Ride Height and Tire Damage
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 9
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From: Franklin, TN
2006 S430, 2007 GL450, 2007 S550
Ride Height and Tire Damage
I took my GL450 in for its 1st checkup (1500 miles). The front tires were cupping. My service advisor explained to me that I should not drive my vehicle even at low speeds while in the "raised" height position. He stated that it throws the front end out of alignment (camber) and causes the tires to cup. They actually had to rotate my front tires to the rear in order to prevent more wear.
Has anyone else been told this? It makes no sense to me that this would be an issue and not be plainly stated in the owners manual.
I personally like the look of the vehicle in the raised position much better. It looks too much like a mini-van in the lowered stance.
Has anyone else been told this? It makes no sense to me that this would be an issue and not be plainly stated in the owners manual.
I personally like the look of the vehicle in the raised position much better. It looks too much like a mini-van in the lowered stance.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Wouldn't you have to drive for a very long time for it to wear down your tires?
And it'd be hard to keep the GL in "raised" mode because it drops once you hit 40mph. Sounds like BS to me.
And it'd be hard to keep the GL in "raised" mode because it drops once you hit 40mph. Sounds like BS to me.
I took my GL450 in for its 1st checkup (1500 miles). The front tires were cupping. My service advisor explained to me that I should not drive my vehicle even at low speeds while in the "raised" height position. He stated that it throws the front end out of alignment (camber) and causes the tires to cup. They actually had to rotate my front tires to the rear in order to prevent more wear.
Has anyone else been told this? It makes no sense to me that this would be an issue and not be plainly stated in the owners manual.
I personally like the look of the vehicle in the raised position much better. It looks too much like a mini-van in the lowered stance.
Has anyone else been told this? It makes no sense to me that this would be an issue and not be plainly stated in the owners manual.
I personally like the look of the vehicle in the raised position much better. It looks too much like a mini-van in the lowered stance.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 7
From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
I took my GL450 in for its 1st checkup (1500 miles). The front tires were cupping. My service advisor explained to me that I should not drive my vehicle even at low speeds while in the "raised" height position. He stated that it throws the front end out of alignment (camber) and causes the tires to cup. They actually had to rotate my front tires to the rear in order to prevent more wear.
Has anyone else been told this? It makes no sense to me that this would be an issue and not be plainly stated in the owners manual.
I personally like the look of the vehicle in the raised position much better. It looks too much like a mini-van in the lowered stance.
Has anyone else been told this? It makes no sense to me that this would be an issue and not be plainly stated in the owners manual.
I personally like the look of the vehicle in the raised position much better. It looks too much like a mini-van in the lowered stance.
"Even at low speeds".......what are they saying? If the vehicle "should not be driven" in the raised position, then what the heck is the raised position for??? Something doesn't make sense here.............
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,517
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
The raised position is to provide additional ground clearance for the vehicle in rough terrain. The normal riding position is not lowered, it is normal and designed to ride in that poisition under normal driving situations. It will also lower automatically to provide better aerodynamics at higher speeds.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 537
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From: Land of Magnolias and Mint Juleps
I took my GL450 in for its 1st checkup (1500 miles). The front tires were cupping. My service advisor explained to me that I should not drive my vehicle even at low speeds while in the "raised" height position. He stated that it throws the front end out of alignment (camber) and causes the tires to cup. They actually had to rotate my front tires to the rear in order to prevent more wear.
Has anyone else been told this? It makes no sense to me that this would be an issue and not be plainly stated in the owners manual.
I personally like the look of the vehicle in the raised position much better. It looks too much like a mini-van in the lowered stance.
Has anyone else been told this? It makes no sense to me that this would be an issue and not be plainly stated in the owners manual.
I personally like the look of the vehicle in the raised position much better. It looks too much like a mini-van in the lowered stance.
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 226
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From: South of the Mason Dixon, North of the Gulf
2007 GL 320 CDI, 2008 M5
I don't mess with ride height but...
I leave the ride height function alone. However, the GL320 seems to raise and lower itself as it wishes. Does anyone else have a similar finding?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 3
From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
While the vehicle does look better raised, I do agree with what NJ said. Another factor for height dropping at higher speeds is to ensure that CG stays low to reduce rollover risk.
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Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 857
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From: NC
2019 Volvo XC90 Magic/Amber, '95 E320 Cabriolet Midnight,'14 GL350 Lunar/Almond was '07 GL320CDI
I also leave it alone; no fording rivers for me. But at stoplights or in the garage, my GL will start dancing up and down at it's leisure (not really, but Airmatic does seem to have a mind of its own)...
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 3
From: LA LA Land
'07 GL 450, '02 S 80 T6
Originally Posted by carpersn
my GL will start dancing up and down at it's leisure
Those engineers at MB, they are always thinking. They might not be thinking the right thing but they are always thinking.
