Was about to order a 450 with E-ABC as I had read some good things about it. Dealer mentioned that it is no longer an option for the 2021 450 model.

Any info you guys are getting? I am coming from a Cayenne and this seemed to be a desirable option.

The AMG 53 Stabilizer Bar may be another option but really wanted something to smooth out the ride as well.

 

You might also look at the 580 to see if E-ABC is available. The Air Suspension offers a soft ride in Comfort and firmer in Sport but lacks the roll stabilization. Just with Air the vehicle corners decent at speed.

 

To me the biggest advantage of the E-ABC is the ability to smooth out speed bumps. I hate speed bumps and the air suspension is insufficient against speed bumps. It's one of the reasons I have stuck with the 20" wheels instead of upgrading to 21s. If I had e_ABC I would definitely be running 21s and still have better ride quality. I find the cornering ability to be perfectly fine with the air suspension.

 

I said I'd report back on my GLE which is fitted with E-ABC, but since I've had it for less than a week I need a few more miles under my belt. What I can report is that its ability to reduce speed bumps to "nothing" is truly remarkable. But I need more time for a full assessment because I'd really like to understand more about its function when light levels are poor etc. etc.

To put the above into perspective, one of the streets near me has 2 or 3 very significant speed bumps -- when following some cars earlier in the week they all had to slow down, "mount" the bump, "dismount" the bump, then accelerate back up to speed, whereas I sailed over them at 60km/h and barely felt a thing. But these were well-defined bumps on a sunny day so I'm not sure how the system would work on an overcast (or rainy) day, or at night when only the headlights are available for illumination.

 

That is correct, E-ABC no longer available on the GLE

 

If E-ABC not available, that kind false commercial for GLE

 

And yet, on the USA site you can configure a 450 and a 580 with E-ABC. I've asked my dealer here in Canada what he knows about the situation.

 

Those are still the 2020 GLE US Configurator so that will change for the 2021. Optional on 53 and standard 63 for the AMG version. It could be that they don’t have enough supply at present now that the AMG’s are building. IMO there’s a good chance it will be back at some future date unless demand was too low-which I doubt.
My dealer confirmed that there is presently no 2021 GLE E-ABC for the 450 & 580.

 

E-ABC is not available on any AMG model. It is considered too heavy for a performance model. The AMG models have AMG Active ride control with active roll stabilization. That is very different to E-ABC.

 

When I bought mine my dealer said uptake of the option had been pretty slow -- he estimated that only 5% to 10% of their GLEs were being ordered with E-ABC.

 

That is largely because of how they priced it. They should have made it part of the premium package or the AMG package or something like that.

 

Yes, I agree. I didn't want to say so but that's what my dealer said too ... it's a very pricey option that few see the value of.

 

I see that now after more study-some reviews make it seem like they are doing something similar with the electromechanical actuators on the chopped sway bars. Audi has a similar system on the SQ8 so it might be a vendor supplied product like the Borg Warner electric turbo on the 53.

 

Or they are having trouble either with quality or factory integration in the build. There are other low volume options that are still available and 5-10% isn’t bad if true.

 

Yeah, I always saw E-ABC as a way to get people to buy GLEs more than as an actual option to be mass produced. Obviously the cost of development was extremely expensive, so they have to sell it for a lot, and most people will go for the base suspension, or a small percentage will go for the airmatic.
I don’t think Mercedes ever expected to sell more than 5 or 10 percent with it. I always saw it as something to create excitement and make the car seem really cool so that more people would buy base GLEs. So I think it’s a bad idea to get rid of the option, unless they think it’s gotten the interest they wanted and now everyone who would buy one has bought one.

By the way, unrelated but I’m curious, what are the different steel suspension options on the car? I’ve heard that 450s have adaptive dampers whereas 350s have base passive non adjustable dampers, is that true? And I assume that AMG package cars have a stiffer set up? What about airmatic and EABC cars, do they have different tuning on base cars vs AMG cars?

 

I have ABC on my 2019 SL450 and MBC on my 2018 S560. These sophisticated suspension options are nothing short of sensational and I would not own the cars without them. On both of those cars, the option price was in the $4K area. Why MB had to go absolutely NUTS with the E-ABC option on the GLE—with such a huge price tag and features almost nobody needed—is just beyond me. They should have just offered MBC, for a reasonable price and called it a day. Now, for 2021, we have no high end suspension options for the GLE, only AirMatic which is nice, but no cigar. What a shame!

 

You nailed it. MBC would have been the ideal solution. It would give the smooth ride, ability to neutralize speed bumps and road imperfections, without going nuts. E-ABC is solving a problem very few owners have. If people wanted to drive on sand dunes and off-road trails they would buy a G-Class.

 

Airmatic has the Adaptive Damping System Plus (ADS+), I believe the steel suspensions do not. AMG Airmatic IS tuned differently than on base cars.

 

I have one of the early E-ABC cars (4/19 delivery) - zero issues so far and it does work very well. I got it because it was the only option for more roll control, that I had with Active Curve on my '12 ML. MBC or ARC would seem to be a more sensible option, as you say, at less cost and complexity. It's a case of what German engineers are known for - over-engineering because they can. I seldom use all the capability of the E-ABC and I do worry about long term reliability, especially if they discontinue it and parts go out of production. I find it hard to believe this system is gone for good - may be a short-term supply issue.

 

Thank you for your reply! Sorry, I could have been more clear. I was not referring to a GLE450 Vs a GLE53, I meant a base GLE450 vs one with the AMG styling package, and if they tune the airmatic and E-ABC and steel suspension differently, which I would assume would be through just stiffening the dampers and doing the software differently. I’m more curious about the base steel suspension though, and if some vehicles have a passive set up and some have an adaptive set up, for example if the GLE350 has only one setting and the GLE450 has a different comfort and sport setting.

 

The steel suspension is not adaptive even on the GLE450. If you don't have airmatic on the GLE450 then the comfort and sport settings just affect engine response and steering but not suspension. This is why I think Airmatic is a very important option to buy. It is a great upgrade for the price.

Also the base steel suspension tuning is the same regardless of whether you have the AMG package.

 

The AMG Line Exterior has no affect on suspension. Other than styling elements, the difference is larger front brakes and a valved sport exhaust with active outlets in the rear bumper (unlike base fake ones). As stealth.pilot says, the steel suspension on both the 350 & 450 is the same, apart from maybe front spring rates due to engine weight.

 

I downloaded the 2021 GLE order guide a couple of weeks ago and both E-ABC and the top line Burmester are showing as available on the 450 and 580 so not sure why a dealer would tell you otherwise. What has primarily changed is that now you can getsome options standalone rather than in packages like HUD for example so you could get HUD with the advanced Burmester in 2021. There’s no mention of restrictions on the E-ABC.

 

I wish that were true but it seems to be discontinued. I was at the Dealer yesterday configuring a GLE 580 and no E-ABC available in the Dealer order system. Hope it's temporary.

Also no pricing but expected soon.

 

I just asked my SA to contact Mercedes and confirm the status of E-ABC.....discontinued-temporary or forever? I’m OK with just the Air but would buy it if available.