560SEL

Please - for the love of cars - order your cars with active curve system.

Here in the US the dealers don't order it on their lot cars. Its super rare to find it on a 350,450 or 550. The AMG has it standard (hello McFly).

I make this request for the collective good of the subsequent owners - the CPO crowd. I tried it out recently on a current 550 and it really helps make the car feel more manageable if you're hustling it at all. And more importantly its a slightly more comfortable ride in a straight line while better in a corner.

So please - don't be like the gaggle of S class drivers going around with their phones up to their ears. There is no tech involved here. Just check the box and pay the small premium. I beg you - the dealers won't do it for you

DRP

silvertige

Seriously? Its a family bus... no ones hustling 6000 lbs anywhere.

Axxlrod

Why would I check that box? The GL is for my wife. She wouldn't know the difference.

Mike450

You are failing to consider the needs of the second owner.
How selfish of you.

560SEL

jbattan

I love Active Curve on my wife's GL550 and am definitely adding it to my GLS550 order.

aeggroup

I just don't understand - why should I care about a second owner of my car ? If I order this option I will need to pay extra almost $4K just for you to save your money on your next purchase ? Are you kidding me ? Let's make a deal - I will order it and you'll pay 50% of that option to me right now and wait till I decide to sell my 3-4 years old car to you. There is clearly a benefit for you - You're guaranteed to have well opted used car with perfect maintenance history. My wife drives super slow and careful and the car will be washed and waxed 4-6 times a year. Deal ? I'm waiting for you deposit on my paypal....PM me for additional info

560SEL

That's funny! LOL.

My post isn't 100% serious. I'm just a car guy and it pains me when cars don't reach their potential. This is like people buying a house and refusing to renovate because they're only going to be there a few years.

Mercedes doesn't offer a sport package on the GL in the US market (probably after seeing how few acars are ordered with active curve!! Ha!). Order your cars with active curve and show them they are wrong! Show them we do like driving!

All the best,
DRP

aeggroup

Your logic does not work.
Let's say I order this. MB will understand that I'm wiling to pay extra money to have this option. And how it will be translated in MB office? I will tell you Exactly how - on their quarterly report statement - higher profit margin and their stock price.
I've been upset from day 1 that I can't order AMG package and my canadian/european friends can. I even called to MB corporate office and spoke to them. They said - "according to our marketing research team US drivers don't need it ". I understand each word of that sentence separately, but when they've put it together - It does not make any sense to me. I'd like to see those people...just look them in their eyes...and try to see something they know that all of us missing...

All the best...

Axxlrod

It's a 5K lb suv. It's never going to be "sporty".

Besides, I have other cars for my sporty driving.

Andrew Cho

It is not a matter of actually performing "sporty". Vehicles just look better with sport packages like M-package, S-line, and Sport package(AMG package) offered by many manufacturers. I know sport packages like mentioned above offer various options to add sporty feels to the driving experience, but I personally always get vehicles with that extra package simply because of their appearance upgrades.

gsobol

Funny, the reason why active curve is so rare on 350 and 450 is because it often gets bumped by manufacturing due to limited quantities of the system and AMG and 550 getting a priority during build. I ordered it, twice, went through no problem, got bumped during build - TWICE.

silvertige

The OP is not talking about a sport package per se, but active curve, which is something you'll never see externally, if so equipped.

Mike450

My GL450 build without the $5k active curve was $90k.

I would have picked up a GL550 if I wanted it that much.

JoeMa

Active Curve is a $3,700 option on the GL450, and $2,900 on the GL550.

And $90K for a loaded 450 is usually not as good a buy as a 550 which includes most of the same equipment.

As for Active Curve, I've never experienced it in a GL but those that have says it is worth the extra cost. So if you're ordering a new GLS and want it, why not.

Andrew Cho

My apologies for deviating from the OP.

Mike450

Same optioned 550 was $101k, both without active curve.

JoeMa

Maybe you could list the options your 450 has so we could see how it compares to a 550. I've looked at this in the past and it appeared a loaded 450 can be almost as much as a base 550 but without the 21" wheels and the 4.7 liter V8. I get customers opting for $72K 450 over a 550 that starts in the low $90K's, but a $90K 450 puts you very close to a 550. Current base price for a 2016 GL550 is $92,225.

Mike450

Designo black
Piano wood
wood steering wheel
Pana
illum star
east entry
hitch

Those are the options the 550 does not come standard with. My 450 has other options the 550 comes standard with, obviously.

I wasn't getting this truck until I sat in a designo optioned truck. Really should be standard, especially on a 550.

alex92130

Active Curve is the most mis-understood option on a GL (GLS). I don't see too many dealers ordering it for their inventory, choosing instead to install 5k stereo or entertainment systems. With an Active Curve, GL rides as solid as S-class, without it rides like a typical SUV i.e. floaty. I suffer from seasickness and years ago returned a new ML to a dealer after only 2 days of driving . When looking for a new SUV I could not find Active Curve GL on any of the local lots for months, but when I found one, it was love at first sight - 18k miles later never looked back, for the ride is so stable, like a German sedan. Its a great option...

jbak31

Does active curve system provide for a softer ride? I rather enjoy not feeling the bumps in the road. I couldn't care less about "sportiness" aspect, I just want a buttery ride. Is ACS for me?

JoeMa

This video explains what Active Curve provides:

alex92130

This is how I see it: Active Curve system controls the 'leaning' of the car, in other words when you move steering wheel left and right, the Active Curve system will negate the car's natural tendency to lean a few degrees. Suspension (auto/sport on GL) setting controls the 'softness of the ride', ie vertical movement characteristics. I also love the GL (non sport) suspension setting for its luxury and controlled ride.

alex92130

...and if one is buying GL550 or S550 do yourself a favor, order an AMG all-leather steering wheel from Europe to get rid of that slippery wooden steering wheel

560SEL

Complicated answer....

In a straight line the ACS will actually suck up bumps a bit better because it disconnects the sway bars (which, because they link the left side to the right side, transmit bumps from side to side). With ACS its like having no sway bars - until you hit a corner - then its like having a super strong sway bar that greatly reduce lean in the corners.

Trust me, the perceived feeling of less lean in the corners is a comfort bonus more than a performance bonus. The GL is not a good car to push to its limits in corners - with ACS or not. It doesn't feel right. The steering, brakes and transmission are all tuned for comfort, not rambunctious driving (BMW).

But another poster was right - ACS makes the car feel more vault like and less trucky. It does not deteriorate ride quality.

Good luck, DRP