Hello!!, Im currently in a market for a new SUV, since my Audi 2014 got totalled but anyway owning a CLK430 Mercedes I really love the ride quality of Mercedes over any brand. My main concern is the ride quality, Im really not loving the 19 inch rims, I wanna get the 20 inch rims bec i love the looks, at the same time I dont wanna sacrafice the cloud like ride the GL has to offer.
PLS advice

Here is my current built. ( any recommendations and comments are welcome)

Here's a build of my Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTEC SUV.
View This VehicleclearBuild This Vehicle My GL350 BlueTEC SUV
TOTAL $79,019
MSRP
$63,600*
clearExterior
clearColor: Black
clear$0
clearWheels: 19-inch twin 5-spoke wheels clear$0
clearOPTIONS
clearLighting Package
clearBi-Xenon headlamps with Active Curve Illumination
clearAdaptive Highbeam Assist
clear $1,390
clearPanorama roof
clear $1,090
clearACCESSORIES: EXTERIOR APPEARANCE
clearWheel hub inserts
clear $19
clearTire valve stem caps
clear $18
clearChrome hood fins
clear $215
clearLicense plate frames
clear $37
clearInterior
clearColor: Auburn Brown/Black Leather
clear $1,620
clearTrim: Open-pore Brown Ash wood trim clear$160
clearOPTIONS
clearHeated steering wheel
clear $250
clearACCESSORIES: INTERIOR APPEARANCE
clearAMG door pins
clear $40
clearEntertainment & Convenience
clearKEY STANDARD FEATURES
clearCOMAND system with central controller
clearHands-free Bluetooth® interface
clearHD Radio receiver
clearDual-zone automatic climate control
clearHeated front seats
clear60/40-split 2nd-row seats with EASY-ENTRY
clearPower-folding 50/50-split 3rd-row seats
clearPower liftgate
clearOPTIONS
clearPremium Package
clear80GB hard-drive navigation
clear3 years of navigation map updates
clear10GB Music Register
clearGracenote® media database
clearMedia Interface
clearSiriusXM Radio with 6-month All Access trial
clearSiriusXM Traffic and Weather with 3 years of service
clearVoice control with learning feature
clear14-way power driver seat with memory
clearPower tilt/telescoping steering column
clearAuto-dimming rearview and driver-side mirrors
clearPower-folding side mirrors
clearHeated and cooled front cupholders
clearKEYLESS-GO
clear115V power outlet in rear seating area
clearMulticolor ambient lighting
clearIlluminated front door sills
clear $4,410
clearPower EASY-ENTRY feature for 2nd-row seats
clear $400
clear3-zone climate control
clear $1,450
clearharman/kardon LOGIC7 sound system
clear $850
clearRear side-window sunshades
clear $380
clearPerformance & Safety
clearKEY STANDARD FEATURES
clear3.0L BlueTEC turbodiesel V-6 engine
clear7-speed automatic transmission
clearAIRMATIC® suspension
clearCOLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST
clearATTENTION ASSIST
clearMercedes-Benz mbrace
clearRearview camera
clearOPTIONS
clearLane Tracking Package
clearBlind Spot Assist
clearLane Keeping Assist
clear $875
clearParking Assist Package
clearPARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist
clearSurround View System
clear $1,290
clearPARKTRONIC with Active Parking Assist
clear Included with package
clearService & Care
clearOther Charges
clearTransportation Charge
clear$925
TOTAL $79,019

 

Others will kick in on the leather choice, I'm a little more practical minded, as in where's the hitch receiver? If you only need to tow something one time it will be good to have. Also, the 20 inch wheels and running boards are must haves IMO, looks so much better and I'm happy with the ride.

 

If you plan to use child sets, have pre-teen children, or provide rides to shorter adults, ditch the Power Easy Entry 2nd row seats. The headrests are a disaster, IMHO, and they are only powered one direction anyway. Besides, the stock Easy Entry seats are actually quite easy to flip/fold without the motors. (Check out the threads here about it.)

As for the running boards, that's a matter of opinion. The GL we test drove had them and as a result we did not get them. The looks did nothing for us but more importantly we actually thought they were more in the way than a helpful feature. They were just wide enough to brush your legs when climbing in but not quite wide enough to be a great foot hold. Without them, even my son who just turned three climbs aboard by himself. We are quite happy with the 19" rims from an appearance/ride standpoint.

Ditto on the trailer hitch. Even if you don't plan to pull anything today this is a fairly cheap option considering the expense of retrofitting one.

And since you are getting the nice wood and leather, consider the additional step of adding the special order option:

 

does the ride get affected a lot on the 20 inch rims? I really hated that firm ride I got from the Q7 Audi. and I had 20's on them...

TeX Mex dashboard? I didn't see that on the website built options... what it is exactly? does it enhance the interior significantly?

 

It's not on the website, but it is a special order option.

On the GL the upper dash has MB-Tex and is stitched. The option adds MB-Tex to the lower dash and door panels. Essentially all the plastic is covered with MB-Tex--and the MB plastic is very high quality to start with.

If you are in the USA, the ML350 does not have MB-Tex anywhere on the dash but the ML400 has both the upper and lower standard if you want to see it at a dealer although the ML and GL have different door inserts.

Here's a photo that shows the stitching on a special order ML but is identical to the GL. The upper arrow shows the GL standard dash and the lower arrow shows the MB-Tex and stitching added with the special order option.



And here is the Order Guide which lists the special order items:

 

yeah I live in San Francisco Bay Area





QUOTE=cadetdrivr;6316755]It's not on the website, but it is a special order option.

On the GL the upper dash has MB-Tex and is stitched. The option adds MB-Tex to the lower dash and door panels. Essentially all the plastic is covered with MB-Tex--and the MB plastic is very high quality to start with.

If you are in the USA, the ML350 does not have MB-Tex anywhere on the dash but the ML400 has both the upper and lower standard if you want to see it at a dealer although the ML and GL have different door inserts.

Here's a photo that shows the stitching on a special order ML but is identical to the GL. The upper arrow shows the GL standard dash and the lower arrow shows the MB-Tex and stitching added with the special order option.



And here is the Order Guide which lists the special order items:[/QUOTE]

 

I have the Auburn brown leather with lower dash stitched, can post pics later this week if needed. My kids need running boards and we use the hitch occasionally. Suggest those.

 

I drove both the 19's and 20's and settled on the 20's. Could not tell the difference at all. Get the appearance package......it looks so much better. And I'd recommend the mb-tex wrapped dash as well as the heated washer. Both are cheap and will come in handy. Also, get the hitch if for no other reason, resale value.

 

Cant wait to see the pictures pls post them.

 

thanks for the input, I'm glad to hear, the 20;s didnt hurt the ride quality... I just really hated the firm ride I got from my Audi Q7 With 20 inch rims I just dont wanna make the same mistake again.

 

Post some pictures pls.

 

Congrats, the MB will give you a feel if that the Audi won't. Post pics please!

 

Love your selections. Ordering the same ML350 color scheme for my wife. She loves the vehicle, except for the ridiculous "running boards" that only prove even MB has some real idiots in their design department Does anyone know of real running boards useful to women and children (wide enough to step on without rubbing against the vehicle, i.e. like the Range Rovers) preferably retractable???

 

Yes. They are on Escalades. You can get them there.