Electronic Parking Brake
 

Every time the car is turned off, the electronic parking brake sets automatically. This results in my having to either (a) pull the release each time I start the car or (b) putting the car in gear and having a slight 'jerk" while the electronic brake automatically disengages. I find this feature annoying. Is there any way to permanently disable this on a 2016 GLE?

They have gone too far....
 

I find it incredibly annoying. They are taking this nanny/safety stuff too far. All the manufacturers are getting real concerned about driver's not placing the transmission in park before exiting the vehicle. But really, do we really need the car to activate the parking brake as well? Early years of the W166 don't do this. I want mine coded out. I'm perfectly capable of operating the parking brake when I want it on.

I don't get any jerk when the electronic parking brake disengages. Does this only happen when you park on an incline/decline, or all of the time? Either way, this shouldn't be happening, because the brake pedal is depressed first before you shift into "D" or "R". You may need an adjustment.

I agree, I virtually feel nothing when the electronic brake is released...you can barely hear it. I'd take yours into the dealer and have it adjusted.

yes, this is possible, I did this on mine GLE and E43AMG also

I can make an OBD2 plug that will change this at your GLE permanently
I mean that parking brake will not automatically engaged but still will be possible to do that manually

Vladimir, How much would you charge for that?

Are there any other 'hidden" features you can unlock?

Found a video on how to disable it.

Try holding your foot generously on the brake when you put the car in drive and slightly tap the gas. I do this and it disengages the parking brake and I barley feel it. Then I just release the brake and drive off. I do most of this second nature while getting belted up and plugging in the pain in the rear end carplay.
Good luck.

I felt the same way initially, but then recalled that parking brakes tend to rust and "freeze up" when not used regularly. Unless this system is engineered better than past cars, better to know if not being applied automatically (regularly) will induce problems or not.

My issues with automatic parking brake actuation are two fold,
Yet another step necessary to get in and drive my vehicle.
&
Just how long is the parking brake mechanism going to last if operated constantly. Did they beef up the system for constant duty use. How many function cycles is it up to? Down here in the flat lands the parking brake just isn't needed all that much. I can see the system needing repair much sooner with several cycles of use a day.
There is genuine experience behind my concern, BMW E66 7 series, among others, had a similar system that would only go a few years before failing.
Just one more costly thing to fail unnecessarily.

This video shows a guy MANUALLY disengaging the parking brake every time- Sheesh!

I think if you stop the car and put it in Park and then take your foot Off the brake pedal and then turn Off the car it will not engage the parking brake.

It will, at least on my car.

Based on all other cars I've had over the years, and many a time on an American car clamping a visegrip to the parking brake cable to "persuade" it back in to release the brakes, parking brakes were meant to be used all the time and NOT here and there. The distance the cable travels back and forth isn't going to wear it out and if not used all the time I wouldn't ever expect to use it and not have it hang up.

I don't remember a car I've ever owned that the parking brake system didn't rust up, especially if it's seldom or never used- so I'd say use the automatic system and keep it working.

MB is not cable operated, it's built into each rear wheel. Just use the method I posted earlier and it will not actuate, problem solved and you have a quick seemless drive away.

Very interesting observation. Now I know: I have to Stop car first, put it to Park, then take my foot Off the brake pedal (do all that) before shutting the car off. Before I read that I was just shutting the car off on a fly - it did the rest by itself: stopping, putting itself into park then releasing brake pedal.

Seriously, is there any other way to stop and turn off any AT car?

It will engage , at least for 2020 GLE, I'm trying to find a solution to that too.