43221B

I think you might be referring to older Mercedes diesels. The whole glow plug process is automated. You hit the keyless start button and it waits as long as it needs to which is usually no longer than a half second in even the coldest weather.

Brocktoon

Not automated on mine, but I don't have keyless go. Mine has also taken as long as 40 seconds to warm, but that was at -40F. I don't know what you are talking about.

Petmerctech

I forgot about the Keyless Go. You are correct that the Keyless Go diesels' glow plug warm up process is automated.

I was referring to the regular smartkey system.

43221B

Wow, -40 degrees! Now that is cold. I've only had mine through one winter and it has probably only been in the single digits but it takes less than a second for the engine to fire even at those temps. It is nearly imperceptible the difference in starting time between cold and warm weather with keyless go.

Brocktoon

It is, but the GL started, ran great, and made heat!

DucatiNut

Keyless go or NO keyless go, the glow plug heat up is automated on all the diesels. I am aware of the issue but my starting problems are not related to this....

unclefester

I understand what you are saying, but none of that bothers me that much. The delay in the rear view camera is a quirk that I just wait for. Most of my backing up is from out of my garage, so not a huge deal for me.

In the past year of owning our 2008 GL, I have loved it. This is my wife's daily driver and she loves it too. My biggest complaint is the lack of upper range in the sound system (we have the upgraded sound), especially with satellite radio.

For comparison, one can make a couple of the same complaints of my daily driver - the Cayenne. The glove box is small, the door sills scratch in the same fashion and the shifting is not always smooth as silk. However, as I stated before, none of these bother me and don't detract from my enjoyment of driving these vehicles.

43221B

Wait until the company that treats your lawn shows up with their truck parked behind your garage for the first time in forever early in the morning with only their front bumper sticking out around the side of your garage or some other similiar circumstance. Parktronic will not save you. Just saying...

StevethePilot

Parktronic will also not save you if you live someplace that has Aztec-style square columns everywhere, where there's a "strap" about two inches deep and four inches high just above the level of the Parktronic sensors, so as you back up and the system tells you everything is still fine, you're crunching your bumper anyway.

So yes, sometimes it's not Parktronic, and sometimes it's not the camera. Sometimes, just sometimes, it's acutal driving skill that's needed. Like when your niece parks behind your car for the first time ever in her Camry and you don't even think to look because nobody's ever been back there. And you're driving your LX470 with a Jaos rear bumper guard, and don't have Parktronic or a camera or (in this case) any driving skills whatsoever, and you feel like a doof for smashing right in to her bumper even though it's her who should've known not to park there, for chrissakes ... sorry, I just went off there for a second.

So the moral is, don't do drugs. And stay in school kids. Thank you, and have a nice day.

BETO

Welcome to the club. That's why this is my last Mercedes. No wonder the stealership is empty lately, while the bimmer is always full.

waxking1

I went from a GL450 to an X5 35D and my wife has complained about almost everything on the BMW and wishes she had her 450 back. I like the BMW a little better, mostly for the seat and handling. Both have pluses and minuses but if I had it to do over again I would probably buy another GL since it is primarily my wife's vehicle.

mdadgar

Holy crap is this annoying! Anyone know if there's an update that inproves this?

- Mark

EWT

That's one thing the older system apparently does better. My 08 changes Sirius stations instantly, at least when switching between presets.

StevethePilot

Yes, there's a fix for it - it's called the old XM system with about 100 times the ground repeaters of the Sirius system. Until I got a Sirius system, I was unaware that an overpass, tall building, leaf or fly over my Sirius antenna could effectively block out all sat signal. But I digress ...

mdadgar

I think they are not maintaining the XM network the way they used to. My previous car had XM, as does my wife's, and the reception has gotten noticeably worse over the last year or so. Increasing dropouts, etc.

- Mark

StevethePilot

Same with my wife's car. Ipso "XM's old network!" Mergers can really stink sometimes. You know, Sirius/XM, DamlierChrysler ...