Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi,
I am looking for some info on a Mercedes G-Wagon that I am interested in purchasing. I PM'ed Steve but perhaps it would be better to share the knowledge...

So perhaps some owners can help answer these questions:

the 3.0L NA diesel - I have been reading that it has a hard time keeping up with highway speeds - if this is the case, are there any simple improvements that will be worth it? like exhaust, pump adjustment (more fuel) or perhaps its better to look for a different motor (factory turbo) I am not interested in high-performance but it needs to handle highway touring, possibly towing.

Wheels - are alternative wheels readily available in Australia? I have read that they are not a usual bolt pattern. I would be looking for a 16x8 or 16x7.

Other aftermarket accessories, particularly towbars and bullbars - will I need to import from Europe/SA or am I better off adapting from local non-G-Wagon products?

Any other gotcha's? I am looking at a W460 jap import, LWB with 300GD.

thanks

HI Grazza - I tried to post this last night by it was eaten by the outers gremlins....

The OM617 isn't a great performer on the highway. GD's are heavy cars and they struggle to overcome their aerodynamics on the highway. They are incredibly short geared for a diesel - 3700rpm @ 100km/hr stock - one of the main reasons I've run 35 and 36" tyres for the last 10 years.

IMHO there aren't any simple improvements for power. The OM617 factory turbo engine from the S class benz in Europe/US isn't compatible with RHD as the turbo was in the way of the steering box. The automatic gearbox is also right at the limit of it's torque handling capacity in a stock Gwagen - It's the 190e box and rated at 180Nm.

I have seen a SWB G with what is apparently a factory turbo OM617, apparently done by Benz in Melbourne. It looked VERY tight and I have no way of knowing what parts were used in it.

There were aftermarket turbo kits for sold GD's in Australia. I think they are OK, but nothing special by todays standards.

You could shoot for a little more fuel, thermo fan, exhaust etc but I don't think any of things will make enough difference IMHO. 617 powered G's are OK, they're just not that great- you don't really overtake anything on the highway if you get my drift. They need about 20% more torque, minimum, to be a comfortable cruiser. 100% more torque ( and much taller gearing )to be relaxed.

As for towing, I'm sure with stock tyres it would be OK at getting up to speed, but I've never had a trailer on the back of mine.

Wheels have to be made. Stud pattern is Porsche, offset is whacky, and critical. Incorrect offset is very detrimental to the already marginal front wheel bearings, and reduces the tyre size you can run due to increased scrub radius. Sprinter van wheels are a direct fit, but I don't think they are useful size.

PS Benz only designed G's to run narrow 16" wheels. when they determined fashion required a 15X7" wheel, they had to make an alloy rim to fit and clear the brakes with the 146mm backspacing G's run. I have some custom steel beadlocks in 15X7 with the correct BS, but they were a nightmare to make. 16X7/8 would be much easier. Re-rimmed Sprinter wheels might be the way to make this happen.

As for bullbars - There's some very dubious stuff available in Europe. They also fit 70 series landcruiser ARB bars in Europe, which look terrible IMHO. I have a cut down suzuki sierra ARB bar on mine as the chassis rails are the same width- it was easy to fit.

ARB made a lovely bull bar for the Gwagen (even took a warn 8000lb highmount) but they threw the jigs away years ago.

Towbar isn't hard - G's have the worlds biggest/strongest 4 bolt mount on the rear crossmember. You could import one, or have a very simple one fabbed up. I made a plate to fit a pintle to the back of mine years ago and it's worked very hard over the years and never given trouble.

In general though, G's are cool, but you have to know what you are getting yourself in for. They are underbraked by todays standards, and front wheelbearings are a huge weak link in the design - they are way too small and there's no obvious fix. More KM's = more rebuilds. Generally, the races spin on the spindle once they go loose, wearing the spindle. Replacement spindles were $850 each from Benz 13 years ago.

Brakes and front bearings aside, they are reliable, very, very solid, a good size, and very well designed for off road work - easy to see out of, everything is well protected, obviously factory lockers, a very well geared auto (you want an auto one, trust me) and a great size (with a very good size to interior room ratio)

I'm not using mine at the moment (haven't done for a couple of years barring some short runs) and I'd love to repower it with a Cummins 4BT and GQ/GU axles- it would be more useful as a tow/touring car with that setup.... that's if I keep it.

Steve.

Thanks Steve. Excellent advice as always.

Update - I have bought a G-wagen...

Will post up pics soon but its a 1988 SWB petrol.

I guess I had a craving for something a bit more basic than the Suzi GV and I certainly have it - very basic, heavy and strong. Like a bigger Sierra in some ways.

From a very easy-to-drive GV, which was such a pleasure to drive on and offroad, in some ways I have taken a big step backwards. But I am back to a proper truck (like my old GQ SWB) and loving it.

Back to basics.

I had a 1983 3l diesel LWB auto, standard mechanical fitout. I can echo what Steve said about the front wheel brgs - a real problem. Having said that, I found it a realy well balanced 4wd off road - as long as you have enough time in your calender to get there!
Had the auto rebuilt after it burnt out, and it was never the same. Spent heaps on it at both MB dealers and smaller shops, just ended up throwing money out the window, so cut the losses and traded it on a new GQ.
Bullbar was an ARB unit with a 8000lb low mount. Fitted full length scrub bars and SS snorkel. Added sill tanks both sides as well.
I ran a second set of standard steel MB wheels and BFG Mud terrains. The weight of the vehicle saw these almost evaporate on the road. I went to Simex Cross plys in a heavy rock pattern, but the on road handling suffered.
I like the vehicle and hope to buy one down the track again. I will be ripping the diesel out and putting in either a small V8 or going to the twin cam 6 Merc engine that bolts straight up to the auto.
Happy motoring!

Here it is:







Would be interested to know if I can do any preventitive maintainance on the front wheel bearings. Getting 33" BFG's today...

looks great wouldn't mind seeing pics with 33" but

that is cool, where do I get me one?

what is the model code of these as I cannot find any...

Havabigjuan wrote:that is cool, where do I get me one?

what is the model code of these as I cannot find any...

Mine is a 230GE G-Wagen (note the spelling) of the W460 range which includes the W461 (mainly military) and the current W463 (right up to the Brabus V12 bi-turbo) So there are some newer "luxury" models but there aint nothing luxury about mine - very basic, no similarities to other Merc "4wd's"

Mercedes sold them locally for a short period of time but did not sell well as they were expensive compared to everything else. Now they are pretty old they are more reasonable.

They are hard to find here but keep your eye on http://www.carsales.com.au
I know of a guy on the Gold Coast bringing in RHD Japanese ones (most G-wagens are LHD) and he can bring in only up to 1989 models due to import restrictions. I think 3 are on the way, contact James at http://mjrautocentre.com.au. They are all hand made in Graz, Austria by Steyr-Daimler-Puch, who also make the Halfinger and Pinzgauer.

More info here

I will post up mine with the 33's if is stops raining...

Some other pics, there is quite some variation:

Cheers,

MJR currently have a green 1986 petrol

http://mjrautocentre.com.au./?action=ca ... &year_max=

think a petrol auto would probably be a slug with 2.3

Havabigjuan wrote:Cheers,

MJR currently have a green 1986 petrol

http://mjrautocentre.com.au./?action=ca ... &year_max=

think a petrol auto would probably be a slug with 2.3

Yes, thats the same model as mine. And its the slowest vehicle I have ever owned. Its the biggest problem with early G-wagens. I might consider putting a newer motor in mine one day, like a Sprinter Van diesel or factory 617A turbo.

Found this unusual picture of the German army "Wolfs"
The Wolf is a swb cabrio version with drop down windscreens. These are very collectible now.



Here is a restored one:






Not a Wolf, Canadian army armored G-wagen:



Some of the army G-wagens have been in service for 25 years! So they're pretty shagged by the time they are auctioned off (I suppose the Landies/Perentis would be similar)

With the 33's

Yes please..portals too:

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/news-a ... newsfooter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

grazza wrote:

That night be the coolest thing ever. Calling it a Gwagen might be a stretch though

Nice Gwagen you've got there Grazza.

Steve.

Must admit always liked the G's especially after seeing how well Steve's worked. Has been in the back of my mind to get one for a toy

Some fancy promo videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEjY1FPU ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3NTCGIX ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2J1BAKS ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Press confirmation that Mercedes are bringing the lower-end commercial G-wagen (non-bling models)

Perhaps a rival to the troopy for miners and farmers - solid axle, coils, lockers, more safety kit, build like a brick shithouse...

27 October 2009
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS
MERCEDES-BENZ is set to relaunch the G-wagen (Geländewagen) in Australia by late next year, led by a sub-$100,000 ‘Pur’ CDI diesel.

Aimed at rural and serious off-road buyers, this basic five-door wagon is described by Mercedes insiders as a “no thrills” workhorse, although necessities such as air-conditioning and the usual suite of active and passive safety systems such as airbags and electronic driving aids will obviously be included in the price.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor. ... 5B00811BB8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Scratch that - I screwed up "2009"

But there are rumours they are going to bring in the "worker" model.