1989 Mercedes-Benz G- Wagon

Description fromthe previous owner:

European VIN# WDB46033327060480.
First licensed: 22/01/1989.
Country of make: Germany.
Previous owners: 3.
Mileage (KM): 168,312 km (104,584 miles).
Title: Clear Florida title.

YOU CAN VIEW OVER 80 HI-RES PICTURES ON OUR [ FLICKR ALBUM ].

THE STORY
I bought this Gelandewagen from an Opel/Mitsubishi dealership manager who used it as his personal vehicle; it has been maintained accordingly by his master mechanic but driven sparingly because of the high European diesel prices. After importing it to the USA (Tallahassee, FL), I addressed a few minor issues (fuses, dash lights, door trim, shifter boot, altimeter repair, front seat upholstery) for it to be 100% functional.

This late W460-series Mercedes (1989) features the desirable combination of a factory 5-speed, OM617 turbo engine, and long-wheelbase body. As the utilitarian vehicle that it is, do not expect sporty handling, quiet cruising at high speeds, or breath-taking 0 to 60 —the W463 G55/63 is better for that, at the expense of more electronics. However, as you would expect in a Mercedes-Benz prior to 1995, this G is a work of uncompromised engineering integrity and stout construction. If you worry about finding a reliable parts supply, Eurotruck Importers, 4x4 Club and G-Wagen Accesories have your back in the USA; otherwise, any Mercedes-Benz dealership can serve you anywhere in the world, provided you have the appropriate part number.

This vehicle is 90% stock; in this condition you can return it to its original factory specs or modify it into a world-class expedition rig. Either way, and depending on your needs and wants, I will gladly give you any advice on modifications and upgrades.

BODY

—Desirable Forest Green color (darker and more metallic than military models).

—Straight body, no accidents. Previous owners have used it mostly as an urban car, so it has seldom seen rough tracks or the abuse typical of an off-road vehicle.
—Rust: the truck comes from a dry climate and it is 98% rust-free. The only two spots are under the lower LH corner of the windshield and some bubbling in the left corner of the roof. A good body shop should be able to address those. Detailed pictures are provided.
—Solid, rust-free frame. There is no rot or piercing rust in the undercarriage, perhaps some light oxidation that can easily be brushed off.
—Truck comes with four aftermarket wheels with (quieter) road tires and a stock spare wheel in the back. Should you want to make it all stock, we can source a good set of original Mercedes rims for you —otherwise, we’d go for some Hutchinson Beadlocks!

—Glass is all intact with no cracks or chips. RH taillight lens is brand new.

—Rear RH fender flare is missing a small piece at the bottom (picture provided on Flickr album ).

—Factory tow hitch (tow capacity up to 1,650lbs without brakes and 6,170lbs with brakes).
—Factory skid plate.
MECHANICAL
—Good running five-cylinder OM617 diesel with an aftermarket Garrett turbo (OEM supplier for Mercedes-Benz); it moves this two-ton beast around rather nicely. Fuel economy is ~20MPG, mixed driving. No leakage, was told one of the previous owners did a complete re-seal.
—Five-speed manual transmission shifts fine and keeps RPM’s in check at highway speeds.

—Differentials and transfer case are quiet; rear one has slight wetness, normal for a 26-year-old vehicle.

—Brakes work properly, without drags or any vacuum leaks.

—Exhaust has been rerouted from an unsightly side discharge to the factory rear discharge configuration.
—All lights (front, rear, sides), instruments (odo, fuel gauge, glowplug, temp), and dashboard indicators work as they should. Only the aftermarket radio is non-operative; a refurbished Becker unit would be a respectful, correct replacement. Central locking only applies to front doors.
—The truck does not come equipped with factory A/C. Factory and after-market kits are readily available.

—Some oil seepage on left ball sphere, rear axle and turbo; normal for the age of the truck.

—Fully functional, smooth-to-operate hydraulic factory lockers, stock on all W460 Gelandewagens.

INTERIOR
—All door panels are stock grey fabric, without rips or tears, as are the rear seats and the 3rd row bench seats.

—One of the previous owner replaced the original front seats with a more comfortable set that I got upholstered in original Mercedes “Rodeo Gray” plaid fabric, black vinyl, and new foam. They are fantastic to sit on, and they have neat storage compartments underneath.
—Headliner is fine, as are all the door panels. One hairline crack on the dash and some wear on the dash handle. Recently replaced some of the inner door handle trim with new for all door panels to be perfect.

Accesories/Options:
—Aftermarket fire extinguisher, secured behind the driver's seat.

—Troop carrier style 3rd seats, with seatbelts —factory option.

—Hydraulic bottle jack.

—Operational land meter.

Final Assessment

This Gelandewagen is ready to be enjoyed by a discerning Mercedes-Benz enthusiast. Our advice would be to address those few rust spots and get some nicer-looking wheels; a set of Hella fog lights and a Warn winch would not hurt either. Most importantly, it is ready to drive and comes with a clear Texas title.

Purchase Terms
—This truck is sold in an as-is, where-is condition without any warranties. I have done my best to describe it faithfully, so if you have any questions or picture requests, please ask away!

—A $1,000 USD non-refundable deposit is due via PayPal at the end of the auction. The rest shall be paid via cash or bank transfer.

Recent Upgrades:

Rims and 4 Tires (value of $3,000.00)

Side Mirrors: value of $1000.00