The search for G-Wagen has started

[HowardD]

Now that the W123 has gone, I'm going to buy a G-Wagen as a long term project; they look awesome!

My budget is flexible, but miles away from being able to afford anything like a G55, or younger than 10 years old.


My knowledge is very limited, although that's work in progress. Must haves so far are: -

• RHD
• LWB
• Black (or silver!)

I know these requirements seriously restrict choice, but I'm going to take my time finding the right one. Something like this bad boy is what I would like to end up with? (maybe with a different steering wheel?)

My next steps are: -

• Visit G Wagen specialists to get my head round what's out there (There's a specialist in Reading G-Wagen International, and G-Class centre in Worcestershire I was going to start with)
• Spend some time trawling GWOA - Their forum looks good, but membership isn't free
• Make friends with some GW owners

Does anyone have any thoughts or experiences on G-Wagens you'd like to share?

And keep your eyes open for any contenders!!

 

[jonnyboy]

Howard

Ive had 3, so know a bit!

Give me an idea what budget you have and I will advise accordingly.

I know both of the specialists - you will pay at least double there than the open market price - it just depends if you feel the extra £ to them gets you value in terms of what will have been done to it........

 

[HowardD]

Howard

Ive had 3, so know a bit!

Give me an idea what budget you have and I will advise accordingly.

I know both of the specialists - you will pay at least double there than the open market price - it just depends if you feel the extra £ to them gets you value in terms of what will have been done to it........

Thanks, I've sent you a PM. HD

 

[James Rothwell]

I love these! Saw quite a few G55's when I was in Dubai they are very popular there.

 

[jonnyboy]

Howard

I got your pm and will respond (in part) here later tonight for the members benefit.

In the meantime, check out G-Wagen Owners Association News - a right weird bunch, but some cracking tech info and help. I will pm you the id's of a couple of members there whose advice you should avoid like the plague - rectum-speak !

 

[HowardD]

I love these! Saw quite a few G55's when I was in Dubai they are very popular there.

When we went to Poland in April, there was a very handsome silver G55 parked at the far end of Rzsezow airport car park. It was still there in exactly the same spot when were back there in August.

 

[A210AMG]

Love them

Its one of the few cars that keeps appearing at the Geneva car show and basically a Y reg one looks the 'same' as one you could buy today, I always take pictures and think they look great.

I suspect if you can strech to the facelifted model it will be a much better (more car like) interior etc but they do seem to still fetch good prices.

 

[James Rothwell]

The thing I love most about the G-Wagen is the sound and feel when you close the door. Literally like no other car.

Edit- You chaps are going to think I'm really stupid for asking but are they particulary good offroad? I saw some G-Wagens offroad once before but that was in Germany and they where military vehicles, they looked very good indeed in the rough, but are the standard ones vastly different?

 

[A210AMG]

Yes they are very good, they hae locking diffs that you can operate from the dashboard and a proper low range gears.

 

[jonnyboy]

ok, so here we go.

if your budget is below about £8k you will get a first generaton w460 g wagen. You'd get the best there is, but beware, they are horrifically expensive to fuel. You'll probably get a 280 petrol gel auto (lwb) with 9 seats (two sidewards benches in the back). You should look for the cloth recaro seats and high spec.You may well get one thats been "updated" with a front-end freshen, nice interior makeover, wheels, side steps etc. These all make it a nicer place to be. The diesels are turgidly slow, I have a 300 d w124 estate which is slowwww, but in a G.....zzzzzzzzz. They have a massively loyal following due to their bulletproof mechanicals, easy maintenance, and torquey feel which the hard-core off roaders like.They are not particularly better on fuel than the petrols as at the end of the day its a 3 ton truck. You could look for a v8 conversion - if so the 380 v8 is a good proposition but you need to ensure the sump has been baffled to cope with oil starvation when its off road - these things will literally go anywhere !!!!! A 460 has 3 manual difflocks with a separate gearlever for the 2 or 4 wheel drive. For an old-style 4x4 they drive quite well but if your other half didnt like the w123, she'll hate the G so beware ! Look out for badly repaired rust on the body, under the windscreen, rear door, sills, rear quarters, and especially the rear light panels. I've had three 460's, a basic 280gel auto, a very nice spec 280gel auto, and a basic-ish 230 ges (swb) which i really enjoyed. If I bought another one it would probably be a very high spec 230 ges manual, or maybe a 280 ges manual.

For over the £8k you will get a 2nd generation w463 which has electronically controlled difflocks on the dash. They drive a bit more car-like and are much nicer inside, more so the later model you get, very nineties merc car range, built of proper materials! The engine range is better than the 460 with the m103 single cam 3litre a perfect engine, so much smoother and with more life in it than the 280 in the first generation. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the one of choice is the 500v8. They are effortlessly torquey, and hustle along quite nicely. Criminally poor on fuel, but you don't buy one to be environmentally friendly !!!! There is a 300 TD which I have no experience of but I reckon will be quite canny. Look out over at GWOA for a guy called Maxwell Smart - I think he is selling a diesel one, turquoise IIRC. I reckon i will absolutely have another G and it will be a 463. Even the early ones can have leather, leccy windows, nice wood trim etc. Later ones get things like Comand and all the other toys we like. But it will still go anywhere !!!!!! Much nicer than a Rangie IMHO.

Residuals are rock solid. I think the pre-2004 ones appear to be more reliable with less electronics to go wrong a-la other mercs. I had the huge honour of driving "Spider iv" 's g500 from the other forum. Loved it, absolutely loved it. So does he - and he's from a background of S classes and the likes. Dont be scared of big miles if its a pukka historied car.

The specialist near you (us !) always has lots of stock. The previous owner of the business appears to have been a shark, p*ss*ng everyone off and robbing them blind. For a while he was sole importer direct from MB and I reckon he is the person reponsible for jacking the prices up so high it could have threatened sales permanently. The new guy is ok, but there will be a LOT of profit in the price I suspect. Hence you don't need to sell many units per year. I've also been up to the other place less than 100 miles away, had a mixed experience - great for parts and tech. help depending who you speak to. I looked at 460's there and was disappointed with the quality of repairs as I saw not brilliantly matched paint, and runs. I belive their later stuff was better but IIRC they tend to go more towards 460's. Watch for a dealer called Avantgarde - seems to have nice stock (expensive!) but I hear good things.

Good luck, you will need to be very very patient and not get drawn into the first one you see. Good ones go very quickly if keenly priced so you need to keep looking and react quickly IF THE CAR is the right one. Post what you see for comments.

By the way, the pics you posted are of a 460 which has been freshened. Good for a 460, but still a 460 !

 

[HowardD]

John - Thank you for doing this.

I want a W463 and my first choice is the G500. But, I'm just not sure I'll be able to find a decent one in the budget.

But, if I found a W460 as good as the photos above look, I'd take another look.

With the W123, I needed a car as a daily driver and had a deadline to find it. I've got something smaller and oilburning for commuting now.

I dont mind if it takes all 2010 find the right Wagen. Particularly, as I'm a naive numpty with a lot to learn about them first!! (even basics like whether it will fit in my garage!)

Thank you again for all the information.

 

[grober]

Just as long as you are aware of the safety aspect fine. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/80272-all-classic-cars-dangerous.html
here's a short video which shows a little of their huge off road prowess.[YOUTUBE]GqV0YtF_ndo[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Ted]

OK, from personal experience, a pre facelift 300d LWB.
I LOVED the car. It has real road presence, looked great, was practical, and built like a tank. In fact the kids and their friends called in 'The Tank'.
Never did any serious off roading, but on hilly wet grass, I had no problems at all (with diff locks engaged).
The manual linkage felt very loose, and at (rare) times woild seem to lose all connection to the gearbox.
Servicing was EASY. Crawl under the car, and you can easily change diff a gearbox oils. IIRC, all the filler and drain plugs are identical.
The diesel engine likes to rev (it is very smooth). Mrs Ted got the hang of it better than me - drive it like a petrol engine rather than a diesel.
Fuel consumption is dreadful - I think we used to get 18mpg, but filling is easy, as you can go to the truck diesel pumps as the filler neck is so large.
Build quality is superb - have a look at the chassis outriggers. Bigger than scaffold tubes!
We took ours over 100k miles. Not a rattle. - beautiful.
The drivers seat bolster was worn - I think it's a common problem.

We only got rid of ours as it was costing us £80 a week in derv.

When I win the lottery, make no mistake, the first cars I buy will be a LWB G class and an R230 (or its successor)

Get a good one, and if you can afford the fuel you will love it.



Oh, and don't engage the front diff lock while you're driving on tarmac, as turning becomes somewhat impossible

Edit: Oh, nearly forgot - gave me a big smile the time I went through some floods that a disco turned back at

 

[jonnyboy]

I'll keep my eyes peeled Howard.

Unbeknown to me, an acquaintance of mine just sold a 460 with no engine. Had been a 280gel project that had stood for years. He'd installed a 6.9 v8 dry sump in it but the project had stalled so he whipped the engine out pre-sale.

Yours, gutted of Camberley. lol

 

[Benzowner]

I have owned a W460 280GEL, what a tool. There was no need for bull bars on these buties, the front and rear bumper were made of a c section channel approx 75 x 75mm x 4mm thick I drove my car down a country lane, it was raining and met a cement mixer lorry comming the oposite way. We were both travelling a little too quick for the conditions and had a slight coming together. I wrote the lorry off, my G suffered £1400 damage. The colision had pushed the bumper onto the wheel. A breakdown truck was called and after chaining the bumper up to his winch, the winch was started and the winchman said my cars brakes were not on, I said from here mate, its your breakdown truck thats moving Anyway, the bumper was pulled out and we continued our hiliday. At the time, we were towing a caravan and fuel comsumption solo about 15mpg on a run, with the caravan on the back about 15mpg on a run, round town about 15mpg, turn on air con and listen to the revs drop Had I still owned the car, it would most certainly have been converted to gas. If one came up at the right price, I would not hesitate to buy another. I did a bit of off roading with it and was extremely impressed, nothing too difficult, a bit of green laning up near Newbury I think.

 

[HowardD]

I'll keep my eyes peeled Howard.

Unbeknown to me, an acquaintance of mine just sold a 460 with no engine. Had been a 280gel project that had stood for years. He'd installed a 6.9 v8 dry sump in it but the project had stalled so he whipped the engine out pre-sale.

Yours, gutted of Camberley. lol

I saw that one on Ebay last week - LWB and black? With that engine, it would be a monster!

 

[A210AMG]

I spotted that also

The 6.9 was never connected up and he put it back to normal to sell it.

cannot imagine the mpg on that though...

Would / could the engine out of a more modern 320cdi fit?

 

[Vlad]

G500's still make big money.....one of the last RHD's, a 51 Reg LWB recently sold for £28k! A lot of them get sold to rich Russians living in London...they love them.

Check out here for more G's for sale G : Wagen International Ltd

I had a 280 LWB and it was a great machine, but liked a drink! I ended up selling it to a guy in Hong Kong who saw it advertised on e-bay.

 

[BaldGuy]

I'll take this one please......

MERCEDES-BENZ G CLASS G58 Brabus LWB 5.8 V8- Auto Trader UK

 

[HowardD]

I'll take this one please......

MERCEDES-BENZ G CLASS G58 Brabus LWB 5.8 V8- Auto Trader UK

Yeah. I like that one too. It's over my budget though and it's a left hooker!