Review: 42177 Mercedes-Benz G 500 PROFESSIONAL Line from LEGO® Technic

LEGO® Technic is having a strong year, with loads and loads of cars to enjoy. We’ve had sportscars, racecars, supercars and F1 cars in various scales. All of these have one thing in common: they need tarmac to drive on. To go off trail, we need something special, and that’s where today’s set comes in. Set 42177 Mercedes-Benz G 500 PROFESSIONAL Line sure seems to have the right look, so let's take it for a drive.

Products in this article were gifted by The LEGO Group; the author's opinions are their own.
This article contains affiliate links to LEGO.com; we may get a small commission if you purchase.

42177 Mercedes-Benz G 500 PROFESSIONAL Line

• Release date: August 2024
• Pieces: 2891

Price: 

• US$ 249.99 on LEGO.com US
• CA$ 329.99 on LEGO.com Canada
• GB£ 219.99 on LEGO.com UK
• AU$ 399.99 on LEGO.com Australia
• NZ$ 449.99 on LEGO.com New Zealand
• DE€ 249,99 on LEGO.com Deutschland
• NL€ 249,99 on LEGO.com Nederland
• FR€ 249,99 on LEGO.com France
• PLN 1099.99 on LEGO.com Polska
• NOK 2849,90 on LEGO.com Norge
• DKK 1949.95 on LEGO.com Danmark

Other countries click here

 

The Mercedes G-Class was introduced in 1979, making this year the 45th anniversary of the off-roader. The class spans vehicles for the military, firefighters, forest rangers, and explorers as well as daily commute on tarmac. Even the Pope had his own version in 1980. The version we’re building today is the G 500 in the Professional sub-series, a less urban version.

The first thing you’ll spot is the color: this set packs a lot of elements in the new color introduced in 2024: 402 Reddish Orange. But there is more to this set than just recolors, starting with a number of interesting new molds expanding the LEGO Technic library.

New molds

Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #7 - 168.75° (part 4450)

First up is a new angled connector: Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #7 - 168.75°, appearing 10x here in Reddish Orange (6452863 | 4450). Two more can be found in 75398 C-3PO, a LEGO® Star Wars set we’ll be having fun with soon, so keep a lookout.

The new connector fits nicely in between the existing angles. Shown below from left to right:

• Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #2 - 180° (32034)
• Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #7 - 168.75° (4450)
• Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #3 - 157.5° (32016)
• Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #4 - 135° (32192)
• Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #5 - 112.5° (32015)
• Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #6 - 90° (32014)

Search for all 6 on LEGO Pick a Brick – but the new #7 is not yet available at time of writing, October 2024.

And yes, this new addition to the line up disrupts the numbering in a way that will bug me every time I see the number 7 molded on the part.

Given the angle of the connector, we can use 8 of them to create a 90° degree angle, adding to the range of circles possible. The resulting quarter circle spans 16 studs. Well, almost…

Placing the quarter-circle onto plates means the pin holes don’t line up with the grid at one end. Instead, there is a slight offset. I’ve added yellow #1 connectors to the outer ends to make it easier to see if the construction is placed straight.

While the quarter-circle doesn’t line up directly on a studded grid, the construction is not wholly out of LEGO System; fiddling with SNOT bricks and brackets resulted in this configuration, and I’m sure more are possible.

Tyre 87.9 x 36 (part 4455) & Wheel Cover for Wheel 34 x 56 (part 4472)

The Mercedes sits on new tyres, slightly bigger than the tyres on 42110 Land Rover Defender (seen in the image on the right), which is a set by the same designer. This time, the thread feels more fitting for going off-road. The set comes with 5 of these tyres in Black (6452864 | 4455), adding a spare to the back.

Wheel Cover for Wheel 34 x 56 was introduced earlier this year in 42171 Mercedes-AMG F1 W14 E Performance, but this is the first time it appears in one of our reviews. 

In the mentioned set, the part is used as hub caps, fitting on a Formula 1 car. In this set, the mold is used as a cover for the spare tyre. The disc spans 7 studs with a recess in the center that fits a round 2x2 brick or plate. On the back we find an axle connector sticking out, which clashes with the rim used in the Mercedes, causing a gap.

Technic Crank Disc (part 4368) & Technic Piston (part 4369)

Like the wheel cover, these 2 elements are not entirely new, as they were introduced back in March in 42170 Kawasaki Ninja H2 Motorcycle and have since appeared in 5 sets, but we haven’t discussed the parts in a New Elementary review until now.

• 6x Technic Crank Disc in Light Bluish Gray (6452845 | 4368)  
• 6x Technic Piston in Yellow (6452846 | 4369)

Both are currently available on LEGO Pick a Brick

One of my pet peeves while building LEGO Technic sets are the pistons. The standard version was introduced in 1990 and hasn’t seen any major updates since. Not that an update was needed per se; they do the job fine, but that also limits the variety in LEGO Technic engines. The pairing Engine Cylinder is also pretty bulky, and smaller scaled sets often rely on using loose axles to mixed results, so a smaller version of the piston is very welcome. 

The old system relies on a rod that connects the piston to a crankshaft. The new version replaces the rod and piston, and the crankshaft is replaced by a disc with an off-center axle hole, resulting in a cranking motion when rotated. The new piston can click onto the rim of the crank disc. 

The crank disc has a diameter of 2.5 modules, with the cranking motion spanning a circle with a 3-module diameter. I had hoped the disc would have a secondary, centered axle hole to expand possible usage, but perhaps that would confuse inexperienced builders?

The piston features a hollow stud on the top that can hold a bar. The clip on the other end seems specifically designed for the crank disc, as inserting a bar deforms the clip. In return, the rim on the crank disc is too thin to fit a standard clip.

A quick mockup shows the new molds in action. I appreciate the parts providing a new scale of pistons, but from a technical standpoint, the disc-shape is not a good representation of an actual crank found in most engines. For now, a matching engine block is missing, and as we’ll see in the build section a waffle beam is used to represent the engine in the Mercedes. Hopefully a dedicated mold will appear in later sets.

Technic Gear 12 Tooth with Clutch on One Side (part 3590) & Technic Wishbone 7 x 7 (part 4423)

The final two new molds involve a new clutch gear with 12 teeth in green (6434577 | 3590) and a wishbone in Black (6452854 | 4423). I won’t go into detail for these molds, as Alex already examined them in his review for 42172 McLaren P1, which is a set that was released in the same August 2024 wave as the Mercedes. 

Recolors

Unsurprisingly, the Mercedes introduces a few elements new in reddish orange. Well, not just a few; 30 to be precise! Bare with me as I knoll them out for you.

• 38x Technic Beam 1 x 2 Thick with Pin Hole and Axle Hole in Reddish Orange (6483806 | 60483)
• 23x Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thick in Reddish Orange (6483775 | 32523)

• 4x Technic Beam 1 x 13 Thick in Reddish Orange (6483798 | 41239)
• 6x Technic Beam 1 x 15 Thick in Reddish Orange (6499449 | 32278)

• 14x Technic Beam 1 x 7 Thick in Reddish Orange (6483774 | 32524)
• 4x Technic Beam 1 x 7 Thick with Alternating Holes in Reddish Orange (6483791 | 2391)

• 11x Technic Beam 2 x 4 L-Shape Thick in Reddish Orange (6483786 | 32140)
• 2x Technic Beam 3 x 5 L-Shape Thick in Reddish Orange (6483800 | 32526)

• 10x Technic Beam 3 x 3 L-Shape Thin in Reddish Orange (6483801 | 32056)
• 8x Technic Beam 1 x 3 Thin in Reddish Orange (6483807 | 6632)

• 4x Tile 1 x 3 in Reddish Orange (6483781 | 63864)
• 5x Slope 30° 1 x 2 x 2/3 in Reddish Orange (6483784 | 85984)
• 3x (+spare) Plate 1 x 1 in Reddish Orange (6469084 | 3024)
• 3x (+spare) Slope 30° 1 x 1 x 2/3 (Cheese Slope) in Reddish Orange (6473212 | 54200)
• 4x (+spare) Tile Round 1 x 1 Half Circle in Reddish Orange (6493094 | 35399)

(We’re halfway, keep scrolling!)

• 2x Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #3 - 157.5° in Reddish Orange (6483794 | 32016)
• 2x Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #5 - 112.5° in Reddish Orange (6483804 | 32015)
• 2x Technic Axle and Pin Connector Perpendicular Double in Reddish Orange (6500662 | 32291)
• 10 x Technic Axle Connector with Axle Hole [Reinforced] in Reddish Orange (6483788 | 42135)
• 10x Technic Axle and Pin Connector Angled #1 in Reddish Orange (6499450 | 32013)

• 18x Technic Axle and Pin Connector Perpendicular in Reddish Orange (6483792 | 6536)
• 15x Technic Axle and Pin Connector Perpendicular 3L with 2 Pin Holes in Reddish Orange (6483802 | 42003)

• 10x Technic Panel Fairing 2 x 3 x 1 in Reddish Orange (6499447 | 71682)
• 6x Technic Panel Fairing #7 3L Very Small Smooth, Side A in Reddish Orange (6510999 | 2387)
• 6x Technic Panel Fairing #8 3L Very Small Smooth, Side B in Reddish Orange (6483777 | 2389) / (6513885 | 2389)
• 1x Technic Panel Fairing #21 5L Small Smooth, Side B in Reddish Orange (6483805 | 11946)
• 1x Technic Panel Fairing #22 5L Small Smooth, Side A in Reddish Orange (6483803 | 11947)

• 2x Technic Panel 5 x 11 x 1 Tapered in Reddish Orange (6483776 | 18945)
• 4x Technic Panel 3 x 7 x 1 in Reddish Orange (6470254 | 71709)

I do enjoy the occasional bit of knolling when taking photos for a review, but at this point I was done with it, so I went with the piling method for the final photo.

• 39x (+3 spare) Technic Pin Connector Round 1L [Beam] in Reddish Orange (6483789 | 18654)
• 65x Technic Axle Connector Smooth in Reddish Orange (6483787 | 59443)

Decorated elements

There are 2 new decorated elements to be found, both featuring the Mercedes logo:

• 5x Tile Round 2 x 2 with Silver Mercedes Logo print in Black (6505239)
• 1x Minifig Shield Round Bowed with Silver Mercedes-Benz Logo in Black (6463325)

All other decorations are handled by the sticker sheet of 18 stickers.

Rare elements

Aside from new elements, there are others worth mentioning. All parts in this section have appeared in 3 sets or fewer.

Wheel 56 x 34 Technic Racing Medium with 6 Pin Holes, Open Spokes in Black (6257076 | 49294) was introduced by the 42110 Land Rover Defender. Like the tyres, we get 5 of them here.

Now for... more reddish orange!

• 3x Technic Panel 3 x 11 x 1 in Reddish Orange (6473426 | 15458)
• 3x Technic Beam 1 x 11 Thick in Reddish Orange (6469788 | 64290)
• 7x Technic Beam 1 x 9 Thick in Reddish Orange (6475614 | 64289)
• 10x Technic Beam 1 x 5 Thick in Reddish Orange (6475615 | 32316)

• 1x Technic Gear 24 Tooth with Clutch on Both Sides in Bright Red/ Red (6408179 | 2471)
• 1x Technic Gear Differential, 24 -16 Tooth with Clutch on Both Sides in Bright Red/ Red (6510296 | 6573)
• 1x Technic Driving Ring Connector Smooth in Dark Green/ Green (6443225 | 42195)
• 1x Gear Shifter Fork in Bright Orange/ Orange (6447082 | 4159)
• 1x Technic Panel Fairing #7 3L Very Small Smooth, Side A in Dark Stone Grey / Dark Bluish Gray (6510994 | 2387)
• 1 x Technic Panel Fairing #8 3L Very Small Smooth, Side B in Dark Stone Grey / Dark Bluish Gray (6513877 | 2389)

Constructing the model

The Mercedes comes packed with functionality, most of which is built in the first few bags.

We start with the front axle, which has steering, suspension and a differential. On top of the axle sits the straight-6 engine. 

The new cranks do their job very well, providing a smooth action. Solutions used in other sets in this scale often use loose axles, which tend to make a bit of noise and have a tendency to get jammed.

Behind the front axle we add gear shifters, which will guide the transmission of power from the engine to the wheels. One gear shifter switches between low and high torque, while the other puts the car into drive and reverse. Other than these two options, there are no 'regular' gears to shift through, which would be welcome. The added complexity might result in the same crackling sounds found in the 42110 Land Rover Explorer.

There is a third lever, seen above on the left with a red bush, which operates the central diff-lock. So what is that? 

The differential is one of those technical marvels that I sort-of-understand, but I’m still intrigued when I see them in action. It’s similar to how I understand how the shape of a wing can create lift, but seeing a big jumbo jet take off still feels a bit unreal. In short, a differential makes sure that the wheels on an axle can spin independently while also being powered by the engine. This is necessary, as when the car takes a turn, the wheels on the outside of the bend need to travel a larger distance than the wheels on the inside, causing the wheels to slip. How a differential does this is best explained by this YouTube video. 

This system works perfectly for standard cars on standard roads, but there is a catch. If one of the wheels on an axle loses contact with the ground or loses traction like in muddy conditions and spins freely, the wheel on the opposite side will lose all power. For most cars on most roads under normal conditions this is unlikely to happen, but if you take your car off road changes are you’ll get stuck. For this situation the diff-lock is invented, which is basically a way to lock the differential and link the wheels back into a stiff axle, So when one of the wheels loses contact with the ground, the opposite wheel still has power.

The Mercedes comes with 3 differentials, as the 4x4 provides power to all wheels: one diff in the rear axle to make the rear left and rear right wheel independent of each other; one diff in the front axle to make the front left and the front right wheel independent of each other; and one central diff between the front and rear axle, seen in red above, to make those independent of each other.

As an off-roader, the Mercedes features diff-locks as well. One in the back (seen in top of the photo above) to lock the rear axle which is operated by sliding the orange catcher, and one in the center to lock the central axle (the red diff at the center in the photo above), operated by a lever in the cabin. I’m not sure why there is no lock on the front diff, maybe there was not enough room to add one along with the steering mechanism? The 42129 4x4 Mercedes-Benz Zetros Trial Truck which features a similar setup is also lacking the front diff-lock.

Both diff-locks work similarly, using a Technic Driving Ring Connector (white) and a Technic Driving Ring 3L (dark bluish grey) to catch the clutch side of the differential, locking it onto the axle. The orange catcher functions as the switch, accessible from the back of the car.

I've put the workings of the diff-locks into a short video for you:

The majority of this functionality is buried in the chassis of the car, resulting in a fully operational rolling chassis after finishing bag 6 of 20. I’m happy to report that the drive train for the steering allows the steering wheel to sit straight when the front wheels are driving straight, a small detail that often is not possible in LEGO Technic cars depending on the number of gears used. There is another drive train going to the roof for a Hand-of-God steering.

With most of the functionality done, the rest of the build mostly focuses on adding the bodywork; slowly dressing the car. It’s not my favorite part of any LEGO Technic build, but there was enough stuff going on to keep me engaged.

The top of the doors and rear are slightly angled, making good use of the new connectors:

Going with straight connectors would make the model too boxy, while using the next connector, #3 with an 157.5° angle, would be too sharp. The only other option to achieve the angle are smooth toggle joints (above second from the right), but that would require some sort or reinforcement to lock the angle. The smallest angle possible with click hinges reaches too far, and the same goes for the toothed version of the toggle joints. I’m secretly still hoping for a (reinforced) return of the toothed version from my childhood. 

I left out another option in the photo; the 3L Universal Joint lacks any form of rigidity, and despite not being color-locked, it has only appeared in light bluish grey so far.

All doors come with a locking mechanism. It’s pretty basic; just a connector blocking the door that can be lifted by a lift arm, but it gets the job done and adds to the playability.

Halfway through the penultimate bag, the basic, ‘urban’ version of the G 500 is finished. The model is impressive in its size, and the reddish orange gives it a unique, dynamic look.

All doors can be opened, as well as the hood: a feature welcomed by my 8 year-old who claimed the set as her own.

Underneath the hood we find the engine, hidden beneath a cover. Luckily the cover is held in place by just two pins and can easily be removed to show off the moving pistons.

To go off-track, the car needs some additional accessories, added using the remains of bag 19 and bag 20. The accessories include a rack and crate for the roof.

In the back, the spare tire is protected by a cage, and all wheels receive extended mud flaps, I assume to protect the undercarriage. Underneath the license plate, which references the introduction year of the G-class, we add a hitch. The orange bit sticking out underneath is the switch for the rear diff-lock.

Conclusion

For me, a LEGO Technic set needs to ‘do something’; there needs to be functions to make it LEGO Technic. There are also a lot of builders who prefer to focus on looks; sculpting the growing array of LEGO Technic parts and panels into a model that represents the car as close as possible. The 42177 Mercedes-Benz G 500 PROFESSIONAL Line mixes these two preferences: a car packed with functions, fitted inside a well-sculpted body. Even after most of the LEGO Technic stuff was done by bag 6, I wasn’t bored by the remainder of the building process, as there are enough neat tricks and techniques to keep me engaged. 

The finished model is satisfying, although there is room for some improvement. For instance, the off-road version could use a winch; the hood opens up a bit awkwardly with the hinges going out of alignment; and there is some movement in the beam holding the dashboard and windshield stands. 

The set comes packed with new elements, most notably the sheer overload of reddish orange recolors, providing a base for more LEGO Technic MOCs in the new-for-2024 color. Despite the many new elements, the price per part comes down to 8.6 cents, which is decent for a licensed LEGO Technic set; other large sets like 42172 McLaren P1, 42171 Mercedes-AMG F1 and 42174 Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht all go over the 10-cent mark. I prefer the new tyres over the ones that came with the Land Rover Defender; more befitting of an off-road car.

In short: this set contains everything you need to build a large-scale reddish orange car, making it an interesting purchase. If you enjoyed this review, please consider using our affiliate links to purchase from LEGO.com; we may earn a small fee. 

• US$ 249.99 on LEGO.com US
• CA$ 329.99 on LEGO.com Canada
• GB£ 219.99 on LEGO.com UK
• AU$ 399.99 on LEGO.com Australia
• NZ$ 449.99 on LEGO.com New Zealand
• DE€ 249,99 on LEGO.com Deutschland
• NL€ 249,99 on LEGO.com Nederland
• FR€ 249,99 on LEGO.com France
• PLN 1099.99 on LEGO.com Polska
• NOK 2849,90 on LEGO.com Norge
• DKK 1949.95 on LEGO.com Danmark

Other countries click here

 

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