"Stratos HF" (conorbennett)
06/23/2015 at 11:13 • Filed to: None
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"Stratos HF" (conorbennett)
06/23/2015 at 11:13 • Filed to: None | 1
| 7 |
Hey guys,
I’m looking to help my dad find a used G Wagon to buy but I keep reading conflicting reports about vehicles etc. Does anyone have any experience in owning these beasts and what maintaining one of these is like?
We found !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! one near him in Florida and looks like a good option, but can’t access the Carfax. Going to call them to see if they will send us the report, but if anyone had access to a Carfax service and was willing to help with the report I would be very grateful!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Stratos HF
06/23/2015 at 11:54 |
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My mechanic is a German car guru. He just sold his 2002 G500 because he said it was too hard and expensive to keep running. This is a man who works on S600s and Phaetons for a living. That beings said, his was high mileage. Keep it under 60k and you mightb e okay. They are badass trucks.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Stratos HF
06/24/2015 at 00:18 |
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The AMG version will be considerably more expensive to own and maintain, if cost is much of an issue don’t get the G55, a simple thing like brakes could run you a couple grand. 500 has the M113 V8 which is super simple but has valve cover gaskets that will leak and a rear main that will probably seep, but you can’t kill them. 550 has the M273 V8 which is more powerful and more efficient, doesn’t tend to leak, is a but more finicky with maintenance but is still an excellent engine. Problems with the 273 are thermostats and intake manifolds. Stay on top of maintenance and for the most part you should be ok.
As far as Carfax goes, call your local dealer and give them your VIN, ask for a VMI. It is Mercedes dealership service history as far as warranty and customer pay goes and will tell you if the warranty was voided or the vehicle was bought back or anything like that. It doesn’t give you accident history though.
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Stratos HF
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/24/2015 at 08:33 |
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Thank you very much for the help! Are the AMG engines as reliable as the 500 and 550’s? Or do those have a lot of problems because of the high performance and the supercharger?
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Stratos HF
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/24/2015 at 08:34 |
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Interesting, I’ve ready so far that pre 2003/2004 cars had a lot of issues which might explain why his was so difficult to keep running. If it wasn’t for my parents I would say screw it and get a true Gelandenwagen from the 70’s-80’s. Or maybe a Unimog.....
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Stratos HF
06/24/2015 at 09:45 |
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No problem. And yes they are about the same reliability-wise. The 55 uses a supercharged M113. Occasionally those have issues with the supercharger pulley and clutch but that’s about it for the more common stuff.
The other issues you might experience with a G are less common and unlikely to leave you stranded, they’re more along the lines of minor annoyances.
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Stratos HF
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/24/2015 at 10:38 |
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What are the other common issues? I’m genuinely curious for all the knowledge on these I can. They seem like such sturdy, well built cars I’m slightly surprised there are reliability issues but it is a Merc...
But I’m now thinking based on the costs - I probably will do a CarMax MaxCare warrantied Range Rover Supercharged.... Doug DeMuro is rolling in his couch hearing this...
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Stratos HF
06/24/2015 at 23:01 |
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On high mileage stuff water pumps and EGR valves. CV housing/axle seals. Sunroof motors and window regulators. Water pumps are by far most common from that list though.