Build Quality from Alabama plant?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 254
Likes: 4
From: N. Illinois, USA
2021 GLS450, 2015 E250BT 4Matic, 2007 GL320CDI, 2005 SLK350, 2001 SLK320
Build Quality from Alabama plant?
I'm seeing several posts on the GL, ML and R forums that are making me wonder about build quality out of the Alabama plant. Paint defects, missing seal on seat seams, crooked hood inserts, exhaust rattle, loose trim pieces, etc. While these items are not major (except the paint) they do make me wonder about attention to detail. And if there is some underlying problem with their production process down there. Are these issues we're seeing just isolated occurrences are do they suggest a pattern?
We tend to hear about problems much more readily than we hear about perfect vehicles. So, I'd like to hear from all GL owners out there. Did your vehicle arrive in good shape with no build issues at all? Have there been trips to the dealer to resolve some type of build issue or oversight? What's your overall impression of the build quality?
We tend to hear about problems much more readily than we hear about perfect vehicles. So, I'd like to hear from all GL owners out there. Did your vehicle arrive in good shape with no build issues at all? Have there been trips to the dealer to resolve some type of build issue or oversight? What's your overall impression of the build quality?
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Joined: Dec 2006
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http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/c...ison-index.htm
Dont know if that url will work if you do not have a subscription to CR or not. If not, basically it shows that the reliability ratings of the e, cls, s, clk, and sl classes are all at the VERY bottom of the list---if not very close to the very bottom. No info on GL though....but it does not appear promising based on that.
Dont know if that url will work if you do not have a subscription to CR or not. If not, basically it shows that the reliability ratings of the e, cls, s, clk, and sl classes are all at the VERY bottom of the list---if not very close to the very bottom. No info on GL though....but it does not appear promising based on that.
Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 82
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From: Atlanta, GA
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/c...ison-index.htm
Dont know if that url will work if you do not have a subscription to CR or not. If not, basically it shows that the reliability ratings of the e, cls, s, clk, and sl classes are all at the VERY bottom of the list---if not very close to the very bottom. No info on GL though....but it does not appear promising based on that.
Dont know if that url will work if you do not have a subscription to CR or not. If not, basically it shows that the reliability ratings of the e, cls, s, clk, and sl classes are all at the VERY bottom of the list---if not very close to the very bottom. No info on GL though....but it does not appear promising based on that.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 254
Likes: 4
From: N. Illinois, USA
2021 GLS450, 2015 E250BT 4Matic, 2007 GL320CDI, 2005 SLK350, 2001 SLK320
Thanks for the replies so far...but just a point of clarification...I was asking specifically about vehicles from the Alabama plant (ML, R and GL only). Also, I was looking for manufacturing defects at delivery, not long-term reliability.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 31
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From: Australia
2020 GLS 400d
My GL arrived to me without any defects. There is no exhaust rattle or paint defects, the plastics match up pefectly, theres no wind noise, the doors all close perfectly and align properly. In fact I can't think of anything that would suggest the build quality is any less than the German mercs that I have. Probably the interior of the E-class is of higher standard (plastics, textures etc) but not put together any better. That said time will tell if rattles and squeaks start to appear as milage increases.
Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
...
our ML arrived with quite a few defects. The seals around the second row windows had to be replaced before the car left the dealer. I also found interior trim pieces on the B pillar to be loose, turns out, it had to be "snapped" into position and it wasn't. The driver's door edge was rubbing near the front wheel well, which removed all of the finish down to bare metal, turned out to be a loose plastic trim piece which had to be re-fitted. I don't know if these are design related or due to poor assembly, but I don't have anything good to say about the American plant either way.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 70
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From: NorCal
3/30/07: B/B GL450 01 319 323 324 334 396 550
every manufacuturer has defects....
its an unfortunate fact of life. Doesn't matter what vehicle you buy, sometimes you get a lemon, or a messed up one. Most of the time the vehnicles are fine. That is why there are lemon laws, legal recourse, etc.
Not to horrify you, but check out this site:
http://www.mercedes-benz-usa.com/ the official community where consumers can share thier ownership experiences with others online.
Its a compliant site specific to MBZ where folks can vent their frustrations.
Not to horrify you, but check out this site:
http://www.mercedes-benz-usa.com/ the official community where consumers can share thier ownership experiences with others online.
Its a compliant site specific to MBZ where folks can vent their frustrations.
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Almost a Member!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 59
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
R320, GL320, E320cdi's, 500SEL Pullman
My first GL (that was crashed) - didnt have any of these defects the replacement has. They are like two different cars indeed.
It's because I have had two of them in the past month that I had something to compare.
Anyway - dealer will take care of everything tomorrow, and the build IS better than AMC in the 1980's. But yeah, you wonder.... For this type of money, the dash should line up and the inserts shouldn't pop up on one side, and the exhaust shouldn't rattle.
I've got a small alignment pull also... But on the flip side - has anyone driven a Caddy lately? The plastic bits fell off on the rear door in the showroom as I was looking at them. They get 13mpg. Doors that arent aligned, so - all said this GL is still better built than a GM.
It's because I have had two of them in the past month that I had something to compare.
Anyway - dealer will take care of everything tomorrow, and the build IS better than AMC in the 1980's. But yeah, you wonder.... For this type of money, the dash should line up and the inserts shouldn't pop up on one side, and the exhaust shouldn't rattle.
I've got a small alignment pull also... But on the flip side - has anyone driven a Caddy lately? The plastic bits fell off on the rear door in the showroom as I was looking at them. They get 13mpg. Doors that arent aligned, so - all said this GL is still better built than a GM.
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Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 199
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From: South Carolina, USA
06 CLS55, 07 GL450, 07 GMC Yukon, 06 Pontiac Vibe
Took delivery June 16, 2006. There were no defects or anything the dealer had to correct. The vehicle has been absolutely flawless. Reading this board everyday, makes you just sit back and wait for the worse. But so far so good.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,640
Likes: 11
From: GMT -8 hours
Mercedes-Benz
driven in a total of 5 different GL's, 2 premier editions and the rest were early builds (first month of production). All tight as a drum, only one had a small rattle in the b-pillar trim where you can adjust the seat belt up and down. I feel that the GLs are built better than the MLs I have ridden in.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,517
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
My first GL (that was crashed) - didnt have any of these defects the replacement has. They are like two different cars indeed.
It's because I have had two of them in the past month that I had something to compare.
Anyway - dealer will take care of everything tomorrow, and the build IS better than AMC in the 1980's. But yeah, you wonder.... For this type of money, the dash should line up and the inserts shouldn't pop up on one side, and the exhaust shouldn't rattle.
I've got a small alignment pull also... But on the flip side - has anyone driven a Caddy lately? The plastic bits fell off on the rear door in the showroom as I was looking at them. They get 13mpg. Doors that arent aligned, so - all said this GL is still better built than a GM.
It's because I have had two of them in the past month that I had something to compare.
Anyway - dealer will take care of everything tomorrow, and the build IS better than AMC in the 1980's. But yeah, you wonder.... For this type of money, the dash should line up and the inserts shouldn't pop up on one side, and the exhaust shouldn't rattle.
I've got a small alignment pull also... But on the flip side - has anyone driven a Caddy lately? The plastic bits fell off on the rear door in the showroom as I was looking at them. They get 13mpg. Doors that arent aligned, so - all said this GL is still better built than a GM.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale, AZ
R320, GL320, E320cdi's, 500SEL Pullman
This wasnt a demo - Diesels only stay on the lot for hours, not days, and I have never heard of a dealer putting one into demo status - when it could be sold within hours of hitting the pavement...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,517
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
