Buying Used LR4 versus Mercedes G550

[richord]

I bought a 2015 LR4 July 2025. I think the boxy style of these vehicles looks great. I had a 1987 Defender 90 that I had previously owned and restored.

I was aware of the LR4's numerous faults and mine had the plastic coolant pipes, coolant leaks, blind spot detector faults, front cameras not working and other annoyances.

I repaired all those and upgraded the coolant pipes, replaced all the coolant hoses etc. All the electronics are now working, and I added full Apple CarPlay to the existing screen.

There was no rust on the body, some surface rust on the frame which I cleaner off and repainted. The paint was excellent when I bought it.

I decided to look for a Mercedes G Wagon. Initially the G550 2002-2008 which is a simple vehicle with a reliable engine and drive train. What I learned is that the G Wagons RUST!

A number of them I saw had rust that was already perforated like around the windshield. Rear shock mounts rust. Body work is not my thing so that is a worry. I hate rust!

Another thing I learned is that more than 50% of the G550's I saw for sale had been in accidents, most front and rear collisions. I don't know if that is because of the vehicles or the people who drive them .

I've owned new Mercedes vehicles before including an AMG model. New they are fine. A few years ago, I looked at buying a new G Wagon. The maintenance guy at the dealership told me don't! They are assembled from the leftover parts bin at the factory. When I looked at these used examples, I could see what he meant. Switches from an S class, some stuff from the downscale C Class etc. The good news is, parts are readily available.

The last point is that these trucks don't drive very well in comparison to my LR4. Handling and comfort are not their forte. The back seat is for little people and not adults or child seats!

It's a macho, "rich" man truck but I think my LR4 with all its quirks is an overall better vehicle.

I'll still looking to get one on the cheap just for fun but I'm still hanging on to my Lr4.

 

[Nechaken]

I've always loved the way those cars look, never loved (the majority) of the people who drive them. (Same thing with the Dodge Challenger, actually).

 

[powershift]

Its really a budget decision. In the end I have zero regrets. My budget was $30k and paid $15k for my V8 LR4 in 2023. I'd love a G55 with the supercharged engine and 5 speed.

The only significant feature the G has over the LR4 capability wise is the locker controls and having a fully locked drive train. The cargo area doesn't lay flat either and for me that is a big feature the G doesn't have. They are also not as dependable anecdotally. They have SAM problems where an electronics module can stop working leaving you stranded. Or on the new models if a sensor goes out like in the mirror or the audio amp breaks, it won't start because of stupid dependencies in the algorithms that decide if you can drive or not. But I'd need $180k to have those problems lol.

 

[MellonRover]

As much as they are " cooler", wanted one since Europa was the only was the only way to get an imported one, They are an old design, but have solid axles and came triple locked. Lr4 is more comfortable, roomier, better cargo configuration.
Rust is an expensive repair and yes gwagens are bad in all the same areas. The grass is not always greener . I'll keep with the rover.

 

[powershift]

The problem with the rust is the metal and treatment before assembly. They were once hand assembled. But when it starts to rust in a given spot, the whole panel section needs to be replaced because the rust comes back.

But there are plenty of instances of no-rust G's, I've seen them in Vegas but they are so expensive. Stand next to a 4X4 squared and you'll see they are monsters, lots of ground clearance and they stand tall. I like the door shut noise, tight asf.

The new G63's have massive power now, twin turbo V8's, AWD and 4X4. With the IFS I hear its smoother, still has a live rear axle but it does have a body-on-frame design. Something the Defender lacks, its not a truck.

There is another feature that the G had in early years was a door handle on the inside for the rear exit. They removed it somewhere around 2008 or so. On the early years you could drive in AWD 4H and activate the rear and/or center diff lockers, but then they changed it to where you had to be in 4L to activate the lockers in later years.

I like the automatic lockers in the LR4, but there has been a time I needed to turn it off on the rear and it could have saved a lot of work getting unstuck if I could have used traction on one wheel not two so it wouldn't slide into a washout.

 

[richord]

I watched a video of a guy fixing the lockers. I learned that they require vacuum and hydraulics to operate. In his case the pump didn't work, the hydraulic lines were clogged because they were never used and the actuators were sticking. Cheap on parts buts lots of time trouble shooting and fixing.

I put air lockers on my 1987 Defender 90. A switch, an air compressor and air lines and that was it. Simple to fix the plumbing. Why Mercedes went with all this plumbing?


I went to test drive a 2002 G500 a few days ago and the guy told me the lockers worked. When I tried to engage them, nothing. No lights on the switches either. Could be a labor-intensive fix and my labor is free but could be something more serious.

The other thing was this vehicle had been wrapped a few years ago. No apparent rust perforation around the windshield but the warp was bubbling. I tested for body filler but found none. But there could be rust lurking. Another risky sign. A good paint job on these could run $10,000 to $15,000.

Still looking but my LR4, in spite of its weaknesses, is still a much better vehicle as you guys mentioned.
All except the Schwarzenegger image of the G Wagon

 

[m_lars]

With the IFS I hear its smoother, still has a live rear axle but it does have a body-on-frame design. Something the Defender lacks, its not a truck.

I’m genuinely curious what you think the Defender is lacking by not being body on frame?

 

[MellonRover]

Legit street cars.... That was the gwagen with nonop lockers.

 

[powershift]

I’m genuinely curious what you think the Defender is lacking by not being body on frame?

Ultimate heavy-duty toughness, long-term abuse in harsh environments, easier field repairs and a lot of times unibodies are completely disposable in an accident, extreme modding, customization, restoration, heavy towing stress over time (torsion) and framed vehicles feel more stable under heavy loads.

 

[gsxr]

I've owned new Mercedes vehicles before including an AMG model. New they are fine. A few years ago, I looked at buying a new G Wagon. The maintenance guy at the dealership told me don't! They are assembled from the leftover parts bin at the factory. When I looked at these used examples, I could see what he meant. Switches from an S class, some stuff from the downscale C Class etc. The good news is, parts are readily available.

Using parts from their passenger cars isn't necessarily a bad thing. The majority of the chassis & body are G-specific items, but yes some of the interior & switchgear is from other models. The S-class has all their top of the line stuff.

The last point is that these trucks don't drive very well in comparison to my LR4. Handling and comfort are not their forte. The back seat is for little people and not adults or child seats!

This is the big issue. The G-wag drives like a TRUCK, especially the older ones (say, 2000's or teens). The newer ones (20's+) have more technology thrown at them but it's still based on an 80's industrial / military design, not something created for creature comforts. The LR4 has a substantial advantage here.

The LR4 is more closely related to the Mercedes GL series, either the X164 chassis (2007-2012), or the X166 chassis (2013-2019). The GL was rebranded as GLS starting around 2017 along with a facelift for the last few years. These are the most similar to the LR4 with space for 7 adult passengers and equivalent (likely superior, for the X166) comfort / performance.

Now, the powertrains are a different discussion. The M278 and M157 twin-turbo V8 engines have some serious weak points, particularly the scored cylinder walls which renders the engine junk. Switching to iron cylinder liners around 2016 seems to have helped, and there are some aftermarket mods which may also help (eliminating the oil pressure reduction "feature", for example). The power levels available on the GL/GLS550 and AMG 63 models is awfully tempting though. Prices are coming down on the X166 now as they are exiting the extended warranty period.