Picked up my GL63 last night. Iridium Silver with Black interior and piano trim - with every available option and a Renntech tune. Drove home last night ~200 miles. I cannot say enough good things about this GL. The GL63 is fun to drive. Its a huge improvement over my 2008 GL550. The active lane was freaky at first but I got used to it quickly and it worked perfectly in rain last night.

Ended up financing and signed up for extended warranty, pre-paid maintenance, and tire/wheel warranty.

Will post pics later when the rain passes.

SO - Go for the accessory chrome package. I have it on the 2014 and on the 2008. Its worth the price and it elevates the GL IMO.

+1 for the AMG door pins - much better than stock

 

Sam:

I wanted to give you an extra special Congrats! This has been a long, long time in the making for both of us. You and I (and a few others on this board) have been talking/hoping/kvetching about our GL63s since sometime last summer. And we are picking up our new GLs after all of that within a few days of one another - pretty cool (or exhausting depending on how you look at it after all this wait). And you have had the very unique saga of passing on a few GL550s and one MY GL63 along the way to get here. I look forward to some photos when you get the chance.

Thanks also for the feedback on the accessory chrome package, with your and the other positive comments I think we will keep it. How far out did you go on the pre-paid maintenance (i.e., 3 years or 4 - I recall Fab commenting that the 3 year was prudent but the 4 year was not as much).

You and Trimmer2 didn't waste any time on getting the Renntech tune. Did you also change out the spark plugs? I am also curious why you didn't wait to get a sense of it stock before adding the tune. I guess you knew you would get the tune so why wait (and your dealer is 190 miles away so not an easy return trip). (Trimmer2 - same question for you).

I can't wait for pick-up tomorrow morning. I already told the kids to expect that I will be up and ready to go to the dealership really early tomorrow morning!

Best of luck with your new GL.

Kind regards

 

Congratulation Sam!!! its a beast ...All i could say> IT WORTH THE WAIT
Totally love mine..

 

Thank you SO and Tony. It's certainly worth the wait. I think the sales person was extremely happy after dealing with me for the past year on a weekly basis. At one point he did not think he will make a sale to me. He was certainly thankful.

I signed up for 7 year / 100 K warranty, 5 year prepaid maintenance, and tire/wheel with cosmetic damage and PDR. All these are administered by MB so can be taken advantage at any MB dealership.

I will post more pics later

 

SO: You are absolutely right on Renntech. I did not want to deal with it later. The only disadvantage is that I don't know how stock HP feels like. I did get the NGK spark plugs.
All I can say is that the GL63 is AWESOME. You will love yours when you get it tomorrow. Congratulations!!!!

 

red brake calipers FTW, I am trying to find those matte aluminum pieces to replace the tacky chrome on my 350, anyone have ideas where to find. I really do hate chrome.

 

Who did the Renntech upgrade? Can the dealers do it? How does it affect your warranty?

 

My dealer did it before I picked up the GL63. ECU upgrade does not affect the warranty.

 

I had very good experience when RENNtech tuned (ECU and transmission computer) my brand new SL600 some years ago. The GL63 also being a turbo charged car, I knew I'd get a good bang for the buck. Also, I had already driven a ML63 (non performance package) so I got a feel for the throttle response and know pretty much what I was getting in the GL63.

I did replace the spark plugs and air filters as RENNtech suggested. The tune was done at their headquarters in West Palm Beach. They drove the car, dyno tested it and did some timed runs to be sure the ECU flash was solid.

The throttle response is amazing and sometimes hard to modulate in slow city traffic.

Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY.

 

Any one else play with the parallel park assist?

It's a hoot!

 

I just got word my GL63 is being shipped to the dealer after a 9 month odyssey. I actually started this thread to let people know you could order one at the time. I am shocked at the lease residuals...36 mos, 10K miles, 53% vs 59% for a GL550 and 64% for a GL450. I guess either MB has little confidence in the truck's depreciation or they need to subsidize to move the 450 and 550's.

 

Few more pics

 

My 2014 GL63 and the 2008 GL550 (in the background)

 

Ehhh, where's mine?

 

Soooooo Jealous, Is It To Much To Ask To Post A Video Of Your GL With The RennTech Upgrades? Please!! Seems Like January Delivery Is An Eternity Away For Me.

 

I took mine on a road trip this weekend to get it broken in. I wanted to see how it felt in stock trim before deciding on the Renntech upgrade. There is absolutely no need for more horsepower!!

I am calling the dealer tomorrow to make a appointment for the ECU and upgrade and spark plug swap.

 

Sam:

Thanks for the extra photos. Your GL looks great!! I can't imagine what it would be like with the Renntech tune - Yikes . . . I will return the favor with some photos as well separately.

Cybernorth:

You have got to be up any day now as you had roughly the same build date as we did. Is this the one (and only) downside of living in So Cal, long delivery times from Alabama? Keep us posted.

 

Picked up my new GL63 yesterday morning after a year and a half wait. Wow - it was definitely worth the wait! Great vehicle. Actually fun to drive, which was a big question mark for me after test driving the non-AMG version. After only 90 miles (and staying with the break-in recommendations of 4000 RPM or less), here are my "top five" so far:

1. Love the look of the new GL, especially with the AMG package. Love the wheels on the 63 (and also on the 550). This is one great looking SUV.

2. (tie) The interior with the designo leather feels really rich. I have the Auburn Brown with the Brown Satin Ash trim and it feels like I am in a club lounge with dark leather couches and mahogany furniture. This wood works really, really well with the Auburn Brown leather.

2. (tie) The sound of the exhaust - a nice deep burble that is almost not loud enough. I love it when you don't have to go fast to enjoy that sound - it is great just rumbling around town. It is a bit addictive. (The sound does not, however, quite match that of the 6.2 naturally aspirated V8 which in my opinion is in the pantheon of all time great rumbles . . .)

3. The handling in "sport" mode is impressive for a vehicle this size (but surprisingly floaty in comfort). It is not "light on its feet" but does react impressively to changes in direction. It is surprisingly (again for something this large) fun to drive.

4. Braking is really impressive. No worries about slowing this beast down.

5. Some of the new tech features - specifically I am really impressed with the subtleness of the start-stop feature. I have also found the surround view camera really helpful in maneuvering this in tight spots.

I can't comment on speed yet as I have not pressed the engine. Did tint the front side windows to the legal limit which is only 50% in Illinois - but it does look good if light. I am also relieved to say that the second row headrest with the power easy entry did not prove to be an issue for us or the kids. I can see how it could be for some (particularly with the seats in the most vertical position), but with some recline the kids have been fine. And the kids definitely like having the power easy entry feature. I would still be happy if MB engineered a fix to the headrest that would allow some further swivel back.

Here are my bottom three so far:

1. Price - this was one expensive vehicle. It is worth the extra premium over a GL550? Having now driven both I am comfortable with that premium but I could easily see many more making the GL550 decision (particularly when adding the designo leather and Active Curve) and I would say they are making the smarter decision from a financial perspective.

2. Lack of a 3rd row sunshade with the pano roof. This one continues to baffle me on MB's poor decision here (whether it was cost driven or to reach some headroom milestone for the 3rd row as Fabbrisd1 mentioned). Drove home from the dealer with one of the kids in the third row and she needed to put on a hat to block the sun from her eyes. I have got to figure this one out. Will create a separate thread to see if anyone has tried for a solution - i.e., extra tinting or a make shift sunshade?)

3. Getting the second row seat back up as power easy entry only works to take it down. Younger children will have a tough time getting the second row back up after it is folded on their own. Not a big help if the kids can get into the third row by hitting the power down button but the parent has to get out anyway and come around the car to get the seat back up.

Here are some photos of mine to add to the mix. Can't wait to get through the break-in period.

 

No, let me clarify: the only Upside of living in southern California is the weather. Everything else ( politics, taxes, COL, business, obamacare, etc ) sucks big dong.

Anyway, as I mentioned before my SM says 6 weeks post production is when the car would be ready, which I don't believe. He also has not responded to my request to know the vin. I'm worried that my car may be given to someone who's willing to pay beyond msrp.

 

Congrats on your new GL63's. You've endured a long wait, but as you are seeing the wait was worth it. Enjoy!

 

Great Write Up, Check Out 3M Website For Their Crystalline Product Line, Should Really Help Out With Your Third Row Moon Roof Issue.

 

I added 40% Crystalline tint to the 3rd row roof window mostly for heat vs light. The only thing riding back there is my white Golden shedding on the black carpet so, light was less a concern. To my eye, the Crystalline has a slight yellow/bronze hue to it. Not a good match for front windows.

I put the Color Stable 35% on front windows which is best color match for rears but, with the double pain windows, it's still has a hint of green tint to it. I understand Color Stable has been discontinued by 3M?

 

Cybernorth:

I am really sorry to hear about your issues with your dealer. That is really unfortunate. A straightforward dealer (or at least one that wants repeat business) would email you with the VIN as soon as your GL was produced - even if it is in transit. I hope you get some good news soon. Keep us posted.

And I hear you on some of the other challenges of living in sunny Calif. From a bad politics perspective, you are at least a little better off than the disfunction afflicting us in Illinois . . .

 

Ah, spoke too soon, as I do trust and like my SM. I got an email today with the vin and est delivery of 8/29. Same day we're expecting a baby!

What type of residual do you guys think or have seen on the leases for 48 and 60 months?

 

It's a shame.
Lets all move (drive) to texas