I been lurking for years but never pulled the trigger on a MB and went with BMW X3, Audi Q5, and BMW X5. I currently have a 2019 X5 50I which my wife hates with a passion so it's going away. We also have a 2016 Honda Pilot Elite which my wife loves and has served us well. I can either go with a bigger 3rd row such as Navigator/Q7/GLS or a smaller 3rd row such as Aviator/GLE as I can always fall back on the Pilot for cargo room and 3rd row for passengers. The kids (2 girls 3 and 6) are concerned over the lack of rear seat entertainment and areas to put their toys/cups, etc which I hope to solve with seat back organizers and a Roku. The wife is concerned over the girls concerns and roominess and ride quality. I've been in a ton of SUVS so I am close to narrowing it down. The wife thinks MB has reliability issues so I am trying to case for GLS/GLE. In Jersey, GLS are $5-8K over MSRP which is a non-starter for any car for her. She has invoice pricing for Ford/GM/Lincoln so we started to look at Aviator. Since the GLE shares the same platform as the GLS, it seems the interior space in 1st and 2nd rows are close to the same. Sure, the cargo is less but I can fall back on the Pilot and the GLE is available while the GLS is much harder to find and has the markup. Is my understanding of the GLE space vs GLS correct? How does the stock suspension drive relative to the upgraded suspensions? I literally have a hard time finding stock to even test drive so the dealer would have to order/trade. I've read some issues with 2020 that seem to have been addressed in 2021. Is there a thread with the current concerns/issues?

KIA Telluride - OK? Nice car for $45K but I don't understand the huge fan fair. $5K MSRP markup is a non-starter.
Palisade - AWESOME value. Bit rough ride but on par with the price point (Highlander, Pilot, etc.)
Q7 - Awesome ride. 1st row felt a bit tight. 2nd row seats are a brick. Kids are in car seats so who cares?
Aviator - Awesome interior and awesome seats. Awesome/Smooth ride on stock suspension. I THINK Reserves come stock with adaptive suspension -- Not sure if that uses cameras or just adjustable via drive modes
GX80 - Felt like a BMW/MB inside. Looks/Feels much more pricey. Solid/smooth drive. Even the 2.5L 300HP was adequate (minus engine noise). Wife thinks it's overpriced Hyundai.
Jeep Cherokee L - Still waiting to see but can't imagine buying a Jeep
XC90 - Tight and outdated. Fantastic seats.

X7 - A bit bigger than current X5. Pricey. If I push this and it doesn't work, wife will shank me.
Navigator - I left car on EXCITE mode which I think left the ride a bit rough. AWESOME interior. Awesome seats. Truly huge. It's massive. Pricey.
Tahoe/Suburban - Interior does not match price tag. Even top trim leaves a ton to be desired.

 

This is a Mercedes forum so you will have to excuse the bias lots are going to show for the brand. The stock suspension is great. I find it extremely comfortable and very plush. I have 20 inch rims and drive on really bad Calgary pot hole ridden roads and it’s a very forgiven airy drive. The infotainment is the best in the business. The GLS in nine inches longer but the GLE is way bigger in the back than an X5. I have 2 rear facing car seats in the back and have both chairs all the way back without touching. A well equipped GLE rivals anything on that list of vehicles in my opinion but you have to love what you’re driving.

Watch this Doug Demuro review he did breaks it down quite well if you’re interested

https://youtu.be/5YvMlIwSYWo

 

You have a wide ranging choices on your list as far as prices are concerned...$45K to $100K. A fully loaded GLE is going to be close to $100K but a well equipped can be had for $80K. And I'm just talking about the GLE450. Subtract $10K for GLE350 but add a lot more for GLE580 or the AMG variants.

It seems like your wife needs to really like the next car so SHE needs to do extended test drives so she won't hate it down the road. Happy wife makes happy life!

 

Your wife is correct, with regards to the 167 GLE/GLS the product launch is, and has been a disaster in the reliability department. What about a GLC? Too small? They've been good cars.

 

Will you ever learn.

I got rid of my GLC43 because the tyres scrubbed in cold wet conditions, they came up with a mod for all except AMG models which cured it.

OP take no notice of this poster listen to the members who own a GLE, I have had mine since June 19 and have had no issues - brilliant car.

 

OP take the opinions of those renting these lemons with a grain of salt. Some are overly financially committed or for various other reasons have biased opinions. Some of these renters only know about one car, theirs. Maybe their car has been trouble free. Many others are not. So their experience is limited. It's no different than asking a salesperson at your local MB dealer. Don't expect the truth there. Do your own research about the 167 outside of this website. Note all the recalls, reliability reports, and the new class action lawsuit before making a decision.

 

Do you honestly feel ok about being so condescending with blanket statements like that about a group of varied folks. How can anyone empathize with your opinion or see you as a trusted advisor when you speak like this. Renters ? Financially burdened ? .. man if you can’t see that this is an inappropriate way to talk and be taken seriously then I’m not sure you can argue with why folks react so negatively to you.

 

My opinion, you're picking a bad time to purchase a new vehicle. It is a seller's market, as production is not recovered from COVID. With sub-tier suppliers having quality issues due to workforce COVID impacts, chip shortages, etc; it's been rough on all manufacturers. I predict by the end of the year, production should be getting back to normal...assuming enough people do the smart thing and get vaccinated to help keep the Delta variant at bay.

That said, my early build 2020 GLE 350 has not had any major mechanical issues to date -- it has the HUD, drivers assist, massage seats, pano roof, 4 zone a/c, and a 3rd row -- lot's of things that can go wrong. I have had some minor issues that were software related with my MBUX system and drivers assist. Updated software updates by my Dealer resolved both. I also had my HUD screen replaced under warranty, as it had some discoloration in the upper left corner that was visible at night (looked like it needed degaussing for anyone old enough to remember CRTs). It has also had a few squeaks and rattles that we fixed by the dealer. Frankly, my biggest complaint was the door seals creaked like a wooden ship when the frame was in torsion. A $4 tube of silicone grease eliminated that.

I purchased my GLE, and plan to keep it until it's paid for, and hopefully longer. I've owned Toyotas, Hondas, Acuras, Buicks, and Infiniti's, I bought all new and had warranty work done on each one. The warranty work I've had done on my GLE is on par with the warranty work on my other vehicles. The only issues I've had that are more prevalent have been s/w issues that would be corrected by doing a reboot. With the latest s/w update performed by my Dealer, the issues I have experienced appear to be resolved..so s/w reliability does appear to be improving. Given the software heavy systems and large configuration variances available in tech heavy cars like the GLE, you can expect that any new vehicle you purchase during the first year of production is going to have some minor issues that will be resolved through software updates over time. Although annoying, it's a fact of life in the tech age. If that's a show stopper, wait until ~ the 3rd year of production...regardless of the brand.

 

Yes. Audi/BMW dealerships are filled with fanbois too. I appreciate them all for various reasons. There's no real perfect car IMHO. The biggest concern is the 1st and 2nd rows comfort as anything mid-size will give me enough cargo or I can use the Pilot.

100%. We struggled to determine the 'purpose' of the 2nd car. IMHO, the Pilot gives me flexibility as I can go with a 'smaller' GLE as I have the Pilot for 3rd row/airport/CostCo trips or I can buy a large SUV such as Navigator/GLS to fully replace the Pilot. The Pilot is paid off and we do need a 2nd car as a backup. For the smaller SUV, I'd like to stick around $75K and about $90K for the full size SUV.

GLC is too small. I am trying to convince her to give the GLE a shot. The Consumer Guide rates the GLE low which isn't helping.

I am seeing some negative and it's concerning.

Yes definitely not the best time but the X5 is rotting in the garage and wife wants it gone. With that said, I am in a different position as I usually am able to get invoice pricing due to my wife's employee/auto relationships. It's a great starting point and then I am able to get it discounted further. Those relationships have changed and the inventory is dried up so it's been a struggle.

Given I should be able to get a 2022 GLE allocation, can I not assume they should be resolved by the 3rd year?

 

Given I should be able to get a 2022 GLE allocation, can I not assume they should be resolved by the 3rd year?[/QUOTE]

Yes, I would think so...assuming COVID and the associated supply chain issues don't flare up again.

 

Should I be shooting for MSRP on a 22 GLE allocation? I usually call within 2 hour radius and talk to GMs to get best price.

 

I think if you really look hard you should find a good deal. Everyone was saying they were paying MSRP or even higher for GLE450 but I was able to get one at 5.5% off MSRP. Good thing I didn't listen to those people and some dealers who wanted to charge above MSRP. Granted, I do think a lot of this depends on which market you are in.

 

The wife and I have a 450 with the stock suspension and find it plenty comfortable for our needs, no need to upgrade to airmatic for us, and it was already hard enough to find any 450 GLE at all, we got really lucky in our situation. The back seat is also huge, bigger than even the X7 which was a big plus for us while still getting a large trunk. We also loved the GLE’s styling the most, we are not a fan of the ugliness that has rotted the BMW lineup as of late.

As for reliability, it does seem the V167 GLE has definitely not been the luckiest of MB launches, that being said YMMV. I have a first year CLS53 with tons of new engine tech (which the GLE has) and have over 20,000 trouble free miles on it, and the wife just didn’t like any of the other choices, as the X5’s rear legroom was the same as her previous GLC, she doesn’t like the Q7’s new engine (Pre-Facelift interior and Supercharged V6 was better) and the Genesis was fantastic but you can only buy and service at Hyundai.

The X7 is nice, but its just a stretched X5 (like the GLS is to the GLE) and if she didn’t like the X5 I doubt much would change here. The GLE’s can have a third row but with GLE availability already scarce it will likely be very difficult to find.

Good luck with the search OP!

 

Don’t overlook the Service Department when shopping price.

 

Just want to add one more point about reliability.

Going in, I EXPECT the reliability of our GLE450 to be LESS than a typical Japanese car. I will be happy if I am proven wrong. However, in general, a Honda or Toyota probably lasts longer and much cheaper to maintain.

So why did I choose to purchase a GLE? Well, because first of all, my wife fell in love and wanted one. Secondly, we both recently retired and want to do a lot of road trips. So we wanted something that has ton of safety features, comfortable, quiet and stylish. GLE fit the bill perfectly for us.

 

Regarding 1st & 2nd row comfort, it's great. You will not find a more generous 2nd row in this class. Overall comfort is also great, IMO, even with 21" wheels. Many find the standard steel spring suspension fine, but you should get the Airmatic, IMO (I have the E-ABC which is no longer available).
I have owned my 450 for 27 months and had zero issues after an early software one. Your results may vary, but I would think a 3rd year model should be even better than those in the past.
Supply has been the problem with the global chain having broken links, but let's hope it is slowly coming back to normal.

 

Curious about what is so bad about the X5? I was shopping for a M50i when I decided to go look at MB.
I ordered a 63 and look forward to a q4 delivery.

I liked the X5 M50i, but they kept pulling options and delaying delivery.

 

I am in North Jersey and inventory is extremely limited given the population and high cost of living. I need wife approval but my plan is to build the car and push for invoice (6%?) within a 2 hour radius. I can probably push the wife off until Sep/Oct at the latest.

I'd probably be going for a MY22 so I ASSume most obvious defects woul be addressed.

As in? Cost? Quality of work?

What's the difference between airmatic and E-ABC? Air suspension or any use of cameras is sketchy to me as I've read horror stories on other platforms where the ride is actually worse.

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It's really tight in the front. I am 6' 285lbs mostly upper body but I've had 3 ACL surgeries from college ball and it's a bit painful for my knees but I deal with it. The M brakes are really abrupt. The wife HATES the IDrive info system too. It's very easy for her to pile on and then there's no turning back.

 

Quality of work & helpful attitude.

 

E-ABC has been discontinued on the GLE since it had a very low take rate (presumably due to the high cost). The system is pretty cool though, from what I've read it seems that the suspension works with the car to create an almost leaning effect into the corner (similar to a motorcycle) to provide a level ride. Very interesting tech, and I'm also sure its very costly to fix!

 

Mercedes has a long history of Airmatic and it is great. In addition to selecting various ride profiles, you can raise and lower the car. E-Active Body Control is on a whole different level. Each wheel has total independent control It can read the road ahead to adapt to bumps. It can lean the body into curves (like a motorcycle, sort of) for comfort. It can bounce the car up and down if you get stuck in sand or snow. It has Sport+ for very firm roll control.

Even with my 21" wheels the ride is cushy in Comfort mode, IMO. Airmatic should not be too much different in this regard. Obviously it has more complexity than a non-adjustable steel spring suspension but is worth it.

 

Don't worry about comfort in the GLE, I have 22 inch wheels with air suspension and it is very comfortable.

 

You can have the vehicle serviced at any dealer so why not go with the best price.

 

Not Service, anyone can do that. If a random issue comes up later then the selling Dealer can be the difference between the runaround or a fix. Sure all do warranty work but not all issues are clear cut. Two years ago I was away from my selling Dealer and had that experience first hand. Comments are usually something like-can’t replicate, problem not found, working as designed. If something is broken it’s not a problem. It’s just something I consider more now than in the past. For example I had a Key Fob problem resolved by my Dealer…many others had trouble even after taking the new PN to their Dealer after I posted it. I had another issue with my Camera & Radar out of Sync in 2019 that my Dealer spent extra time to find a fix that came out months later in a TSB.
It’s just one more thing to think about.

 

You can, by law. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act 1975 requires it.
However "Dealer Adjustments" like squeaks and rattles, early wheel alignments etc. are actually part of the PDI fee that the manufacturer pays to the selling dealer, so they should be covered by that selling dealer. In reality, those things aren't warranty items, so another dealer COULD charge for them, but they usually don't.
I feel that I have more leverage from the entire dealership if I need it, having purchased one or several cars from that place.

This proved valuable last year when I was having trouble with my 450 - All Hands joined forces, including putting another car into loaner service when I needed it for a week. The lead tech and the Service manager took the car home to experience the glitch, and then again to verify the fix.
And when I ran Dealerships, I respected and valued the paying customers, especially if there were any conflicts about scheduling, parts availability or overtime for my techs. It's not a regular occurrence, but for me as a consumer, it's a factor in choosing my selling dealer.

AND, I always give them the last shot to beat a deal, which they have been able to do. In those cases, it's a matter of providing tangible evidence, which they love.
YMMV.