We have gotten way off topic here but...Cyclrder what does the active curve system do that makes the GL handle better in crosswinds? I have a pretty good technical understanding of how it works and can't think of anything active curve would do to counter the affects of crosswinds? Mercedes certainly doesn't market this benefit of active curve. Crosswind stabilization is standard on all x166 GLs.

 

Hi Cyclrder, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but my car doesn’t have either the Off-Road package nor ACS. It does have ADS. However, I opted for 19’ rims due to the higher profile tires, as I do drive off-road on a regular basis. The kind of off-roading I do does not need Low-Range and in the past simulated locking differentials (via ESP system) has worked fine for my needs.

The GL is a very confident vehicle off-road, and its system is especially quick to react when one wheel (or temporarily two) is up in the air in a twist. Bmw’s X-Drive (mounted on F25 X3) is not as fast to react, while Audi’s Quattro (mounted on 3.0 Tdi Q5) is somewhere in the middle between the Merc and Bmw. I have driven extensively both generations of X3 and the latest Q5 in conditions that are way beyond most people would do, and they are far more capable than one might think. On the old X3 E83 (3.0d Auto) I even fitted aggressive A/T tires, with tall sidewalls and it was quite astonishing what it could do in mud covered hills. In some occasions it would manage better than a 3.0d Toyota Hilux Auto with similar A/T tires.

So, what’s my point in general? A GL, even in it's basic set-up, if equipped with the right tires, is VERY good in off-road driving; you just have to be careful with reverse gear that is a bit tall for my tastes… If you throw in also the Off-Road package with 18’ AT tires, I believe this car is almost as good as the 5 door G-Wagon in most conditions; I’m specifically comparing it to the 5 door G-Wagon, as the SWB 3 door G-Wagon is in some conditions far better due to the Shorter Wheel Base.

I do have to quote 43221B regarding crosswinds… I do not see how a vehicle equipped with ACS may be better than one without when driving on a straight road with crosswinds.

 

we definitely have gotten off course with this topic... The original point was that somebody complained that their GL350 didn't seem to handle crosswinds properly... I piped up saying that GLs with the more sophisticated suspension options actually do handle quite well in those challenging conditions... I based that on the experience that I have had with 85K worth of miles in a X164 GL550 and approx 26K miles between 2 GL63s... That is a mix of 200 mile round trips to my vacation house, ski trips to VT, towing race bikes to different events...and the direct comparison driving a 2015 GL450 for a couple of days while my car was in for service during extreme cold , snow, and wind conditions that we are experiencing here in the Northeast. (Plus a new Escalade).

The 450 that I drove handled softly and had a tendency to have rocking horse feel under braking and acceleration...but more importantly, it had a jostling feel side to side that could be felt as simply as pulling into a up hill turning drive way...you'd almost bump your head into the side glass... Now clearly, the AMG will handle way better as it should... But even my previous GL550 handled more confidently...And those soft tendencies do show themselves in crosswinds... All this being said... My wife thought the 450 rode nicer than our 63... So there you have it. She simply accuses me of driving like speed racer... Oh well.

Sooooo... I can't say what parts of the ACS or ADS that make the difference (and I'm sensitive to crosswinds as I deal with them on runways almost every time that I fly...so I'd say I know what I'm talking about) ... But they do...

Then the topic of winter tires on a 550 came up..... Again, we have had some pretty severe snow storms... I have driven my cars in actual 16inch non plowed snow storms with the OEM sized Pirelli scorpion "winter" tires and they did it without issue... All at the same time feeling almost indistinguishable from my summer scorpion zeros on dry or wet pavement below 45 degrees...not bad... It is a real pain dealing with the 21 inch winter problem of the 550/63... And you just can't slap any ole wheel on the car because of the front brake caliper size (GL63)

So there you have it ... I completely understand the skinny wheel functionality... But it really doesn't apply to 95% of the readers here on this forum... Or MB would be selling a lot more off road packages in the states!
Cheers!