BillD1953

Last week I ordered a 2022 GLE 450 from my local dealer. Anticipated delvery for July 2022.
Yesterday the dealer called me and had a "450 build slot" available for a March delivery.
I gave the OK to "build the order" for March 2022.

The order came back airmatic suspension "unavailable" at this time.
I told the dealer we'll go with a "future" build date when airmatic availabilty gets back on line.

GregW / Oregon

Good call.

hutch300

I think that is the right choice. Airmatic would be a deal breaker for me.

Ron.s

It’s surprising that with sales numbers way down from normal-something like Air Suspension is still in short supply. It doesn’t seem like a return to normal is coming in 2022 either.

BenjaminKohl

These shortages are so interesting. Most of the first 22 model year GLE450s I saw had airmatic, but then it wasn’t available to order. And it seems nearly 100% of the last few months of 2021 E Class Sedan production all had air suspension.

haibieb

When we were considering ordering our 2022 GLE 450 back in June, we were told that Airmatic would not have been available for production. The dealer could not get an allocation slot until we deleted the option at the time. Who knows what is going to happen in the next few months.

BillD1953

Same deal with the BMW X5s. I was considering the X5 45e PHEV, another nice vehicle, that comes with air susspension.
I could have ordered one a couple weeks back but a factory trailer hitch is not available right now. Go figure.
MB has hitches, BMW does not.

I test drove both the X5 45e and the GLE 450. I'd be happy with either but the real clincher to replace my 2015 MB ML with another MB is for two reasons.

1. The MB can be ordered in "silver", BMW X5 cannot.
2. I'm not ready to be plugging in the car every night for 30 miles of pure electric.

I'll keep the forum posted on my order.

GregW / Oregon

...and the BMW comes with run flats!

nsoltz

For curiosity, is the BMW selling at a premium over list? And I agree that 30 miles EV is insufficient. My wife's Rav4 Prime gets 50-52 miles electric. And since it is only driven around town and only driven Hybrid when we feel we need to keep some gasoline circulating, it is a more reasonable PHEV approach. Particularly in pandemic, she barely drives 50 miles a week. BTW, the electronics in the Rav4 Prime equal or exceed MB electronics. But at $50K, this is in GLB territory as equipped. For me-- I can't see anything getting me out of MB.

BillD1953

Both BMW and Mercedes dealerships are not up charging over list, at least with my order.