Aside from potential ordering delays from your dealer when ordering airmatic on GLE 450, I think I love it. I just received my GLE 450 with airmatic and the ride feels very smooth. I like lowering the trunk to easily access my cargo. I am a fan of floaty so I keep myself in default comfort setting, while airmatic also allows my sister to lower the vehicle during sport mode.

 

Not anymore, for 2024 the 19s now are the same tire width and height as the 20s, just an inch extra tire.

 

Out of curiosity... What makes you think that?

For 2024, nothing changed in this regard. Please see the screenshots attached. Tire size is different, including sidewall height. 20 inch, as pointed out a couple of times in this thread, also have different offset front/rear, see the "ET" values.

 

That’s about 1/2” farther out in front and 1/2” in at the rear for those that mistakenly rotate the tires front to back. Worse yet, imagine what happens if the tire rotation ends up with 57’s on one side and 44”s on the other. I had to argue with a tire shop on my 2020 so you can bet there are cars driving around with messed up offsets.

 

Yep, I think it's too easy to screw up when the tires are the same size. I didn't want to take chances here, put the stickers on rear wheels and made sure to highlight the offset situation to the service advisor.

 

I have a 2020 GLE450 with one year only AIRMATIC…….absolutely luv it…..especially the CV curve mode. Driving in the twisty mountain passes on I90 Idaho is a BLAST……just leave the wife home!!!

 

I'm an E53 AMG Cab owner with air suspension and I've had an R230 SL500 for almost 17 years, plus an older Cayenne as my current SUV (which needs to be replaced), so I've really only driven sports suspension for a long time.

I took a GLE 450e on an extended test drive today, helpfully without a sales guy,

I was very impressed with the seamless hybrid system, responding to throttle from electric mode for overtaking and smoothly reverting to elec when I switched from Sport to Elec.

Top issue: the non-airmatic suspension responded to every full stop at a red light by the front diving down and bouncing one more up and down before stabilising, It also pitched up at the front on reasonable acceleration.

I would have driven a vehicle with air suspension if they had one, but it's still on the slow boat from Germany.

Questions please: do others recognize this description of what appears to be under-damped suspension without airmatic? is that cured by airmatic on a non-AMG vehicle or am I destined to have to go searching for an AMG SUV if I want to replace the Cayenne with an MB SUV?

Next issue - a lot of road noise on 21s in elec or engine running mode, certainly more than on the E53 Cab. Expected? Tires? Or a way to sell the noise reduction package?

Thanks!

 

How can you tell if you have the aromatic? I have a 22 450.

 

I have owned a 2021 GLE 450 with 21” rims for almost 4 years and have been very satisfied with the standard suspension. It has never exhibited the diving/bouncing issue you noted. However, a 450e is a different animal. With the huge battery pack below the cargo area, the 450e weighs almost 700 lbs. more (5,754 lbs. vs. 5,060 lbs.), so, perhaps, MB didn’t modify the standard 450 suspension enough to account for the added weight...and possible imbalance due to so much weight in one place. Regarding my 21” rims: On my 450, road imperfections haven’t been an issue; however, I don’t know what it would be like with almost 700 extra lbs. over the rear axle.

Although I have been happy with my 450, I decided to upgrade to a 2025 GLE 580 (airmatic is standard) with 20” wheels in order to provide the best possible ride, considering it will weigh 220 lbs. more than my 450. Besides the softer ride on the 20” rims, they also offer better protection from curb scrapes, as the sidewalls actually protrude out from the rims, unlike my 21” rims that are practically flush with the sidewalls -- I had the rims repaired twice in the first year. The only downside I can think of with 20” rims is that the car may not handle lateral forces as well; however, here in flat Florida, the only fast curves I experience are highway on- or off-ramps.

I never got to drive the new 450e because MB’s demo 450e was broken the day it arrived and wasn’t available for more than a month. When I found out the 450e did not come with a spare tire (due to the large battery pack), I took it off the list of candidates. I was also not excited about the 4 cyclinder engine. IMO, “there is no replacement for displacement.” Just my thoughts....

 

@HDLBRG thank you for your interesting reply. One other observation is that the engine compartment has lots of space in front of the motor, so the additional weight that would be most likely to cause a dive isn't hanging over the front wheels. The direction I'm heading is that airmatic is likely to be essential to provide a well controlled ride as these vehicles get heavier. Because the 2024/5 GLE family has essentially the same displays and controls as the E53 cab, it makes a lot of sense to buy one of them to replace the Cayenne. Plug-in-hybrid is attractive for the convenience of daily 20 mile round trip drives and the test car hit its goal mileage range on a challenging mountain test drive, but if it doesn't drive right, I'll be looking elsewhere in the range.

 

Even though, based upon my driving habits, I’m a good candiidate for a PHEV, I’m just not ready for a variety of reasons:

1) I haven’t gotten comfortable with a ginormous battery charging in my garage right below my bedroom, like a homemade crematorium. I got it -- EV fires are rare; but, at 71, so is my time left on this earth.
2) I’m too impatient to play the plug/unplug game, in a cramped garage, over and over again, when I just want to get in the freaking car and go.
3) I love the simplicity and “Soul” of an ICE vehicle (even with mild hybrid assist); one reason I’m going with the 580 this time. Beware if you test ride one; it will grab you by the cajones.
4) I don’t drive enough miles to fret about gas mileage, and I want to utilize the whole power package everytime I drive, not try to figure out how far I can go in EV mode, or settle with EV-only performance, while I tote around a 4-cylinder ICE as a spare.
5) Speaking of spares...I like having a spare tire, even if flats are rare. I am fiercely independent. I just don’t want to depend on someone to rescue me if I get a flat tire.
6) PHEVs and Hybrids historically visit dealerships more often, and I hate taking my car to the dealer, unless I have to. Example: Last week I noticed the splash guard below my engine hanging precariously by only 2 of the 8 screws. I removed it, called my local dealership; they were out-of-stock for the screws; I went on line and ordered 10 screws; they arrived the next morning ($17 delivered); I had the guard re-installed by noon.

Safety Tip: Do not mess around with a tire that has a bulge. Years ago we lost a young officer who had a bulging tire in her lap as her husband drove their Z3 convertible to a tire repair shop. The tire exploded; killing her -- Rare Stuff Happens -- here’s the story: https://www.stripes.com/migration/ai...r-lap-1.100573

 

Do you have a toggle switch or an empty tray below your touchpad near where you open the center console?

 

Sorry that i never replied to this... I don;t have the pictures handy for proof though if i remember corectly I posted it last year in a different question post, but the order guide was wrong for the 19 inch wheels. I saw in person at dealerships and online pictures that they were now 275/55/R19.

 

I think you did reply in some other thread, yes. There are plenty of reports now that DOG is not accurate for the 19s.

 

I have a 2025 GLE on order with the standard 20” RVZ (5-spoke, same width) wheels. I thought I would be able to rotate them front to back; until I read this post. I wanted to say THANKS to the member who enlightened me.

 

empty tray.

 

You have the standard suspension.

 

We have two GLE 350 12 and 10 years. Only needed to replace one airbag in all that time. To be able to lift in snow is great and using comfort in the city and sport on the highways is well worth it. Ours both have Active Curve, basically an adjustable swayer which is awesome as well.

 

We have a 24 450e. Whenever we stop there is a squeak or something. Pulling up to our stop sign stand in the garage, which takes several stops, it’s very noticeable. No AIRMATIC. Being able to lower the car would have been nice. It’s a little high for my wife. It’s her car. It was CPO. Too good to pass up.