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As an occasional reader and less occasional contributor to this mostly informative site, I sense a noticeable decrease in major mechanical issues as well as quality control problems being expressed by GLE owners. I am hoping that this is due to MB correcting some of their mistakes as production enters it’s 3rd model year. As with any highly sophisticated, technologically advanced new vehicle, the likelihood of early production vehicles experiencing significantly more problems is to be expected. I am not sure if MB had significantly more problems in their GLE as compared to other manufacturers because I don’t have a basis of comparison. It did leave me with the impression that it may not be prudent to buy a totally redesigned vehicle in its first year of production. I guess logically the best time to buy a new vehicle is when it is in its last year of production, looks tired, has played itself out, and the dealers offer incentives to move them off the lot. Nah, I think that I will take my chances.
Before my GLE I had a 2017 E300 which was a complete redesign. It had plenty of issues since it was a first model year which is to be expected with any new model with a complete redesign. For my GLE, it is a 2021, so this model has been in production for a year or two before I got one. I have noticed that my 2021 GLE does not have a lot of the issues that the MY2020 GLE owners are experiencing. My thinking is, it is better to lease a brand new redesigned model and it may be better to buy a model that is nearing the end of production for that cycle before the new redesign.
Also due to part shortages, I would say it is not a good time to buy or lease anything right now, regardless if it is used or new. Many Mercedes models are being shipped with missing features. Although they give a "credit" for the missing options, it is still not great to have it. For example, the MY2022 GLEs are coming with only the standard "static" LED headlights and they are not offering the lighting package because of the part shortages.
We purchased a new 2021 GLE350 for my wife back in August of last year and so far we have had absolutely no issues with it. I’m not sure I would have bought one if I had spent much time on this forum before buying it. I can only assume that things have improved since 2020.
It’s not prudent to buy a pre-facelift MB if reliability is important to you, if you value your time, or if you plan to own (not lease) beyond the warranty period.
If purchasing a 167 platform at all, do it two years after the facelift. This means model year 2025 or later for 167.
Lol what kind of milkshake - but seriously please share what issues you are having.
I am only guessing he means, the up and down bounce, as well as the side ways wobble. There are many posts discussing this, but mine without air-matic is all over the place. Not a sporty, or settling to drive. And road unevenness makes the car wobble sideways. As soon as someone makes so much stiffer springs I will replace all of them, which will hopefully lower it a tad. Sorry, did mean to hijack the intent of the thread, but the car seems very reliable - just the ride leaves many wanting more at this price point.
You won't many satisfied customers in this forum. I have no complaints about mine other than the manually having to activate the dashcam. If it wasn't for that I would have never joined to say how happy I was. Beware of trolls that don't even own a Mercedes-Benz but love irritating those who do. It's called envy I believe.
We have two 2021s that we purchased last summer. Wife’s SUV and my 53 couple.
The are both rock solid and have had zero issues. Both are a pleasure to drive and ride in.
I’m referring to the CELs I’ve had and at highway speeds (45+) under very lite throttle input and in the initial coasting the car vibrates pretty bad. When I have the screen set to the management screen (hp, torque, turbo stuff) and I’m at no more than 30hp and 100 torque the car vibrates. It’s like the when the EQ is try to decide to come on or shut off it causes it to mess up and vibrate.
I’ve got 12k miles on P-zero 325/35 R22 rears and 284/40 R22 front. They “should be” inflated to what is on the gas lid. This problem as been going on since October time frame but my dealer has taken forever to get me in for service and now they kicked me down further because the only guy that can ride with me to feel it and fix it is out with the vid. So I’m assuming since about 7500 miles and it’s just getting worse.
I’m considering replacing the tires because yes they are close. But I’m not paying that much money and it not fix the problem when MB customer advice and my dealer choose to ignore it. I even had a friend ride last night in the car and she asked, why is your car shaking.
Oh, and now I have a fogged up headlight. I love our E63s but the GLE right now is a piece of ………
....piece of low quality trash. Seems W223 might be turning out in a similar way as 167.
Folks, don't buy products from this manufacturer. Read the nonsense about the M274 piston cracking and the M157/M278 cylinder scuffing.
Different engines from the ground up.
Different Pistons, rings, rod, crank, block, cam. Name the common parts, please.
Only your dreaded manufacturer remains the same.
Mercedes and BMW were in the same boat. Tesla bought their battery manufacturer and development partner, quietly stealing their technology, then violating the agreement to supply batteries.
Put them in a tough spot, and their initial replacement battery supplier had issues.
The 48v systems seem fine, and my service manager says none of the new batteries have had problems.
Again not as bad as the competition. Hyundai recalled 200,000 vehicles, of the 100,000 they sell each year, as an example. Fires.
Mercedes and BMW were in the same boat. Tesla bought their battery manufacturer and development partner, quietly stealing their technology, then violating the agreement to supply batteries.
Put them in a tough spot, and their initial replacement battery supplier had issues.
The 48v systems seem fine, and my service manager says none of the new batteries have had problems.
Again not as bad as the competition. Hyundai recalled 200,000 vehicles, of the 100,000 they sell each year, as an example. Fires.
I am aware of that report on what Tesla did and I am not saying others are not facing the issue, fwiw I have friends with MBs with this 48V mild-hybrid system with zero issues. YMMV.
Personally, despite certain shortcomings MB have I still like MB.
Different engines from the ground up.
Different Pistons, rings, rod, crank, block, cam. Name the common parts, please.
Only your dreaded manufacturer remains the same.
With respect dear @mikapen , you are sadly mistaken. Crank and rods are common between M274 (aka the piston cracker) and M264 (future piston cracker?). There are assuredly more common parts between the two engines, but my time is more valuable than digging through EPC to create a complete inventory. Can you please do this for the community? Please do the homework. With your automotive manufacturing and automotive retail sales, parts and service career background, this information may be at your fingertips.
Pistons are indeed different (new part number) for the M264. This is a smoking gun that MB knows something is wrong with the prior design. Whether or not MB "got it right" with the M264 will only be known when numbers of these engines achieve 50k - 100k miles. The M264 piston part number change is consistent behavior with MB's long list of successive part number changes for cam position sensors and cam solenoids on M27x engines, where oil infiltration into the wiring harness is a well known phenomenon. It took MB quite a number of part number changes to "get it right" on the cam position sensors.
How many part number changes will the M264 pistons require before MB "gets it right"?
The M264 is descended from the piston cracking M274.
MB is experiencing an increasing number of 4 cylinder head failures in the last year as more miles are being put on these newer models ..specifically valve seat problems affecting many different models including the GLE, GLC, A-class, maybe more. Time will tell how widespread the problem is. They just extended the warranty on the 4 cyl. timing chain and adjusters on the 204 chassis C-class to 10 yrs/120k miles due to mass failures. This wasn't a problem when they were "newer" but then again MB has always had problems with their 4 cylinders.
With respect dear @mikapen , you are sadly mistaken. Crank and rods are common between M274 (aka the piston cracker) and M264 (future piston cracker?)
Oh they are not, see below. Entirely different design concept.
We have had this argument before, and I provided the part numbers. You became silent.
Originally Posted by mikapen
Different engines from the ground up.
Different Pistons, rings, rod, crank, block, cam. Name the common parts, please.
Only your dreaded manufacturer remains the same.
MB is experiencing an increasing number of 4 cylinder head failures in the last year as more miles are being put on these newer models .....
My service manager mentioned this, but spoke of an alert he had about a bad batch of heads just recently, not higher mileage ones. He was aware of one failure so far. I don't know if the individual cars are identified, but I would expect so, like the hot fuse box issue.
It's certainly not as bad as Honda's CVCC head cracking back in the 80s. They successfully advertised their way out of that problem with diversion. "Honda - we make it simple." Masterful ad campaign, and people still believe it today. Hondas have gotten a lot better.
If the head problem turns out to be chronic, I don't expect Mercedes to launch some sort of ad campaign though. We'll see.
I am only guessing he means, the up and down bounce, as well as the side ways wobble. There are many posts discussing this, but mine without air-matic is all over the place. Not a sporty, or settling to drive. And road unevenness makes the car wobble sideways. As soon as someone makes so much stiffer springs I will replace all of them, which will hopefully lower it a tad. Sorry, did mean to hijack the intent of the thread, but the car seems very reliable - just the ride leaves many wanting more at this price point.
Based on my 2020 GLS450 ride and comfort, we bought (added) the 2021 GLE450 late last year for my wife. The ride is one of the most uncomfortable rides I have had in this class of SUV. The ride is rough and car does wobble sideways. Fortunately, my wife does not drive as much as I do and the GLE will stay for now. If it was daily, it would have been traded in by now.
Oh they are not, see below. Entirely different design concept.
We have had this argument before, and I provided the part numbers. You became silent.
Cmon now @mikapen that’s not the case. Care to shed more light on that claim?
What is your definition of design concept? Sharing crankshaft and rods, piston displacement and injection type are the same. Please provide more color. Thanks!
Mercedes and BMW were in the same boat. Tesla bought their battery manufacturer and development partner, quietly stealing their technology, then violating the agreement to supply batteries.
Put them in a tough spot, and their initial replacement battery supplier had issues.
The 48v systems seem fine, and my service manager says none of the new batteries have had problems.
Again not as bad as the competition. Hyundai recalled 200,000 vehicles, of the 100,000 they sell each year, as an example. Fires.
The fact that we need to compare to a Hyundai says it all. Competitors? I guess after all the GLE's issues they are now.
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