2011 Mercedes-Benz G350 CDi

First registered on the 29th of March 2011 and finished in the ever-popular colour scheme of black-over-black, this incredibly capable Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen has been in the vendor’s care for the past four years.

Used as the family car, it’s transported him and his wife and their three children across the UK and Europe in complete reliability, including a lengthy trip to Switzerland and Austria.

Now only for sale because he’s moved to an electric car (although there is still an old Range Rover in the garage for those time when only four-wheel-drive will do…) it’s being sold with no known issues.

Black might be an iconic colour for the G but it is notoriously unforgiving, mercilessly highlighting every dent, dink, and ripple. That’s okay though because there aren’t any here, just beautifully aligned panels that still fit as well as they did when the car was hand-assembled a decade ago.

The massive rubber protection strips that run alongside the flanks all still align perfectly too, and the light lenses, glazing and badges are first rate. A pair of side steps ease access to the cabin, and a spare wheel sits on the rear door. The towbar means you can fit a cycle carrier for the kids’ bikes with the same ease as you can haul the family caravan, and the sidelights on the top of the front wings help give the G-Wagen its distinctive visage.

The five-spoke, 19-inch AMG alloy wheels aren’t only a hugely expensive upgrade, they’re also in great shape with no signs of kerbing or other damage.

They are shod with matching Michelin Latitude mud and snow tyres too. As we mentioned, the vendor has used the Mercedes for a family trip to some of the most challenging and mountainous parts of Europe, so is always careful to fit his 4x4s with winter tyres in order to ensure his family’s safety no matter what the weather.

It’s also another huge tick in the box for the G-Wagen because, as we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Work to do? Well, as you’d expect that big, bluff front end has picked up some stonechips (please see slide #183 for an example of what it looks like) but given that black is an easy colour to match, this should be an easy problem to rectify either piecemeal or as a complete front-end respray.

The black leather interior isn’t just menacingly appropriate in hue, it is also in great condition; despite its hefty price tag and reputation for unbridled luxury the G-Wagen is still, at its heart, an ultra-durable, professional-grade four-wheel-drive and nowhere demonstrates this better than the cockpit: With a full complement of controls for the complex system of differential locks that will keep you moving no matter what the condition underfoot in addition to a switch that activates the low-range gearbox, you can also find every conceivable luxury including TV screens that enable the rear seat passengers to enjoy the remote-control Mercedes-Benz entertainment system.

It’s all still in great shape, too. The perforated, electrically adjustable, heated and cooled leather seats in the front, for example, are still firm and supportive and hugely comfortable. With only very light creasing to their faces, they obviously still work as they should.

The rear seats are in a similarly good condition, as are the door cards, carpets, headlining, and dashboard. There’s also a useful dog/luggage guard in the huge boot plus a selection of rubber overmats to protect the plush carpets. Few cars blend utility and luxury as well as the G-Wagen and this is a fine example of the breed.

NB: It was fitted with a genuine Tracker in 2012 by Mercedes-Benz Swansea.

Issues? Well, there is some colour loss to a small section of the driver’s seat (#95) that should be easy to sort out. Other than that, it just needs a damn good hoover.

The service history is flawless, comprising:

• 06.01.2012 and 2,004 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Swansea

• 05.04.2013 and 9,372 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Bristol including fresh brake fluid and differential oil

• 06.05.2014 and 12,284 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Bristol

• 24.04.2015 and 15,117 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Beaconsfield including a new gearbox filter and fluid, fresh brake fluid, and a new fuel filter

• 01.04.2016 and 20,937 miles – service including fresh differential lock fluid and brake fluid by Mercedes-Benz Beaconsfield

• 02.02.2017 and 24,859 miles – service by James French

• 28.02.2018 and 38,122 miles – service by Mercedes-Benz Oxford including fresh brake fluid and gearbox oil

• 30.04.2019 and 50,507 miles – service including a new pollen and fuel filter plus front and rear axle oil by J Millin & Son

• 14.02.2020 and 57,983 miles – service, fresh brake fluid and a new AdBlue tank by Mercedes-Benz Swindon

• 25.02.2021 and 58,772 miles - service by Mercedes-Benz Oxford

The engine bay is a little grubby but that’s okay because few jobs are as rewarding as detailing under the bonnet.

More importantly, it starts on the button and settles into a steady, albeit gruff, tickover. It also drives as it should, which is to say it is every bit as imperious and commanding and wonderful as you imagine.

As you can see, the underside is strong and solid.

The G-Wagen’s MOT certificate, which is valid until January 2022, was gained no advisory points bar the need for four new tyres to replace the age-cracked ones that are fitted. This is a shame but then having to buy a set of new tyres does at least allow you to pick those that will best suit the G-Wagen’s intended use.

It has a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years. It also has its original owner’s handbook, the service history booklet, a comprehensive book pack, and storage wallet plus two keys.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

Many of us have watched the G-Wagen’s stellar rise in value with something close to amusement. And yet, it is what it is and the fact is that values have been solid for years now with no sign of faltering makes them a great place to put your money, even if you do need rather a lot of it to gain entry.

How much? Well, we think this one will fetch somewhere between £36,000 and £42,000, which might be a hefty chunk of cash but given what it cost new, it really isn’t.

And remember, the true cost of a vehicle can only be gauged after you’ve sold it and while the G-Wagen’s reputation might work against you when you want to buy one it also works for you when the time comes to sell it on…

Built for the military and other professional users, their modular engineering also makes them ideal for someone looking for a straightforward car to practice their skills on – not that you’ll probably need to do much to it because they are way, way more reliable than anything that every left Solihull.

Inspection is always encouraged, within Govt. guidelines of course, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.