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Loving the New GLE Coupe 450d! But Let’s Talk About That Detail?
Hello, I recently picked up the GLE Coupe 450d 4MATIC and went in on this spec:
MANUFAKTUR Alpine Grey
Night Package
AMG Line inside and out
22-inch wheels (325/285)
Love the car. The design hits hard, the torque is nice, and the cabin feels top-tier. But there’s one thing that doesn’t sit right - the fake exhaust tips.
I get the reasons: diesel emissions, bumper symmetry, styling choices… but let’s be honest, once you stand behind the car, especially with 22s raising the stance, you see the tiny real pipes tucked underneath. And they look completely out of place. I’m sharing a pic so you can see what I mean. It doesn’t ruin the car, but it leaves you asking - why go to all that effort and not follow through where it counts?
Pictures from far behind:
Spoiler
Pictures from close behind:
Spoiler
I know most regular fans don't mind the fake exhaust, but when it's visible on a high-class car, it does not feel right. Imagine what it'll look like in off-road mode?
Last edited by barrymane; Jul 12, 2025 at 03:34 PM.
Hello, I recently picked up the GLE Coupe 450d 4MATIC and went in on this spec:
MANUFAKTUR Alpine Grey
Night Package
AMG Line inside and out
22-inch wheels (325/285)
Love the car. The design hits hard, the torque is nice, and the cabin feels top-tier. But there’s one thing that doesn’t sit right - the fake exhaust tips.
I get the reasons: diesel emissions, bumper symmetry, styling choices… but let’s be honest, once you stand behind the car, especially with 22s raising the stance, you see the tiny real pipes tucked underneath. And they look completely out of place. I’m sharing a pic so you can see what I mean. It doesn’t ruin the car, but it leaves you asking - why go to all that effort and not follow through where it counts?
Pictures from far behind:
Spoiler
Pictures from close behind:
Spoiler
I know most regular fans don't mind the fake exhaust, but when it's visible on a high-class car, it does not feel right. Imagine what it'll look like in off-road mode?
The only time fake exhausts bother me is on an EV. Then I hate the fake engine sounds too.
Wouldn't the rear bumper look odd with blank fillers?
Blank fillers would definitely look unfinished. But pretending those exhaust trims are functional while the real pipes sit awkwardly below doesn’t feel much better either. Mercedes could’ve gone with two actual exhaust outlets in a cleaner spot and avoided the illusion altogether.
With the 22s raising the rear stance, the hidden pipes are even more exposed. It’s not just this model - it’s been the same weak detail for quite some time. Not much effort was put into hiding them properly. Kinda disappointing from a brand that usually nails the design.
The only time fake exhausts bother me is on an EV. Then I hate the fake engine sounds too.
Fake exhausts and engine sounds on EVs feel way more out of place. But, even on diesels like the GLE, it’s hard to ignore those tiny real pipes poking out underneath while the bumper shows off fake trims. Two properly placed real outlets would've looked cleaner and more legitimate across the board.
Fake exhausts and engine sounds on EVs feel way more out of place. But, even on diesels like the GLE, it’s hard to ignore those tiny real pipes poking out underneath while the bumper shows off fake trims. Two properly placed real outlets would've looked cleaner and more legitimate across the board.
My exhausts exit through those tips. They're not "fake," and it's a styling cue that I like on performance models.
I don't see a reason to redesign the entire rear end just to avoid the Tip Police.🫤
My exhausts exit through those tips. They're not "fake," and it's a styling cue that I like on performance models.
I don't see a reason to redesign the entire rear end just to avoid the Tip Police.🫤
Fair, but did you check my pics? It’s a completely different setup. In your case, the tips are functional, which is great. On mine, they’re just bumper trims, and the actual exhaust pipes sit way underneath. With the raised stance, it’s super obvious.
Not knocking the style cue - just saying Mercedes didn’t put much effort into aligning things visually. It ends up feeling more like a shortcut than a clean design.
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Loving the New GLE Coupe 450d! But Let’s Talk About That Detail?
