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Not sure if any of you have experienced this in your GLE but these are a list of issues in my GLE that's 2 weeks old.
1. Crooked MB star at bonnet - star was not aligned properly and clips were pushing base in causing it to warp. --> Resolved
2. Seat belt plastic covering on B pillar not aligned and warped and seat belts could not retract. --> Resolved
3. Front camera lens cover dirty/scratched causing blur video --> Resolved
4. Creaking steering wheel - See videos below
5. Keyless-Go issue - See video - Any solutions apart from shaking the key?
6. Patch of bald carpet in 3rd row
7. Car had dirty patches on A pillar
8. Marks/scratches on interior door panel
9. 3rd row headrest cannot be raised
I felt this is poor QC from both MB factory and local dealer.
10. Voice control issues
Navigation - Unable to navigate using voice to input post code
Unable to call simple favourites like Home or Office. System keeps directing to choose destination or contacts and cannot find contact even though it is stored in phone
Unable to dictate a SMS reply - apparently needs internet connection and Mercedes Me subscription??
The defects in the photos are symptomatic of a car that has been held for rework in a lot or field for an extended period, and entered by multiple people to do several rework jobs.
Mercedes is less premium than it once was.
I posted in another thread the base price ratio between several Mercedes models and corresponding Toyota models for two data points, 20 years apart. The price spread between Mercedes and Toyota has narrowed. Is it because Toyota has gone upmarket, or is it because Mercedes has come downmarket? Mercedes is getting its lunch eaten by its own quality defects and by competition from a crowded luxury and near-luxury market. This is objectively verifiable.
Anecdotally, who remembers the mid-80s diesel Mercedes? I do. Mercedes still offers the high mileage recognition medallions. It would be interesting to know the prevalence with which Mercedes issues medallions these days, on a normalized basis for number of cars sold or miles driven.
The defects in the photos are symptomatic of a car that has been held for rework in a lot or field for an extended period, and entered by multiple people to do several rework jobs.
Mercedes is less premium than it once was.
I posted in another thread the base price ratio between several Mercedes models and corresponding Toyota models for two data points, 20 years apart. The price spread between Mercedes and Toyota has narrowed. Is it because Toyota has gone upmarket, or is it because Mercedes has come downmarket? Mercedes is getting its lunch eaten by its own quality defects and by competition from a crowded luxury and near-luxury market. This is objectively verifiable.
Anecdotally, who remembers the mid-80s diesel Mercedes? I do. Mercedes still offers the high mileage recognition medallions. It would be interesting to know the prevalence with which Mercedes issues medallions these days, on a normalized basis for number of cars sold or miles driven.
Interesting as always. Would never have thought to look at that data point. Likely Toyota is going up and MB has come down with so many entry to near entry level models. As I've stated in other posts, MB goal is to have their product in every driveway in the developed world. Price or quality be damned. Some people have posted this is the only way for them to survive, I don't know enough to agree with that. All I know is the brand has changed so much and with it MB's priorities. Market share and tech.
As for the 80's diesels, remember them well. I was to young to afford one but was in awe of every MB car I saw. They were always something special. On the medallions, no way that they are issued in the same frequency as they did in the past. The business model has changed. You used to buy one Mercedes and drive it for ten or twenty years and it still drove brand new. Today you lease it, trade it, dealer rolls it into the CPO program if feasible and by its third buyer cycle it wholesaled and eventually junked, and yet everyone wants a greener world. It's an iPhone now. How many people would want to own an S Class out of warranty today? Even more so one of these GLE's or entry vehicles? No one I know of. Think about that, MB preaches green and yet they don't want to build cars that last.
Check your serial number to see if it’s one of the 40-50,000 that were stored in lots for repair or replacement parts. At least a few were also used as loaner vehicles so had some miles put on them. If it’s got A SN under 50k it could be one of those....
Its done only 500km now. These cars are extremely expensive in Singapore. They wouldn't dare send us a used unit. But it was likely left in a lot for a few months during the lock down.
Its done only 500km now. These cars are extremely expensive in Singapore. They wouldn't dare send us a used unit. But it was likely left in a lot for a few months during the lock down.
@penyekz I don’t think anyone is suggesting the vehicle is used, ie previously owned or operated as a loaner. The idea being suggested is that M-B had many vehicles on hold for quality issues, and they were held temporarily (for weeks and months) in large parking lots and fields, waiting for the quality problems to be corrected. This 100% standard procedure by all automakers. The pandemic added to delays, waiting and temporary storage.
Check your serial number to see if it’s one of the 40-50,000 that were stored in lots for repair or replacement parts. At least a few were also used as loaner vehicles so had some miles put on them. If it’s got A SN under 50k it could be one of those....
Mine has a 41xxx serial number and it's obvious it sat in a field for some time. There was nothing to indicate this had any detrimental effect however,
Funny thing - mine sat somewhere for over a year, I think. It has a 1/19 manufacture date and and very low serial #. 0009xxx and yet it wasn't at the dealer for more than a few months. I do not have the issues described by the OP, but I do see evidence of long term storage - dirt/dust in places where a new car would not normally have it.
I'm skeptical of any argument that the GLE has systematic quality issues.
First off my one has been absolutely perfect. I haven't take it to the dealer for anything in now 7 months of ownership. In fact it is the first new car I have bought which has been perfect off the lot.
Second people go on forums to post issues when they have them. If 2% of cars had a problem, this board would be totally flooded with posts about issues because this is a high volume car. So I'm not surprised by people posting some issues, and the ratio does not seem unusual relative to other brands.
There are also issues reported that are user related. I agree the number of issues aren’t out of line and many are minor ones. A lot of issues are just normal supplier quality ones that are normal with a complete redesign...all Manufacturers have them. Toyota not so much but they are late to intro new things and then make very few changes during a models life cycle of about 6 years unless safety related.
Second people go on forums to post issues when they have them. If 2% of cars had a problem, this board would be totally flooded with posts about issues because this is a high volume car. So I'm not surprised by people posting some issues, and the ratio does not seem unusual relative to other brands.
In the US, year to date through July of this year the GLE was the 2nd best selling midsize Luxury SUV with almost over 9400 units sold. This was behind the Lexus RX and just ahead of the Acura MDX. In Canada it was also #2 with over 1100 units sold behind the BMW X5 and just ahead of the Lexus RX. I'd say that is pretty good for a new model vehicle with "so many" problems. (I have no world wide data.)
Its done only 500km now. These cars are extremely expensive in Singapore. They wouldn't dare send us a used unit. But it was likely left in a lot for a few months during the lock down.
I understand your frustration, paying so much and yet experiencing such lousy quality.
Collected mine 15th Jul and coming 2500km.
IMO GLE is not as refine as my 2016 S320 in build quality and comfort but its still much better than GLC range.
sometime i do hear creaking sound, driving slow over the hump or uneven road.
This could be probably the moon roof which is quite common in other brands too.
I have accepted this fact and live with it.
I have driven or sat in friends' cars from Cayenne turbo, Jaguar most expensive models, Ferrari, Lamborghini and so on.
All have their fair share of problems. Owner keep on complaining to the dealers and frankly speaking there is little that the dealers can do.
If you recall there is a news here in Singapore before, a customer return his bentley/roll royce to the dealer( i cant recall which brand) due to dissatisfaction of the car quality.
They went to court and start suing each other.
Many years ago my C-class used to have aircondition issue. In stationary for 1-2 min the air-con will not be cold and i have to rev the gas for the air-con to work.
Send the car back to the dealers 4x as its under warranty and the problems still stays.
Mercs SUV is selling well around the world and the factory barely could cope with the orders.
These could results in sub-standard quality.
Our GLE350 was built in mid-March, on the last day of production before the factory shut-down. I concur with several of the posters on this thread in that over 5000 miles, the vehicle has been perfect and has never been back to the dealer. Our previous two successive SUVs were Lexus RX350s, and the Mercedes has been very bit as good.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by stealth.pilot
I'm skeptical of any argument that the GLE has systematic quality issues.
First off my one has been absolutely perfect. I haven't take it to the dealer for anything in now 7 months of ownership. In fact it is the first new car I have bought which has been perfect off the lot.
Second people go on forums to post issues when they have them. If 2% of cars had a problem, this board would be totally flooded with posts about issues because this is a high volume car. So I'm not surprised by people posting some issues, and the ratio does not seem unusual relative to other brands.
Yes, BUT, the 2020 GLE’s seem to have way more problems compared to other MB models. I hope many of these issues will be resolved with the 2021 models. My wife wants an SUV and the GLE is the right size. That said, before going for one, we will drive the new Genesis GV80, which should be out anytime now. Not thrilled with the vertical screen on the dash, but to me, the rest of the interior is a home run!
Last edited by Streamliner; Aug 21, 2020 at 01:08 PM.
Yes, BUT, the 2020 GLE’s seem to have way more problems compared to other MB models. I hope many of these issues will be resolved with the 2021 models. My wife wants an SUV and the GLE is the right size. That said, before going for one, we will drive the new Genesis GV80, which should be out anytime now. Not thrilled with the vertical screen on the dash, but to me, the rest of the interior is a home run!
This beats the GLE on looks alone. You should take a look at a Cayenne or Macan as well.
I agree, if you read the forum regarding all other new released MB vehicles, the GLE seems to be having more issues than others. Some quite serious and lemon worthy. I don't recall seeing this many issues with any other newer releases.
Check your serial number to see if it’s one of the 40-50,000 that were stored in lots for repair or replacement parts. At least a few were also used as loaner vehicles so had some miles put on them. If it’s got A SN under 50k it could be one of those....
Where can I find the serial number? I know mine is built in June.
Porsche did well with the most recent Panamera release. The new Cayenne appears to have had some bumps in the road.
BMW did well with the most recent X3 release, and the X7 seemingly as well.
M-B flubbed the V167 intro and arguably goofed the GLC and some models of W213 (early 4.0L TT V8). I hope the W223 is a flawless launch.
What is your BMW statement based on? I am active on bimmerfest and bimmerpost since release, even before getting my V167.
There are countless threads there with issues, way more vs what we have here on the GLE/GLB/GLC/GLS forums combined.
1st episode was after parking in hot sun, AC blew warm air and couldn't cool.
2nd episode, AC stopped blowing cold air on drivers side. Passenger side seemingly ok.
And yes of course I checked the settings.
Having brought up all these issues, I still must say that this is a really nice car to drive in and is super comfy. So as long as dealer is able to resolve my issues, I will be happy.
1st episode was after parking in hot sun, AC blew warm air and couldn't cool.
2nd episode, AC stopped blowing cold air on drivers side. Passenger side seemingly ok.
And yes of course I checked the settings.
Having brought up all these issues, I still must say that this is a really nice car to drive in and is super comfy. So as long as dealer is able to resolve my issues, I will be happy.
As I recall, there is some info previously posted on this. A sensor in the overhead console goes bad. Short term fix was to gently tap it and get the Dealer to order a replacement.
What is your BMW statement based on? I am active on bimmerfest and bimmerpost since release, even before getting my V167.
There are countless threads there with issues, way more vs what we have here on the GLE/GLB/GLC/GLS forums combined.
@bad habit Which BMW vehicle are you seeing that has had launch problems?
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