Hungry-Caterpil

The non-obvious settings, tips, things you should know, the ones that took you a couple days or weeks or months to realize, and you wish you'd learned sooner.

I've rented Mercedes cars before but never owned one. Just got a GLE 350 a few days ago.

What do you wish you'd learned earlier?

MB Poppa

Still trying to figure out 😂…Honestly I was surprised to find out how smooth, quiet, and powerful the 4-banger really is. I’m finding it a real joy and fun to drive. On daily commute to work and weekend trips have no problem getting up to speed, passing, etc. Actually have to monitor my speed so don’t get a speeding ticket. Gets up to higher speeds pretty quick and without feeling or knowing it.

makris0000

When I test drove the GLE 350 back in 2020 and 2021 and had one as a loaner in 2020, I noticed that the drivers display (left screen) was able to show the navigation map in full screen, like how it is in the entertainment screen (the right one).

When I placed my GLE 350 order, I was not aware that the full screen navigation on the driver's display (left screen) was only available if the augmented reality package was added to the build. So after I got my GLE that I ordered (3 months late delivery), I noticed that when I show the navigation map in the driver's display (left screen) it is a tiny box and will not go to full screen like how it does on the entertainment screen (right screen).

Other than that I absolutely love my GLE, about 1.5 years and a little over 15K miles later.

MB Poppa

Funny, I was wondering if I could do that too. Thanks now I know I can’t…So many features to learn whether you can or cannot (based on how it’s optioned) 😂

mtg-gle

Easy - the hold function. Look it up in the manual.

Zeusmotorworks

2022 450: Wished I'd have test drove more and realized the steel spring suspension was too soft allowing bottoming out on freeways. And then found out before purchase NO ONE offers a suspension upgrade (springs/dampeners).

TonyF61

Bottoming out on freeways? What kind of freeways do you drive on? I have a 2022 450 and have never bottomed out anywhere. In fact, I at times. switch from local lanes to express lanes, due to traffic issues, and have to hop over a curb to do so. Understandably, I do this slowly, but have never bottomed out. I'm not denying you experiences, but rather curious about the freeway comment. Have you spoken to dealership about it?

TonyF61

I wish I had learned, before placing my order, that I was wasting money on the Burmester upgrade. Although, it "might" sound better than the standard system, it is, IMO, of poor quality. I am constantly searching for a station/song that provides the proper signal to send sound to the front door speakers. This is a rare find.

benzbell

I love the Burmester 3D. I think it sounds awesome and was worth every penny.

TexAg91

Quick heat seats Combined with the massage multi contour seats are worth every penny. Drove from Virginia to Disney World and back (with a Nana stop over in Warner Robins Georgia) and did not get tired at all thanks to the massage seats, heat, and the drivers assist package. (2000 miles round trip). The heads up display is great also, it works with Apple Maps and Mercedes navigation whereby the turn by turn directions are displayed in The left HUD panel. Averaged about 26 miles to the gallon over that distance running about 75mph with 5 adults. Could go about 575 miles on a single tank. The GLE is a fantastic road trip car.

Zeusmotorworks

Yes freeways. I live in the land of 70-85mph speed limits (so everyone is doing at least 10 over) and there are a few areas where what to my other vehicles are merely a rise or a bump becomes an ON THE BUMP STOPS experience in the 450. Of course now we tend to remember those spots and slow below the speed limit to avoid this. One spot is on the 130 tollway south of the 71 exchange north bound. Another is north of Austin on IH35 south bound. It's early, but there are a couple more. $tealership says suspension is operating as designed. The dampening and or springs are just too soft for the weight.

TexAg91

Sounds like your rear shocks may be bad. I heard a rattle from the rear wheel wells in my GLE that progressively got worse over time. Mine would also bottom out on occasion on the interstate at speed but more often the rear would feel a little squirrelly on larger
bumps at speed. Turns out I had bad rear shocks that are getting replaced now under warranty. I think this may be a supplier issue from Mercedes so you may want to have your rear shocks checked.

Have you heard any rattles on occasion from the rear wheel wells? If Yes it’s likely the shocks.

TonyF61

That might very well be the case, but unfortunately, the 3D version was not available on the 450, and, sadly, the money I spent on upgrade from standard to Burmester was not worth it, IMO.

Zeusmotorworks

No rattle and I'd hope not at 22,800 miles. Also, having had my own automotive company turning wrenches, installing, and some tuning of suspensions one would think I'd know the difference. It's just way soft for the weight of the vehicle. But I'm human and miss things like even the best, so will have them look at it again next service. Rides the same as day one though and feels balanced front to rear for all practical purposes.

TexAg91

My shocks are being replaced at 30k, started hearing a knocking noise at low speed at ~20k that got progressively worse. Obviously they have a manufacturing defect….that’s way too soon to go bad.

djer

This question can be spun in two ways; regrets or awe.
Regrets:
- That the headlights w/ the Exterior Lighting Package -should- have cornering lights AND wider swivel range on turns.
- Better iOS app in terms of notifications and stuff.
Awe:
- Auto Hold function is way better than the button-based one like BMW or VW.
- Lane Change Assist.

Aggie57

I’d agree with this. Our 350 has bottomed out a couple of times just through general roads conditions; the springs are too soft for the weight of the vehicle and the shocks seem a little undervalved in both compression and rebound. Or perhaps there’s just not enough travel, either way I guess thats the compromise MB made to give a smooth ride.

TonyF61

I agree on the headlights. Had cornering and swivel for many years from other manuf. and became accustomed to them, but now, none.

However, I disagree with the "Hold" function. I rather prefer the "set it and forget it" (RONCO pun) function on BMW. I work long hours, as many people do, and constantly doze off in traffic, which hopefully many people don't. While the "Stop and Go" feature in MB is a wonderful feature for me, it doesn't help at traffic lights, and I have to constantly press on the brake, after stopping to engage it. Whereas, on the BMW, I only had to press the button once. It was then active every time I stopped until I turned off the engine. I guess it is just a matter of preference as they both perform as designed.

Zeusmotorworks

Am I misunderstanding you? There is nothing to do but come to stop, press harder on brake pedal and release. Brake sets and "holds" until you press accelerator. You already had to press the brake to stop in the first place. It's mindless and seamless.

TonyF61

Correct! No big deal; I just have to do it every time I brake for a traffic light. On a long commute, it can, at times, become annoying because I had the luxury of only having to press it once in my BMW and it automatically "Held" every time I braked during my commute. Had that not existed in the BMW, then, not knowing better, I would have been thrilled with it on MB.

I wasn't complaining, just stating my opinion that I prefer the BMW function.

djer

My gripe with BMW's auto hold when set and forget is when I'm making a left-hand turn on a blinking yellow (yield until safe) and need to creep up safely or to make that "swift" turn in between cars LOL. The stop-and-go part of the argument is resolved in my GLE since I have the active traffic assistant and the car just goes and stops by itself during heavy traffic.

Also the auto hold on the V167 is much better than the W166 in my opinion. A lot smoother! Good job MB on improvements (or some of it).

mb2be

I wish I had known speed limits were not standard.

TonyF61

Aren't they all 95 MPH?

CarLover73

Hi all,
Just 3 weeks into my W167 GLE 450 (was a dealer car and not 'owned' by anyone, and I bought it last month)
- I wish I'd known that the seat cooling will be kinda weak. My Mazda6 cools the seats much faster and is way more effective
- Air re-circulate button - no matter what I do (press and hold for 5 sec at start, or press after I start the AC etc.,), always switches back to taking the air from outside. Never faced this in my BMW X3(so it is not a 'German car' thingie I guess). Reading the forums, it seems as if this is by design. Still, don't like it.

Cheers,
Ravi.

TonyF61

I get it, Ravi. The seats are "Ventilated", not cooled. There is a fan that pushes cabin air up and through the seat. I too fell for the option thinking it was actually cooled, but that was my mistake, since nowhere did MB state it would be cooled. My trick is to turn on a/c for a couple of minutes before turning on ventilated seats. I can then feel the difference.