Hi....I'm new and need some advice
Hello everybody.
I've been looking through this forum for a little while now and I am sure that I want a G wagon! I live in Birmingham and I've never seen one in the flesh. I love the look of them. I currently drive a E30 BMW so it will be a big difference. I just wanted to ask how much I would need to spend to get a strong G wagon 463 LWB shape with a good engine, lowish miles and leather interior? I've had a look online and I've seen very few earlier (1993-1995) models with leather interior.....How hard is it to find these?
Also what engine sizes do they come in? I intend to buy an older one (1993-1995) and get it looking like a newer model (2000+) if possible.
What are the key points to know about these cars.....any problems, common faults, bad points etc.
Also were would be the best places too find a G?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Hi!
If you don't want to go for a LHD then your options would be rather limited: a 300GE (170PS) or a 300GD (113PS). Have seen a number of those, which match your requirements but they tend to cost more than £10k. However if you don't mind a LHD then a G320 (211PS), G350TD (136PS) or a 500GE (240PS) would be added to the range of options.
Hope this helps!
If you want a RHD petrol then you will be looking at either a 300GE or if you have the money then a 2000 G500.
There are a bunch of stickies at the top of Buying Advice Section explaining what to look out for.
Most Gs for sale in the UK usually get posted in our classifieds section.... But as the site has just been rebuilt we've had to reset the section so your best bet currently would be Autotrader.
If you're interested in a specific G then post it as chances are someone here will know it.
Hello,
there are quite a few differences between an early 463 and a late 463 in terms of the exterior look.
Clear indicators instead of the old amber ones; new type rear lights assembly after mid-2000s
Rims.
Brake light on the rear window after 96 or so.
Mirror indicators. (about 1k from MB)
Bumper
New front grill after 2009.
Colour coded bumpers on some models.
Cool looking spare wheel cover on some later models.
Wind defectors? on some later models.
If your car is a standard UK RHD one (or a equivalent LHD) then you shouldn't experience any problems on insuring it. However it is very frustrating to find a broker to insure a LHD only model. I paid 3k on my old 91' 300GE when I was 20 and classic insurance was not an option for me.
All the best!! Glad to know a future G-owner! :D :D
I think insuring anything at age 20 is going to cost you, but I have to say my 230GE has ALWAYS been cheap to insure from my upper 20's to mid 40's! I'm paying less than £200 fully comp now, but that's with a crystal clean history(except the speeding points) and max protected NCD. Most insurers don't know what a G is.
Hi again,
just noticed that I missed some of your questions. As far as I know rust is not an issue on 463s. I had a 1990 and a 1991 463 before and rust was very very limited. Some updates are significantly more difficult than some others; if you would like to do them all, then that would be very time consuming. You certainly could use the G as an everyday car, just be prepared to pay for the fuel if you were buying a petrol.
In terms driving experience, the G certainly is the most enjoyable car for me to drive. For a short period of time I thought I would like a big change and bought a Porsche 996, but ended up buying another G in less than 2 months.
So yeah...
best regards
after having a g at a young age (17!), i will say insurance will be a bugger, but what i can say as a massive tip is insure it in your name then put a parent as a second driver, this will bring it down quite a bit plus you build your own NCB
also, be careful modding it to look like a modern (2000+) one, it can often be money poorly spent that would have been better put into buying a better standard g, as it does not add value to your car really when you come to sell it on.
and definitely dont rush into buying, you will only kick yourself afterwards, i waited months and months for mine, and will probably do the same the next one i buy, its the right thing to do
good luck, and stick with the forum, most g's are known by someone on here!!
Tom
Hey Tom I totally agree with your points about insurance and updating the look. However... perhaps one should be very quick if he/she finds a good deal. Remember a fellow forum member sold his 2000 G55 for 25k 2 year ago? Wish I had the money... not that i have 25k now tho :(
Thanks for all the info guys. Will definitely be lurking on this forum for a while and hopefully I'll own a G sometime next year.
BTW I'm a he.........
id save for a 500, same fuel economy as a 300, and much nicer to live with.
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Thanks for all the info guys.
I kind of expected price around that mark. I'll definitely be saving the pennies now until I can afford one! Can anyone just outline the difference between the earlier 463 models and the newer ones. I would love to get an earlier one for about 8k and get it looking like a modern one......How hard would this be and what updates would need to be done? What are they like to drive and what are they like to live with on a day-to-day basis?
Also insurance is another topic I need some info on. What are they like to insure, as I'm only a 20 year old student at the moment. I'll be looking to purchase one sometime next year when I'm 21. Would I be able to get a reasonable insurance quote and is classic insurance an option?
Is rust a big problem on these? I know BMW E30's suffer from the dreaded tin worm badly....do G's share the same fate?
Cheers.
P.S. Sorry about all the questions!