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While waiting on my order I became somewhat concerned that the 450 might have a bit too much of a boat feeling due to its softer suspension. Will the airmatic be a good addon to have to counteract this? I imagine the I would be able to adjust into a stiffer setting with the airmatic or lower the vehicle to lessen body roll.
In Comfort Mode it’s a little floaty on big roller type bumps. I have a street near my home that is near a high school and has lots of traffic calming road berms. At 20-25 it goes over them very well but anything faster it feels like the suspension bottoms.
At posted speeds it doesn’t lean bad in corners. Faster and you get some lean but still feels safe. Sport Mode (for me) is better in most circumstances but bumps are not as soft. I think it lowers at highway speed but don’t recall if it’s an inch or 2 inches.
In Comfort Mode it’s a little floaty on big roller type bumps. I have a street near my home that is near a high school and has lots of traffic calming road berms. At 20-25 it goes over them very well but anything faster it feels like the suspension bottoms.
At posted speeds it doesn’t lean bad in corners. Faster and you get some lean but still feels safe. Sport Mode (for me) is better in most circumstances but bumps are not as soft. I think it lowers at highway speed but don’t recall if it’s an inch or 2 inches.
Thanks for the feedback I remember a while back I had a car that was kind of boaty and it was a big issue for me. The lowering that you are referring to I assume is only available with airmatic or the other more expensive suspension?
Thanks for the feedback I remember a while back I had a car that was kind of boaty and it was a big issue for me. The lowering that you are referring to I assume is only available with airmatic or the other more expensive suspension?
I don’t know anything about the Steel Springs but there wouldn’t be any way to lower them other than a kit. I may be a poor comparo for suspension because I have always driven a Pickup and my wife’s Audi handles more like a Sports Car-a little stiffer and with an anti roll system. I actually like the GLE handling and the ride. It’s what I expected and it handles well in corners but there is some body roll. The higher center of gravity is going to create more lean.
Here is a chart of the levels available with Airmatic. I have E-ABC which is similar in this regard. Comfort lives up to its name, but I find Sport mode the best if you really want to drive. The forthcoming GLE 53 will have an active anti-roll system (similar to the Active Curve I had on my '12 ML), which is really the ideal. Until then, I would recommend Airmatic over the steel springs.
Last edited by GregW / Oregon; May 20, 2019 at 07:17 PM.
Thanks. Asked dealer if possible to add airmatic, my order is about 2.5 weeks old... let’s see. Better safe than sorry, I would really be unhappy with a boat ride
If your dealer has a confirmed factory order for your rig - if they do - they will have a PO# and Tentative Factory Production Date.
If your dealer can give you a Factory PO# - then whether or not your GLE order can be changed/added-to all depends on the Scheduled Production date on that PO.
At this moment - back ordered factory orders and factory order scheduled out thru 1st week of July are basically "locked down" (Red) - when Red - those PO's cannot be changed.
Fresh/new factory order for 3rd decade July (last 10 days of July) and 1st decade August are still changeable (Green). When a PO approaches factory lock down it goes from Green-to-Yellow-to-Red
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