GL 320 CDI from USA

[AKA8]

I'm looking at importing one of these from the USA, and the OTR price is $51k! I'm looking to use it in Europe. Does anyone know if Merc do a worldwide warranty?

[2 5HAN]

We shipped a ML320 to Mauritius from the UK.
The warranty was World Wide and the vehicle did have some work undertaken on it there.
I think your issues will be more to do about the SVA to make it Euro compliant so that you can get it registered with the DVLA and insured.

[Kingdom]

If he is going to use it in mainland Europe, SVA and DVLA don't apply...assuming it is not registered in the UK.

[Chauch]

It will still not have european type approval though so the point is still valid.

[2 5HAN]

Ooops sorry didnt read the bit about Europe but i guess you will have to register it somewhere and therefore get some kind of type approval for it?

[Kingdom]

Chauch said:

It will still not have european type approval though so the point is still valid.

Quite right.

[mhhayes]

Hello, I've recently bought a new GL420 CDi in the UK, and although this model isn't sold in the US I did spend a lot of time on the US website. Various points... The base price in the US, which is before taxes, gets you a very poorly specced vehicle. Virtually everything is an extra, and if you compare a type approved UK GL 320 with a US spec one, the gap narrows a lot, even before shipping, SVA approval, etc. etc.
I ended up doing something different - I strongarmed my dealer here in the UK, and got a deal I was very happy with, for a vehicle in stock. Big discounts are available, trust me, and no spec, warranty, or future trade in issues.

[AKA8]

Thanks for all your replies, I hadn't looked at a physical car in the USA and am glad to find out about the spec difference.

The deals in the UK are pretty impressive I agree, the dealer agreed straight off that he would do a 420 CDi for the same price as a 320 CDi.

As far as I can see the GL is an amazing car, an S Class on stilts and one of the only cars which really has 7 seats.

I'm fortunate in that I can probably keep it in the USA for six months (or a year if need be) as a personal car before shipping it back and avoiding duty. I know that the resale will be affected by it being from the USA but I think it should work.

I'll keep you updated as to dealer experience in the USA, with the credit crunch etc, deals might be good.

[mhhayes]

A couple of other thoughts for you.....

If you study the US website, you will find that you can order a GL320CDi to almost the same spec as a UK ML320, ie no low range/extreme offroad pack (standard on UK GLs), without lots of the trimmings, without the third row of seats, and so on. Assuming you'll want a LHD model for Europe, maybe you can end up with a 'good value' model, but I don't know about European Type Approval, or whether you can avoid US Sales tax.

It is definitely an 'S-Class Estate on stilts', the ride is excellent, and it can lift up its skirts and run when it needs to. (Albeit at 24mpg of diesel in mixed use). One final warning.... I got the optional 20" wheels, fitted with 275/50 by 20 Michelin Diamaris tyres. An unrepairable puncture meant a replacement tyre.....at £265 from Kwik Fit. There are only two makers of tyres at this size.....oddly both priced the same!!!!

[AKA8]

mhhayes said:

A couple of other thoughts for you.....

If you study the US website, you will find that you can order a GL320CDi to almost the same spec as a UK ML320, ie no low range/extreme offroad pack (standard on UK GLs), without lots of the trimmings, without the third row of seats, and so on. Assuming you'll want a LHD model for Europe, maybe you can end up with a 'good value' model, but I don't know about European Type Approval, or whether you can avoid US Sales tax.

It is definitely an 'S-Class Estate on stilts', the ride is excellent, and it can lift up its skirts and run when it needs to. (Albeit at 24mpg of diesel in mixed use). One final warning.... I got the optional 20" wheels, fitted with 275/50 by 20 Michelin Diamaris tyres. An unrepairable puncture meant a replacement tyre.....at £265 from Kwik Fit. There are only two makers of tyres at this size.....oddly both priced the same!!!!

Thanks again for the very useful info. I will be keeping this car for several years I suspect because it will only be used infrequently at our place in Italy. Therefore, not having one with all the trimmings is less of a priority. I agree, I could end up with a budget model, but this might not be of great importance if the car is being kept for years, and I wouldn't rule out taking it back to the USA to sell it.

I'm not surprised the tyres have been so expensive, I couldn't believe the size of them when I saw the car! Never have 20" wheels looked so in proportion!