Mercedes-Benz G 400 d (W463, 2018+) Tuning Guide 2026 — Body Kits, Wheels & Performance

The Mercedes-Benz G 400 d (W463, 2nd generation) is the diesel sweet-spot of the modern G-Wagen line-up. Launched in 2018 as the comprehensive redesign of the legendary G-Class — a car that had soldiered on since 1979 with only minor updates — the 2nd-gen W463 (often called W463A internally at Mercedes) is unique among modern luxury SUVs because it retains a proper ladder-frame body-on-frame chassis, three electronically-actuated locking differentials (front, centre and rear), and a dedicated low-range transfer case. No X-Class Mercedes, no S-Class, no GLS shares this architecture — the G is built on its own bespoke Magna Steyr line in Graz, Austria. The G 400 d slots between the entry G 350 d and the petrol G 500 / AMG G 63, powered by the 3.0-litre OM656 inline-six turbo-diesel producing 330 hp and 700 Nm. This guide covers every meaningful upgrade available for the G 400 d — body kits, wheels, performance, interior — from the subtle European style approach to Middle Eastern widebody builds and North American overland conversions.

Mercedes-Benz G 400 d (W463, 2018+) — Key Specifications

Body Kits — Real Tuner Programmes

Brabus — The OG G-Wagen Tuner (D6S / Adventure / 800 Widebody)

Brabus and the G-Class are inseparable — the Bottrop-based tuner has been rebuilding G-Wagens since the original 460 series in the 1980s, and more than a third of every G-Wagen sold in the GCC leaves a dealer with at least a Brabus styling pack. For the G 400 d specifically, the relevant Brabus programme is the Brabus D6S conversion, which takes the OM656 to roughly 390 hp and 820 Nm via the PowerXtra D6S PowerControl module, paired with a stainless sport exhaust with four round 76 mm Brabus tailpipes and the signature Brabus aluminium skid plates front and rear. Visually, the G 400 d typically gets the Adventure Package — widened carbon fender flares, bonnet scoop, hood struts with Brabus branding, roof-mounted LED light bar, side-exit exhaust with valve control, and a choice of 22- or 23-inch Brabus Monoblock forged wheels. Full Brabus 800 widebody kits are technically G 63-only (the AMG 4.0 V8 twin-turbo is required for that power level), but every styling part from the 800 programme bolts directly to a G 400 d body. Lead time is 8–16 weeks depending on interior spec.

Mansory — Gronos Carbon Widebody

Mansory of Brand, Germany, is the antithesis of Brabus restraint. The Mansory Gronos programme for the W463 2nd-gen is a full forged-carbon widebody: redesigned front bumper with integrated splitter and air-curtain inlets, bonnet with twin central air vents and carbon lip extensions, drastically widened carbon fender flares (typically +60 mm per side), reshaped front grille with vertical slats, full carbon side sills with step integration, spare-wheel cover in matching carbon weave, and a rear bumper replacement with integrated quad rectangular exhaust tips. Mansory's interior work is equally uncompromising — full diamond-quilted leather in Mansory's signature "chocolate" or "cognac" hide, carbon-fibre B-pillar trim, roof-liner retrim in Alcantara, and Mansory-embossed headrests. The Gronos is enormously popular in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where oversized chrome-plated 23- and 24-inch Mansory forged wheels complete the look. For the G 400 d, the Gronos programme is typically fitted without the AMG-specific engine upgrades, giving a unique visual-only Gronos at roughly half the cost of the full-fat G 63 version.

Hofele Design — HG Body Kit (Subtle European Style)

Hofele of Sindelfingen has tuned Mercedes since 1986 and takes a deliberately understated approach to the G-Wagen. The Hofele HG kit is the European answer to the widebody excess of Mansory: a reshaped front bumper with larger intake inserts, chrome or body-colour grille surround options, bonnet vents, a subtle lip-style rear bumper upgrade, and Hofele's own 22-inch multi-spoke forged wheels. What sets Hofele apart is interior customisation — the company offers a full bespoke interior program with AMG Performance seats retrimmed in semi-aniline Nappa, stitched-leather dashboard, colour-matched seat belts, and OLED display upgrades. Hofele has TUV approval for the entire HG package in Germany, which is why the kit is frequently specified by European buyers who need full road approval without individual inspection. Lead time is 4–8 weeks and the Hofele workshop can also fit the kit on customer cars in Sindelfingen.

Lumma Design — CLR G770 Widebody

Lumma Design of Winterlingen is one of the most established independent German tuners and the CLR G770 is their W463 2nd-gen programme. The kit centres on a widebody conversion: bolt-on wheel-arch extensions increasing overall width by roughly 65 mm per side, a redesigned front bumper with LED DRL integration, bonnet with central intake and heat-extraction vents, modified rear bumper with integrated quad exhaust, and a roof spoiler. Unlike Mansory, Lumma retains much of the factory G-Wagen visual language rather than replacing it, which gives the CLR G770 a more OEM+ appearance that appeals to European and North American buyers. Lumma pairs the kit with its own Lumma CLR 23 GT-R forged wheels in 23x10 J ET40 with 305/40 R23 tyres as the signature spec. The kit is TUV approved in Germany.

Lorinser — Gentleman's G-Wagen

Lorinser of Waiblingen is arguably the oldest Mercedes tuner still active (founded 1930), and their W463 2nd-gen programme deliberately targets the buyer who finds Brabus too loud. The Lorinser kit consists of a minimalist front spoiler, sport-style side-skirt blades, rear diffuser insert with oval tailpipe trims, and Lorinser's own LM forged wheels in 21 or 22-inch fitments. Lorinser also offers a suspension optimisation with slightly stiffer dampers and a 20 mm lowering module that still preserves off-road geometry. The interior work is equally restrained — retrimmed seats in Lorinser's house leather, polished aluminium pedals, a bespoke steering wheel in leather with Alcantara inserts, and machined-aluminium door sills with "Lorinser" engraving. This is the tuner to specify when the goal is a finished car that Mercedes itself could have built.

Hartmann, Vossen, ADV.1 — Wheel-Only Programmes

For owners who want a factory-bodied G 400 d with transformed stance, three wheel programmes dominate: Hartmann Wheels (Portland, USA) offers the HRS6-204-MA in 22x10 J with deep concave profiles particularly popular on the US market; Vossen HF and HF Series hybrid-forged wheels in 23x10 J ET35 are the default GCC choice in gloss black or tinted brushed finishes; and ADV.1 Wheels (Miami) builds fully custom 22, 23 or 24-inch forged pieces in their ADV5.2, ADV6.0 or ADV15R patterns with bespoke colour, lip, and hardware combinations. Each of these can be fitted without any bodywork modification to a factory G 400 d.

Wheels — Sizes, Offsets and Tyre Profiles

The factory G 400 d leaves Graz on either 19- or 20-inch wheels depending on trim; the AMG Line package upgrades to 20-inch five-twin-spoke alloys with 275/50 R20 tyres. For tuned builds, our strong recommendation is 22x10 J ET40 forged with 295/40 R22 tyres as the best balance of stance, ride quality and preserved off-road capability — this fitment keeps the overall tyre diameter within 10 mm of factory, which means the factory speedometer, ABS rolling-radius map and diff-lock engagement logic all continue to behave correctly. For more aggressive road-biased builds, 23x10 J ET35 with 305/40 R23 (Vossen HF, Mansory, Lumma) is the GCC-standard spec, although the shorter sidewall transmits more impact into the ladder-frame and noticeably degrades the car's legendary ride quality on broken surfaces. 24-inch wheels are technically feasible (ADV.1 offers them) but we do not recommend them on a car with genuine off-road intent. Forged construction is essential — the G 400 d's 2,560 kg kerb weight and the loads imposed when the centre diff-lock is engaged in low range will destroy a cast 22-inch wheel within months. All major tuner wheels clear the factory 350 mm front brake discs; Brabus and Lumma both offer big-brake upgrades (390 mm front, six-pot callipers) when 23-inch wheels are specified.

Performance — ECU, Exhaust & Chassis

The OM656 3.0-litre inline-six is one of the best turbo-diesel engines Mercedes has ever built, and it responds beautifully to remapping. Stage 1 software from Brabus PowerXtra, Renntech or Carlsson delivers 390 hp and 820 Nm on completely stock hardware, with the 0–100 time dropping from 6.4 to roughly 5.8 s — essentially matching the factory G 500 petrol. Stage 2 adds a larger intercooler, high-flow air filter and a DPF-back exhaust, unlocking 410–420 hp and 870 Nm. Beyond that, hardware modifications (larger turbo, upgraded injectors) can push the OM656 to 450 hp but at that point fuel economy and long-term reliability both suffer. Exhaust options include the Brabus valve-controlled sport system with driver-selectable sound modes, the Renntech R1 cat-back, and the Capristo stainless system with remote-controlled valves. On the chassis side, KW Suspensions offers the HAS (Hydraulic Adjustment System) that lets you lift the G 400 d hydraulically between factory and +40 mm for off-road clearance; Eibach and H&R both offer lowering springs for road-biased builds (typically -25 mm). Note: any ECU modification detected during a Mercedes dealer service will void the powertrain warranty — use a switchable calibration if your car is still inside the 3-year factory warranty.

Interior & Paint Protection

The G 400 d interior is already exceptional in factory form — dual 12.3-inch MBUX displays, Burmester audio, climate-controlled front seats and genuine Nappa upholstery on AMG Line trims. Brabus, Mansory, Hofele, Lorinser and Lexani (the Los Angeles-based VIP interior specialist, known for the GVT armored-conversion programme) all offer full bespoke interior re-trims including diamond-quilted Nappa or semi-aniline hide over seats, doors, dashboard and headlining. Carbon-fibre or open-pore wood inlays replace the factory piano black. On the exterior, XPEL Ultimate Plus or Suntek Ultra self-healing PPF is the standard recommendation: most owners wrap the front third (bonnet, front bumper, fenders, mirror caps) at minimum, with full-body wraps increasingly popular on cars with expensive paint codes such as designo magno night black or hyper blue.

G 400 d Spec Wars: Europe vs Middle East vs USA (H9)

No single car reveals regional taste as clearly as a tuned G-Wagen. The same W463 2nd-gen chassis is built three completely different ways depending on where the owner lives, and understanding those regional build cultures explains most of the aftermarket you can buy for the G 400 d today.

Europe — Daily-driveable restraint. The European G 400 d owner typically specifies a Hofele HG or Lorinser styling pack — reshaped front bumper, sport sill blades, rear diffuser and 21- or 22-inch forged wheels, all TUV-approved so the car retains full road legality without individual inspection. A Brabus D6S ECU tune to 390 hp is common, paired with a valve-controlled exhaust. AMG Line package is standard, and the whole car is typically lowered 20–25 mm for better motorway manners. The Germans and Swiss prize a G-Wagen that looks and drives like Mercedes-AMG might have built it in-house.

Middle East — Full Mansory Gronos widebody. The GCC G 400 d is a showpiece. A full Mansory Gronos forged-carbon widebody is standard, often with chrome or carbon-weave finishes on every exterior panel; 23-inch Vossen HF or Mansory forged wheels in brushed finish; a full Brabus Masterpiece or Mansory chocolate-leather interior retrim with B-pillar removal for "B-pillar-less" continuous glazing; and quad-tip Brabus side-exit exhausts. The car is driven almost exclusively on tarmac, so off-road capability is irrelevant — what matters is the photographs at the valet stand of a Dubai or Riyadh hotel.

USA — G-Squared overland conversion. The North American G 400 d community has gone entirely the other direction. Companies like G-Squared Fabrication and EAG Offroad fit 2- to 3-inch lift kits, 35-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tyres on 18-inch beadlock-style wheels (often Method Race or Hutchinson), exposed tube bumpers (front and rear) with integrated winch mounts, a roof-mounted snorkel for fording, auxiliary LED light pods on a low-profile light bar, and minimal body kit — frequently just a Brabus hood and fender flares. The interior is left factory or given a durable Katzkin hide retrim. These G 400 ds see real expedition use in Moab, the Rubicon and Baja, and are worth roughly half of what the equivalent Mansory-optioned GCC car commands. Which approach looks better is entirely personal — but only the American build actually uses what Magna Steyr built underneath.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the G 400 d a good base for tuning compared to the G 63?
Yes — and in many respects it is a better starting point than the G 63. The OM656 3.0 diesel responds to a Stage 1 tune with 390 hp and 820 Nm on stock hardware, reaching roughly G 500 petrol performance while still returning 11–12 L/100 km. The G 63 is of course faster, but the G 400 d is significantly cheaper to buy, cheaper to fuel, and every Brabus / Mansory / Hofele styling part bolts directly to the same W463 body. In fact, many Middle East "G 63" lookalikes are actually tuned G 400 d cars with a full Mansory Gronos kit and badge swap.

Can I keep the factory off-road capability after fitting a body kit?
It depends entirely on the kit. The Hofele HG, Lorinser, and Brabus Adventure packages all preserve the factory approach (30.9°), breakover (25.7°) and departure (29.9°) angles. The Mansory Gronos and Lumma CLR G770 widebodies reduce approach angle by 2–3 degrees and the deeper front valances rub on serious obstacles. Any American-style lift kit with 35-inch tyres improves off-road clearance substantially but requires re-calibration of the ride-height sensors and the ESP/diff-lock logic via Mercedes XENTRY to avoid fault codes. Always confirm with your tuner that the kit retains the factory underbody protection plates.

What does a typical G 400 d build cost?
A Hofele HG or Lorinser European-style package with 22-inch wheels, Stage 1 tune and sport exhaust lands at roughly 25,000–40,000 EUR on top of the car. A Brabus D6S build with Adventure Package, 23-inch Monoblock wheels and full Brabus sport exhaust is typically 60,000–90,000 EUR. A full Mansory Gronos widebody with complete chocolate-leather interior retrim, 23-inch Mansory forged wheels and all carbon exterior work reaches 140,000–220,000 EUR depending on spec. A North American G-Squared overland conversion with lift kit, 35s, tube bumpers, roof rack and snorkel sits at 30,000–55,000 USD. Build times range from 4 weeks (wheels and tune only) to 16 weeks (full widebody with interior).

Do you ship internationally and can you handle fitting?
Yes — Hodoor ships worldwide from our EU logistics hub with full export documentation including CMR, commercial invoicing and HS codes. Duty on automotive aftermarket parts typically ranges from 3 to 10 percent depending on destination country. We quote DAP (duties separate) or DDP (fully landed) at your preference. For EU customers we coordinate fitting at certified Mercedes specialists in Germany, the Netherlands and Poland; for GCC customers we work directly with authorised Brabus and Mansory dealers in Dubai and Riyadh; for North America we partner with California and Florida-based Mercedes tuners. ECU remaps from Brabus PowerXtra and Renntech are usually delivered remotely via secure bootloader — the car itself does not need to travel for a Stage 1 tune.