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My new 2022 GLE 350 rides very hard. You feel each road or highway joint. Hold onto your hat if you go over a sewer cover or small pothole. This is my second GLE 350 and the first was nothing like this. No other car I have is like this. I have only had this a couple months and I look forward to getting rid of it. Any help or suggestions?
My new 2022 GLE 350 rides very hard. You feel each road or highway joint. Hold onto your hat if you go over a sewer cover or small pothole. This is my second GLE 350 and the first was nothing like this. No other car I have is like this. I have only had this a couple months and I look forward to getting rid of it. Any help or suggestions?
Check your tire pressure, often this is set too high from the dealer. Use the tire pressures shown on the gas filler door not the door jamb.
On occasion dealerships forget to remove the shipping blocks from the suspension during PDI. These prevent suspension movement while the car is transported and must be removed before delivery, but sometimes get left behind. They come in different shapes and colors, but if you look at the springs they are plastic pieces that keep the springs from compressing. Below are a couple of examples. Happens more often than it should.
Check your tire pressure, often this is set too high from the dealer. Use the tire pressures shown on the gas filler door not the door jamb.
Was going to be my advice too. I just replaced winter tires on my GLE450 at tire shop and they came back at 46/51, even though I requested 36/36. Yesterday I put a sticker over the door jamb label to REFER TO GAS FILLER DOOR!
Thank you for replies. Air pressure is 31 all around which is recommended on gas door. I'll check springs and yes it has run flat tires. Last GLE 350 I had 2016 didn't have those tires and rode much smoother.
Thank you for replies. Air pressure is 31 all around which is recommended on gas door. I'll check springs and yes it has run flat tires. Last GLE 350 I had 2016 didn't have those tires and rode much smoother.
Well that is your problem right there. RFT rides harsh. If you are leasing your vehicle replace it with non-run flats and swap it back on the return.
Is it brand spanking new? I thought mine was jarring when I first drove it home and maybe the first 500 miles. It has felt great since and I am at 7000 currently. Sounds weird, I can't think of a reason, but that was my perception.
@Wilsond300 have you driven the car long enough to warm up the suspension? It takes a couple of miles for the oil in the dampers to warm up. Does it change after a few miles?
If not the shipping blocks, it's the RFTs. They've gotten better over time (still don't like them), but if your prior vehicle didn't have them and this one does...bingo, they definitely don't ride as smooth as regular tires and the good part is they are more expensive to replace and more frequently. /sarc. Good luck.
I would complain to your sales person and GSM. Fair to assume that your GLE would not have the dreaded run flats. Almost all of the 2022s are coming without run flats. I’d insist on a change out. And separately, despite many of you disagreeing with me here….try to always go with the standard size (19”) on the GLE. Larger sizes often have less suspension travel and occasionally hit the upper wall of each wheel space when encountering road bumps.
Standard 19” Michelins Standard spare tire with non run flats
Thank you for replies.. sure seems like its the RFT tires, 275 50 r 20's .. I contacted my sales person. " sorry you aren't happy, we will buy it back as used and put it in our inventory" Funny, I wonder who that would benefit. Also said "I" could buy new tires and a spare for it and put the spare in the cargo area. What luxury car doesn't have a spare bouncing around the cargo area?
20" non-RFT are harsh and slappy. 20" RFT would be unbearable for me.
It's the way of the world regarding spare tire deletion and RFTs. Carmakers cut costs and consumers take it on the chin, for example with worse ride quality.
20" non-RFT are harsh and slappy. 20" RFT would be unbearable for me.
It's the way of the world regarding spare tire deletion and RFTs. Carmakers cut costs and consumers take it on the chin, for example with worse ride quality.
It's CAFE, not cost savings that is driving small / lighter/ no spares and RFT. Every ounce saved translates to an improved CAFE for every manufacturer, especially if Congress restores unreachable mileage goals.
As you say, RFT tires cost a lot more than Go-Flats, so they are SPENDING money to comply. And, as you say, the customer takes it on the chin. Blame Congress, not the Bean Counters in this case.
Your dislike of the 20" tires shows that you need more time in a 167 automobile, because that newer chassis doesn't punish the occupants like it did on the 166's. Not only do 167's ride better, but their handling is another league. Finally.
US Congress has very little to do with this. The EU has far more stringent fuel economy and emissions requirements, with billions of fines attached if they are not met. In the US, SUVs fall in to the light truck category which enjoys far less stringent fuel and emissions requirements than passenger cars.
2012 c, 2014 c, 2013 E, 2014 ML BT, 2016 E, 2016 GLE, 2017 S550(current), 2020 GLE450(current)
My previous 2016 GLE 's Steel Spring ride was a lot smoother than my 2020 GLE450 Air Suspension.
Dealership found out that one of the Rear Air Sus's module wasn't working properly and replaced with a new one.
Now it rides smoother and doesn't lean as much as 2016 GLE.
If you have Air Suspension, let the dealership check it.
US Congress has very little to do with this. The EU has far more stringent fuel economy and emissions requirements, with billions of fines attached if they are not met. In the US, SUVs fall in to the light truck category which enjoys far less stringent fuel and emissions requirements than passenger cars.
True, EU is "currently" more strict. And it's added so much to the cost of new vehicles that the Euro commercial fleet average age has increased from about 7 years to over 15 since 2000. And as a result, city deliveries are made by worn-out vehicles, causing the worst pollution in Paris and London since the 1800's - an Unintended Consequence those strict requirements. We are on the verge of making that same mistake in the US, IMO.
But SUV's are part of US CAFE standards, and although Congress is supposed to be the operative body, Executive Orders have been the go-to mechanism for a decade and a half. No telling what will transpire next, now that CA is back in the Drivers Seat for US regs. No oversight by US citizens or Elected Officials any more. There are, and will be, plenty of fines to go around.
None of this changes the need for eliminating ounces to kilograms, and a spare tire is a low hanging fruit.
So, even though it costs a manufacturer more to add run-flat tires, they are doing that.
It's not "greedy manufacturers sticking it to consumers," as others have claimed.
My previous 2016 GLE 's Steel Spring ride was a lot smoother than my 2020 GLE450 Air Suspension.
Dealership found out that one of the Rear Air Sus's module wasn't working properly and replaced with a new one.
Now it rides smoother and doesn't lean as much as 2016 GLE.
If you have Air Suspension, let the dealership check it.
If you mean the OP, the 350 cannot be had with Airmatic.
My new 2022 GLE 350 rides very hard. You feel each road or highway joint. Hold onto your hat if you go over a sewer cover or small pothole. This is my second GLE 350 and the first was nothing like this. No other car I have is like this. I have only had this a couple months and I look forward to getting rid of it. Any help or suggestions?
I have to agree with you. I have 20 inch rims which are the 275/50/20’s. The air pressure is 35’s all-round. In my my previous ML 350, I had air suspension which was wonderful but after the warranty expired, my compressor went..$1500.00 and then one on my shocks went so another $750.00, so hence no more air suspension. The standard suspension is extremely poor, every single sewer crate or railroads tracks will spill a coffee instantly. I’m shocked by it. The funny thing is, I run 19’s in the winter..255/50/19’s and the ride is no better. I’ve driven Benzes for over 25 years and this has been disappointing, I have to honest. Remarkably I test drove a 23 Lexus RX 350 with 21’s on it and the ride was impeccable, go figure so the tire size isn’t the issue with the GLE, it’s just the suspension. Any thoughts. Thanks for listening.
I have to agree with you. I have 20 inch rims which are the 275/50/20’s. The air pressure is 35’s all-round. In my my previous ML 350, I had air suspension which was wonderful but after the warranty expired, my compressor went..$1500.00 and then one on my shocks went so another $750.00, so hence no more air suspension. The standard suspension is extremely poor, every single sewer crate or railroads tracks will spill a coffee instantly. I’m shocked by it. The funny thing is, I run 19’s in the winter..255/50/19’s and the ride is no better. I’ve driven Benzes for over 25 years and this has been disappointing, I have to honest. Remarkably I test drove a 23 Lexus RX 350 with 21’s on it and the ride was impeccable, go figure so the tire size isn’t the issue with the GLE, it’s just the suspension. Any thoughts. Thanks for listening.
All my ML/GLEs have had air except my '98; I would not have one without it, regardless of the risks. Only had issues with one of my three Airmatics whcih I kept all for full model cycle (the '05 I think) and it was partially covered just after warranty expired. You don't have run flats, do you? That would be my first thing to check. Also, run the lowest pressures recommended on the fuel flap door, except when loaded.
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