When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello all, as the title states the wife and I recently got a GLE 450 for her to replace her GLC 300. This was a very unexpected purchase as my wife brought her car in for an oil change, only to see this GLE and fall in love. Emerald Green on Macchiato Beige MB-Tex. We had been talking about getting something bigger as while we enjoy the GLC, we found the cargo space to be lacking especially as we plan on taking more trips (with our dog too) and have been doing a lot of home improvements and our other cars pretty much have no space. Anyways she saw the color called me to the dealer and the rest is history.
First impressions is easily this gorgeous color. We've had Fern Green BMW's in the past and this color is very similar. In the dark it can easily be mistaken for black but when the sun hits it, the color pops. We love the AMG-Line appearance as we prefer SUV's with minimal plastic cladding and prefer the more aggressive fascia and wheel setup. Besides the color, this is easily one of the best looking SUV's in its class, perfect mix of elegance and aggression. The interior is Macchiato MB-Tex which is also great as we love Green on Tan/Beige color combos. I actually prefer the MB-Tex as we still got ventilated seats with perforations but unlike the regular leather it doesn't feature the weird graininess/design on the bolsters and still feels relatively smooth, much better than BMW's SansaTec and even their Dakota Leather honestly. It has the glossy wood which looks good, but I still think the matte wood with the Macchiato would look best. Engine is smooth as silk and wife loves finally not having to turn start stop off every time. The interior is beautifully modern and the ambient lighting is awesome, although we don't understand why the GLC has soft touch door bottoms but the GLE and GLS don't, but not too big of a deal. MBUX is still the best infotainment in my opinion and much easier to use than iDrive 7.0 which has too many hidden controls, especially the HVAC system which can be annoying to use in the X5 we tried out months ago. Speaking of the X5, the back seat in this car is absolutely huge, even our GLC was as big as the X5 in the back but this is even better, and we get an even bigger trunk.
Overall we are very pleased with the upgrade and the dog will certainly appreciate the extra space out back. We plan on thoroughly using the vehicle for ikea and home depot runs as well which this should excel at with how much space it has.
Welcome to the GLE board. Your color combination was my initial choice but I switched to polar white instead. I'm surprised you found a 450 in stock as they don't seem to sit around very long. I should get mine in a couple of weeks barring any delays in production.
Welcome to the GLE board. Your color combination was my initial choice but I switched to polar white instead. I'm surprised you found a 450 in stock as they don't seem to sit around very long. I should get mine in a couple of weeks barring any delays in production.
Thanks! Another reason we got it so soon. Dealer had their initial buyer back out of the deal I believe the night before, we're friends with the manager so he saw my wife in service and told her he had something she would like and it was pretty much the only 450 they were gonna have that wasn't sold. Pure luck I guess.
Dude, you found that in stock? Go buy a lottery ticket....QUICK!
I may have to see if I can push my luck further with that lottery ticket! Honestly it was more like the car found us. The manager always keeps me up to date on any interesting/unique inventory and knows about the wife's and I love for green, I still can't believe someone would pass on this gorgeous color. The manager apparently had another GLE 450 traded in this week and the car sold the same day it was traded before it was even inspected! GLE market is absolutely crazy, apparently GLE Coupes don't last more than a day if they aren't claimed, insane!
What color is this interior trim? I was 99% on picking Natural Grain Brown Walnut, but this one looks good too!
Its the Grey Linden wood trim, however I 100% would pick the Natural Brown Walnut, it looks gorgeous with Macchiato Beige and is much brighter. That and the Designo Brown Flowing Lines are my favorites on the GLE/GLS.
Yep, similar story here. Wife saw the Emerald green—and all other colors were off the table. Local dealer did a dealer trade and the original buyer backed out...it had all the options I wanted (plus some). It was on the lot, I got a good deal, so I bought it. The rest is history.
Congrats on the upgrade! That is one beautiful rig! Wife and I will be doing a GLE450 when the time comes as we have a ML350 now. We did drive the GLC but it is too small and not a SUV. The color of your GLE is beautiful!
Yep, similar story here. Wife saw the Emerald green—and all other colors were off the table. Local dealer did a dealer trade and the original buyer backed out...it had all the options I wanted (plus some). It was on the lot, I got a good deal, so I bought it. The rest is history.
94 Supra Turbo, 15 Jeep Wrangler Altitude, 2020 GLE 450
Originally Posted by js_cls
We plan on thoroughly using the vehicle for ikea and home depot runs as well which this should excel at with how much space it has.
Congrats on the upgrade from to the GLC! I was able to get a loaner for a GLC AMG 63 for about two weeks... was awesome, but I love being back in my GLE 450. Since you are doing some home depot runs want to pick me up some mulch in your GLE? =D j/k !
Congrats on the GLE, I also went from a GLC 43 to the GLE53. I loved my GLC but the GLE seems more complete for an everyday driver car. The ride is so different in the GLE I wished I had of gotten one originally.
I was able to get a loaner for a GLC AMG 63 for about two weeks... was awesome, but I love being back in my GLE 450.
Thanks! Definitely already loving the huge increase in cargo capacity, and the back seats are super roomy, we took two friends to dinner and the back seats was much better than in the GLC (which was also big for its class).
That must be some nice dealer to give you a GLC 63 for a loaner, I'm sure those were two fun weeks with that V8!
Congrats on the GLE, I also went from a GLC 43 to the GLE53. I loved my GLC but the GLE seems more complete for an everyday driver car. The ride is so different in the GLE I wished I had of gotten one originally.
Thanks, I also loved the GLC and still think its the best compact SUV, but the GLE is definitely a step up in size, styling, and luxuries, and my wife has already gotten so many comments on how gorgeous the color is. The 53 cars are awesome, you are going to love the motor in the GLE, smooth as silk and very punchy with the electric supercharger that the 53 adds, Mercedes' bringing back the Inline-6 (as well as their improved chassis and handling) was what brought me over as I've always loved BMW's I6's but the new BMW's lack that special feeling they use to have and honestly the new MB electrified 6's are so smooth and have so much character, more so than BMW's.
We have same interior except our is with the Designo Brown Flowing Lines. Our exterior is Designo Diamond White with the AMG exterior. We love our combination (especially in 100+ degrees here in California!).
I finally saw a new GLE with the AMG package on freeway yesterday. This was my first time seeing one on the freeway and I couldn't believe how good it looked. I believe it was Selenite Grey. The large tires and the wide aggressive stance gave it a commanding presence on the road.
We have same interior except our is with the Designo Brown Flowing Lines. Our exterior is Designo Diamond White with the AMG exterior. We love our combination (especially in 100+ degrees here in California!).
Thanks! Diamond White with the AMG-Line exterior and Machiatto interior also looks fantastic, that or Cardinal Red would be our runner ups after Emerald. The Designo Brown Flowing Lines trim is gorgeous, I saw one months back in a GLS and it looks fantastic and much better than the piano black version. If I were building a GLE I'd definitely choose that trim as my first choice.
Originally Posted by nextmilenium
I finally saw a new GLE with the AMG package on freeway yesterday. This was my first time seeing one on the freeway and I couldn't believe how good it looked. I believe it was Selenite Grey. The large tires and the wide aggressive stance gave it a commanding presence on the road.
The 63AMG's definitely have a lot of presence, much more so than the previous models, down the street from me there's a new GLS63 all blacked out and it looks mean, especially with its big Panamericana grill.
A year and a half later and close to 20,000 miles since the original post, the GLE 450 has been a fantastic workhorse, but with a recent move, as well as the wife finding that she wants a smaller vehicle once again, we decided to part ways with the GLE as it was much more car than what we needed now in our new home and lifestyle. That being said, the wife still wanted a vehicle with a decent cargo hold and backseat for the scenarios when she needed it. With the new GLC not arriving for a few more months, and the wife wanting to try something new, we ended up with a Genesis GV70 2.5T. While we will miss the smooth Inline-6 and beautiful Emerald Green Metallic, the wife is happy to have something smaller again, as well as back to her favorite color white. After our experience with the GLE we highly recommend it, its engine is beyond smooth, the backseat is the largest in the class, it handled numerous Ikea and dump runs, as well as traveled down the entire east coast from Maryland to Florida with ease and never gave us any issues in our ownership period.
Congrats on the new ride. Although she's been happy with the experience, it's unlikely my wife will be returning to MB when she's ready to move on from her GLC. (Like me, she still likes physical buttons.) The GV70 3.5T and Electrified GV70 are both on her preliminary short list.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by js_cls
A year and a half later and close to 20,000 miles since the original post, the GLE 450 has been a fantastic workhorse, but with a recent move, as well as the wife finding that she wants a smaller vehicle once again, we decided to part ways with the GLE as it was much more car than what we needed now in our new home and lifestyle. That being said, the wife still wanted a vehicle with a decent cargo hold and backseat for the scenarios when she needed it. With the new GLC not arriving for a few more months, and the wife wanting to try something new, we ended up with a Genesis GV70 2.5T. While we will miss the smooth Inline-6 and beautiful Emerald Green Metallic, the wife is happy to have something smaller again, as well as back to her favorite color white. After our experience with the GLE we highly recommend it, its engine is beyond smooth, the backseat is the largest in the class, it handled numerous Ikea and dump runs, as well as traveled down the entire east coast from Maryland to Florida with ease and never gave us any issues in our ownership period.
Here's some pics of the new Genesis.
Congrats on the new vehicle, thanks for sharing, wish you and your wife many happy miles to come in good health. That is a decent optioned and decent spec as well : ) good for you.
Congrats on the new vehicle, thanks for sharing, wish you and your wife many happy miles to come in good health. That is a decent optioned and decent spec as well : ) good for you.
Thanks! Wife and I looked at a bunch of different cars from the BMW X1 and X3, to the Jag F-Pace, Volvo XC60, and Audi Q5. It came down to the Acura RDX and this Genesis as finalists, but my wife loved the design of the Genesis inside and out as it was the most similar to her MB's in its more ritzy and luxurious design language. Only thing we don't like is the design of the steering wheel, but the ability to rest a hand at 6 o'clock is a nice compromise.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by js_cls
Thanks! Wife and I looked at a bunch of different cars from the BMW X1 and X3, to the Jag F-Pace, Volvo XC60, and Audi Q5. It came down to the Acura RDX and this Genesis as finalists, but my wife loved the design of the Genesis inside and out as it was the most similar to her MB's in its more ritzy and luxurious design language. Only thing we don't like is the design of the steering wheel, but the ability to rest a hand at 6 o'clock is a nice compromise.
That is a great selection of vehicles! Certainly all have its strengths and weaknesses, I am sure the decision of picking one was tough, glad you figured it out. As always, looking forward to your follow up review after a couple of weeks with it.
Thanks! Wife and I looked at a bunch of different cars from the BMW X1 and X3, to the Jag F-Pace, Volvo XC60, and Audi Q5. It came down to the Acura RDX and this Genesis as finalists, but my wife loved the design of the Genesis inside and out as it was the most similar to her MB's in its more ritzy and luxurious design language. Only thing we don't like is the design of the steering wheel, but the ability to rest a hand at 6 o'clock is a nice compromise.
Your wife is a Boss! The Genesis looks very stately in the driveway.
Bought my PhD Wife a 2017 Chevy SS Sedan Automatic as a Birthday Present for our Watkinsville Georgia residence not far from USDA gig. Her 2004 Pontiac Vibe and the 2005 CRV SE AWD were both over 100K at the time. 9-years earlier she had said the 2009:Pontiac G8 GT was the best car that I bought on a road trip to OK State University. Unfortunately she desired to be higher off the ground as she approached the half century mark? Had to then shuffle cars between NM and GA and give up the AWD CRV (with Nokians) that I used to commute to the Oilfields in the winter, 250-miles away over the mountain passes. Eventually updated the CRV in GA with a new 2019 Buick Encore and warranty. Kids learned to drive on Pontiac Vibe and sold the automatic SS to old NM Coworker. When daughter graduated MIT we gifted her the Encore in 2021 and the wife got the larger 2020 CRV Hybrid AWD that I was using for the 1500 mile commutes between NM-GA. The Hybrid was a place holder during my long wait for AMG Wagon...was expecting a 2020 E63S with the IWC clock but the Pandemic hit just after my second retirement. Hybrid was fun driving between GA and DC on I-81/I-66 especially with Vredestein tires but I quickly realized the Hybrid and future EV was not my cup of tea on 22-hour runs between NM/GA in the winter. Chevy SS 6-speed had dedicated Michelin Pilot Summer Tires. Recently bought the Son a 2021 Kia Soul after he completed the demolition of the 2004 Vibe trainer...lol
If something happens to her CRV Hybrid will recommend the Genesis as her first new car purchase...already started making her pay for GA insurance to keep the kids off my inexpensive V8 and Ducati NM Policies. But it will be her choice! Daddy is retired from all new car purchases...emphasis is getting Son through Georgia Tech and graduate 2026?
Genesis is designed to check all the boxes for US buyers, and they've done a masterful job.
My biggest fear with Genesis is the huge amount of recalls they've had in the last few years. Only Ford has had more cars recalled. In percentage of cars sold, they were below 200% recalled (twice as many cars recalled than sold) for the first time in two years. The recalls weren't for trim items, more for engine failures and fires.
If their reduction in recalls is an improving trend, I'll be more interested. Watching.
06-26-2021, 08:42 PM
Honestly it was more like the car found us. The manager always keeps me up to date on any interesting/unique inventory and knows about the wife's and I love for green, I still can't believe someone would pass on this gorgeous color. The manager apparently had another GLE 450 traded in this week and the car sold the same day it was traded before it was even inspected! GLE market is absolutely crazy, apparently GLE Coupes don't last more than a day if they aren't claimed, insane!
Genesis looking good
