blittle

The most comfort..... 18" wheels..... the least, 21" For me, the larger wheels and low profile tires are all about looks....if you drive a vehicle big miles and want the "luxury ride", then the lower profile tires ( larger diameter wheels) are going to compromise that....... any vehicle.

cookstar

cant go 18's with the 2013's, someone else tried winter tires with 18 inch rims and got no where, 19 is the lowest you can do, I would love to have 19x10 but sadly its not possible, the X5 offers 20x11ish which is great.

sraza

its a touch stiffer- nothing you can feel-
with 18s i felt it had more body roll-
i dont feel much of a difference with 20s or 21s-
with 20s i recc using 285s instead of standard 275s- makes a difference..


on a seperate note with those who have already gotten their 450s and 550s- do any of you feel that because these are all biturbos the early morning engine start seems slightly louder than the 1st generation... today for a very breif second i heard a little tapping sound on start (not a cold start) one of my freinds whose a corvette engineer heard it and said maybe need to reset the tappers (or something like that) - i did tell him that german engines start differently than American and are always louder on start up and then simmer down- i've noticed this in MBs, Beemers and porsches - all are the same.

any thoughts from anyone? i'm thinkin of asking my dealer tomm but feel that this is normal engine sound with these biturbos..

blittle

Correct, I was aware of that.....just stating the fact based on my 2007 GL which had 18"s and in comparison to my 2011 which has the 19's.....the 2013 ( picking up today ) , I specified the 19's for the less stiffer ride AND better handling in the snow than 20's. If 18's had been an option I would have gone there. Its all in how you want it to look and/or handle.....

JoeMa

I'm wondering if MB tuned the air-shock suspension in the GL550 to compensate for the 21" wheels and tires. But only someone who owns a 2013 GL550 would know for sure.
So if you actually own a 2013 GL550 with the AMG wheels, please add your comments about the ride.

cookstar

GL350 and 450 in Canada come with the same rims and tire options as standard on the 550, I have been told the 550 sits about an inch lower

Dalema

I actually asked my service guy about that as it is super noisy on start up - I joked if they gave me a diesel by mistake. He said on start up there is a blower / fan to help the turbos get up to temperature.

I also think it is a pretty loud engine overall - in a drivethru with window open - I was - is that me?? Quiet inside though!

sraza

lol-- yea that was exactly my reaction too.. and yes cabin is real quiet..

i felt it had to be related to the turbos and the fan/blower explanation makes sense..

sraza

the 550 def sits a little lower... i think the air suspension is tuned which is why in the 550 you can select comfort/sport
as far as i'm concerned the ride is really no different compared with 20s...
i've driven a gl with 18s (1st gen), 20s and 21s- i prefer the 20s and 21s.
i think it makes more of a difference with the rim width as well- the 10" wide rims like the 21 amgs and if you can score stock 20amgs that are 10" wide i think makes a difference- now i'm told extra wide is not ideal for snow and better for dry/wet conditions though personally i feel having the rim/tire fill the wheel well is better than narrow tires or having them extend beyond the body line in any suv of this width and size-- my 2cents

JoeMa

Thanks for the comments. Do you own a 2013 GL550? If so, what colors and options did you select?

cookstar

The ADS in Canada is the exact same in the GL350 ( Sport Pack) GL450 Sport Pack and GL550, as far as I was told today no difference in tuning. All 3 come with the comfort mode on start up unless you select sport mode, I;ll take pics once we pick up the car.

sraza

o- i thought the ADS is an add on option for the 450 without which you cant select comfort/sport..

cookstar

its an option, as far as I know you need ADS to have sport mode ( falls under sport package $2900) where I purchased.

sraza

yup thats exactly what it is

sraza

used paddle shifters for first time today - i really like them on the 1st gen too-
waited 1200 miles to use them on the 2013... pretty impressed with pull, exhaust acoustics and shifts. seems a little more smoother and sporty than the 1st gen..

also sport vs comfort: seems that it lowers a little in sport mode- i'm not sure if the transmission shifts a little differently too but i noticed quicker shifting (though i would think it'd be longer shifts, then again i didnt really punch it) and yes suspension def feels more different/sportier and 'feel the road more' also the steering felt a little more, just a touch stiffer, to improve handling- makes me want to recheck my order sheet again- i mightve gotten active curve (dont really remember all the specs and options- i know you'd think you remember all of them!)

first set of pirellis for me in a loooooong time- def like the grip and handling (i prefer michelins and though not a fan of continentals i did start liking them a little bit more with one of our recent cars) but honestly i'm impressed all season pirellis- only 2 options with amg 21s for any gl- pirelli or conti and my dealer too prefers pirellis...

sraza

another thing i noticed- not a big deal but the brake lights are not LEDs (not the 3rd light)
that might change in future models, i think...

JoeMa

sraza - please post some pictures of your GL550

sraza

i have a couple posted on the pictures sticky thread..
will try and post more

JoeMa

staza, you are certainly qualified to respond to the question of ride quality of the GL550 since your brother owns a 450 and you own the 550. Do you notice any difference when both are in the normal mode?

sraza

honestly i havnt had a chance to ride it yet- but my brother drove both and didnt mention much of a difference between the two- once i drive his i'l post a review on it..

sraza

not really sure why all new GLs have standard bulbs and no leds for brake lights- i presume 14s will have led brakelights like all the other models-

as far as the engine sound goes the 450 and 550 are both loud- sound exactly the same in idling- not sure yet if exhaust note is different on both- though i wanna say its probably the same.. front DRL LEDs are different on both..

cookstar

I thought the 13's did have rear LED lights?

sraza

it does- they all do- except the brakelight is a bulb

cookstar

ohh ok got it!