Realibility review of my 2013 GL350
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,313
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From: Toronto
2005 ML350, 2008 GL320, 2013 Gl350
Realibility review of my 2013 GL350
Here is a list of problems I have had so far with the vehicle:
1) Crease in black headliner, the entire headliner will be replaced on Monday
2) Leather seats in one of the back seats was stretched from day one like a 500 pound gorilla was sitting on it, will be replaced on Monday.
3) Windshield wiper on driver side jumps over the window instead of gliding,will be replaced on Monday.
4) Plastic trim above front passenger side door is bulging outwards.
5) Brakes make a metal on metal sound.
6) Battery crapped out after less than 50 km, dealer found no issues (no surprise)
7) Rear passenger side door trim coming lose and has to be pushed back in every 20-30 times that the door is opened.
1) Crease in black headliner, the entire headliner will be replaced on Monday
2) Leather seats in one of the back seats was stretched from day one like a 500 pound gorilla was sitting on it, will be replaced on Monday.
3) Windshield wiper on driver side jumps over the window instead of gliding,will be replaced on Monday.
4) Plastic trim above front passenger side door is bulging outwards.
5) Brakes make a metal on metal sound.
6) Battery crapped out after less than 50 km, dealer found no issues (no surprise)
7) Rear passenger side door trim coming lose and has to be pushed back in every 20-30 times that the door is opened.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 7
From: Toronto
2005 ML350, 2008 GL320, 2013 Gl350
Yep, less than 2500 km on as of right now, most of the issues were prevalent from day one but to be honest I am not all that surprised as I know the first model year is the worst for potential problems.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 57
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2013 GL350. BMW 335. 2014R1200RTW
10,000 miles on our 2013 GL350; no issues and I mean zip, nada! Absolutely love it, I really enjoy driving my BMW 335i and I'm starting to walk right by it to hop in the 350 when I'm headed out.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 7
From: Toronto
2005 ML350, 2008 GL320, 2013 Gl350
Dropped off the car today and got a loaner GLK250, you can definitely notice the turbo lag but once it starts moving it really moves, the car itself is low quality crap but a great engine minus the lag. The one they gave me seems to be bare bones, no options what so ever.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,653
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From: Central Pa.
2013 GL450 (traded for 2015 Escalade), 2012 Corvette, 2014 Ford Fusion, Previous: 2007 GL450, 2011
heading for 12k on my 450 and have dad none of those issues..... ( did just go out and look at the trim just in case!)
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 365
Likes: 8
From: San Diego, CA
08 E63 Arctic White/Black
i haven't noticed any of the build quality issues you mention, but i do think the leather seats in the back look really odd sometimes. they aren't smooth at all and even when brand new looked creased and like a wrinkled elephant in some places.
i don't know how it compares to the MB-Tex seats, but my previous 450 w/ MB-Tex looked very smooth and no one would know it wasn't leather. in fact my husband didn't even know until i told him like a year later.
but the wrinkled elephant look in the new X166 leather rear seats is very strange. i just took out my child seats to buy some stuff, and the cushions and leather looked terrible. of course they don't look great on any car when you remove the seats, but the X166 in particular it looks like big, gross wrinkled elephant. that's the best way to describe it. they certainly didn't look like that on the 450 when i removed the seats, and the "dented" area sprung back to life rather quickly.
i think a few days will be sufficient for it to smooth out a bit, but like i said, even when it was brand new it had some creases to it that i thought looked very strange for a high end luxury car. when you look at dealer inventory of actual cars in stock, the side view of the leather seating looks wrinkled too. so i don't think it's just mine, that is just the way it is.
i don't know how it compares to the MB-Tex seats, but my previous 450 w/ MB-Tex looked very smooth and no one would know it wasn't leather. in fact my husband didn't even know until i told him like a year later.
but the wrinkled elephant look in the new X166 leather rear seats is very strange. i just took out my child seats to buy some stuff, and the cushions and leather looked terrible. of course they don't look great on any car when you remove the seats, but the X166 in particular it looks like big, gross wrinkled elephant. that's the best way to describe it. they certainly didn't look like that on the 450 when i removed the seats, and the "dented" area sprung back to life rather quickly.
i think a few days will be sufficient for it to smooth out a bit, but like i said, even when it was brand new it had some creases to it that i thought looked very strange for a high end luxury car. when you look at dealer inventory of actual cars in stock, the side view of the leather seating looks wrinkled too. so i don't think it's just mine, that is just the way it is.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 7
From: Toronto
2005 ML350, 2008 GL320, 2013 Gl350
i haven't noticed any of the build quality issues you mention, but i do think the leather seats in the back look really odd sometimes. they aren't smooth at all and even when brand new looked creased and like a wrinkled elephant in some places.
i don't know how it compares to the MB-Tex seats, but my previous 450 w/ MB-Tex looked very smooth and no one would know it wasn't leather. in fact my husband didn't even know until i told him like a year later.
but the wrinkled elephant look in the new X166 leather rear seats is very strange. i just took out my child seats to buy some stuff, and the cushions and leather looked terrible. of course they don't look great on any car when you remove the seats, but the X166 in particular it looks like big, gross wrinkled elephant. that's the best way to describe it. they certainly didn't look like that on the 450 when i removed the seats, and the "dented" area sprung back to life rather quickly.
i think a few days will be sufficient for it to smooth out a bit, but like i said, even when it was brand new it had some creases to it that i thought looked very strange for a high end luxury car. when you look at dealer inventory of actual cars in stock, the side view of the leather seating looks wrinkled too. so i don't think it's just mine, that is just the way it is.
i don't know how it compares to the MB-Tex seats, but my previous 450 w/ MB-Tex looked very smooth and no one would know it wasn't leather. in fact my husband didn't even know until i told him like a year later.
but the wrinkled elephant look in the new X166 leather rear seats is very strange. i just took out my child seats to buy some stuff, and the cushions and leather looked terrible. of course they don't look great on any car when you remove the seats, but the X166 in particular it looks like big, gross wrinkled elephant. that's the best way to describe it. they certainly didn't look like that on the 450 when i removed the seats, and the "dented" area sprung back to life rather quickly.
i think a few days will be sufficient for it to smooth out a bit, but like i said, even when it was brand new it had some creases to it that i thought looked very strange for a high end luxury car. when you look at dealer inventory of actual cars in stock, the side view of the leather seating looks wrinkled too. so i don't think it's just mine, that is just the way it is.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 7
From: Toronto
2005 ML350, 2008 GL320, 2013 Gl350
Dealer kept my car overnight and we got it back today, here is the work done
1) Headliner replaced with new one
2) Front wipers replaced
3) Passenger side running board replaced.
4) No fault found with brakes (hmmm)
5) 2nd row seats will be replaced, back ordered from Germany.
6) Door weather-strip re attached.
1) Headliner replaced with new one
2) Front wipers replaced
3) Passenger side running board replaced.
4) No fault found with brakes (hmmm)
5) 2nd row seats will be replaced, back ordered from Germany.
6) Door weather-strip re attached.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 7
From: Toronto
2005 ML350, 2008 GL320, 2013 Gl350
First 2 pictures of the seats that have the stretched out leather from day one, the last one is the middle seat with no stretch
( this is how all of the seats should be).
( this is how all of the seats should be).
Last edited by cookstar; Jul 30, 2013 at 06:42 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 7
From: Toronto
2005 ML350, 2008 GL320, 2013 Gl350
yep, the replacement that came in today had the same problem so this seems to be a quality control issue MB has to follow up on, back ordered from Germany again so probably another 2 months wait. I dont think you would have these issues with MB TEX, my last GL with MB tex which I had for nearly 4 years had zero creases from beginning of ownership to the end.
Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 174
Likes: 14
From: Main Line, LBK, LBI, etc
19E450A, 16C450W4, 16RRS SC Dynamic, etc
Sorry to hear about your issues with the 2013 GL. I'm at just over 9,000 miles now and the only issue that I've had was with the oil being very low at 8,000 miles and needing replacement...but that was a quick trip to the dealership.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2013 MB GL 450
2013 GL 450 issues
Sold previous 2008 GL450 to dealer for OK price. Leased, rather than purchased, new 2013 GL450 because I didn't want to keep the new car more than 3 years -- didn't want to get into the post-warranty repairs. Thought I needed bigger car for a while longer. Turns out I really don't.
New GL has some pros, some cons. Motor is great, trans fine but rough at times. Quiet but 20" tires noisy on the road. Easy to drive but it wallows. Read reviews of cars and now that I look back, they all had the suspension option (which I don't). "A" pillar bigger than previous. "B" pillar as well and passenger headrest blocks view to right. It seems the new interior design does not provide enough legroom, necessitating passenger seat position pretty far back, blocking driver's view, and I sit way back.
Drive and passenger front seats pop frequently, like a spring is loose. Sunroof rattles. Both issues brought to dealer's attention at service. Neither fixed yet. Car shutters during braking -- guessing rotor warp.
Unlikely to get another MB.
New GL has some pros, some cons. Motor is great, trans fine but rough at times. Quiet but 20" tires noisy on the road. Easy to drive but it wallows. Read reviews of cars and now that I look back, they all had the suspension option (which I don't). "A" pillar bigger than previous. "B" pillar as well and passenger headrest blocks view to right. It seems the new interior design does not provide enough legroom, necessitating passenger seat position pretty far back, blocking driver's view, and I sit way back.
Drive and passenger front seats pop frequently, like a spring is loose. Sunroof rattles. Both issues brought to dealer's attention at service. Neither fixed yet. Car shutters during braking -- guessing rotor warp.
Unlikely to get another MB.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2013 MB GL 450
suspension option
Yes I would have liked to have had that option.
It's seems odd. The fit and finish appears to be good but it has failed in spots, reducing my overall impression.
My 08 was much better to drive as long as the suspension wasn't broken (2 replacements on the front, and a compressor). It handled much better.
Looked at the Acura MDX but its release was delayed. Might try to see if someone will take the lease. I've only got 7,200 miles in 7 months on a 36 month, 45,000 mile lease.
It's seems odd. The fit and finish appears to be good but it has failed in spots, reducing my overall impression.
My 08 was much better to drive as long as the suspension wasn't broken (2 replacements on the front, and a compressor). It handled much better.
Looked at the Acura MDX but its release was delayed. Might try to see if someone will take the lease. I've only got 7,200 miles in 7 months on a 36 month, 45,000 mile lease.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 57
Likes: 1
2013 GL350. BMW 335. 2014R1200RTW
Yes I would have liked to have had that option.
It's seems odd. The fit and finish appears to be good but it has failed in spots, reducing my overall impression.
My 08 was much better to drive as long as the suspension wasn't broken (2 replacements on the front, and a compressor). It handled much better.
Looked at the Acura MDX but its release was delayed. Might try to see if someone will take the lease. I've only got 7,200 miles in 7 months on a 36 month, 45,000 mile lease.
It's seems odd. The fit and finish appears to be good but it has failed in spots, reducing my overall impression.
My 08 was much better to drive as long as the suspension wasn't broken (2 replacements on the front, and a compressor). It handled much better.
Looked at the Acura MDX but its release was delayed. Might try to see if someone will take the lease. I've only got 7,200 miles in 7 months on a 36 month, 45,000 mile lease.
