Drove my old X5 yesterday
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 352
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From: fl
1992 500E, 2006 E500, 2007 GL 450
Drove my old X5 yesterday
I drove my old X5 (2003 4.4 liter) yesterday after a few months with my 2007 GL450. I gave the X5 to my daughter it had only 19000 miles and is in excellent shape. I think I miss it. The GL's interior is far more attractive but whereas the X5 feels like a sport sedan the GL feels like a supersoft luxury sedan by comparison. The GL has a better ride the the X5 but the body control of the X5 was far superior and is the X5 was clearly nicer driver. I think I made a mistake in not getting the off road package with an adjustable suspension and would advise any buyer under the age of 85 to get the adjustable suspension.
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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 drove my old X5 (2003 4.4 liter) yesterday after a few months with my 2007 GL450. I gave the X5 to my daughter it had only 19000 miles and is in excellent shape. I think I miss it. The GL's interior is far more attractive but whereas the X5 feels like a sport sedan the GL feels like a supersoft luxury sedan by comparison. The GL has a better ride the the X5 but the body control of the X5 was far superior and is the X5 was clearly nicer driver. I think I made a mistake in not getting the off road package with an adjustable suspension and would advise any buyer under the age of 85 to get the adjustable suspension.
I'm under and I did...........
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,517
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
I drove my old X5 (2003 4.4 liter) yesterday after a few months with my 2007 GL450. I gave the X5 to my daughter it had only 19000 miles and is in excellent shape. I think I miss it. The GL's interior is far more attractive but whereas the X5 feels like a sport sedan the GL feels like a supersoft luxury sedan by comparison. The GL has a better ride the the X5 but the body control of the X5 was far superior and is the X5 was clearly nicer driver. I think I made a mistake in not getting the off road package with an adjustable suspension and would advise any buyer under the age of 85 to get the adjustable suspension.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Atlanta, GA
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR, USA
GL450 w/ Off-road pkg.
I couldn't (and can't) live without the off-road package...
The unit I bought and took delivery of a few weeks ago has the off-road package and the option to set it on the "Sport" setting makes driving soooo much more pleasurable, almost on par with the X5 that I test drove but didn't fit in as the rig was a little too small for me. I rarely set the suspension in "Normal" mode and leave it that way, as the "Comfort" setting is great for the superslab!
The "Standard" setting is great for getting out in the sticks, tho', as the stiffer mode tends to beat me up a bit.
I'm looking to get a second set of wheels/tires for normal driving that will compliment the "Sport" setting and put some real off-road tires on the 18s that came with the rig.
And, I did go so far as to talk with MBUSA about not offering the off road package with the diesel motor in the NA market - the explanation included a bit about that over 80 percent of the GLs are sold in TX and CA and 95 percent of those will never see mud
. I was told that I could import one from overseas but would have to go through the grey market process. The ULS diesel is hard to find in Oregon outside Portland, anyway.
The "Standard" setting is great for getting out in the sticks, tho', as the stiffer mode tends to beat me up a bit.
I'm looking to get a second set of wheels/tires for normal driving that will compliment the "Sport" setting and put some real off-road tires on the 18s that came with the rig.
And, I did go so far as to talk with MBUSA about not offering the off road package with the diesel motor in the NA market - the explanation included a bit about that over 80 percent of the GLs are sold in TX and CA and 95 percent of those will never see mud
. I was told that I could import one from overseas but would have to go through the grey market process. The ULS diesel is hard to find in Oregon outside Portland, anyway.
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
The unit I bought and took delivery of a few weeks ago has the off-road package and the option to set it on the "Sport" setting makes driving soooo much more pleasurable, almost on par with the X5 that I test drove but didn't fit in as the rig was a little too small for me. I rarely set the suspension in "Normal" mode and leave it that way, as the "Comfort" setting is great for the superslab!
The "Standard" setting is great for getting out in the sticks, tho', as the stiffer mode tends to beat me up a bit.
I'm looking to get a second set of wheels/tires for normal driving that will compliment the "Sport" setting and put some real off-road tires on the 18s that came with the rig.
And, I did go so far as to talk with MBUSA about not offering the off road package with the diesel motor in the NA market - the explanation included a bit about that over 80 percent of the GLs are sold in TX and CA and 95 percent of those will never see mud. I was told that I could import one from overseas but would have to go through the grey market process. The ULS diesel is hard to find in Oregon outside Portland, anyway.
The "Standard" setting is great for getting out in the sticks, tho', as the stiffer mode tends to beat me up a bit.
I'm looking to get a second set of wheels/tires for normal driving that will compliment the "Sport" setting and put some real off-road tires on the 18s that came with the rig.
And, I did go so far as to talk with MBUSA about not offering the off road package with the diesel motor in the NA market - the explanation included a bit about that over 80 percent of the GLs are sold in TX and CA and 95 percent of those will never see mud
. I was told that I could import one from overseas but would have to go through the grey market process. The ULS diesel is hard to find in Oregon outside Portland, anyway.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 352
Likes: 1
From: fl
1992 500E, 2006 E500, 2007 GL 450
I could have done without the complete offroad package but the GL needs adjustable shocks. I bought mine off the lot and thought adjustable shocks were standard as did virtually all the mags doing road tests. I drive my E500 in the firmest sport setting virtually all of the time. I run 35lbs of tire pressure on all 4 corners in the GL, which helps a little bit, but the stock suspension still seems mushy to me. It is the only aspect of the GL for which I have buyer's remorse. My wife is the primary driver of the GL and doesn't seem to mind. My favorite ride is my 1992 500E which still seems to have the best balance of ride and handling I have come across. Perhaps MB could send the GL to Porsche for some old suspension magic.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,517
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
I could have done without the complete offroad package but the GL needs adjustable shocks. I bought mine off the lot and thought adjustable shocks were standard as did virtually all the mags doing road tests. I drive my E500 in the firmest sport setting virtually all of the time. I run 35lbs of tire pressure on all 4 corners in the GL, which helps a little bit, but the stock suspension still seems mushy to me. It is the only aspect of the GL for which I have buyer's remorse. My wife is the primary driver of the GL and doesn't seem to mind. My favorite ride is my 1992 500E which still seems to have the best balance of ride and handling I have come across. Perhaps MB could send the GL to Porsche for some old suspension magic.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 1
From: Socialist West Coast
95 E320, 19 Ram 1500 Hemi, 21 GLS 580(wife)
would MBUSA warranty a grey market GL?
These rigs are all on the same assembly line right? I don't see why it is so hard for MBUSA to add the ORP.
These rigs are all on the same assembly line right? I don't see why it is so hard for MBUSA to add the ORP.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR, USA
GL450 w/ Off-road pkg.
Got mine muddy over the weekend
!
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 254
Likes: 4
From: N. Illinois, USA
2021 GLS450, 2015 E250BT 4Matic, 2007 GL320CDI, 2005 SLK350, 2001 SLK320
I visited an MB dealer during a visit to Dublin a couple of years ago. The models were approx double the price of U.S. models. Some of that was due to the Euro-Dollar exchange rate, but mostly it was the taxes that they pay over there. As another data point, I was talking to a co-worker in Singapore and she paid the same for a Subaru Forester as I paid for a nicely-optioned SLK350.
Yep, we're pretty lucky over here, other than the fact that MBUSA likes to withhold features that are available overseas.
Yep, we're pretty lucky over here, other than the fact that MBUSA likes to withhold features that are available overseas.
