Is mine the only GL without adjustable airmatic?
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: fl
1992 500E, 2006 E500, 2007 GL 450
Is mine the only GL without adjustable airmatic?
Every review I have ever read describes the adjustable (comfort/sport) air suspension - many indicated that it is standard. My owners manual describes adjusting the suspension with and without the off road package. On the MBUSA site I did not see any option for adjustable suspension separate from the off road package. I assumed it was standard, but I was wrong. Anybody else make the same mistake?
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From: Orange County
06 CLS500, 05 Range Rover, 00 Landcruiser
Same here. I think its a must as I think the basic GL ride is not as good as I thought. Adjustable comfort/auto/sport suspension is bundled with off road package with adaptive damping system (ADS). If you don't have the off road package, your adjustable suspension description per manual states that you can only adjust the height, not the damping rate. Well, it is still adjustable, if thats what they want to call it.
What bugs me is that most of GL's road tests (Car and Driver, Motorweek etc.) have these comfort/sport/auto suspension adjustment even though their test GL450 doesn't have the off road package. Maybe Mercedes made these special type of GL just for these magazines testers and not for consumers. Very misleading.
If you look at this image, the sport/comfort button is present yet this GL doesn't have the off road package. (no locking differential knob). So maybe they can built it outside this ORP. What do you guys think?
What bugs me is that most of GL's road tests (Car and Driver, Motorweek etc.) have these comfort/sport/auto suspension adjustment even though their test GL450 doesn't have the off road package. Maybe Mercedes made these special type of GL just for these magazines testers and not for consumers. Very misleading.
If you look at this image, the sport/comfort button is present yet this GL doesn't have the off road package. (no locking differential knob). So maybe they can built it outside this ORP. What do you guys think?
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Same here. I think its a must as I think the basic GL ride is not as good as I thought. Adjustable comfort/auto/sport suspension is bundled with off road package with adaptive damping system (ADS). If you don't have the off road package, your adjustable suspension description per manual states that you can only adjust the height, not the damping rate. Well, it is still adjustable, if thats what they want to call it.
What bugs me is that most of GL's road tests (Car and Driver, Motorweek etc.) have these comfort/sport/auto suspension adjustment even though their test GL450 doesn't have the off road package. Maybe Mercedes made these special type of GL just for these magazines testers and not for consumers. Very misleading.
If you look at this image, the sport/comfort button is present yet this GL doesn't have the off road package. (no locking differential knob). So maybe they can built it outside this ORP. What do you guys think?
What bugs me is that most of GL's road tests (Car and Driver, Motorweek etc.) have these comfort/sport/auto suspension adjustment even though their test GL450 doesn't have the off road package. Maybe Mercedes made these special type of GL just for these magazines testers and not for consumers. Very misleading.
If you look at this image, the sport/comfort button is present yet this GL doesn't have the off road package. (no locking differential knob). So maybe they can built it outside this ORP. What do you guys think?
It is typical MBUSA and their bean counting and limiting the US buyers to what MBUSA thinks they should have. Conspiracy with the media to provide them cars with ADSII only to improve the ride reports...I would not go that far but something is sure out of whack. I would buy the off road just to get the ADSII feature...!
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From: fl
1992 500E, 2006 E500, 2007 GL 450
Any lawyers out there?
My manual clearly describes adjustment of suspension for GL's with and without the off-road package. MB lists no option for adjustable suspension w/o the off road package. It seems that a reasonable, knowledgeable consumer would conclude that adjustable air suspension is standard particulary since it was reported as standard by all the mag testors. I received a class action award some time back on a Tahoe where fuel capacity was listed as 30 gal and in fact was 28 and change. MB seems at least equally culpable.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
My manual clearly describes adjustment of suspension for GL's with and without the off-road package. MB lists no option for adjustable suspension w/o the off road package. It seems that a reasonable, knowledgeable consumer would conclude that adjustable air suspension is standard particulary since it was reported as standard by all the mag testors. I received a class action award some time back on a Tahoe where fuel capacity was listed as 30 gal and in fact was 28 and change. MB seems at least equally culpable.
"Driver-selectable Comfort mode starts the vehicle moving in 2nd gear, or 2nd Reverse gear, and upshifts at lower rpm to help improve control on slippery surfaces"
Now that sounds to me like you have a button to go from S to C...but not on the 320CDI...??? I had ADSI on my '03 E320 and on my '06 S430 and since the ML has ADSII as part of the Air Suspension on Premium 3, I again assumed it would be on the GL with Air Suspension standard.
Last edited by Nevada Jack; Feb 2, 2007 at 10:31 AM.
Thread Starter
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From: fl
1992 500E, 2006 E500, 2007 GL 450
I wonder if there is a way to make a non-adjustable airmatic adjustable. If the difference is just a switch and adjustment module mabe the dealer can install it.
If the differences are more extensive, and GL's with adjustable airmatic have better ride/handling I did not get the suv I thought I bought.
If the differences are more extensive, and GL's with adjustable airmatic have better ride/handling I did not get the suv I thought I bought.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
I wonder if there is a way to make a non-adjustable airmatic adjustable. If the difference is just a switch and adjustment module mabe the dealer can install it.
If the differences are more extensive, and GL's with adjustable airmatic have better ride/handling I did not get the suv I thought I bought.
If the differences are more extensive, and GL's with adjustable airmatic have better ride/handling I did not get the suv I thought I bought.
I was tempted to cancel the order based on finding the ADSII was not on the diesel but reconsidered based on the test drive I had with the 450 and from a friend who has the 320CDI.
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From: NC
2019 Volvo XC90 Magic/Amber, '95 E320 Cabriolet Midnight,'14 GL350 Lunar/Almond was '07 GL320CDI
i drove the 450 without and felt the ride/drive were superb. Would it be nice to have ADSII-YES! But it will not mean i don't buy the vehicle...even if the off-road pkg had been available on the CDI, i would've have bothered. I have other items on which to spend the extra $2-3k, when i know i won't ever do any off-roading and the boat i'll tow will be fine without.
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 352
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From: fl
1992 500E, 2006 E500, 2007 GL 450
I noticed a significant difference in the ride/handling in my E500 vs the E350 w/o adjustable air suspension as well as noticable differences in the ride/handling in different settings on the E500. I wonder how well the GL would have done in mag comparisons w/o the ADSII?
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From: MS Gulf Coast
1997 E320 Sedan
I have ADSII on my ML and it is very nice. I mainly keep it in the the standard mode though. Comfort is too soft and sport is too harsh. Now, on the GL320 it is perfect. I really don't miss it at this stage. No regrets in another words.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Good to hear Jack...my friend feels the same way...:-)
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From: West Michigan
2007 E63
I did a lot of research and did assume from what I had read that the Comfort/Sport (or Standard) mode were avaialble with the Air Suspension. This sentence is from the catalog:
"Driver-selectable Comfort mode starts the vehicle moving in 2nd gear, or 2nd Reverse gear, and upshifts at lower rpm to help improve control on slippery surfaces"
Now that sounds to me like you have a button to go from S to C...but not on the 320CDI...??? I had ADSI on my '03 E320 and on my '06 S430 and since the ML has ADSII as part of the Air Suspension on Premium 3, I again assumed it would be on the GL with Air Suspension standard.
"Driver-selectable Comfort mode starts the vehicle moving in 2nd gear, or 2nd Reverse gear, and upshifts at lower rpm to help improve control on slippery surfaces"
Now that sounds to me like you have a button to go from S to C...but not on the 320CDI...??? I had ADSI on my '03 E320 and on my '06 S430 and since the ML has ADSII as part of the Air Suspension on Premium 3, I again assumed it would be on the GL with Air Suspension standard.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
The Air Suspension does a similar correction with electronically controlled air bellows at each wheel and adjusts to road conditions. In other words the ADS is a refinement of the standard setup. How much difference in the parts and design I don't have a clue.
Hope that helps...
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
True but it also firms up the suspension. See AutoSaurus remarks above on his ML. My E had the C/S and when you selected S1 or S2 the suspension got firmer with each choice and the shift speeds were altered. On my S550 with ABC, if I select S, it starts in 1st and provides a firmer ride. If I start in C it starts in 2nd and the ride is much softer.
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From: Orange County
06 CLS500, 05 Range Rover, 00 Landcruiser
I thought too the C/S has nothing to do with the suspension. It didn't mention anything about the suspension. The default setting is S for normal driving.
The following is from a Mercedez manual.
______________________________________________
S Sport
For all normal driving conditions
C Comfort
For comfort mode
Only press program selector button when the selector lever is in position P, N or D.
Press program selector button repeatedly until the letter (C/S) for the gearshift program you wish to select appears in the speedometer display.
Comfort mode C is characterised by the following:
The vehicle pulls away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
Traction is increased. This improves the driving stability of the vehicle on slippery road surfaces, for example.
The automatic transmission shifts up sooner. This means that the vehicle is driven at lower engine speeds and the wheels are less likely to spin.
__________________________________________________ ______________
The following is from a Mercedez manual.
______________________________________________
S Sport
For all normal driving conditions
C Comfort
For comfort mode
Only press program selector button when the selector lever is in position P, N or D.
Press program selector button repeatedly until the letter (C/S) for the gearshift program you wish to select appears in the speedometer display.
Comfort mode C is characterised by the following:
The vehicle pulls away more gently in forward and reverse gears, unless the accelerator pedal is depressed fully.
Traction is increased. This improves the driving stability of the vehicle on slippery road surfaces, for example.
The automatic transmission shifts up sooner. This means that the vehicle is driven at lower engine speeds and the wheels are less likely to spin.
__________________________________________________ ______________
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From: Northern California
MBs
The picture below depicts a GL front axle with the 4 wheel air suspension. The ADS 2.0 are the two small parallel tubes attached to the lower part of the air suspension struts. The rear axle is similar. It's engineered and supplied by Thyssenkrupp-Bilstein.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Calgary Alberta Canada
Interesting thread
We are just considering a GL, and I had the same confusion regarding adjustable damping. I incorrectly assumed the lack of this feature without the off-road package was specific to the Canadian market in NA.
From the posts above, sounds like the ADS is not a must-have on this vehicle. However, I had assumed the mag reviews I read that thought the GL was a little vague on handling did not have Sport mode available.
Do I have it correctly, that even without the button with the three? settings, the shocks and air springs are still adaptive? The S/C button only changes the algorithm for suspension adjustment? Unfortunately I am sure in our market I will not have a chance to compare the with and without Off-road/adjustable suspension; the dealer told me they have only sold a couple with Off-road, and not of the demo's have this feature.
Second question, particularly for anyone with the adjustment in ML. Would Sport setting be better for towing? We want t6o be able to haul a 5000 lb Jayco 23B travel trailer.
Thx First post
Stu Calgary AB
From the posts above, sounds like the ADS is not a must-have on this vehicle. However, I had assumed the mag reviews I read that thought the GL was a little vague on handling did not have Sport mode available.
Do I have it correctly, that even without the button with the three? settings, the shocks and air springs are still adaptive? The S/C button only changes the algorithm for suspension adjustment? Unfortunately I am sure in our market I will not have a chance to compare the with and without Off-road/adjustable suspension; the dealer told me they have only sold a couple with Off-road, and not of the demo's have this feature.
Second question, particularly for anyone with the adjustment in ML. Would Sport setting be better for towing? We want t6o be able to haul a 5000 lb Jayco 23B travel trailer.
Thx First post
Stu Calgary AB
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: fl
1992 500E, 2006 E500, 2007 GL 450
The brochure states that for the standard suspension, the "electronically contolled airsprings adjust to changing driving conditions." ADSII works by "individually adjusting each wheel's shock absorber rate every time the wheel changes it direction of up-down travel". This seems to suggest that there is no variability to stock shocks. But I'm not sure since many non adjustable shocks offered on other cars and in the after market claim to change damping to adapt to driving conditions. I still don't understand why every single car provided for road tests had ADSII while only 1 GL out of about 50 on 2 dealer lots in my area had the off-road package.
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Just finished a 600mile trip yesterday in the GL and it ride excellent and handles pretty good for a vehicle of its size and weight. I am sure ADSII helps improve this, but definitely not required, IMO.
The brochure states that for the standard suspension, the "electronically contolled airsprings adjust to changing driving conditions." ADSII works by "individually adjusting each wheel's shock absorber rate every time the wheel changes it direction of up-down travel". This seems to suggest that there is no variability to stock shocks. But I'm not sure since many non adjustable shocks offered on other cars and in the after market claim to change damping to adapt to driving conditions. I still don't understand why every single car provided for road tests had ADSII while only 1 GL out of about 50 on 2 dealer lots in my area had the off-road package.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Calgary Alberta Canada
Checked the UK site today...
If I am reading the specifications correctly on the UK site, it appears that all models (320CDI, 500 petrol, and 420CDI) come standard with off-Road package. This would explain the ADSII being included I guess.
Still have no idea why the testers for the NA mags might have had ADSII without off-road.
Not sure if the other European models have ADSII without off-road.
Cheers!
http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/cont.../gl_class.html
Still have no idea why the testers for the NA mags might have had ADSII without off-road.
Not sure if the other European models have ADSII without off-road.
Cheers!
http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/cont.../gl_class.html
