JoeMa

If you already own a 2013 GL550, please share your impressions. There are so few of them on the road (and at dealerships) that it would informative to hear from actual owners about their cars. Tell us what colors and options you selected, how does feel on the road, have you experienced any problems, etc. Please post pictures of your 550.

I ordered a GL550 that should be devilered by May so I want to learn all I can about this model from current owners of the 2013 model. Thanks.

sraza

my review is under 'my quick review' title.
also i have a cpl pics on the picture thread..

X166

Had the car for a couple of weeks. Love it so far. Everything is as advertised--smooth, quiet, powerful. Interior fit and finish is far better than the x164.

Only gripe--which has been well documented by others--is the fact that Power Easy Entry precludes the user removal of the 2nd row headrests, which makes it difficult if you need to install child safety seats. I was able to manage by raising the headrest and then reclining the seat to the lowest position.

JoeMa

Do you mean that you physically had to remove the headrests in the second row to use the Power Easy Entry feature? If so, why would removing the headrest prevent the use of a child-saftey seat when needed?

If the headrests in the up position (being used) and you press the button to power fold the seat, do the headrest automatically retract or do you have to retract it before pressing the button?

Can you post some pictures of your 550? Thanks.

X166

Power Easy Entry = headrests that cannot be removed because they were designed to automatically retract with the system. The reason why this is an issue with Child Seats, specifically front facing ones, is because the headrest (in up or down positions) makes it difficult to tightly install the Child Seat because it juts out slightly. If you could remove them, the Child Seats could sit flush with the 2nd row seat back.

Apologies--traveling. Will try to snap pics when back in town.

JoeMa

Got it. The headrests would be in the up position for a 2nd-row passenger or a child seat but if you need to access the 3rd row, the headrest must be able to retract and if a child seat is being used, it would have to be removed completely. Then I'm guessing that the headrest would have to be pushed back into the up position before installing the child seat again. Maybe you could just strap the children to the roof?

JimBarnhart

Let me try to explain. The headrest is motor controlled. It pulls in when you activate the easy entry. When you put the seat back it extends back out, but the headrest juts forward of the seat back.

If you want to put a forward facing child seat into the 2nd row, the headrest is in the way. It ends up resting on the headrest instead of the seat back. The fix for people without easy entry is to just permanently remove the headrest. The issue for people with easy entry is that the headrest isn't removable. One person was able to get the dealership to 'break' the headrests off so they could use the car seats.

X166

@JimBarnhart--thanks for clarifying on my behalf; I wasn't able to clearly describe the issue nearly as well.

Overall, you can "make" it fit, but it's far from perfect and a huge oversight from MB, considering the fact that many people transport kids and 2 of the 4 LATCH positions are affected by the design flaw.

JoeMa

Jim, why do you feel it is a design flaw? How could the middle row seats fold up for access to the third row if a child safety seat is being used? Wouldn't a child seat need to be completely removed regardless of the headrest position? In other words, if an owner had MB remove the second row headrests in a model that includes the easy entry option, would they still have to remove a child safety seat before the seat could be folded forward? Maybe I'm missing your point but thought I would ask.

Anyway, thank you for the information.

JimBarnhart

JoeMa, You are confusing the operation of the easy entry as the design flaw. You are right if you use a child seat you sacrifice the use of either the manual or the automatic entry.

The problem is if you have a child and want to install a front facing car seat, you realize you are sacrificing entry into the 3rd row. What you shouldn't have to do is compromise on how well the car seat installs in the 2nd row. If you don't have easy entry, you take off the headrests and you have a nice fit. If you have easy entry the headrests aren't removable and can get in the way of the child seat.

JoeMa

To those interested in the child safety seat discussion, I looked at a GL450 yesterday at my local dealer. With the headrest all the way up in the second row behind the drivers seat, there appeared to be plenty of room to install a child safety seat. I didn't have a safety seat to try (my children are adults now) but the salesman said he has not received or heard of any complaints from his customers about not being able to use a child safety seat in the 2013 model. Maybe some child seat designs will not work well, while others will work fine.

Anyway, just thought I'd pass this along.

sraza

no issues here so far with child seats, i agree not being to take head rest out is an issue, another issue I have is that there is no way to set the height of the headrest, its all up or all down, something ive never seen from MB before.. in my case i have adults complaining that when its down its too low and bothering their back.. though i think its designed fine as the top part of the seat is set back a little to accomodate apart of the headrest being kinda pushed back into the seat..

taking them out wouldve been great, so would the ability to control the height...

rmemory

I'm still waiting for my 450, but I did get the easy entry and have a child seat that I'll place in it, so I'll report on this forum my experience.

I essentially bought the easy entry because it's a relatively cheap option and I think a lot of people (read: Soccer Moms) will value it. I always consider resale value when buying a new car, and I think this feature adds value beyond it's price for the SUV demographic.

I do think that MB believed that if you ordered easy entry, you probably aren't using car seats and therefore the difference in head rests is not an issue. That would be smart on their part, but maybe I'm giving them too much credit.

fabbrisd1

For EZ Entry 2nd row headrests dealers had no preliminary before delivery on two things:

1) EZ Entry 2nd row headrests are not user removable - and dealers can only permanently remove them by diassembling the seat - which is contrary to service policies

2) The headrest design for EZ Entry had to eliminate the "flip" feature of the standard headrest - so the headrest in up
position is about 2" foward of the 2nd row seat backrest the retractable system yes goes up and down - but the retractable system cannot change the front-rear position of the headrest
Z

sbkim

Quick question - is there LATCH in the 3rd row seating? I have two kids and was hoping to have one car seat in the 2nd row and the other in the 3r row. I was hoping Easy entry would facilitate this setup and have ability for adults to sit in the 2nd row. Sorry don't have the car yet and I was curious... Thanks

JoeMa

Just to get this thread back on track, if you own a 2013 GL550 please post some photos (hi-rez) and tell us what you think of your new ride.

twoods

I was able to test drive a '13 450 over the weekend but want a 550. Other than the larger wheels (21") for the 550 are there some styling differences between the 450 and 550 such as more flared wheel arches, grill, etc? Does the 550 look more like the AMG 63?

I haven't seen a 450 and 550 side by side to notice the differences, if any.

sraza

550 and 63 look identlical with some differences
diff style 21 rims (both amg though), side decal v8 biturbo on 63, though both are biturbo, exactly same grills, vents, front and rear bumpers, both have 2 exhausts but 63 has twin tipped exhausts so it looks like there are 4...
overall 550 (or any new gl with amg sports package, except 350 where exhausts are covered, but rest same) and 63 look exactly the same..

JoeMa

sraza, please post a pic of your 550 right here so new comers can see what it looks like.

sraza

450 and 550 have some external differences (there are several internal differences too but here only external mentioned) -
different bumpers, side flares, different front leds, different rims and tire sizes, diff looking exhausts (not sure if they sound different too), standard illuminated running boards, standard lighting package etc

sraza

sure will do tonight- but meanwhile u can find my post on gl picture sticky thread - i have 3 pics posted and also posted pics of my brothers loaded 450 as well

JoeMa

I was hoping you could post some new hi-rez pics. For me, white looks absolutely great on the 550. Your interior is also great looking. The matte-finished wood looks real nice!

More pics please!!!

sraza

posted a few more with my brothers car - post #85 on the picture sticky thread..
hope that helps..

JoeMa

Surely there are more 2013 GL550 owners out there that can post pictures of their rides and tell us what they think.

JoeMa

I called my dealer today to change the color of my yet to built GL 550 from Artic White to Diamond White Metallic. I saw two 450's side-by-side (one of each color) and preferred the Diamond White. It looked better to me in the sun light.

I also wanted to add the chrome door handles but he said they weren't listed as an option. He thought they were standard on the 550 but the web site build shows them as a $95 option. If you own 2013 550, did it come with the chrome handles or did you pay for them as an option.