robalo220

Its my understanding from several dealers and also reading on the forums that the GLE 580 is a limited production bridge vehicle until the GLE 63 arrives. Canada and other areas already have a GLE 53 which isn't as fast as the GLE 580. My dealer told me they have orders for deliveries of the GLE 63's starting around May this year.

The GLE 580 wasn't meant to beat or compete with the X5 M.

Just what I've heard.

Fastcars1969

So what is the comp for the GLE580? I did another test drive today and It is a very nice vehicle. Wife likes it alot also but I can't seem to get the performance part out of my head. The GLE feels numb at the wheel and does not handle like the X5M50i .
I do feel that the GLE is more comfort and I like the new MBUX it's a very tough decision. Also because my BMW dicount is 12% + 4250 in incentives the difference in pricing is over 10K I don't know if 7.5% is a decent % off a GLE580 but that is the best they will do. This car is not on their lot either it's 100 miles away. The BMW is 150 miles away.

stealth.pilot

My wife wanted the GLE so that’s what I got her. We ended up getting a 450 because it had all the options we wanted.

quite frankly the performance is good for an SUV. It’s not sporty like the X5, but then again that’s why I have a Porsche as well.

Jno211

Gdl, how do you compare the ride with your older GLS450, both with airmatic ?

I test drove a GLE350 with base suspension on 21’s, and it was both uncomfortable and sluggish in turns, loved driving back my GL !

bad habit

If I got you correctly, you are asking whether there is a good difference between the base suspension and airmatic?
For me, the airmatic is a must, especially on the 450. Makes a huge difference vs the basic suspension, both in ride comfort, and stability.
I have the 21s and with airmatic in Sport its like driving a car when cornering, there is minimum understeering, doesn't feel like a boat.

Fastcars1969

Yes that's the best of both worlds. I'm trading my RS5 because my wife won't drive it even if she needs to. She thinks it's way to fast for her and does not like the power and how low it sits. I'm in a bad position because I like it but trying to get the best of both worlds for myself and keep her happy. Therfore the X5m50i but I'm also afarid that she will be a bit taken aback when she feels the power of the X5M50i. Don't get me wrong the GLE is nice but if it was a 63 I'm sure it would meet my need for power. The other issue is and I have run into this situation three times already is having to purchase a seperate set of winter tires for $1800 then you sell the vehicle and you have to try and sell them. I have been stuck in that situation and got 20% back on a set of winter tires that may have 2000 miles on them. Trying to avoid that situation again no matter if it's a BMW or MB with HP tires. I need to make this decision because the MB found a GLE580 that has what I want (well about 80%) and it seems they don't stick around to long. This GLE 580 is almost 97K and they said if I wait till next week that car might be gone. The BMW is on hold for me because I know the GM but I need to travel 180 to get the car. I do think that when we left the dealer yesterday after driving the GLE 580 and getting back into my wife's X5 40i even that vehicle felt quicker than the 580. I think it's the weight difference. The X5 is about 500 lbs lighter. Got to **** or get off the pot soon.

BACnMercedes

On a 580? Where and when? I’ll call them right now.

I test drove a 580 this morning and......I want it!! The sound and power are great with out the harsh ride of an AMG (and supposedly this one even had the horrible run flats, but I never confirmed what the sales guy told me)
Now to just figure out how to get rid of the diamond grill after I get mine.

threeMBs

It might apply to W213 E63 vs. non-E63 W213 E, but does not apply to W166 GLE63 (yes not the same as 167 and yes I do not know how 167 GLE63 will ride, but if it is anything like 166, well...). As a matter of fact, probably greatly due to the standard Active Curve among other things, 166 GLE63 is both smoother (no harsh ride at all) while much better handling than non-AMG 166 GLEs. I assume 167's AMG ride will be at least on par with 166's AMG.

GregW / Oregon

Active Ride Control should be even better than the old Active Curve (which I had on my ML) because it’s 48V powered vs. hydraulic.

stealth.pilot

Its not just weight. BMW has programmed its drivetrain for responsiveness, and also their transmission and differential is more efficient. But that said I don't think you will be disappointed with the 580. I actually quite enjoy driving my wife's 450 around town.

btshep

Do you think you miss or will not miss optioning it with the e-ABC? I am rally on the fence of whether to include it on my 580 before the order gets lock in and changes are not possible

GregW / Oregon

It all depends on your driving style and conditions and personal preferences. This is my wife's DD, so I only drive it occasionally and even less frequently in a sporting manner. But for those times I want to drive the twisties more aggressively, I wanted more roll control than the standard Airmatic, so I opted for the E-ABC. And in Sport+ the body lean is very well controlled. Then there is Curve Mode, which I view as more of a novelty but it is interesting on highway sweepers. IMO, Airmatic is fine for most people. The Active Ride Control on the GLE 53 should be the optimum price/performance system, I believe. It's an update on the old Active Curve that I had on my '12 ML, but electrical instead of hydraulic for better response.

Fastcars1969

I guess the question I will pose to all who are thinking about getting E-ABC for $6800 is it worth it for daily driving. What I mean is driving maybe three or four times a week. I love performance but I don't drive more than 4000K a year. I'm retired but not dead

GregW / Oregon

Given those parameters I would say, "no."

gdl

I do not notice any real difference in the airmatic ride quality between my wife’s ‘17 GLS 450 and my ‘20 GLE 580, both have the airmatic suspension. I stressed over the upgraded E-ABC suspension and decided not to go with it for the cost (and worried the complexity of it might lead to more repairs). I am glad I did not get it, I am happy with the ride quality. If the E-ABC had been under $4k, I would have done it. I think it could only add to the ride quality, but I did not need it.

BACnMercedes

I’m on the fence still about the e-abc for now but I’m pretty set on the other options. I’m retired too but drive about 15k a year and this will be our families travel vehicle but agree 6500 is a little much. I wouldn’t have a problem with clicking the option for 3500-4000.

Now where is the member with the 7.5% discount.

btshep

Yea, I completely agree with those statements. the 580 comes with the airmatic as std but if the e-ABC was at that 3500ish price point I would have had that box checked in Netstar. The 6600 price point really makes you think long and hard and agonize a bit over adding it. After all its not that absurd of an option when you are talking about an over 90k vehicle but in the scheme of things with an airmatic suspension I really envision the suv being left in the comfort setting most of the time especially with the smaller tire sidewall because of the bigger wheels. I also left off 4 zone climate control cause I never missed the 3 zone in my M class as well as rear seat heaters since I hate the look of the door switch with the big blank being that MB merely repurposed the front heated/vented switch (it could have been implemented better) Granted I got a discount but where is the member with 7.5 off. I dont believe it. I'll call that dealer first thing in the morning and cancel the order with my dealer.

bigpern23

Why so surprised about 7.5 percent? It’s a pretty reasonable discount.

tiri

Some are surprised considering when a vehicle is in high demand, any discount vanishes.
I had 0% discount last summer. Goes to show.

bigpern23

I had four dealerships offer 9 or 10 percent off MSRP last March. Agreed on a deal with one, but the production delays scuttled it after I eventually settled on 6 percent from a dealer that had one matching my specs in stock.

I called probably two dozen dealers during my search. Some offered no discount. Most offered 5-7 percent. Only a few went as high as 9 or 10.

threeMBs

10% off last March on 2020 GLE450 order that did not even hit any dealer for several more months? You could not get 10% off last March on an outgoing 2019 W166 GLE43! No wonder "9-10% deal" on '20 GLE450 never materialized.

As far as somewhere above mentioned 7.5% of on GLE580? I am just as skeptical.

bigpern23

You're entitled to skepticism, though I'd suggest it's misguided. When production delays snagged up my first order, they offered me a '19 GLS 450 for 15.5 percent off ($84K build for $71K). Not sure where you are located, but your statement is flat-out incorrect, at least in regards to the Northeast. There's quite a bit of competition up here, so perhaps that drives more discounts. I found Texas and California to be the states where I was least likely to find a discount. There wasn't a single Northeastern dealership that offered us less than 5 percent off (again, a GLE 450, not a 580). I have no reason to be skeptical of someone getting 7.5 percent. It's fine if you are. I just don't see a reason to call someone out when you don't even know what dealership they purchased theirs at. You have no basis for your skepticism.

Also, I should note, my original order — with an agreed upon 10 percent discount (no quotation marks necessary. It was a $77,530 build for $69,800) — arrived at the dealership the same day I took delivery of my rig from North Carolina and the dealership was ready for me to come complete the deal. So it did "materialize," but I had found another vehicle, that hadn't been sitting for months in the Alabama sun, in the meantime. Feel free to search my earlier posts if you're still "skeptical."

threeMBs

I think my post should have been more diplomatic and for that I apologize. Any 10% off last spring on '20 GLE450 as well as paying full MSRP for it (as posted by someone just above) are outliers. By far the most people in the country were somewhere in the middle - 5-6% (as your ultimate deal proves).

I still am very skeptical on a claim of 7%+ on a relatively limited GLE580 production. Here in FL, dealers are holding on to them and are mostly getting what they want, at least currently, as they fly off the lots.

BACnMercedes

I agree there are deals on 450’s, but this thread is about 580’s. I have one (580) on order and I’m starting to get serious with the dealer involved in that I am not going to pay sticker now, especially that there is no definite build date. My dealer that I have used several times has virtually no competition within a 100 miles of them so they can command a higher price. I actually started “shopping” out the build today but haven’t had much luck so far on the 580s. They just sell so fast that the dealers know they have a premium product at this time. I can wait though. I have called other dealers in the northeast when I was shopping out our current E class and was told by two dealers that they WILL NOT sale outside their north east area. I’ll find someone but was actually looking for input from other members who they actually used.

bigpern23

Agreed, 9-10 percent is certainly an outlier. In my anecdotal experience, I had 4 of 24 dealerships I contacted nationwide make such an offer, all of which are in New England. I had probably 5 or 6 not offer any discount at all. The rest were in the middle. The 450 was certainly limited in supply at the time (and still is, to a lesser extent than the 580).

I just don't have any reason to doubt Fastcars1969 could get 7.5 percent. It's right in that middle range and he acknowledges it's not even as good as what BMW is offering him. What's the point of coming here to lie about our cars? Kind of defeats the purpose of this forum, IMO.

* SIDE NOTE: I'll also say that purchasing a vehicle from hundreds of miles away turned out to be bigger pain in the *** than I expected. My wife would have certainly preferred to simply wait for our second order to arrive (which it finally did in January). For many (most?), the extra hassle would not be worth saving a point or two. For me, it was about getting the vehicle ASAP. And, if I'm being honest, I enjoyed the hunt.