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Before you buy a used Mercedes-Benz Clase G (W463).

2000–2018 · Diesel / Petrol · 3 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

Mercedes-Benz Clase G (W463), real photo of this generation
Charles from Port Chester, New York · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 3 of its engines.

  • Suspension, rust, injection and turbos on the G-Class W463Known weak points
    Period mentioned
    1990–2018
    Mileage mentioned
    The sheet does not mention a mileage.

    Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.

G 270 / 320 CDI · G 500 / G 55 / G 63

G 270 / 320 CDI (Diesel) · G 500 / G 55 / G 63 (Petrol)

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

G 320 / 350 CDI (OM642, desde 2006)

Diesel

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Mercedes-Benz Clase G (W463)
EngineDocumented faultsRecalls
G 270 / 320 CDIDieselFewest documented11 with conditions1
G 320 / 350 CDI (OM642, desde 2006)Diesel21 with conditions0
G 500 / G 55 / G 63PetrolFewest documented11 with conditions1

According to the data we have, the engines with the fewest documented faults are: G 270 / 320 CDI (Diesel), G 500 / G 55 / G 63 (Petrol).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Petrol.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

  1. Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
  2. Ask an official Mercedes-Benz dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
  3. Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.
Recall: G rear-axle shaft bearing lubricationTransmission / axle

Engines: G 270 / 320 CDI (Diesel) · G 500 / G 55 / G 63 (Petrol)

How to check it: Confirm VIN; replace rear differential housing cover.

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On the test drive: what to look and listen for

Taken from each sheet's symptoms and checks. You can tick off what you have already looked at: it is saved only in this browser.

0 of 2 checked

Oil leaks / injectors

  • Look out for: Oil pooling in the engine's V, burning oil smell, drips under the engine; or a hiss or chirp next to an injector with an exhaust smell.

    Ask them to check: Visual inspection of the engine's V and the base of the injectors.

Known weak points

  • Look out for: Wear of shock absorbers, springs, steering arms and track-rod ends; rust on window frames and tailgate; water in headlamps and indicators; on the G 400 CDI, the high-pressure pump (2001–2005), chain and injectors; turbos with mileage; engine control unit.

    Ask them to check: Check rust on frames and tailgate, front-axle play and headlamps; change the oil on time with the correct specification.

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these Testigo sheets and their original sources. Sources are not checked in real time.

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