Hi everyone, I've been in research mode the last week - looking to upgrade our Odyssey.

After some test drive, wife really likes the GLE450, so I started looking...

For our budget ($60k ish), the 2024 will be a bit of a stretch but doable, however, I'm torn between the pre and post facelift for the following reasons:

1. Dislike the new steering wheel controls on 2024.
2. But no wireless/widescreen CarPlay on 2023. I understand there is third party solution for the wireless part, but are they reliable? Do they offer widescreen like in the 2024?

Slightly prefer the look of 2023 w/ AMG package. The 2024 w/ AMG has this very obvious black trim underneath the front grill (unless you go with Black exterior color).

I'm slightly leaning towards 2023 because, well, the steering wheel will be hard to change; but at least there is a solution to get wireless carplay (albeit maybe not full screen).

Thoughts? Thank you!

 

Ask your wife, since it's for her!
Does she care if Carplay isn't full screen? Does she ever use Carplay?

I only use the music mode, which can be done wirelessly through Bluetooth. I find the Carplay Nav inferior to the HERE mapping that's onboard.

Ask her, not us.....

 

LOL fair point! She does use CarPlay. Wired on the Odyssey but wireless on the Q5 (we are keeping the Q5). She doesn't seem to have an opinion about the steering wheel controls during the test drive, since she was "too focused on driving" haha

 

Dig a bit to see if the 2023 was affected by the chip shortage, my 2022 is missing TPMS and the wireless charging pad.
I have a carplay dongle and it connects fine 9 times out of 10.

 

Will do.

 

I have a 2024 GLE 450e and a 2018 Q5.

The steering wheel controls on the Q5 have less functions but is more mechanical thus more intuitive. The GLE controls start with a different feel, but if you forget expectations and give them a minute to understand how hard or light to push or slide to do what, they work very well.

People don't like change. Everyone wanted to keep their BlackBerry keypads instead of touchscreen. But now 15 years later nobody would give up their iPhone or Samsung or Pixel just for a keypad.

The wireless carplay is great. So is the built in Nav. You can use both together if you prefer the MB Nav, which some times I do.

Carplay is integrated so it's Nav also shows on the heads-up display. Carplay is a much better way to control podcasts or music or receive messages etc etc than just bluetooth and your phones screen.

2024 was one more year past the pandemic disruption of manufacturing and supply chains. One more year to work out bugs and refine software.

 

Thanks! Yes I love the physical buttons on our Q5 (2021). The thing about capacitive and physical buttons on steering wheel is I can go over each physical button with my thumb without looking and know exactly which button I'm going to press. I don't think I can say that for the capacitive buttons - maybe close, after the muscle memory is established.
But, with that being said, I think my wife would prefer the 2024 for the native wireless CarPlay, over the old style steering wheel.

 

Are you in the US? TPMS is mandated by law.

“...tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are mandated by law in the United States for all vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2007…"

 

Not sure that’s always true. Any physical or electrical change (e.g., facelift vs pre-facelift) allows the introduction of possible problems. It is good to do the research beforehand. I do agree, however, that there can be improvements within the same category with newer models.

A question I have is which car is more expensive; what remaining warranty, if any, exists; and how much is a Vehicle Service Contract (a.k.a., extended warranty)? You may want to check with Trenton at @Highline-Autos.com . That can also give you insight into the reliability (problems) with one version over the other.

 

Based on the couple ones I looked at, for a similarly equipped and mileage, 2023 is at high 50k while 2024 is low-mid 60s. So there is a difference of about $5-7k between them.

 

the MB buttons are not just capacitive... they have ridges to know where your fingers are, and also depress for certain funtions.... it not a flat screen

 

So when you slide your thumb over them, are they not activated? That's the key difference to me, vs a physical button.

 

Some pressure is needed at the same time. As example is that it unlikely the volume will be changed unintentionally. If you roll fingers over the steering roller control of the Q5, it will move unintentionally too.

 

I will have to give it another try myself. From some videos i've seen, the volume and directional touchpad thingy will be sooo easy to unintentionally change.

But nonetheless, it's a step in the wrong direction IMO... VW did it years ago (MK8 GTI) and is now reverting back to physical buttons in the MK8.5.

We test drove a Cayenne with the rear climate controls, these are purely touch sensitive, i.e. they don't require a "click"... I can't even imagine how messed up that would be with kids sitting in the back LOL

 

New GLC will have the rollers back on the wheel - see here:
Hoping/guessing they'll eventually get on the GLE, but may be the 2027 model before we know. At least the early 2026 GLE videos still show the capacitive controls.

 

So, while looking I found this rather interesting 2023 GLE450, curious if anyone has run into this.

The car had basically every option (including acoustic comfort package, driver assistance +, soft close, massage seats, etc.) BUT the premium package, so no Burmester, no 360 surround view camera (this is confirmed by the dealer as well as from pictures - no burmester speaker on door panels, just black ones)

Is that even possible? It's so close to being THE ONE though I might be able to live without Burmester, but I think 360 camera would be super helpful for vehicles of this size.

 

You can have the CarPlay coded and retrofitted to be full screen, @S_W222 had this done on his 23 GLS.

Personally I would stretch for the 24.

 

Would you mind elaborate on that? What about the 24 would you feel like is worth stretching for?

Thank you

 

I like the improvements, the new lights front and rear make the car look more modern, and it will stay current looking for longer.

The capacitive buttons aren't a big deal

 

Mine has TPMS via ABS, it just measures differences between wheel speeds and gives a low tire pressure message, never seen it but that is what its supposed to do. I had a 2004 Toyota Sienna with the same system.

 

If you have need to use transponders for gated communities entry, or the like.. even some toll transponders….
the acoustic glass is a pain to find sweet spot or locations that work seem less….Just a consideration.
Had in on a 20’ GLE450….great car otherwise.. but the gate pass thing was a PITA..

 

I went from a 2023 to a 2024...hate hate hate the capacitive touch controls on the steering wheel. The software in the 2024 is dumbed down and much of the ability to customise things like interior lighting and dash screens has been removed. Traffic light view has been removed. The 2024 has the rear camera popping out every time the car drops below 20 mph, the 2023 does not do this. The radio memories are no longer a row of virtual buttons, but a series of tiles you have to swipe across. Overall the 2024 software "upgrade" was anything but. Mercedes builds a wonderful car but they really should farm out their software to someone who knows what they're doing.

 

My 2024 has Traffic light view (which I find annoying and useless). I can customize interior lighting and dash screens. Rear camera does not pop out. Are we both talking GLE??

 

yep

 

I believe that ABS is the Canadian standard.