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I bought a new GLB 250 (2022) 4 Matic and a fully loaded car for about 60K USD. This is my first Mercedes experience and was so thrilled to get this car. All the excitement stopped when I received the car and noticed some shocking fit, finish and quality problems that I never encountered in other cars I owned. This is a disappointing experience my family and I had for what is a beautiful car. Major misalignments in the A pillar on both driver and passenger, major mental welding issues at all door corner and trunk corner, front hatch not fit and wobbles even when closed, windows shatter when music is played, excessive wind and road noise to make it a very uncomfortable ride, engine hissing sound when acceleration is performed, rattles across the windshield and back seat windows when driving and list goes on!
The GLB is a cheaply built FWD car based on the entry level CLA/GLA platform. Perhaps your expectations were too high or you didn't research what you were buying. Everything you noted is normal for this model. I'd wager the driver's door is difficult to close as well.
The GLB is a cheaply built FWD car based on the entry level CLA/GLA platform. Perhaps your expectations were too high or you didn't research what you were buying. Everything you noted is normal for this model. I'd wager the driver's door is difficult to close as well.
Mercedes accepted my claim for refund or exchange... They agreed this is cheaply built and not according to their standards.... Accepting status quo is the biggest problem of this society!
From what I have seen the GLB exhibits the same quality, or lack thereof, of other vehicles in the 50K segment. I put the hood liner from the GLB35 on mine, which considerably cut down on the intake hiss. The welds look no different than those on the GLC I took a perfunctory look at during my last scheduled service. The welds on my 911 look far different, but being a 2018 it is pre-world falling apart, and at 3 times the price I expect them to be. It seems, like nearly every other industry, the auto industry is suffering from the fallout of “workers” entitled to their jobs who feel they can just collect the next handout from Uncle Sam if they don’t feel like working hard. Maybe the same is true of workers in the other countries where MB models are made.
From what I have seen the GLB exhibits the same quality, or lack thereof, of other vehicles in the 50K segment. I put the hood liner from the GLB35 on mine, which considerably cut down on the intake hiss. The welds look no different than those on the GLC I took a perfunctory look at during my last scheduled service. The welds on my 911 look far different, but being a 2018 it is pre-world falling apart, and at 3 times the price I expect them to be. It seems, like nearly every other industry, the auto industry is suffering from the fallout of “workers” entitled to their jobs who feel they can just collect the next handout from Uncle Sam if they don’t feel like working hard. Maybe the same is true of workers in the other countries where MB models are made.
looks like Elon has a point here with his Optimus bots! GLB is built in Mexico… I guess quality there is the last thing they care about
Pretty sure that the welds you are seeing are seam sealer. Body panels don't get welded together with welds that big - usually just spot welds or possibly adhesives. So this may just be a sloppy application of sealer and not a structural issue.
Pretty sure that the welds you are seeing are seam sealer. Body panels don't get welded together with welds that big - usually just spot welds or possibly adhesives. So this may just be a sloppy application of sealer and not a structural issue.
Yes, this. And the sealer application on the OP example is consistent with a low budget economy car, which MB now produces.
Yes, this. And the sealer application on the OP example is consistent with a low budget economy car, which MB now produces.
Yup... This is a low budget and cheap vehicle made by MB. It is actually a facade... It looks great, feels great inside but the reality only comes out when you live with it.
Out of curiosity I looked at GLE (white) and GLS (blue) tailgate hatch panels sold on ebay, and the seam seal is not much better (see file attached). I wonder if due to the complicated shape of the seam of the tailgate it is done by hand?
Look up COMPAS on the internet. The GLB is assembled by this joint venture between Mercedes and Nissan at a plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. There are other COMPAS facilities around the world. It was Mercedes’ way of learning through partnering on how to better compete in the lower end of their market.
There are shared manufacturing concepts and specific shared components, but the vehicles produced are still unique. Contrary to what some have said, however, Mercedes and Nissan vehicles were never built on the same assembly lines.
Nissan wants out because they say Mercedes requirements push the price of vehicles out of their market. Nissan discontinued the Infiniti G30, which was a cousin to the GLA, for just that reason.
Mercedes’ plans on reducing their participation in the lower end segment of the market because it takes away from their ability to provide vehicles with their standards in the upper-mid and high ends of the automotive market. When total electrification occurs in the 2030s, the A-Class cars, CLA, and GLA may no longer be produced.
An alliance once promising billions of dollars in savings is essentially coming to an end as Nissan plans to halt production at a plant in Decherd, Tennessee that had been building engines developed by Mercedes for use in luxury products sold by both automakers.The Japanese and German manufacturers — then known as Daimler AG — initially formed their alliance in 2010 as a way to drive down costs, among other things sharing some purchasing operations. In the years that followed, the relationship expanded to include shared vehicle platforms, as well as the joint production of powertrains and vehicles.
The Decherd plant was one of the showpieces of the partnership, producing 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines for both Mercedes and Nissan’s high-line Infiniti brand. In the last few years, however, the two automakers have unwound most of their joint programs, with the engine operation among the last remaining pieces.
But the Japanese automaker said in a statement this week that it will “suspend operations at the powertrain facility in Decherd pending future product announcements.” While the company won’t discuss what plans will follow, it is clear that it won’t involve any ties to Mercedes.
Decherd was one of the most significant, along with the creation of COMPAS, the Cooperation Manufacturing Plant Aguascalientes, a Mexican assembly plant 50:50 owned by Daimler and Nissan.
The $1 billion operation was set to produce vehicles for both the Infiniti and Mercedes brands. But it was plagued with problems from the start, noted Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst for IHS Markit. Most notably, the two automakers couldn’t agree on a common manufacturing process. So, while it continues to produce vehicles for both luxury marques, they are assembled on separate lines, limiting potential economies of scale.
At one time there was promise but the execution didn’t live up to what was expected,” said Brinley, looking back at the decade-long alliance.
Speaking on background, several sources at the two automakers said there was another factor that likely contributed to the wind-down of the Nissan-Mercedes relationship: the May 2019 retirement of Dieter Zetsche and the controversial November 2018 arrest of Carlos Ghosn. While Brinley said she couldn’t confirm that management changes at Nissan doomed the alliance, she told TheDetroitBureau.com that, “If the execs who were most bullish about it are no longer there, it may no longer be a priority” for their successors.
Now, the final piece of the alliance, the COMPAS plant, appears to be at risk. “Even during its peak year in 2020, the factory did not eke out 50% of installed capacity,” Sam Fiorani, AutoForecast Solutions vice president of global vehicle forecasting, told Automotive News.
The research firm does not expect to see the COMPAS plant to continue production beyond 2026 — though alternatives could be developed before then.
Originally Posted by Odd Piggy
Look up COMPAS on the internet. The GLB is assembled by this joint venture between Mercedes and Nissan at a plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. There are other COMPAS facilities around the world. It was Mercedes’ way of learning through partnering on how to better compete in the lower end of their market.
There are shared manufacturing concepts and specific shared components, but the vehicles produced are still unique. Contrary to what some have said, however, Mercedes and Nissan vehicles were never built on the same assembly lines.
Nissan wants out because they say Mercedes requirements push the price of vehicles out of their market. Nissan discontinued the Infiniti G30, which was a cousin to the GLA, for just that reason.
Mercedes’ plans on reducing their participation in the lower end segment of the market because it takes away from their ability to provide vehicles with their standards in the upper-mid and high ends of the automotive market. When total electrification occurs in the 2030s, the A-Class cars, CLA, and GLA may no longer be produced.
I have a 2023 GLB 250 and I find the fit and finish to be very good. It is the same as my previous GLK 350. I have no squeaks or rattles and very little road or wind noise. I find the sealer to be fine and no different than my GLK. The sealer is put on with a robotic arm and should be consistent unit to unit. I had a Ford Lincoln that had much worse sealer coverage and "neatness". The only issue I believe is the run flat tires amplifying the road imperfections. I would love to drive this vehicle with standard tires to compare.
Talked with a good friend who lives in the Chicago area a couple of days ago. He and his wife recently went to test drive a Mercedes. Dual income, no kids. They own a Kia. His wife was uncomfortable that she was not able to move the steering wheel back an forth 2-3 inches without the car responding. As soon as the wheel was moved the car moved. Too sensitive. A car should not respond to the driver “rocking out” to the music while driving.
To each, his own. Maybe this represents the common driver.
Talked with a good friend who lives in the Chicago area a couple of days ago. He and his wife recently went to test drive a Mercedes. Dual income, no kids. They own a Kia. His wife was uncomfortable that she was not able to move the steering wheel back an forth 2-3 inches without the car responding. As soon as the wheel was moved the car moved. Too sensitive. A car should not respond to the driver “rocking out” to the music while driving.
To each, his own. Maybe this represents the common driver.
If you can move the wheel 2-3 " and the car does not respond then the steering has too much play. Also not a good driver in my opinion. Stop playing with the steering wheel.
Well, they don’t want another Kia, either, which is what the OP was raving about. That’s why I commented. I suspect they’ll settle on a US built full size plus SUV with its recirculating ball steering and get the unresponsive steering.
Have a BMW and decided to try out Mercs.
the buttons are more flimsy, driver and front passenger seats thigh support are popping out and many more issues.
Disappointing car
Pretty sure that the welds you are seeing are seam sealer. Body panels don't get welded together with welds that big - usually just spot welds or possibly adhesives. So this may just be a sloppy application of sealer and not a structural issue.
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Quality of a new GLB 250- Fit and Finish Issues
