X166

@JoeMa - Chrome on the tops of the door handles is standard on the 550. The additional chrome would be inserts on the concave portion "behind" the door handle on the body of the door it self, if that description makes sense...

sraza

chrome on the top of the handle comes on the. 450 too..

yes the chrome cups and chrome fins on the hood are extra- not standard on the 450 or the 550..

JoeMa

Just to be clear, if you go to the MBUSA web site and build a 550, there is an option "Chrome Door Handle Inserts". I ask my salesman to add this option today and he said it is not listed on the MB ordering system for a 550. He said it may be standard on the 550 now.

Here is a pic of the option as it appears on the web site:

JoeMa

Here is a summary of what I ordered:

JoeMa

I called my salesman and ask him to remove the EASY-ENTRY option from my build. There is another forum that discusses some issues with models equipped with this feature. The headrests do not swivel back when fully extended creating a bump for passengers and making it difficult to use a child safety seat. Below is a picture illustrating the difference between the two headrest options. I've also read that the headrests on models with EASY-ENTRY cannot be removed by the customer.

blittle

Are they currently selling these chrome extras for the 2013? I had them on my 2011 and they really do add a "nice touch" to the overall appearance. I would like to order for my 2013 450!

JoeMa

My salesman said they are not listed on the ordering system but they are listed on the MB web site when you build a 550. He said they can add them at the dealership if they are not included at the factory. So I would say you can get them from the dealership.

Do you have the EASY-ENTRY option on your 450?

blittle

No easy entry for me.......the manual flip works just fine for me, and, I seldom will ever use it!

JimBarnhart

The fins:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-OEM-Mercedes-Benz-GL-Class-X166-Chrome-Hood-Fins-/350586886787?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51a09b5a83&vxp=mtr
The handle inserts:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-OEM-Mercedes-Benz-GL-Class-X166-Chrome-Door-Handle-Inserts-/261080617715?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cc99e12f3&vxp=mtr
I don't know either of the listings, nor have I ordered them myself. But those are examples.

JoeMa

I figured it out, the web site shows Chrome Door Handle Inserts as an available option but my salesman told me that option is not listed on the MB ordering system.

It is actually called the Accessory Chrome Package which includes the chrome hood vent inserts and the chrome door handle inserts.

This site is very helpful!

sraza

thats soo weird- i got easy entry and my rear headrests go all the way up and swivel back just like the non easy entry option.. sure i cant take them out but i would probably never do that cuz i'll put them some place 'safe' and then never find them!

JoeMa

Maybe the pre-production units had the fixed headrests but MB later modified them to swivel. This is big for me because my salesman is changing my order today to remove EASY-ENTRY.

Can you post a picture of your headrests fully extended showing the EAZY-ENTRY button? I'm curious, if they are swiveled in and you press the button, does the power folder system retract the headrest on its own or do you manually have to lower the headrest first?

blittle

I checked the web listing for these..... the title does indeed say "GL" but when you dig into the listing it says "compatible with 1 vehicle.... 2012 ML" so who knows what you are getting.

sbkim

Hope to have some review and Picts next week assuming eta per my dealership is correct. The computer system supposedly shows march 26. How accurate is this date?

sraza

if its build date its pretty accurate- but if its delivery date i'm not sure.. thats really dependent on where you are and then truck travel time once picked up off rail to dealer..
theyr coming in 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule- i was told mid to late feb (just to be safe) and was dropped off on Jan 31st..

good luck and congrats!

sbkim

Thanks sraza. I was told mid April but now they are saying last week in March. The car is built last week and just waiting for shipment. I am in Chicago area so I presume that's only 2-3 day transit.

sraza

o nice- yea my build date was Jan 16 and its was at the dealer jan 31st.. i'm in the midwest too- so yes last week of March sounds just right

JoeMa

Anyone recently take delivery on a GL 550? If so, let us know and post some pictures of your new ride.

JoeMa

My dealer called me today to ask if I wanted to look at 550 that was just delivered last night? He thought the owner was coming in this afternoon to take delivery so I said yes and drove to the dealership within an hour to see it. It was Black with the brown Designo interior and it had everything on it you can get here in the USA (112K).

I ordered my 550 a month ago without ever seeing one of them in the flesh, I was not disappointed. The AMG appearance package really makes the vehicle pop. And the AMG wheels looked better in the flesh than on the pictures. Right now it's looking like a May delivery for my GL, I can't wait.

JoeMa

Has anyone actually replaced the standard plastic door lock pins in the 2013 GL with MB factory AMG pins? If so, please post a link to where you purchased them and explain how easy or difficult it was to replace them. Thanks.

patekfan88

JoeMa, I am in the same boat as you. I have only seen one GL550 and recently ordered a Diamond White, Designo Porcelain and Piano Black GL550 (basically sight unseen). I am expecting, per my dealership, a mid-May delivery but I did hear last week that I received a VIN number. Let me know if you hear anything from your dealer regarding timing as it looks our GL550s will be coming from Vance at similar times-- I will surely do the same. Can't wait!

JoeMa

I ordered my 550 before I knew much about Designo but after seeing that black 550 with the brown design interior, I would have opted for it as well. So good for you.

I did receive an email from my salesman that the my GL has a scheduled production date of 4/15/2013. He did not mention a VIN number being assigned so it may be that your GL has already been built. If so, you should be getting it much sooner, maybe in another two weeks.

What other options did you select?

patekfan88

My salesman also said a 2nd week of April production so I am sure we're in the same decade/week of production. I hope it comes earlier--I'll keep you posted.

My car build is as follows:
Diamond White Metallic
designo Porcelain leather
designo wood/leather steering wheel
designo Black Piano Lacquer Wood Trim
Parking Assist Pkg (P44)
Rear Sunshades (264)
EASY-ENTRY 2nd Row (843)
Rear Seat Entertainment System (864)
Heated Rear Seats (872)
Lockable Rear Storage Compartment (888)
Driver Assistance Package (997)

I am lucky to have waited to get EASY-ENTRY 2nd row...

All the best.

JoeMa

My car build is as follows:
Diamond White Metallic
Almond Beige Leather
Panorama Roof
Parking Assist Package
Driver Assistance Package
Rear Sunshades
EASY-ENTRY 2nd Row
Lockable Rear Storage Compartment

I test drove a GL with DISTRONIC PLUS. Wow, that is an impressive system. It handled acceleration and braking perfectly, even in heavy traffic. Have you tested it in a GL yet?

patekfan88

I must have forgotten to add the Pano roof to my list but it's definitely on my order sheet! I haven't tested DISTRONIC in a GL--I have it on my 2010 S550 and 2012 CLS550 but I am not sure if those have the newest version of DISTRONIC. I have heard great things about how the car can come to a complete stop if the car ahead stops at a red light...