This includes Burmester Surround Sound System, Surround View System, and Household-type 115V power outlet.

Not a big music person and only enjoy occasional music on the radio. I guess the Burmester can provide a bit of an aesthetic upgrade on the stock speakers. Not sure of the benefits of the surround view system or power outlet. Thoughts on this being worth $1,375? My dealer told me "all the GLEs they build have this", which seems odd to me.

Surround view is great, I don’t buy any new car without it now.

Yes, wouldn't buy a GLE let alone a GLC without those features. Not surprised the dealer builds all their cars with it, these are highly popular options/features.

Wondering what the wattage limit for the power outlet is? And what are some of the more creative uses for it?

The MB surround view system is awesome. I use it all the time when parking and pulling into my garage. I believe that the rating on the power outlet is 100 watts

Honestly, if you don’t value those things, skip it. You’d have a unicorn.

Mercedes benz premium packages have always been a combination of the most expected/popular features that really should be standard, and were usually not available otherwise. This package would be required to get almost any other option, and on most models, 95+% of vehicles are configured with them. For example, between the 2015-2020 model years, this was often things such as keyless entry, blind spot warning, back up camera, heated seats in some cases, navigation in some, etc. Almost no one got one without this package and if they did they were really missing out on stuff a mid trim Honda would have.

In the past couple years, almost all this stuff has become standard, and the premium package is becoming less important. Almost all Mercedes (except the A class line) have everything you need standard. And the premium package is no longer the humping off point for other options. So if you don’t listen to much music and don’t need surround view cameras to park, you’ll be fine saving the money, and get a really unique car too!

Do you plan to trade or sell it in the future or drive it until it is scrapped? I find those features must haves, and would not buy one without them.

I agree, and would add Trailer Hitch to that list.

I have that package, it's worth it just or the surround view camera. I also have the towing package and am glad I got it.

The premium package is really the most basic package to add. While one can argue what should be included by default adding this to a $57k car is really a no-brainer.

It’s a cheap package and not having it will impact t resale value.

That said, what gets me are some configurations where basic options are omitted while adding an illuminated star or roof spoiler.

Thanks Wolfman, well put. What other basic options (other than the premium package) would you consider vital for the GLE 350 that aren't standard?

The passenger side memory seat. It comes with seat kinetics (on passenger side); seat extender (on passenger side); memory seat (on passenger side); and the ability for the driver to adjust the passenger seating position from the driver’s door. The website states that the option of memory seat also adds lumbar support to the passenger seat. I believe that, for 2022, the passenger seat comes standard with lumbar. I would be using all of those features, actually.

I concur with Mikapen...a receiver hitch on a SUV is also mandatory in my opinion. I bought my prior SUV without a hitch thinking I wouldn't need it. That lasted two months, and then I paid to have the dealer install a factory hitch. Never again.

I'll pay $2k just for the surround view. Get it or you will regret it later.

I agree with the others. Premium, hitch, passenger seat memory, and also at least 20” wheels.

I'll even go further......pay the extra coin and get the 450 instead! I am serious about performance and fuel consumption the 450 outshines the 350 A LOT!

I personally wouldn't buy one without the AMG Exterior or Drivers Assistant, and think it's a no brainer to get ventillated seats (and heated rear seats hear in the northeast), but I think those are more polarizing, or at leasty there are some poeple who are really not inerested. I think Premium, hitch, and passanger seat memory is a great jumping off point.

Oh, for $350, I would also get the stiched upper dash and door trim. It covers the soft touch plastic with a really nice layer of supple leatherette that is so much nicer to the touch, plus it looks great. I think it really dresses up the interior and makes it a proper luxury car interior

After living with a heads up display on my X5. I won't buy another car without one.

I don't think the OP is looking for a GLE450 or an $75k+ build although it would be best to hear what the desired specs are. Location also matters...

Since we have a pretty basic build at $64k it is what we needed as its primary purpose was to use it for errands and moving larger stuff for our business. This car sees little use unfortunately.
So here are my personal preferences from musts to nice-to-haves from the most basic build.

Musts:
4Matic
Premium Package
Warmths & Comfort Package (for dealing with MN winters)
Heated Steering Wheel (see above)
Trailer Hitch, good for utility and resale value
Load sill protector - Re-painting the bumper costs a whole lot more

Nice to have:
Panorama roof (love some light in the car)
Passenger seat memory (if not traveling alone should be a must and it's cheap)
20" or larger wheels

If we would actually get the car for normal personal use...
GLE450
AMG Package
21" wheels
Multi-contour/Massage
HUD
Leather

Wolfman mentioned a load sill protector. I've been stuck on this. I don't want to add any chrome for aesthetic reasons (going with the night package), but makes sense to protect that area of the vehicle. Has anyone else gotten the load sill protector or have an opinion on it? Thanks!

I added it after delivery, but the OEM one is chrome - haven't seen a black one. Maybe you could wrap it? Easy to install and functional. https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...ml#post8013759

Assuming that given you added post-delivery, you feel it's been useful? And yes on chrome, that's what I was referring to (meaning I'm trying to avoid chrome, but good suggestion on wrapping). Thanks Greg!

Yes, it's useful. However, I have a black moving blanket on the cargo floor, and whenever I load something big I flip that over the bumper.

It's not very obtrusive imo. I prefer to have as few bumper nicks loading stuff as possible.

If you get the night package just have it wrapped although that may not last long.
But as already mentioned, the piece is pretty unobtrusive.

If you have less than careful family members like my friend that just drag luggage out of the back, that bumper will look a whole lot worse than the chrome strip