Whats the difference
Good afternoon all
As a new member on here, I am yearning to purchase my first 'G'. Have always hoped to own one, one day and that day now looks like becoming a reality. I have began doing my research into the murky world of the 'G' and a little confused.To that end I seek a little clarification on the differences between a 300 GDS a 300 GES and a G300.
Have found one that looks quite decent and within my budget, but I cant seem to post a link to the advert.
Well as a starter for 10 - the 300 GD is a diesel and the GE is the petrol version as for a 300 I can't help on that one! the 300 relates to the size of engine so a 300 is a 3ltr, 280 is a 2.8Ltr, 500 -5ltr.
HTH
Spider1V
LOL no luck to be pushed at this point! LOL
OK Crash course in G's:
The 460/461/463 refers to the 'Version' of G you have. When looking at the VIN number for a G it will start with one of the above. A quick overview for you:
460 - The original, and some say the best G Wagen. Two wheel drive, with engaged 4 wheel drive, two diff locks and very 'agricultural' or basic interior (now expecting the incoming shells from the 460 mob 
).
461 - The cross over, I am sure some one will be able to fill this bit in - but simply put 460 mechanics with 463 luxury. Very rare, but 'Buyer beware' check on here before you take one. the addition of an extra diff loc, elec windows, rubber matting and carpet and in some cases leather seats and sun roof
463 - Perm 4 wheel drive, 3 diffs, usually leather and wood, elec windows, in some cases Aircon ( depending on engine spec), a lot more technology in the engines, slightly more 'refined' 
)
I'll let you guess what I have. LOL
HTH
Spider1V
Yours will be the 463 G500 then! See am a quick learner. Ha Ha. It sounds like its the 463 for me, in some form or another. Any thoughts on this...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201409247651155/sort/defau...
Ha the gospel according to saint Joe bless him. There is another way, don't rush into anything till you've considered all your options and please give the armchair experts on here the heads up on any G your considering buying, someone will probably know it's history.
If someone sends you a PM with an offer ask around before you jump. A few unsuspecting new bies have been sold lemons. A bad g can be a frustrating money pit, a good one is a joy!
I'm the northern area rep and I'd be more the happy to have a chat with you and give you a few pointers.
Regards Gordon Osgerby
And a big one...... The mileometer on a G only goes up to 99999 so when someone States only done 57k it could be the second, third, fourth or more time around. The mileage would have to be verified by the history if your paying big money for a low mileage example
Gordon
But also by condition, some ge280s haven't done many miles because of their dipsomania. Diesels with mid 20s fuel are the most likely to have covered over 100k but even these are relatively rare as the 5 cylinder engine in the 460 is a rough old tractor of a unit, so the sheer unpleasantness deters long journeys. Early w460s will have serious rear 3/4 rust so if you want the agricultural feel of the part time 4x4 buy the most recent purely because of this issue.
And an even bigger one - the mileonometers on 460's G Wagens often do not work so you are at a complete loss as to how many miles it has covered even to the nearest 100k !!
Buy on condition with the help of a someone who knows about G's
And a big one...... The mileometer on a G only goes up to 99999 so when someone States only done 57k it could be the second, third, fourth or more time around. The mileage would have to be verified by the history if your paying big money for a low mileage example
Gordon
The 5 digit mileometers were an issue with the early 460's, the 463 models have 6 digits. Mercedes must have thought that the 463's would need the ability to record a million miles 
.
The 1993 300GE on Autotrader that the OP was asking about seems a good looking G but I would want to do a fair bit of research before I accepted the claimed 59,700 miles as genuine.
If you look at the photo with the steering wheel you will see that the grey vinyl is missing under the ignition barrel. This gets worn away by the action of starting the car, rubbing of key rings etc, but it takes quite a while and is hard to disguise. It is usually an indication of a high mileage vehicle.
It seems to have had quite a lot of work done to it for such a low mileage. Normally if the suspension mounts were so rusty they needed to be replaced then there would be other serious rust issues as well. A thorough check over would be in order.
If you were serious about this G then I would enlist the help of someone who knows there way around a G when you go and look at it.
Join the GWOA and get your red banner and there is more info in the members section... for example...
"This guide gives a brief outline of various models within the G Wagen range.
It is by no means a definitive guide to all the models available and it's purpose is to help those new to the world of G Wagens get to grips with the most common models.
The basic model types are either 460, 461 and 463. These numbers represent the first three numbers of the VIN number............"
As said before its easy to buy a dud, even an expensive dud!!
£6k or £15k if you buy a "wrong un" you can spend the same again putting it "something" like right...
Be careful out there, by the best you can on CONDITION, mileage etc is of little importance on a 20 year old motor...
Condition and attention to detail...
Welcome aboard, be wise not scared and ask lots, most areas of the country you will find somebody willing to go look with you
Gav
The 5 cyl (OM617) 300GD engine has its origins in the 1970s and by modern standards is not very sophisticated. But it's far from agricultural. On a lighter SWB and with auto box, it's fantastic. It will cruise at 75 - 80 mph all day and some years back, I drove one, loaded with a 2,5 ton trailer, across europe and up to 2500 m altitude, over the alps.- no problem. It's also been voted as Mercedes most reliable engine ever.
As explained above, the 460, was the original version, designed in 1979 and this model - as a civilian version - disappeared when the 463 replacement came out in 1990. Some time later, around 1999, the 461 version was introduced as a replacement for the 460, as MB realised that here was still a need for a more work-like vehicle, with vinyl floor covering and cloth seats etc. It was like a 460, with part-time 4WD, but with newer engines, like the 270 diesel and updated brakes etc. I am pretty sure this was only available in LHD and probably only LWB. This has now become the G Professional. I'd also tend to agree that in its way, the 460 or new 461 are probably the best G's - certainly in terms of practicality and serviceability (I have a 400cdi and can't even get a hand in the engine bay, as it's so packed and the extra engine weight makes itself felt) Also, particularly with the 460, without electric gizmos and accessories, its somewhat lighter and more agile than the 463. .. And truer to its roots as a military vehicle. If there was a SWB auto version of the (461) G professional, with 270 cdi engine, that would be my choice.
A 5 cylinder engine will always be unbalanced in a way that a 6 can never be, so it always has the potential for vibration and roughness, make this unit a diesel and its a near certainty. The great leap forward with the w463 over the w460 is not so much the permanent 4 wheel drive [which does give a nicer feel on the road] but in the rust proofing and rust protection esp around the rear 3/4s a plastic tank and plastic linings in the rear wheel arches remove the earlier cars greatest [engines aside] weakness. The om603 3 litre diesel engine is sweeter smoother and more powerful unit than its predecessor.
mmm, absolutely nothing un sweet about an Audi 5 cylinder petrol, an OM605, 602, or even a Perkins AD3 152, odd cylinder engines are very sweet, certainly they are not unbalanced or they wouldn't last.
try the cup of tea test compare a five with a six, only one winner
Trouble is I enjoy a cup of tea more when listening to 5 cylinders
As explained above, the 460, was the original version, designed in 1979 and this model - as a civilian version - disappeared when the 463 replacement came out in 1990. Some time later, around 1999, the 461 version was introduced as a replacement
might be correct for the UK market but as far as overall G production goes:
460: 1979 - 1991, civilian use
461: 1993 - 2013, military/ commercial use (except for PUR);
463: 1990 - ongoing, civilian use
there is a 462 as well, these are 461 export models assembled by third parties;
a myth is that the 461 is better off-road than the 463, most 461 are designed for a higher payload reducing axle articulation.
This has now become the G Professional. I'd also tend to agree that in its way, the 460 or new 461 are probably the best G's - certainly in terms of practicality and serviceability. Also, particularly with the 460, without electric gizmos and accessories, its somewhat lighter and more agile than the 463. .. And truer to its roots as a military vehicle. If there was a SWB auto version of the (461) G professional, with 270 cdi engine, that would be my choice.
not sure whether a CDI engine would be my first choice in this context; the 290GDT was available as a SWB (auto only as far as I know).
A 5 cylinder engine will always be unbalanced in a way that a 6 can never be, so it always has the potential for vibration and roughness, make this unit a diesel and its a near certainty. The great leap forward with the w463 over the w460 is not so much the permanent 4 wheel drive [which does give a nicer feel on the road] but in the rust proofing and rust protection esp around the rear 3/4s a plastic tank and plastic linings in the rear wheel arches remove the earlier cars greatest [engines aside] weakness. The om603 3 litre diesel engine is sweeter smoother and more powerful unit than its predecessor.
Yes, assuming no torsional vibrations, an in-line 6 cyl and a V12 (effectively two in-line 6) -and multiples there-of - are the only configurations where 1st and 2nd order moments are totally balanced. An In-line 5 has some imbalance - mainly 2nd order-, but less than a 4 and there are plenty of 4 cyl diesels running around.
The 6-cyl 300gd is indeed smoother and more powerful, but has had some issues with warping cyl heads and disintegrating vacuum pumps.
**mumble****cough**** no one has mentioned a V8 yet*****mumble.
Spider1V
Theo
What's a PUR?
"461: 1993 - 2013, military/ commercial use (except for PUR);"
I've just read this on Wikipedia Theo is this what you were talking about "PUR"
The G280 CDI "Edition Pur" is a special version of the 461, available to civilian buyers. This version is essentially a civilian version of the professional use 461 (incorporating many of the improvements seen on the 463) and comes equipped with a 24V starter motor and a walk-on bonnet.
Mercedes G 280 CDI pur Off-road Vehicle
A picture is better than a thousand words
a V8 is just double the rough running of a 4, it won't pass the cup of tea on the bonnet test either
LOL
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Thank you. Reason I asked, is that was the titles of some of the adverts I had looked at. So can I push my luck and ask what the 463 is?