acirig

I am working on getting a new GLE450 Coupe and my initial preference was to go with the illuminated running boards as I liked the look on a few I have seen. The dealer is having a hard time finding one for me that meets my other preferences and they have a car that has pretty much everything else. I am trying to decide if it is worth holding out for the illuminated running boards or just go w/o them. Obviously this is a big personal pref thing too but wanted to get some feedback from user community here. I know they are really not functionally needed and mostly for looks and I have not seen them at night to know what the illumination adds. Appreciate the feedback!

William Kayen

They are a personal choice. I don't like them. They are dangerous when wet and my pants always rub against them and get dirty.

jorgetav

I like the way they look, but they are not practical. As mentioned above, they tend to dirty your pants (not sure how this comes across). I considered it, but decided to order my Coupe without it.

maxmini

Boards are unnecessary unless you really plan on using a roof rack. I had them on my GL and they constantly were dirtying my pants. I have found no need for it in my GLE450.

skw

I sometimes use them. If stepping straight down onto the ground when getting out, the lower back of your pant leg will likely rub against the board. With small kids, I have to have them. Here is a pic of them lit.

Alvam

Agreed. I didn't include that option in my order

fabbrisd1

If you have little kids - or plan to use a roof rack or roof box - then there is a functional value to the running boards...

If that is not your situation - you can still place a factory order and get EVERYTHING you want - OR buy the rig at hand.

The fact is the GLE450 Coupe is quite simply AWESOME !

davezaristo

sort of off topic but that damn mercedes logo is pretty tacky..i m really thinking what's the best way to get rid of it besides taping it over..

skw

You get used to it and start to ignore it. There was another thread that someone mentioned rubbing a lil Vaseline under the mirror would do the trick.

Donk450

Ha, I'll have to check, but I think you can turn it off through the settings on the dash.


As for the running boards, I had to have them too, but I liked/like the way they . look. Makes the car look like it sits lower. As for function, I dont really use them that much, because they dont come out enough. I believe it's super easy to add on, so I'd get it without it, then add it later.

alphainfinity

There is a setting that will turn that off, no reason to cover up the puddle lights.

BACnMercedes

I'd leave them off the coupe. I'm looking at the 400 (still haggling over price) and test drove the coupe quite a few times. I notice myself and my wife stepping over the boards. I also took notice of a guy at the gas station with an X6 coupe with boards and even noticed him stepping in and out of the bummer bimmer and he stepped over them both times. It's probably going to be like everyone else says, just a way to get your pants dirty when you step OVER them.

William Kayen

Totally agree with you. That money could be used towards another option instead.

BACnMercedes

What about some type of aftermarket boards? Or do they even make those?

I just noticed it been several days since your original post.......did you decide on anything?

yxc145

Yes, I found some on Ebay and Aliexpress. They may be the exact replica of the OEM running board. I am considering getting them. Just don't know how easy it is to install them.
Has anyone install the OEM running board after delivery of the car?

1st amg

We have had and still have all of our MB SUV with running boards. We have young children, when they were in baby seats, it helped with lugging the baby seat into the car, when they get older it becomes functional for the kids to get in and out of the car. We have had a few GL now and we need them. We once had a ML and it didn't have them so I had the MB dealer order the OEM boards and had them installed. It is totally do able and I don't know how complicated they are to do but they charged me one hour of labour only. Like others said, the running boards to become a small obsticle when entering and exiting the car, but you get used to it.

jtorrebl

I had them installed back onto my ML550 when i traded it in. It wasn't hard but you need new parts inside the running boards. you will need new jack hoist mounts since the running board ones are taller then the side skirt ones.

yxc145

Thanks. Another question is will the ML/GLE regular running board fit on GLE coupe?

BACnMercedes

Has anyone installed or even seen power running boards on any GLs, MLs, or GLEs?

yxc145

power running board? like it moves in and out?

BACnMercedes

Yes. Something like AMP-research and their power steps.

I put them on my last two tundra trucks and they are awesome. I even added some nice LED strip lights in them (and hid them too) that come on when they extend after opening the doors. Those lights look better that those ugly button lights on the MBs running boards

Usually you see them on Cadillac Escalades, high end F150s, or recently on the "always in the shop" Range Rovers.