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2013 GL450 Performance Behavior Question

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Old Feb 23, 2013 | 10:04 AM
  #1  
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2013 GL450 Performance Behavior Question

Been driving the GL for two months. There is one thing that seems odd and at times annoying. I am wondering if this is just the way it is, thus, standard behavior. Here is an example of what I am experiencing. By the way, my GL450 does not have sport mode or anything like that. When you come to rolling stop at a stop sign (some call it a California Stop) and then go to accelerate so you can come back up to speed, there is quite a delay when stepping on the accelerator. It seems like the accelerator is just not sensitive enough. Even if you really step into it, the GL takes a second or two to react. Does anyone else feel this way. Once underway, it is quick to accelerate when you step into into it. This delay is pronounced when you are rolling along very slowly or beginning to accelerate onto a freeway ramp or any street just after making a turn. I hope I am being clear here. I know this is a 5500 lb SUV, but it does accelerate well when underway except for this "just starting off" behavior. Any comments?

Last edited by Steve Maislin; Feb 23, 2013 at 05:57 PM.
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Old Feb 23, 2013 | 10:15 AM
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turbo lag?
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Old Feb 23, 2013 | 10:28 AM
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That is turbo lag and present on most all vehicles that are twin-turbo. Some are better than others. My CLS63 had it slightly and it got a lot less noticeable with the throttle being a lot more responsive (do not have to push in as far for it to take off) after I got the Renntech Tune. I am going to do the same again as soon as I get my GL450 that I have on order. Their tune increases HP from 362 to 530HP and should make the GL a whole lot more responsive and put it up there in the GL63 performance category.
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Old Feb 23, 2013 | 10:40 AM
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Not that it is all that important???

Originally Posted by wheelsloose
Their tune increases HP from 362 to 530HP and should make the GL a whole lot more responsive and put it up there in the GL63 performance category.
But, did you also see a reduction in fuel efficiency with this ECU tune?
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Old Feb 23, 2013 | 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve Maislin
But, did you also see a reduction in fuel efficiency with this ECU tune?
Ive heard it increases fuel economy
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Old Feb 23, 2013 | 02:59 PM
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[QUOTE=cookstar;5555699]Ive heard it increases fuel economy.....
Really?? Usually a performance oriented ( increase in HP and torque ) tune is at the sacrifice of economy and/or environmental factors. Their web site indicates tunes of this sort are most definitely "performance" oriented.
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Old Feb 23, 2013 | 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve Maislin
But, did you also see a reduction in fuel efficiency with this ECU tune?
It is a function of how you drive. If you drive exactly the same (same acceleration from startup) and just cruise along then it actually is supposed to increase economy somewhere around 1MPG but usually when you can access power easier and the car will accelerate better without pushing in the accelerator further in you tend to drive faster or get to your desired speed quicker so it can slightly decrease your MPG. With my CLS63 I was seeing 15-16 for combined driving (spirited most of the time) and after the tune I consistently see around 14.5-15.2 combined which for having the HP and TQ I now have I am very happy with.

I am actually waiting for one of the lead tuners at Renntech to call me back about new GL tune because the results look pretty impressive as well. I guessing 0-60 will be high 4s to around 5sec which will be impressive for a big SUV.
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Old Feb 23, 2013 | 06:07 PM
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Is this what you are talking about doing to your 2013 GL450?

http://www.renntechmercedes.com/www/node/1056
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Old Feb 23, 2013 | 08:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve Maislin
Is this what you are talking about doing to your 2013 GL450?

http://www.renntechmercedes.com/www/node/1056

Yes. This is what I have on my CLS http://www.renntechmercedes.com/www/node/566 and it is incredible. These guys have been around a long time and have one of the best reputations for Mercedes in the tuning world. They do alot more research and development than most groups and their tunes are a lot safer than many in the industry which is why they are expensive. There are only a few names out there that I trust to tune Mercedes and they are one of them.
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Old Feb 26, 2013 | 08:50 PM
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If you drive the GL in a very mild manner does the transmission adapt to it. Might this change the shift patterns. During the break period in I have driven this way. Will things change if I begin to drive it more aggressively? Thoughts?
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Old Feb 26, 2013 | 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve Maislin
If you drive the GL in a very mild manner does the transmission adapt to it. Might this change the shift patterns. During the break period in I have driven this way. Will things change if I begin to drive it more aggressively? Thoughts?
My CLS63 was that way and I also drove it easy during the break-in period. After the tune one of the largest differences was when in sport or sport+ mode I would only have to push the pedal in about 1/3 of the way less to get it to start responding well where I used to have to push almost 3/4 of the way to get into the powerband. I assume the GL450 with tune will be the same way.

Another suggestion is after you have the GL broken in disconnect the battery for 60 seconds or more and reconnect. I know on the CLS this resets all of the adaptations in the ECU and many owners on this forum reported good results.
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Old Feb 26, 2013 | 09:04 PM
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Your car is just holding 2nd gear since you are still rolling and haven't mashed the accelerator. If you press it all the way down, it will go into first and accelerate quickly. Mercedes does this for increased fuel economy.
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Old Feb 26, 2013 | 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by wheelsloose
Yes. This is what I have on my CLS http://www.renntechmercedes.com/www/node/566 and it is incredible. These guys have been around a long time and have one of the best reputations for Mercedes in the tuning world. They do alot more research and development than most groups and their tunes are a lot safer than many in the industry which is why they are expensive. There are only a few names out there that I trust to tune Mercedes and they are one of them.
I feel the same way. I had my CL600 tuned and got over 125 RWHP with the Renntech tune. It took the car from less than 500 hp to over 640 hp.
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Old Feb 26, 2013 | 10:10 PM
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Originally Posted by BlownV8
I feel the same way. I had my CL600 tuned and got over 125 RWHP with the Renntech tune. It took the car from less than 500 hp to over 640 hp.

Enjoy! In my younger years I would have done the same..... but at this point i know i can cruise comfortably at 100 mph if i want to take the risk....there's no more concern about how quickly I can come off the line or 1/4 mile results! What i do want , however, is the vehicle to be able to get out of the way if needed, and the nearly 3 ton GL does that pretty well stock. ( secretly, i hope the desire for performance never fades..... but i think fuel issues etc. are ultimately going to force reality on everyone )
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Old Feb 26, 2013 | 10:25 PM
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Originally Posted by blittle
Enjoy! In my younger years I would have done the same..... but at this point i know i can cruise comfortably at 100 mph if i want to take the risk....there's no more concern about how quickly I can come off the line or 1/4 mile results! What i do want , however, is the vehicle to be able to get out of the way if needed, and the nearly 3 ton GL does that pretty well stock. ( secretly, i hope the desire for performance never fades..... but i think fuel issues etc. are ultimately going to force reality on everyone )
There will always be performance options around. Just look at the Tesla Model S. A buddy of mine just picked up one and it has pretty sweet performance up to about 85MPH for an electric car.
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Old Feb 27, 2013 | 07:18 PM
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Yes, it does hold second gear

Originally Posted by BlownV8
Your car is just holding 2nd gear since you are still rolling and haven't mashed the accelerator. If you press it all the way down, it will go into first and accelerate quickly. Mercedes does this for increased fuel economy.
Finally, and yes, I concur, and as you say, it is simply that it does hold second gear. Because, if I come to a full stop and then slam down the accelerator you almost end up sitting in the back seat. Of course, if I roll into a stop and take the pedal to the metal it also rockets forward as it downshifts.

Now, here is a strange thing. Today, I stopped on a steep hill. Turned off the traction control. I punched the accelerator to the floor. The GL took off so fast that I got dizzy. I mean really dizzy. Yowza, that was weird. Clearly, my inner ears aren't meant for this.

OK, I am fine now. The GL does do as I had hoped, it is just a bit different than I expected. I also did the disconnect of the battery for a minute, just for fun. Finding the battery was a trick. I certainly don't want to be the person who needs to get it out of that very special compartment. :-)

Last edited by Steve Maislin; Feb 27, 2013 at 07:20 PM.
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Old Feb 27, 2013 | 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Steve Maislin
Finding the battery was a trick. I certainly don't want to be the person who needs to get it out of that very special compartment. :-)
Now you are an official GL owner - you know where the battery is located. Maybe we should have a quiz on how well you know your GL?
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Old Feb 27, 2013 | 09:49 PM
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Heaven forbid someone uses the left paddle to shift into 1st gear from stop/rolling and eliminate the drama of pedal kickdown...
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Old Feb 27, 2013 | 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by JimBarnhart
Now you are an official GL owner - you know where the battery is located. Maybe we should have a quiz on how well you know your GL?
question 1: where is the second battery located? NO CHEATING
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Old Feb 28, 2013 | 09:42 AM
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Originally Posted by cookstar
question 1: where is the second battery located? NO CHEATING
We could probably start with the question "what is the auxiliary battery used for?"

I must confess I have no idea where the 2nd/auxiliary battery is located. On my 2007 it was behind the dash. I do think they moved it next to the main battery in newer models. Not sure where they put it on the 2013, but I'll guess next to the main battery.
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Old Feb 28, 2013 | 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by JimBarnhart
We could probably start with the question "what is the auxiliary battery used for?"

I must confess I have no idea where the 2nd/auxiliary battery is located. On my 2007 it was behind the dash. I do think they moved it next to the main battery in newer models. Not sure where they put it on the 2013, but I'll guess next to the main battery.
interesting... my second battery for my 08 was in the second row passenger side floor panel (1/3rd under the front seat)
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Old Mar 30, 2025 | 08:13 AM
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I’m late

Originally Posted by Steve Maislin
Been driving the GL for two months. There is one thing that seems odd and at times annoying. I am wondering if this is just the way it is, thus, standard behavior. Here is an example of what I am experiencing. By the way, my GL450 does not have sport mode or anything like that. When you come to rolling stop at a stop sign (some call it a California Stop) and then go to accelerate so you can come back up to speed, there is quite a delay when stepping on the accelerator. It seems like the accelerator is just not sensitive enough. Even if you really step into it, the GL takes a second or two to react. Does anyone else feel this way. Once underway, it is quick to accelerate when you step into into it. This delay is pronounced when you are rolling along very slowly or beginning to accelerate onto a freeway ramp or any street just after making a turn. I hope I am being clear here. I know this is a 5500 lb SUV, but it does accelerate well when underway except for this "just starting off" behavior. Any comments?
im pretty late but hopefully you still have the car or see this.
its the oil pressure Mercedes run at low bar and high bar. Doing a simple oil solenoid mod which consists of just unplugging it will fix this. It is not turbo lag these cars have none. You also have to consider it’s only 360 hp moving 5400 pounds. But changing the car to run at full psi will make it less laggy. And transmission tunes but idk about those have not done one
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