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Wouldn't the spoiler on the 450 be the same as the 350 and so it should affect both??
I was told they produced the 450’s first, that was what dealers were supposed to receive first. They realized the issue before they started making 350’s.
I have a question. My GLE still has a production date of March decade 1, but a Build date of March 26. I assume the decade date is wrong and should be decade 3? Is that correct?
I have a question. My GLE still has a production date of March decade 1, but a Build date of March 26. I assume the decade date is wrong and should be decade 3? Is that correct?
No. I had Feb decade 1 w/ 2/27 “production date.” I think the decade is when the process starts and production date is when it’s finished. My date has slipped to 3/13.
Last edited by GregW / Oregon; 02-22-2019 at 05:21 PM.
On the Mercedes VII screen ... there is Decade Planned (originally decade assigned to PO) ... Decade Scheduled (which can be a different decade and subject to change) ... and Estimated Production Date (which can be different/later and also subject to change...
I have attached a quick pic of that part of the VII screen
No. I had Feb decade 1 w/ 3/27 “production date.” I think the decade is when the process starts and production date is when it’s finished. My date has slipped to 3/13.
Thanks, that’s slipping in the right direction. Boise still has no Demo and they don’t expect them until next week but that’s a guess. CA keeps getting big weather so it might be delaying the trucks. Also Long Beach May have a bottleneck at times since it looks to serve the Western States. Here’s an interesting (to me) tidbit about Long Beach opened 11-17-2015.
Consisting of two buildings totaling 1,091,754 sq. ft. on a 52.2 acre lot, is the home of MBUSA's Vehicle Preparation Center, Western Region Sales Operations and Mercedes-Benz Academy Offices. The historic location opened in 1941 as home to the Douglas Aircraft Company and later served as the Boeing 717 aircraft manufacturing facility until closing in 2006. The facility is located across the street from the Long Beach Airport in a mixed-use development known as Pacific Pointe at Douglas Park.
VEHICLE PREPARATION CENTER – The Vehicle Preparation Center is responsible for ensuring Mercedes-Benz vehicles are ready to deliver once they arrive in the United States. Distribution tasks include receiving vehicles from vessels, inventory management for the U.S. market, port of entry services, shipping and wholesaling of vehicles. Quality tasks include vehicle inspection and factory quality checks. MBUSA operates three Vehicle Preparation Centers located in Baltimore, MD, Brunswick, GA and Long Beach, CA.
WESTERN REGION OFFICE – The MBUSA Western Region supports 84 dealerships with sales and fixed operations across 12 states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Utah. MBUSA has three other regional offices in the U.S.: Montvale, NJ, Rosemont, IL and Jacksonville, FL.
MERCEDES-BENZ ACADEMY - Mercedes-Benz Academy provides training to dealership and MBUSA employees. Mercedes-Benz Academy conducts instructor-led training, eLearning, virtual classrooms, peer-to-peer training, and mobile learning to ensure that customer-facing personnel have the information and ability to deliver to the highest professional service. MBUSA operates Mercedes-Benz Academy Centers in Houston, TX, Itasca, IL, Jacksonville, FLand Montvale, NJ.
My wife and I test drove the 2019 BMW X5 xDrive50i yesterday. The tester was optioned to about $90K with a 456hp V8 and the M Sport Design package and the Executive Tier. It was Carbon Black with Coffee Extended Merino Leather. Overall the car is beautiful inside and out. The seats were comfortable and the 2nd row leg was adequate. The rear hatch was split configuration which BMW has been doing since they launched the X5. The driving dynamic was very good, handling was smooth and easy. The tech was also impressive and somewhat intuitive. I couldn't get the cruise control to activate even with the salesman behind me explaining how to do it. He seamed a bit stumped as to why it wouldn't active. The system also supports a few gestures to turn the voulume up or down or mute the sound but those gestures stopped working and he couldn't figure out why. This was a demo unit and may have a few bugs remaining to work out.
What we liked:
Great looks inside and out
Comfortable seats
Beautifully designed dash
Much of the tech was impressive
Smooth ride and lots of power
What we didn't like:
Did not include an air suspension at $90K
2nd Row leg room was noticeably less compared to the GLE
The split rear hatch (we didn't get the need to split it and think it may make reaching for items more difficult)
Some of the tech was not functioning as expected
Overall our impressions were favorable. We test drove the 1st gen X5 back in 2002 and were not impressed mainly due to the rough ride. But their new model is very refined and should very popular.
Got to see dealer demo today for 350 and 450. AMG exterior looks much better IMO. Rear leg room improved. MBUX is impressive. One had illuminated door sills. One did not. Anyone know which package has those? I can’t find it mentioned. Also with a production date of 3/13 when can I expect delivery in SC. Dealer was clueless
I spent about 10 minutes yesterday looking at and sitting in a 450. I did not drive it though. I was very impressed with the interior but the exterior was not aggressive enough. The seats were very comfortable feeling (for the few minutes I was in it) but I was the most impressed with the room. It feels and looks so much bigger. The back seat is so much larger than my current GLE400. Then the doors, they sound and feel solid like the older Mercedes used too. I also noticed that if I was not looking at the tachometer, I could not even tell the car was running. Even when I pressed the skinny pedal slightly I never felt the engine and still wondered if it was running. The tech was over whelming in it too. The screens look crisp, large, and thankfully are touch screen. Some things did seem redundant with all the different ways to control a specific task. I also tried “hey Mercedes” on about 3 different items and none of them worked. I was probably doing it wrong and the SA was not in the car to help.
Overall though I was more excited about this Mercedes than almost any other Mercedes I’ve considered and I want one! But I will be waiting to order mine since my dealer told me he had 7 people wanting a 450 and he only has 3 coming but I could have just about any 350 I wanted. What does that tell you Mercedes?? I’ll wait till I don’t have to pay sticker and maybe see an AMG which will be amazing on this SUV.
One last ting, I still hate those useless running boards!
Last edited by BACnMercedes; 02-23-2019 at 08:56 AM.
My wife and I test drove the 2019 BMW X5 xDrive50i yesterday. The tester was optioned to about $90K with a 456hp V8 and the M Sport Design package and the Executive Tier. It was Carbon Black with Coffee Extended Merino Leather. Overall the car is beautiful inside and out. The seats were comfortable and the 2nd row leg was adequate. The rear hatch was split configuration which BMW has been doing since they launched the X5. The driving dynamic was very good, handling was smooth and easy. The tech was also impressive and somewhat intuitive. I couldn't get the cruise control to activate even with the salesman behind me explaining how to do it. He seamed a bit stumped as to why it wouldn't active. The system also supports a few gestures to turn the voulume up or down or mute the sound but those gestures stopped working and he couldn't figure out why. This was a demo unit and may have a few bugs remaining to work out.
So the ride was good even without air suspension, huh? The runflats have always been the bane of recent BMWs. This is the first year BMW has offered 2-axle air suspension and it's only $1,000.
One advantage of the split hatch I can see, if you can leave the lower part open with the top closed (not sure you can?), is the ability to carry long items (like an 8' sheet of plywood). I've tried to do that in my ML and it's not easy. Still not a reason to prefer that design.
While down on power compared to Mercedes, BMW's sixes are refined, but no 48 volt.
Last edited by GregW / Oregon; 02-23-2019 at 10:11 AM.
nice thing about split hatch is you can open the top and groceries do not fall out as lower "tailgate" holds the bags in.
Have that on our XC90 did not like at first until first shipping trip. then you love it.
I will be changing my car next spring, at the moment will decide between X5 and GLE, lots of faults on X5 forum, will be interested to see if GLE has faults when owners start posting.
Good review Joe. Is Car Play still an add as in the past. No Android Auto available as I recall. Lexus has started putting both systems in some vehicles for the first time leaving BMW one of the few that doesn’t make them standard equipment, at least at some trim levels. They may have rushed the X5 to market to the detriment of early buyers. Nothing like being a Guinea Pig in a “high dollar” vehicle. I like all three German brands, but trying to be early to market with complicated Tech may not result in good quality. Mercedes is last this time but they have been testing a long time-fingers crossed but even with issues it will be a more modern up to date vehicle that the X5, IMO.
Good review Joe. Is Car Play still an add as in the past. No Android Auto available as I recall. Lexus has started putting both systems in some vehicles for the first time leaving BMW one of the few that doesn’t make them standard equipment, at least at some trim levels. They may have rushed the X5 to market to the detriment of early buyers. Nothing like being a Guinea Pig in a “high dollar” vehicle. I like all three German brands, but trying to be early to market with complicated Tech may not result in good quality. Mercedes is last this time but they have been testing a long time-fingers crossed but even with issues it will be a more modern up to date vehicle that the X5, IMO.
The salesman told me you get one year of free CarPlay, then it’s an $80 per year subscription. I commented to him that in my opinion that’s nickel and diming customers who are buying expensive vehicles. He agreed but reminded me that he don’t get to make such decisions. One positive, all new BMWs going forward support wireless CarPlay.
I also tried “hey Mercedes” on about 3 different items and none of them worked. I was probably doing it wrong and the SA was not in the car to help.
One last ting, I still hate those useless running boards!
The “Hey Mercedes” voice assistant is only fully activated after you pair your smart phone and install the Mercedes me connect app.
And I agree with you about the running boards. I understand some may need them for small children or an elderly person but for the majority of adults, they are indeed useless.
I understand some may need them for small children
That being said, I’ll probably have them.
And the hey mercedes did not work when I tried to change radio stations, turn down the volume, or adjust the heat in the car so I’m not sure if I had to still have the app installed. Still it’s a nice car that initially appears MB might have hit a homerun with it.
I hate the running boards too and ordered my current GLE 350d without them after living with them on my ML 550 for 4 years. So much cleaner looking imo, snow doesn't pile up on them, my pants don't get dirty rubbing on them and my kids have ZERO issues climbing into the car without them.
Hey Mercedes did not work when I tried to change radio stations, turn down the volume, or adjust the heat in the car so I’m not sure if I had to still have the app installed.
Thanks for the clarification on using "Hey Mercedes". In our test unit those same voice commands worked for us so there may have been something wrong in that vehicles setup. Questions like "Who is the President?" didn't work. Come to think of it, maybe MBUX chose not to answer.
Just received a call from my salesperson - the MBUX interior assistant (option code 77B) is not currently available so it has been deleted from my build at a credit of $300. Not a deal breaker for me as it seemed a little over the top.
GLE450 Ordered 12/11 Build date Mar 3rd decade, Mar 1st decade, 4/27 now 5/3
Originally Posted by Rocketman
Just received a call from my salesperson - the MBUX interior assistant (option code 77B) is not currently available so it has been deleted from my build at a credit of $300. Not a deal breaker for me as it seemed a little over the top.
When was your build date and was this a stand alone option or part of DA0 MBUX Technology Package?
I hate the running boards too and ordered my current GLE 350d without them after living with them on my ML 550 for 4 years. So much cleaner looking imo, snow doesn't pile up on them, my pants don't get dirty rubbing on them and my kids have ZERO issues climbing into the car without them.
Maybe the MBUX Interior Assistant isn’t critical. It appears to be the feature that lets the system recognize driver or passenger actions. I thought it had more integration based on an early review but it’s not clear to me the total scope. Here’s what I found:
The optional MBUX Interior Assistant also allows intuitive, natural operation of different comfort and MBUX functions by movement recognition. A camera in the overhead console registers movements of the driver's and front passenger's hands and arms.
Placed my order today. The above is my final. Was going back and forth on color, but dealer had a Selenite 350 on the lot that put a fork in it. My current GLC43 is Selenite, so I wanted something different, but with the plastic parts around the wheels, etc. my options were limited on what looked good to my eye. I know, I know; I wanted the AMG exterior package (DG1), and then would have done white, but I wanted the upgraded audio more, so it was a trade off I struggled with. I also wanted the R77 wheel, and you can't get that with the AMG package. Nor the night package. Actually, my GLC43 has the plastic around the well, and the Selenite mitigates it somewhat. The 350 they had on the lot in that color actually looked pretty sharp, so it's done. I don't ferry a lot of rear passengers, so I left off 4 zone climate and rear sun shades, as well as third row. I really wanted to keep the build under $90k, so I had to value engineer the upgraded LED's out. The base LED's should be fine. Also, being in Texas, I left off the warmth & comfort package, but added the stand alone rapid heat seats.
My dealer said I had a first decade May slot, but he was going to try to trade another dealer in the network for a sooner one. We'll see. If it has to be May, I'll just hammer for a deeper discount. We'll see how that goes.
02-22-2019, 05:14 AM
