Dancing on the snow on windy day
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2014 GL350 AMG Package; 2011 SL63AMG; 2012 BMW X3X
Dancing on the snow on windy day
Hello, I bought a GL350 2013 brand new and this is the worst truck a ever have to drive on windy snowstorm freeway. I've got several Yukon Denali and BMW X5 before without any problem. With my Brand new GL with brand new winter tire from my dealer I feel insecure for the first time on a SUV. The truck dance and swing like anything else. From the front to the rear without any advice. On clean road or on snowy road. Any idea?
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GL 450
Hello, I bought a GL350 2013 brand new and this is the worst truck a ever have to drive on windy snowstorm freeway. I've got several Yukon Denali and BMW X5 before without any problem. With my Brand new GL with brand new winter tire from my dealer I feel insecure for the first time on a SUV. The truck dance and swing like anything else. From the front to the rear without any advice. On clean road or on snowy road. Any idea?
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Suburban Chicago
2013 GL550
What did you do during the other 2 or 3 winters you have owned the GL? Winter tires do not make you invincible. It give you better acceleration and stopping distances but will not likely corner a whole lot better. And you are not likely in the US if you have a GL350 AMG. That styling package is not available in the states. I'm thinking you might want to double check that you have "winter" tires on that thing.
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From: Reading PA
26 EQS 400 SUV, 23 EQS 580 SUV (sold), 19 X7 (sold), 17/14 GLS550 (sold), 13 GL550 (sold)
Hello, I bought a GL350 2013 brand new and this is the worst truck a ever have to drive on windy snowstorm freeway. I've got several Yukon Denali and BMW X5 before without any problem. With my Brand new GL with brand new winter tire from my dealer I feel insecure for the first time on a SUV. The truck dance and swing like anything else. From the front to the rear without any advice. On clean road or on snowy road. Any idea?
Last edited by JoeMa; Feb 10, 2015 at 06:43 AM.
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Carrera S;
My GL550 handles extremely well-actually better than I expected even with "all season" tires. I do have the off road option and that might help, but my most recent reference point is our Land Cruiser which was a bull in the snow, but had no finesse. The GL goes straight on hard acceleration, and while the 4matic may be "dancing"-that is sending delivery power to each wheel uniquely-it is quite a drama free ride.
Again, great car.
Again, great car.
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15 GL550
Hello, I bought a GL350 2013 brand new and this is the worst truck a ever have to drive on windy snowstorm freeway. I've got several Yukon Denali and BMW X5 before without any problem. With my Brand new GL with brand new winter tire from my dealer I feel insecure for the first time on a SUV. The truck dance and swing like anything else. From the front to the rear without any advice. On clean road or on snowy road. Any idea?
Last edited by 43221B; Feb 9, 2015 at 02:44 PM.
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From: NYC
18 E63s Wagon 15 GL63 (sold), 10 Turbo TT MT, A36 Bonanza, 20 JLU Rubicon
If you were concerned about driving in the snow, you should not have purchased a GL with the AMG package. The tread is 10.5 inches wide on your tires. You apparently put some other tire on your 21" rims without purchasing narrower wheels/tires. So no, it shouldn't handle as well in the snow as a Yukon or a BMW X5 (which has 8.8" wide tread) and your dealer should have explained that to you. If you want to fix your problem, do what the people in the US that own 550's (same size wheel as yours) do and purchase a dedicated set of winter wheels.
And.no GM product will handle better than a GL550/63 or even a 450 with all of the suspension options ticked... My buddy followed me up to VT last weekend in his 15 Escalade... We switched and he was blown away by how much better my car dealt with the 20kt crosswind, snow, and drifts...
An AMG equipped 350 with all of the suspension options should be fine...a plain Jane 450/350 will feel a lot more unplanted as they are setup much more plushly.
Chevy5033 ... If you are running stock contis on your amg21 wheels... They are summer tires in drag acting like all season...you really need dedicated winter tires in conditions that you are describing... The all seasons will get you by in mild snow... But not a blizzard. Also, you need to have the car in AMG sport 1 setting for it to handle the best in those conditions....I don't know If your package is simply body cladding or a complete amg package with all of the handling and braking components but those options really improve how the vehicle reacts to crosswinds and curves.....
The "active curve option" is $3700 and it makes all the difference in the world...do you have that option (do you have the "sport" button on the dash or center console?)
Last edited by cyclrder; Feb 18, 2015 at 10:10 AM. Reason: Forgot
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15 GL550
We'll have to agree to strongly disagree on the whole wide tires make no difference in the snow debate.
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From: NYC
18 E63s Wagon 15 GL63 (sold), 10 Turbo TT MT, A36 Bonanza, 20 JLU Rubicon
If you were concerned about driving in the snow, you should not have purchased a GL with the AMG package. The tread is 10.5 inches wide on your tires. You apparently put some other tire on your 21" rims without purchasing narrower wheels/tires. So no, it shouldn't handle as well in the snow as a Yukon or a BMW X5 (which has 8.8" wide tread) and your dealer should have explained that to you. If you want to fix your problem, do what the people in the US that own 550's (same size wheel as yours) do and purchase a dedicated set of winter wheels.
Most people do not realize the range of how well you can make one of these vehicles handle.
The tire thing comes from my experience...I'm not climbing back wood mountain gravel roads with my AMG but I do deal with 30inch snow storms that come our way.... And as I have said numerous times...I'm more likely to get hung up because of ground clearance and not traction or stability.
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15 GL550
Yes I do. It seems the ACS (active curve system) that is $3700 for the 450 includes the ADS (active dampener system) that comes standard on a 550 and the ACS for the 550 is $2900... In other words.. Short of the 21 inch wheels..you should be able to make a 450/350 handle as well as the 550...
What will affect a GL's capability in the snow are the tires, width of tires, and whether you have the On/Off road package. ADS and Active Curve really shouldn't make much difference when it comes to traction.
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From: NYC
18 E63s Wagon 15 GL63 (sold), 10 Turbo TT MT, A36 Bonanza, 20 JLU Rubicon
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2015 Ram 2500, former 2013 GL350, 2007 GL450
One thing I've seen a couple of times is with heavy snow in cold conditions it can build up inside the wheel well and actually cause steering issues.
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15 GL550
The GL is good in the snow but one thing that it has going against it is its weight distribution. It has almost a 50/50 front to rear weight ratio which is obviously ideal on dry pavement but not as good when you turn the front wheels on icy/snowy roads. It has more understeer than some other SUVs I've driven and doesn't seem to want to be pulled by the front tires in the direction they are turned quite like a vehicle that has most of its weight up front. The 350 has the lightest engine and I certainly noticed that my X164 with the 3.0 L diesel had more understeer than my V8 450 now does. Perhaps it was the weight or perhaps a more active stability control system on the X166. Cyclrder, your 5.5 L V8 adds even more weight to the front which probably helps you out a little bit in the snow. MBUSA has the GL63 weighing almost 300 lbs more than a 350. I'll bet almost all of that weight is on the front two wheels.
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From: NYC
18 E63s Wagon 15 GL63 (sold), 10 Turbo TT MT, A36 Bonanza, 20 JLU Rubicon
The GL is good in the snow but one thing that it has going against it is its weight distribution. It has almost a 50/50 front to rear weight ratio which is obviously ideal on dry pavement but not as good when you turn the front wheels on icy/snowy roads. It has more understeer than some other SUVs I've driven and doesn't seem to want to be pulled by the front tires in the direction they are turned quite like a vehicle that has most of its weight up front. The 350 has the lightest engine and I certainly noticed that my X164 with the 3.0 L diesel had more understeer than my V8 450 now does. Perhaps it was the weight or perhaps a more active stability control system on the X166. Cyclrder, your 5.5 L V8 adds even more weight to the front which probably helps you out a little bit in the snow. MBUSA has the GL63 weighing almost 300 lbs more than a 350. I'll bet almost all of that weight is on the front two wheels.
I'm a firm believer that the tires make all the difference....
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Carrera S;
Re JimBarnhart's comments. It has been snowy & cold in Northeast. Car is always parked in garage.
Started up one morning then went on Rt 95 and couldn't go over 50 mph without terrible vibration and wheel bouncing-thought nI had thrown weights off wheel & caused severe out balance situation-I called MB to schedule appointment-after describing issue, they suggested I take it to a car waash to get rid of the buildup-did that, all is well. GL550 with stock 21
Started up one morning then went on Rt 95 and couldn't go over 50 mph without terrible vibration and wheel bouncing-thought nI had thrown weights off wheel & caused severe out balance situation-I called MB to schedule appointment-after describing issue, they suggested I take it to a car waash to get rid of the buildup-did that, all is well. GL550 with stock 21
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--
BS.. My GL63 with 21 inch Pirelli "scorpion winters "handles fabulously in those conditions... The whole narrow concept is mute in the day of high performance high tech tires such as the Scorpion winter...
And.no GM product will handle better than a GL550/63 or even a 450 with all of the suspension options ticked... My buddy followed me up to VT last weekend in his 15 Escalade... We switched and he was blown away by how much better my car dealt with the 20kt crosswind, snow, and drifts...
An AMG equipped 350 with all of the suspension options should be fine...a plain Jane 450/350 will feel a lot more unplanted as they are setup much more plushly.
Chevy5033 ... If you are running stock contis on your amg21 wheels... They are summer tires in drag acting like all season...you really need dedicated winter tires in conditions that you are describing... The all seasons will get you by in mild snow... But not a blizzard. Also, you need to have the car in AMG sport 1 setting for it to handle the best in those conditions....I don't know If your package is simply body cladding or a complete amg package with all of the handling and braking components but those options really improve how the vehicle reacts to crosswinds and curves.....
The "active curve option" is $3700 and it makes all the difference in the world...do you have that option (do you have the "sport" button on the dash or center console?)
And.no GM product will handle better than a GL550/63 or even a 450 with all of the suspension options ticked... My buddy followed me up to VT last weekend in his 15 Escalade... We switched and he was blown away by how much better my car dealt with the 20kt crosswind, snow, and drifts...
An AMG equipped 350 with all of the suspension options should be fine...a plain Jane 450/350 will feel a lot more unplanted as they are setup much more plushly.
Chevy5033 ... If you are running stock contis on your amg21 wheels... They are summer tires in drag acting like all season...you really need dedicated winter tires in conditions that you are describing... The all seasons will get you by in mild snow... But not a blizzard. Also, you need to have the car in AMG sport 1 setting for it to handle the best in those conditions....I don't know If your package is simply body cladding or a complete amg package with all of the handling and braking components but those options really improve how the vehicle reacts to crosswinds and curves.....
The "active curve option" is $3700 and it makes all the difference in the world...do you have that option (do you have the "sport" button on the dash or center console?)
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From: NYC
18 E63s Wagon 15 GL63 (sold), 10 Turbo TT MT, A36 Bonanza, 20 JLU Rubicon
Same as the OEM summer tires
And they are the Scorpion Winters.... Not the snow and ice ...completely two different tires... I can only recomend the winters and have heard bad things about the snow and ice.
And they are the Scorpion Winters.... Not the snow and ice ...completely two different tires... I can only recomend the winters and have heard bad things about the snow and ice.
Last edited by cyclrder; Feb 19, 2015 at 06:09 PM.
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2015 Mercedes GL350 CDI (Euro 258hp)
I have to agree with 43221B: in Snow and Ice, the same vehicle equipped with narrower tires will perform much better. Even a 10mm can make a difference and 20mm (275 vs 295mm) will make an even greater difference, in favor of the tire less wide.
In Europe, where people in winter time can't always rely on having roads completely free of snow and ice (roads may get plowed, but the surface of the road often remains covered in ice and compacted snow), people change tire sets from Summer to Winter. Vehicles such as the GL can be equipped with winter tires as small as 265/60 R18, for a good reason. Also, there is a huge difference in Snow between specific Winter Tires and all season tires. Specific Winter tires in snow handle much better than even A/T or M/T tires.
In Europe, where people in winter time can't always rely on having roads completely free of snow and ice (roads may get plowed, but the surface of the road often remains covered in ice and compacted snow), people change tire sets from Summer to Winter. Vehicles such as the GL can be equipped with winter tires as small as 265/60 R18, for a good reason. Also, there is a huge difference in Snow between specific Winter Tires and all season tires. Specific Winter tires in snow handle much better than even A/T or M/T tires.
Last edited by Patarix; Feb 19, 2015 at 10:05 PM.
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From: NYC
18 E63s Wagon 15 GL63 (sold), 10 Turbo TT MT, A36 Bonanza, 20 JLU Rubicon
I have to agree with 43221B: in Snow and Ice, the same vehicle equipped with narrower tires will perform much better. Even a 10mm can make a difference and 20mm (275 vs 295mm) will make an even greater difference, in favor of the tire less wide.
In Europe, where people in winter time can't always rely on having roads completely free of snow and ice (roads may get plowed, but the surface of the road often remains covered in ice and compacted snow), people change tire sets from Summer to Winter. Vehicles such as the GL can be equipped with winter tires as small as 265/60 R18, for a good reason. Also, there is a huge difference in Snow between specific Winter Tires and all season tires. Specific Winter tires in snow handle much better than even A/T or M/T tires.
In Europe, where people in winter time can't always rely on having roads completely free of snow and ice (roads may get plowed, but the surface of the road often remains covered in ice and compacted snow), people change tire sets from Summer to Winter. Vehicles such as the GL can be equipped with winter tires as small as 265/60 R18, for a good reason. Also, there is a huge difference in Snow between specific Winter Tires and all season tires. Specific Winter tires in snow handle much better than even A/T or M/T tires.
You are exactly correct.... Just like the 4wd with locking diffs in the G wagon or even a GL with the off-road package with locking diffs are true 4wd vehicles that you can trek in places that one would never subject a normal 4matic GL too...
I bet your car has locking diffs and or selectable terrain? 90% of the readers here especially in the states don't have those systems are even know what is being discussed...nor should they even care. All they want to do is be able to go out with confidence after the roads have been plowed or be able to get home after being caught in the movie theater after 3 inches of snow fell... That's it... 95% of the time...our roads are clear and smooth. Besides, anyone who has the needs for a thinner wheeled vehicle wouldn't have probably bought a GL550 anyway...
So we should clarify: if you have a 550 or 63 with 21 inch tires and you simply want good winter protection, you should buy a dedicated winter tire such as the scorpion winter... Same size is fine..
If 50% of your life is on snow or you find yourself driving on the back side of your farm or you like to drive on the beach in Nantucket...mall then don't buy a GL with 21 inch wheels....
And lastly... People should consider ticking that ACS option (active curve system) if they want a vehicle to handle better down the road in crosswinds or just general feel drivability.
