RossiM

Hello. I have a new GLE450d 4MATIC coupe scheduled to order next month. I have also included the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL chassis in the configuration. I drive at cruising speed, but I'm not against a sharper ride now and then.
Should I keep the E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL chassis option in the configuration or is it useless for me or will it be a source of some future problems?
Thank you all for the advice!

wildta

What market are you in where you can still option the E-ABC on a GLE? You say you don't mind that much about comfort quality ("I'm not against a sharper ride now and then.") then I would not select it as an option. Maybe select the airmatic suspension option instead if available.

I love the immediacy of my E-ABC switching from the different drive modes (sport+, sport, comfort, and curve). Curve is really nice on windy roads. I really enjoy how it makes dips and speed bumps almost disappear. Would I get it again? Only if they further improve the system in comfort mode. I feel like it could be better in that regard.

mikapen

My passengers liked the Curve function, but I found it hard to adapt to as a driver.

That function is designed to eliminate G forces, but if you don't feel the G's, the feedback is eliminated and you tend to give more steering input than is needed. I could never be smooth because E-ABC removed feedback.

Its anticipation of lane-width dips/bumps is amazing.

OTOH, AMG ARC is better with dips/bumps that only affect one side. Which is more often than full width things.

RossiM

I am in the Czech Republic.

RossiM

So, if I understand correctly, it is not a function for me? Instead of E-Active Body Control, a chassis with adaptive dampers is standard.

wildta

Yes I would say it is not a function for you.

OldMerc94

I’ve had eABC and Airmatic w/ ADS - they’re both comfortable. The difference on the highway is felt in head toss and body movement. It literally feels like you’re floating down the highway with eABC. However, if you drive mainly at night (work late) or only take short trips (in town) then it may not be worth the cost.

eABC in town with potholes feels pretty much like regular Airmatic - it should, they both use air springs.

eABC at night is de-activated. I can always tell the difference between day and night driving on the same roads. eABC at night will feel almost the same as Airmatic w/ Active Ride Control (maybe not as firm as an AMG tuned ride though). You don’t feel side to side motion, but the amplitude of vertical motion is definitely different.

All that said, the purpose is in the name - body control. eABC prevents excessive motion at all four corners which reduces head toss while in any of the selected modes. I previously had an ML550 with Active Curve (hydraulic sway bars - older version of Active Ride Control) and an X5 with Air Suspension and adaptive dampers. What makes the difference is the suspension is decoupled side to side. I couldn’t stand the head toss in my X5 after driving an ML with hydraulic sway bars for years. My head was bobbing side to side in the X5 and there was too much vertical motion (together they both create a waterbed sensation) from multiple suspension rebounds on the highway.

On a straight road with eABC, a wheel can drop into a heave and the body will not fall on that side with the wheel. You can drive over speed tables with little discernible body motion. You’ll hear the bump, but won’t feel the “jump.”

In terms of curvy road driving, I use Curve mode all the time. It rides like Comfort mode, but dips the body into a corner to make it more comfortable. I use it almost daily for highway on and off ramps - it’s just a nice way to go around a corner. You can adjust how much it dips - there’s 3 levels to choose. At level 1 I hardly notice it at all. I leave mine on Level 3 because it feels more comfortable to me. However, it can mislead you into thinking your tires have more cornering grip than you actually have - so keep in mind that Curve mode is for comfort and not performance, you’ll be fine.

eABC GLEs are also programmed with both a Sport+ and a Sport mode - Airmatic and steel spring versions have Sport only from what I’ve seen.

Sport+ is great, but I rarely use it. I prefer Curve mode. Sport+ keeps the GLE completely flat and has much better throttle / transmission response. But I prefer smooth shifts and light acceleration - hence Curve mode.

If you drive long distance with the occasional side trip, it can be worth it. If you’re just puttering around town, save the cost and stick with the steel spring suspension - you won’t really notice it on short trips. Regular Airmatic is also a great option if you want more than one driving mode for the suspension - just depends on your priorities as a driver.

I would choose it again if I ordered another GLE - but I’m in the US where it can’t be ordered any longer. I usually drive 20k miles per year for reference.

RossiM

Thank you very much for the comprehensive answer!

I will probably delete the eABC extension. As I work from home, my monthly mileage is around +-1000 kilometers.
Longer routes are occasional (work) and I plan them mainly for the summer, when my wife and I travel around Europe. I am primarily concerned with the greatest possible comfort during any ride, whether the distances are short or long and the roads are good or not so good. I subjected all of this to my car configuration, which is at the maximum possible.

eABC seemed like a suitable extension for such a fully equipped car, it seemed like it would be a welcome increase in driving comfort ... the ignorance is obvious .. I'm not well versed in these car systems, my job is in IT.

Could that free standard chassis with adaptive shock absorbers (SA-215) fully satisfy me in terms of driving characteristics and comfort? Are there also different driving modes (hardness, chassis height)?

I know that all this will be answered by the seller, but I am worried that his answers will not be very objective, we all want to sell as well as possible ... and therefore my questions here directed directly at the owners of these cars with their personal experiences, which are invaluable ...

BlueYonder

I just made a long road trip from Florida to Las Vegas and back in a brand new GLE 450 with the AirMatic suspension, The ride was very comfortable in with the Comfort setting on the Interstate. Especially when on roads in Texas with an 85 mph speed limit. The AirMatic in the sport setting made a noticeable difference on twisty mountain roads in Arizona. I made the same drive several years ago with the previous model GLE with a steel suspension. The ride was not as comfortable and performance on twisty mountain roads was not very good. I have been very pleased so far with the AirMatic suspension and would recommend it.

GregW / Oregon

E-ABC is very comfortable; just make sure you get the Driver's Assistance package, because without it, as I found out, Road Surface Scan does not work, which is one of the prime comfort features. OldMerc94's comment that E-ABC is deactivated at night is not entirely accurate - only road surface scan does not work because it uses the cameras, but you still have the equivalent of standard Airmatic. Curve, Offroad and Recovery functions work all the time. Sport+ gives very good control for spirited driving. Curve function tilts the body like a motorcycle to the inside of the turn to minimize centrifugal force on the occupants; it's a little odd for the driver at first but you get used to it. E-ABC allows setting the suspension level lower and higher than standard Airmatic. It's an expensive option so may not be worth it for you, but it's really cool. There may be more things to go wrong over time, but mine has been trouble free for 4 1/2 years and 58,000 km.

OldMerc94

It sounds like Airmatic with ADS would probably best meet your expectations.

It is cheaper, gives a similar amount of comfort as eABC, and gives you suspension changes between drive modes that are noticeable.

GregW is correct - Road Surface Scan is what deactivates at night for eABC. The suspension itself still functions the same across modes - it just doesn’t anticipate what is ahead and compensate like it does during daytime. The effect is that the same roads will feel different when driving at night. I wasn’t aware MB allowed eABC to be optioned without Driver’s Assist - thought that was an early supply constraint.

GregW / Oregon

I am still very pissed that I spent a lot of money on a neutered system. Road Surface Scan is the most useful of the features. There was nothing in the DOG or on Netstar indicating the DA package was required and I didn’t figure out it wasn’t working for a long time, just figured it wasn’t that good.

RossiM

Uff, difficult decision, gentlemen, you are not making it very easy for me.
It's not so much about the money spent on eABC, it's more about having the GLE as comfortable as possible, so that this extension helps me, not hinders me.

If the turns will be "smooth" without unnecessary tilts, if the system will help me drive out of a deep snowdrift, if the car will "iron out" the unevenness of the road, if it has driving options and settings according to my needs, and if thanks to it I won't often have to go to the "depot" with the car " (service) ... so I'm all for it.

Assistants in my configuration:
- Active driving assistant
- Speed adaptation assistant
- Speedlimit Assist Speedlimit Assist
- Active Traffic Assist

RossiM

The car in configuration looks like this, my wife and I have been tuning it for months, it kept getting added until there was nothing left to add :

wildta

I've taken my E-ABC offroad a few times, it's just like the videos you see online. All of those bumps and ruts nearly disappear.

stktyz33

Did you order magic vision control?

RossiM

Yes, the Magic Vision Control adaptive windshield washer/wiper system is also in the configuration.
I also have independent heating and ventilation there, sometimes it gets quite cold here in the winter and even if the car is in the garage, it is useful when traveling (+ bonus ventilation)... I also had it on my old CLK, the current CLS does not have independent heating and I miss it .