Help

Any Merc knowledgeable garage will be OK for engine work, but ideally you need G experience for anything else.

Hopefully someone here will provide some suggestions.

Most MB dealers even struggle with the older 460's (yours is 463) because they can't plug in a computer, amd don't service enough Gs or train technicians for them.  A good 4x4 specialist is a good option.

Hi Robert and welcome.

SWB 300 Auto is the best (although mine is petrol).

I guess there is "bodywork" and then there is "bodywork.

If you say what it is that's the problem, that might help.

My own twopennyworth is that you really need to get some real life recommendations. Last year I took my G to a local "bodywork" place just to get a small bit of surface rust seen to at the rear below the bumper. The car was returned and they said they'd added a 2 cm strip of anti-stone chip paint (not requested or mentioned in advance) underneath the newly painted top coat, at no extra cost.  Yes, you've guessed it - what they actually did was sand down the rust, add anti chip paint then paint on the top coat. A year later the rust is breaking through. Moral of the story is that you have to kill or cut out the rust before doing anything else. Covering up is a very short term fix which in the long run is costly and frustrating.

As far as servicing - I get mine done at a local general car service garage. It's not dedicated to MB or other makes although it is a Bosch approved service centre which might help. They've worked on all our cars for the past twenty years, they have a very good reputation locally and the owner/mechanics just love cars. I'd sooner take my G to them rather than a MB dealership where the mechanics might be MB trained but you can bet your life they haven't had much training on a 30 year old G Wagen. Hopefully someone local to you will come along and suggest somewhere to try.

Re Bodywork,  ask around,  nearest  classic car place, be prepared for your G to be off the road for a few months, and generally will cost more than the estimate,  but worth doing to treat it properly.