fabbrisd1

I reasonably expect this rarer GL550 to be priced a bit under $75K.

If this is the right GL550 for a forum member - shoot me a PM - and I will email you photos Weds as soon as my tech finish up our inspection.

I have a 2013 GL550 with under 30K miles coming in on trade from a great customer/friend Tuesday - that he/I custom ordered for his wife as a surprise Christmas/2012 for $103K - that I delivered to her that Christmas Eve.

Obsidian Black over Designo Porcelain - I have attached the Mercedes spec sheet - in addition to the stunning Designo - this GL550 has rarer Active Curve + adjustable "Off Road suspension" upgrades - for those who have not experienced the AC/OR suspension - road handling on the upgraded GL550 is as rock flat and even as a Road Warrior Batmobile.

On the other factory options - Pano/Triple sunroof + factory Rear Entertainment + 2nd Row Heated Seats + Heated Steering Wheel + Trailer Hitch.

Very/very well equipped GL550 for enthusiasts who crave a awesome GL550 - this is a GREAT one - a light Designo interior is quite rare in it's own right - and light Designo with Active Curve + Off-Road options makes this quite a very rare rig - it's unfortunate that for 2013 W166 buyers really weren't aware exactly how awesome suspension upgrades are all about.

Mercedes Certified Unlimited Mileage Warranty out thru 12/24/2017.

I am Jeff

It's not that W166 buyers aren't aware of how "awesome" that suspension upgrade is, but most buyers are also well aware of how "awesome" the bill will be when it fails.

Did you forget about how much the repair bill for the failed ABC suspension on the S class?

fabbrisd1

Well gee NYC... if it was unintentional on your part - let me clear this up front from my side - I don't know you - and I have had nothing to do whatsoever with whatever MB's you own now - or have owned in the past..

Please understand the Active Curve system on X166/W166 is not related to either 1st/2nd generation Mercedes sedan "ABC", or the newest 3rd generation sedan MBC/Magic-Body-Control.

This track clip on a W166 - starting about 2 minutes in - gives a perspective on the "ride-like-on-rails" driving benefit of Active Curve system in the X166/W166 SUV's - acts to counter the forces created in higher-center-of-gravity you have in SUV's - tracks flat as a board, really. This was a Euro track drive, followed by a Euro "off-road" test track clip..


Yes - ABC in early 2000's S-Class sedans was a horror show for quite a few owner's, and for most others a expensive long-term service issue by miles or age. 2nd gen sedan ABC mid-2000's till 2013 significantly better - new 3rd gen MBC still too soon to tell (by mileage or time) to know how much more solid - and it will definitely be much more solid over 2nd gen - that's ABC/MBC for sedans... not SUV's.

On GL's SUV's - for MB 1st gen Airmatic X164's - my opinion from what I have seen a good # of owners seems to hit a strut plateau for some at/around 75K+ mark - on strut failure X164 , if it was me I would replace with struts from Arnott, preferably in front or rear pairs, I have not seen a Arnott strut failure.

For 2nd gen Airmatic for X166 - too soon by age or mileage - I have not yet seen strut failure - it is still too soon to see/know X166's that have gotten to/over the 75K mile plateau.

Keep the beat !

islandbeef

So, does it fix this issue? Go to 0:37.

43221B

I have never in my life had to slam on my brakes with full anti lock braking in effect and completely swerve around and then back in front of a slower or stopped vehicle while continuously keeping my foot fully pressed on the brake pedal. Slamming on my brakes and swerving over one lane yes, but back into the same lane while NEVER letting off of the brake pedal, no.

Mercedes is trying to keep these vehicles from flipping over. A GL fully loaded with passengers, particularly adults, has a higher center of gravity than a pickup truck which in one of the Consumer Reports videos they directly compared to a GL which makes no sense. A GL needs to have an aggressive stability control system. It isn't a car and it's not a pickup.

cadetdrivr

It's hardly an issue, IMHO, as Consumer Reports is out to lunch on this topic.

GL @ ~45MPH = FAIL
Porsche Boxster @ ~55MPH = At the top of their tested vehicles

Only a 10MPH difference between a 5500lb SUV that seats seven and one of the best handling vehilces on the planet?

And this is a problem?

ioman

Did Mercedes fix this issue with the stability control?

fabbrisd1

Sure - from my perspective I have taken a GL450 "standard" and a GL550 with ABC thru a track designed "last-minute-lane change" where track tech selects lights for last minute choice of left or right lane change - that after changes leads to immediate "full-ABS-full-stop" - the Consumer Reports clip is bull-ticky - I would hazard to "guess" from that traction control tire "burn" in their test that CR set tire pressure at tire manuf PSI (too dang high) rather than MB recommended PSI (shown inside fuel filler door) - just my stab at it...

cyclrder

It is funny how this thread got hijacked (no... Not really) but I have certainly had that happen to me.... So I'm chiming in.

1st..... Anyone who owns any modern German car(other than Porsche) out of warranty or CPO is taking a gun to the head. If you don't like it... Buy a Ford 150.... So since this is a given it is rather idiotic to bring up the specter of the possibility of a failed electrical componet on a CPO GL550 that will be offered with unlimited mileage for 2 or 3 years..... She ain't a virgin but she will be just fine.

2nd... I've had 3 deer and one idiot Vespa rider pull out in front of my GLs that I had to use enough evasive maneuvering that would either make your false teeth pop out or you will bonk your head onto the side door glass (all above 45 mph) and the car has done nothing but inspire me with confidence! Would I feel the same driving a 450/350 without Active Curve...probably not so much but it would still be fine.

so Fabrisd1 ....I bet that car is already sold by now and this whole thing is mute?

gsobol

2013 GL450 - 20K on the clock - front left strut failure, most miles are long distance highway driving (road trips). Similar experience in my previous MY10. Must be something I'm doing wrong .....

davidbho

or the link to the sellers site?

bonboon

For what it's worth, Car And Driver just referenced this, as well..characterizing it as "The intrusively aggressive stability control shuts everything down in ordinary traffic maneuvers". That assessment, while having been printed just today in the below link, is from an earlier skid pad test of a 2013, it appears.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ic-test-review

fabbrisd1

Well, Car and DSriver road tested the 2013 GL550 with Active Curve and Off Road... I suggest you might read the specific article...

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ic-test-review

bonboon

Read that when it was published years ago. That GL550 review doesn't change the fact that for whatever reason C&D again brought the issue to readers' attention and in very unflattering terms.

That being said, perhaps they didn't exhibit the best judgement in sharing, in the context of a newly published article, something from a previous test.

The purpose of my having shared that was to help those doing due diligence on the issue. Not to diminish the market value of the vehicle you are trying to sell.

I did my due diligence and am comfortable with the car I have a deposit down for (2016 gl550 with all the goodies)

Dalema

How did you go selling the car?