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Greg, I just configured my build with the dealer and the Trailer package required another trailer pre-requisite of increased towing capacity. Ever hear of that? Also they couldn't add Magic Vision right now?
My build didn't require it but it's a preliminary DOG and there are errors in the system. I had to order 902 Variable heated seats for my build and it's not listed anywhere as a requirement. Couldn't order Brown Walnut trim but dealer finally got it added by calling the factory. Maybe in Jan the new DOG will solve some of these issues.
Greg, I just configured my build with the dealer and the Trailer package required another trailer pre-requisite of increased towing capacity. Ever hear of that?
The tow rating increase is noted as a separate option on the Belgian configurator. It must be bundled with the 550 Trailer Hitch in the US. The press release lists towing capacity as "up to 3500 kg' (~7,700 lb) and tongue weight of 140 kg (~300 lb).
Also they couldn't add Magic Vision right now?
No, that hasn't ever been confirmed for the US, though it is offered on the current US W166 and on the new GLE in Europe. I would bet it becomes available in the future.
No we will be keeping the SQ5. I love driving it even though it’s my wife’s car I sneak it once in awhile and usually drive when we are out together.
I will probably get rid of my Denali truck. I’m sure I will regret not having it on occasion but after almost 50 years trucking I’m ready for a change. Our big toys are all gone so we really don’t need a truck. A more sensible approach would have been to sell the Audi but my wife doesn’t care for the Mercedes and she loves the Audi. She will probably soften on the GLE after we get it but you married guys may understand my situation😱
One of my neighbors owns a black SQ5 and I always thought it was such a nice looking SUV. I've sit in the SQ7 several times but never test drove one. There's something about the interior design language that doesn't sit right with me. But the exteriors are attractive.
One of my neighbors owns a black SQ5 and I always thought it was such a nice looking SUV. I've sit in the SQ7 several times but never test drove one. There's something about the interior design language that doesn't sit right with me. But the exteriors are attractive.
The interior is very comfortable but not plush. I don’t care for the tack on tablet look that all the German SUV’s in that class have. Cup holders too small and the Lane Keep gets confused by some traffic signs and lane markings. The DiC & Nav are top notch using Nvidia graphics chips-Google Satelite maps, etc.
Fuel economy blows me away for a 354 HP vehicle about 4400 lbs. The Chip Tune took it to about 435. Very little Turbo lag but it could benefit from the Bosch electric supercharger that Audi & MB have in the works.
We drove a lot of SUV’s, many 2 or 3 times before deciding. It’s not for everyone and a tad smaller than I would prefer. If you like to drive a sports car this would be a natural progression to an SUV. It shares a lot of DNA with the Porsche Macon but is more comfortable to drive and has a more practical Interior. All wheel steer, torque vectoring flat corners and performance are all there. It’s not had one issue and we are right at 20M miles. It will be hard to part with this one even if my wife didn’t love it.
If you like to drive a sports car this would be a natural progression to an SUV.
This is one area where I differ from many buyers of SUV's. I my view, SUV's should not drive or feel like a sports car. It's why I never bought a X5, to firm for our liking. I think the X5 is a great looking SUV but it falls short inside where we spend our time. This is where MB really shines, great looking interiors and the new GLE will offer up arguably the best tech in the segment. Leading-edge tech with MB finishes, a perfect combo for us and many other buyers. I'm not looking to insult anyone who prefers a sporty drive in a SUV, it's just my view of what a SUV should deliver.
My wife drives a 2017 Q7 now, it will be traded for a 2020 GLE 53, the Q7 is a nice vehicle built on an exceptional platform, but since DieselGate Audi is counting every cent and does not support it's owners/service items like they used to...sad but true. Buyer beware!
Why the New Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 is the Most Futuristic (Gas-Powered) Car on the Road
"...under the skin, this is the craziest, most tech-forward internal-combustion car I’ve driven in a long time."
"The ride is preternaturally smooth; I think we can say right now this is the smoothest-riding car you can buy. But it also handles great, because an active system doesn’t have the usual ride-handling compromises (stiff antiroll bars aren’t a problem, because there are no antiroll bars)." (E-ABC)
The article makes no effort to tell you that most the features mentioned are options.
This is one area where I differ from many buyers of SUV's. I my view, SUV's should not drive or feel like a sports car. It's why I never bought a X5, to firm for our liking. I think the X5 is a great looking SUV but it falls short inside where we spend our time. This is where MB really shines, great looking interiors and the new GLE will offer up arguably the best tech in the segment. Leading-edge tech with MB finishes, a perfect combo for us and many other buyers. I'm not looking to insult anyone who prefers a sporty drive in a SUV, it's just my view of what a SUV should deliver.
This from a guy that wanted a GLE 53😀 Lots of people want performance from an SUV and that doesn’t necessarily mean less comfort. There is a big difference between the entry level GLE350 and the AMG versions. Even E-ABC starts to deliver the sporty features of a sports vehicle or the comfort of a luxury SUV. Like MB, the SQ5 has air suspension and driving modes from Comfort to Dynamic. An SUV will never be a sports car-too heavy and a high center of gravity. In 2018 the SQ5 had the most advanced tech of any vehicle except for Tesla, IMO. Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it!
My wife drives a 2017 Q7 now, it will be traded for a 2020 GLE 53, the Q7 is a nice vehicle built on an exceptional platform, but since DieselGate Audi is counting every cent and does not support it's owners/service items like they used to...sad but true. Buyer beware!
Sorry to hear! What kind of issues?
I hope this isn’t the start of a trend but I’ve had more warranty claim issues in the past few ears than dozens before and vehicle quality has improved. Lexus refused to fix a defect that was put out in a Service Bulletin to be repaired under warranty. It wasn’t a safety issue (power steering wheel motor slop & rattle) and had been reported previously but the dealer misdiagnosed it. I found the bulletin a few months after Warranty expired and requested repair. The Dealer declined so I contacted Corporate thinking they couldn’t refuse...they did. Rather than hire an Attorney I traded the Vehicle. If it breaks it’s
covered but lots of cosmetic or random issues get tougher to resolve. A group of my golf buddies and I decided to start video taping issues and that seems to help. Hoping Mercedes is better to work with.
This from a guy that wanted a GLE 53😀 Lots of people want performance from an SUV and that doesn’t necessarily mean less comfort. There is a big difference between the entry level GLE350 and the AMG versions. Even E-ABC starts to deliver the sporty features of a sports vehicle or the comfort of a luxury SUV. Like MB, the SQ5 has air suspension and driving modes from Comfort to Dynamic. An SUV will never be a sports car-too heavy and a high center of gravity. In 2018 the SQ5 had the most advanced tech of any vehicle except for Tesla, IMO. Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it!
We all have different needs and wants. If an SUV was my daily driver I would have at least the GLE 53 (if not the BMW or Audi or Porsche options). However as this is my wife’s DD, it’s about comfort and utility for her first. But we do use it for trips, going to Eastern Oregon every Labor Day weekend. Part of this 365-mile trip is some good canyon carving. The Active Curve in our ML makes this fun on Sport setting. I’m looking forward to the 2019 trip in the new car wit ABC.
What wheels are these...I'm assuming 21's and are they available with AMG exterior pkg?
Those are the R77 non-AMG 21's. I actually like them better than the AMG option, but would not live without the AMG exterior styling. Specs are same as the AMG RWAs.
Last edited by GregW / Oregon; 12-21-2018 at 09:17 PM.
We all have different needs and wants. If an SUV was my daily driver I would have at least the GLE 53 (if not the BMW or Audi or Porsche options). However as this is my wife’s DD, it’s about comfort and utility for her first. But we do use it for trips, going to Eastern Oregon every Labor Day weekend. Part of this 365-mile trip is some good canyon carving. The Active Curve in our ML makes this fun on Sport setting. I’m looking forward to the 2019 trip in the new car wit ABC.
My feeling exactly. I just made that trip in our Audi last summer. Drove over through Burns and had a ball without unduly scaring my wife. Came back on the Freeway that has some fun corners through the Blues to Baker City. But Oregon has some tough speed limits and well policed. I travel to a vacation home and drive through Nevada quite a bit. There are remote areas with low traffic and no Police and I look forward to the mountains and lots of twisties. Not dangerous but a good handling vehicle makes it so effortless even at aggressive speeds.
Sorry to hear! What kind of issues?
I hope this isn’t the start of a trend but I’ve had more warranty claim issues in the past few ears than dozens before and vehicle quality has improved. Lexus refused to fix a defect that was put out in a Service Bulletin to be repaired under warranty. It wasn’t a safety issue (power steering wheel motor slop & rattle) and had been reported previously but the dealer misdiagnosed it. I found the bulletin a few months after Warranty expired and requested repair. The Dealer declined so I contacted Corporate thinking they couldn’t refuse...they did. Rather than hire an Attorney I traded the Vehicle. If it breaks it’s
covered but lots of cosmetic or random issues get tougher to resolve. A group of my golf buddies and I decided to start video taping issues and that seems to help. Hoping Mercedes is better to work with.
Lots of unresolved (even after two years+ of production) software issues that effect many systems. The MLBEVO platform isamazing and a pleasure to drive, but this is not the best time to buy an Audi or any VW vehicle...Deisel gate has cost them billions and they are taking it out on their customers and suppliers. BTW the cost cutting on the new Q8 is quite evident and all Audis are headed that way...sad they were once very special vehicles. We had issues with Lexus not fixing a terrible loud metallic knocking in her GS F Sport front suspension over cobble stone roads, they even flew in a team of engineers to investigate but then tried to say it wasn't a problem LOL, we challenged them in the AG's office and won a 5 person panel's unanimous decision. MB on the otherhand has always been very helpful when problems arose and we try to buy MB whenever possible.
My feeling exactly. I just made that trip in our Audi last summer. Drove over through Burns and had a ball without unduly scaring my wife. Came back on the Freeway that has some fun corners through the Blues to Baker City. But Oregon has some tough speed limits and well policed. I travel to a vacation home and drive through Nevada quite a bit. There are remote areas with low traffic and no Police and I look forward to the mountains and lots of twisties. Not dangerous but a good handling vehicle makes it so effortless even at aggressive speeds.
My favorite section is Baker City over to Halfway in the Pine Valley near the Snake River. This route is a part of the original Oregon Trail (there is an interpretive museum near the start). The Pine Valley, at the foot of the Wallowas is gorgeous!
Last edited by GregW / Oregon; 12-21-2018 at 09:47 PM.
Those are the R77 non-AMG 21's. I actually like them better than the AMG option, but would not live without the AMG exterior styling. Specs are same as the AMG RWAs.
Yes, me too but I gather they are not avaible with AMG ext...too bad. Something else I noticed, you cant get massaging seats with the AMG int? Is this correct?
Yes, me too but I gather they are not available with AMG ext...too bad. Something else I noticed, you cant get massaging seats with the AMG int? Is this correct?
No matter how hard I try to get a 450 (wifey doesn't need any more power etc than the 450) I always seem to get pointed back to the 53, as it should have evertything we prefer.
No matter how hard I try to get a 450 (wifey doesn't need any more power etc than the 450) I always seem to get pointed back to the 53, as it should have evertything we prefer.
That’ll be a sweet one if you can wait. My ML is too long-in-tooth to wait any more.
Has anyone thought about having the C pillars wrapped in glossy black to match the glass on non-black vehicles? I think that would look give this vehicle a much more fluid look.
Has anyone thought about having the C pillars wrapped in glossy black to match the glass on non-black vehicles? I think that would look give this vehicle a much more fluid look.
The top line coming off the 2nd row window trim might be a little weird.
12-21-2018, 11:44 AM
