buy a fresher engine, since it is not known how the engine was operated and maintained and how many non-original spare parts were put there during this time.
On more recent machines, M103 engines with a volume of 3.0 liters are installed, which are very similar in design to the M102 series engine, but have more cylinders. The common disadvantages of these power units include: unstable engine operation - occurs as a result of clogging of fuel injectors. Poor quality of the U-shaped gasket of the front cover of the engine - it starts to leak over time. Like the older motor, every 100-150 thousand km you have to change the valve stem seals. If this is not done, the consumption of expensive branded oil will unpleasantly surprise you. The timing chain begins to stretch closer to 150,000 km, along the way accelerating the wear of the tensioner and sprockets. Given the age of the power unit, we can safely say that during operation there will be other breakdowns associated with natural wear and tear. Both engines, with proper maintenance, take care of more than 500,000 km without serious problems.
In 1994, the M103 gave way to the M104 engine. This power unit has become more reliable, but not ideal. The main problem with these engines is the leakage of the cylinder head gasket and the oil filter heat exchanger housing. Also, you can note the tendency of the motor to overheat. The main source of the problem is the poor condition of the cooling radiator and viscous coupling, the resource of which rarely exceeds 100 thousand km. As a result of overheating of the engine, as a rule, warps the cylinder head. When using non-original engine oil, the likelihood of clogging of oil injectors increases, which leads to scuffing in the cylinders and more noisy engine operation. From time to time, it is necessary to check the condition of the wiring harnesses under the hood - over time, it cracks and can close to each other. Very often this leads to failure of the engine control unit. With proper maintenance, the motor does not require serious interventions up to 400-600 thousand km.
In 1998, this motor was replaced by a more complex power unit of the M112 series. As with older power units, increased oil consumption is considered a common occurrence. There can be two reasons - carbon contamination of crankcase ventilation and wear of valve stem seals. Often, owners note the appearance of oil leaks through the oil heat exchanger seal. When using low-quality gasoline, you should not count on the long-term operation of the injectors (60-80 thousand km). The problem is manifested by a drop in power. The motor resource of this unit is about 300+ thousand km. The 5-liter V8 M113 engine has similar shortcomings and a resource. The M113 was replaced in 2007 by a more powerful 5.5 liter M273 engine, which is considered the most unsuccessful - the ceramic-metal sprockets of the balancing shaft wear out quickly, problems often arise with the exhaust manifold dampers, and the exhaust manifold plugs flow. I wrote in more detail about the shortcomings of this power unit in .
For "charged" versions of the car (AMG), the engines of the M113, M137, M157 and M275 series were used. The M137 power unit turned out to be not very reliable, because of this it was not installed for long - from 2002 to 2003. Most often, failures occur in the ignition and control systems for unbalanced cylinder operation, as well as in the deactivation system for the left row of ZAS cylinders. Another common ailment is the current heat exchangers, weak threads in the holes for the cylinder head bolts. More modern M157 and M257 engines are also not problem-free, and considering who drives them and how, problems with them can be very serious and expensive. But, if you have money to buy and maintain a 550-horsepower car, then you should not worry too much about this, because in case of any trouble, you can pull the repair.
Diesel engines installed on the Mercedes Gelendvagen
Old aspirated OM602-603 are not only simple and reliable, but also have an impressive resource - about 1,000,000 kilometers. But they also have a weak point - the engines are prone to overheating. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the temperature level of the engine and the condition of the radiator, pipes and fluid in the cooling system so as not to overheat the engine. If this trouble happens, in most cases it is necessary to change the cylinder head. No less successful is the 177-horsepower three-liter engine (OM606). The first serious problems with it, as a rule, appear after 400,000 km of run. The most common ailment of this engine is the wear of the connecting rod bearings (400-500 thousand km go). Of the minor troubles, malfunctions in the operation of the K40 relay unit can be noted - the problem is solved by soldering the unit.
Its main drawback is that the temperature sensor in this motor is poorly located, because of this, drivers often find out late that the engine temperature is at a critical level - a high probability of overheating with all the ensuing consequences. For the restoration of the power unit, the mechanics will ask you for at least 1800 bucks for replacing the cylinder head. More modern power units with the prefix CDI in the name, equipped with fuel equipment with a Common Rail injection system, are not only sensitive to the quality of diesel fuel, but also require high repair and maintenance costs. Owners of a Mercedes Gelendvagen with an OM612 engine often encounter valve failures in the intake manifold and injection pump, and on some instances there were problems with the cylinder head.
In the most common three-liter OM642 engine (since 2006, the only diesel engine in the lineup), up to 200,000 km, it may be necessary to replace the injectors and the timing chain with a tensioner. But the biggest trouble is the destruction of the intake manifold. When the collector particles are destroyed, they enter the turbine, damaging its blades, shaft, and also the geometry change mechanism. If you monitor the condition of the collector, the turbine will last at least 200-250 thousand km. In order to avoid unexpected costly repairs, it is necessary to change the glow plugs in a timely manner, the fact is that when they are not in working condition, they quickly stick and it is not always possible to unscrew them in a natural way - the cylinder head needs to be removed to drill out the burned-out candle. If during engine operation there is extraneous noise and vibrations are felt, first of all pay attention to the condition of the crankshaft pulley clutch.
The most powerful 4.0 CDI engine (OM628) has serious design flaws with fuel equipment, which entail constant expensive repairs, and also significantly accelerate the wear of the piston group and block heads. Most often, fuel equipment bothers - piezo injectors and high-pressure fuel pumps. The timing chain, as a rule, begins to stretch closer to 200-250 thousand km, often the turbine needs to be replaced at the same run. The solution to any of these ailments will require no small investment. It should be understood that most of the Mercedes Gelendvagen power units have already been affected by time, so you need to be prepared for the failure of control units, relays and all kinds of sensors from the first days of buying a used Gelika. On a car older than 10 years old, wiring dries out from old age, attachments fail, air leaks appear.
What's longer?
A large number of gearboxes were installed on the Mercedes Gelendvagen, an all-wheel drive system with three differentials, and its legendary “indestructible” suspension requires special maintenance. That's all this will be discussed in my article.
If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your review that will help readers of our site when choosing a car.
Sincerely, editorial Autoavenue
