I’m looking hard at a GLE 350. I’ve never really bought a luxury brand. I’m looking for a good towing little suv that doesn’t break the bank. Since it seems these have such good towing and such crappy. Resale I think it just may fit the bill.

I was wondering how much it cost for the app to handle the car. Remote start is a must for me but for some reason Mercedes only has this option via the app. The dealer however will not tell me how much this cost. Lol. Making me think it must be costly. I did see online it maybe 199 a year or 18 a month or 20 a month. Very confusing.

The one I’m looking at is a certified one. So it has 6 months factory then another 1 year warranty on top of that. It has 30k miles. The price is 38k. Worth it? The package is a low one just premium 1 so It doesn’t really feel luxury in there.

my budget is 45k anything I should be looking at instead? This one is a low model for long trips how’s the ride??

 

Welcome! The 2018 GLE 350 is on the W166 platform. The W166 is arguably the most reliable MB platform in the past 10 years. The 3.5L naturally aspirated gasoline V6 is also one of the most reliable MB engines in the past 10 years. The 7G-Tronic transmission is not remarkable for MB, either good or bad. It's not great and it's not terrible. Just very average.

Here is a thread on the app, it seems to be around $200 per year: https://mbworld.org/forums/general-m...ewal-cost.html

The GLE 350 is a solid towing platform. I just returned from a 500 mile round trip towing session pulling a 3,500lb boat. It was great, as usual. I got about 14mpg with the 3.5L gasoline engine. Half the miles were interstate at 70-75mph and the rest was state and local roads averaging around 60mph. Power and steering are exceptionally good. Braking is average - safe and capable, but not "wow" inspiring.

I am of the view that the 2018-2019 GLE and GLS are the best pre-owned SUVs on the market today, because of reliability, performance and luxury. They were the last two years of a successful platform for MB, and nearly all of the bugs were worked out.

$38k for a 30k mile vehicle seems on the low end. But you mention it is not a highly loaded vehicle. I have the P2 package and a couple of stand alone options. LED headlights and PARKTRONIC are good. I have 20" wheels and running boards, which some people like and some don't. I like running boards, but can do without them. The 20" wheels look good, but the ride is crap.

My wife and I have driven cross country multiple times in the GLE, and it's a great ride for long distances. Seats are comfortable, HVAC is good, sound system is very good, it's spacious. We put 2 adult bikes on the roof with a Thule system and the vehicle handles it easily.

I would get the lowest mileage, newest and most optioned vehicle you can find in your budget. Cargurus has 2019 GLE 400 listings with 30k miles and $45k price, with some options. The GLE 400 has the same basic engine as the GLE 350, but it's a 3.0L twin turbo version with more power. This engine is liked by owners and seems to share the same good reliability as the 3.5L NA V6 in the GLE 350.

 

Thanks for the response!! Man I have looked everywhere for a gle 350 in my price range. There is nothing. This one is cpo so it has an unlimited mile warranty for 1.5 years. That means something to me.

i am using it as a work truck so I really shouldn’t worry about the options I guess.

do I have to pay the 200 just to start my vehicle or just other stuff? Kinda dumb they don’t have remote start on the fob.

I ended up getting this one for 37k. I’m happy. They are happy. Can’t wait to get it tomorrow or Wednesday

 

Congratulations! Please post some pics of the GLE. The mbrace app should be free for 5 years, so until 2023 for a 2018 model. Download and install the app and start going through the setup screens. You will need to create an account. It may require a phone call or two to the customer support phone number.

 

Thanks!! I will get some pictures when I take possession. I have some work being done to it like the windows being tinted, chrome delete, and the wheels done. I don’t know if I can make a gle 350 look cool but I’m gonna try lol.

 

So Mercedes offers the Mercedes me app, which has a few functions that do not require any subscription: Remote Start, Lock/unlock, and send to maps. MBrace is the subscription service that you can optionally add, that provides several other featuers, such as live operator assistance (directions, concierge, etc) and emergency response. So the Mercedes Me app will work for remote start without needing the $200 subscription. Your car needs 'mercedes me connect' but I believe nearly all of them come with the option.

 

@Chip Mason Are you saying remote start does not require a subscription?

 

i certainly could be wrong, but I don't pay anything and remote start works for me. I have a 2017 i bought used. Perhaps there is some time period of 'free', or perhaps I am lucky

 

i have heard both that it’s free for the basic functions and that it’s free for 5 years. Unsure which one it is.

 

mbrace is included free of charge for 5 years from the start of new vehicle warranty.

@Chip Mason What is the date of your warranty start? Only the first production units of 2017 model year GLEs are hitting the 5 year mark now, so the vast majority of 2017s still have free mbrace coverage.

 

Wondering if you bought it waiting for pictures. I recently bought mine. I love everything except the Infotainment system is not Luxury brand quality. The sound system is good.

 

Seems this is the best topic about remote start.
I just purchased 2016 GLE and would like to have remote start.
I downloaded Mercedes ME app and entered my GLE into account, now it is asking me for a payment.
So is there a way to have remote start without subscription?
What is "send to maps" ?

 

for my 2017... the app allows remote start, location, and other features... its free for a certain period of time, then an annual charge... no other way for remote start unless you go aftermarket

 

Thanks, so above replies saying the remote start works without paying was actually 5 years of freebie ?
How useful are the other options and how the remote works in areas with no cell coverage?
$200 annually is not worth for remote start alone, so I am trying to justify the expense.
My android service cost me about $70 a year , so Mercedes Me is pretty expensive for what it is.

 

everything is more expensive with a Mercedes...

 

Our remote starter coverage is definitely superior to that of MB and allows you to start it from your factory key.
Also, our feature list might make you wonder how you got along with out it.

• Remote start system for Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti Q30 / QX30 with plug-and-play T-Harness (jumper on ignition required)
• Works with factory key fob out of the box (‘Panic’ button or ‘lock-unlock-lock’)
• Interfaces with Compustar Drone and Directed Smart Start smart phone control interfaces and RF remotes (for extended range)
• Automatically turns on heated seats based on programmable outside temperature
• Automatically turns on rear defroster at 32* outside temperature
• Seamless solution that does not disrupt integrity of the vehicle, keeping warranties intact
• User-friendly programmability from steering wheel controls. Adjust options like run time, number of starts, heated seat temp. threshold, and light flashes.
• Industry leading automotive hardware and firmware

Get yours here: SmartKey Starter® Remote Start for Mercedes Benz – SKSNG166D4 | Mid City Engineering Store

 

Yep, i have GLC and have to use Mercedes Me to remote start and no remote start when we are out with no cell coverage, sometime with weak coverage it doesn't work. Useless option. I will not extend it after expiration.
Wish MB can just give us a regular key fob button as all mass market do.

 

Coincidently I drove by your location last Sunday. on my visit to Chicago.
I like your concept, but your system has very high pricing. and than it says "professional installation is recommended"
If I read it right, you need to sacrifice 1 of the keys, what makes whole project in $2000 range.
Any prediction for cheaper option?
I used to own 2017 Ford F350 and its factory remote would start the truck from 1/4 mile. Loved it going to truck in 120F weather.
Don't recall Ford charged extra for the option, so it can be done cheaper.

 

My thoughts too. Well spoken.

 

I was reading your reply and found it very insightful for choosing my next MB which I think will be a GLC or GLE… Wanted to have your advice please:
My wife and I own a CDI E350 coupe 2009 AMG. Love it. We have been driving the car for years mainly on motorways in Europe and our visits to weekend countryside. Have driven it on dirt roads as well. Most reliable, handsome, powerful and looks good everywhere..
now we are looking for something more comfortable to get in and out as we get to our late 40s…
GLE is great but it is too big for us as it will be only two of us in the car. GLC is the right size but it is C series and not that good as E series I keep hearing. That’s why we drive E class now, rightly or wrongly biased to E series…. GLE in Europe and UK is a big car in narrow streets and parking lots as one of my friend bought it and his wife hates parking in the mall. On the other hand we love performance in E350 and a strong engine is always great for us especially when we are driving long distances in Europe (we crossed Europe from France to Greece and back to UK and Germany many times. Driving in motorways comfortably and even having a nap to break the journey in the car is what we do.

we are looking for a second hand. I like 2019 onwards GLE dashboards (the new dashboards) but reliability comes first.

any thoughts? Thank you.

 

Make your choice wisely. We are in 60's and getting in/out in E is not an issue (yet).
Our friends indicate the trouble and instead of dieting, they bought GLK diesel, as their Lexus SUV averaged 7 mpg on 5 miles commute. Now that I bought GLE, friend's wife wants "bigger" as well, what I take it as symbol status issue, not technical need.
I bought GLE partly as investment during nose-diving economy and partly as another option for boat towing, where our Sprinter is not the best for the job.
But it is big vehicle and with harder suspension, so not really upgrade. Add 30% higher fuel consumption, where both vehicles have the same OM651 engine.

 

If reliability comes first, you MUST NOT buy a 2020 and newer GLE. The 2019 and earlier GLE is on the reliable W166 platform. The 2020 and newer GLE is on the unreliable V167 platform. Avoid the V167. Do not buy it.

It sounds like you will end up with a GLC because of the size of the GLE is too large for you and for your roads. You have multiple threads on your question on this site, it's best to use only one so it's neat and tidy.

 

Neither the pricing nor the key sacrifice is likely to change. As I'm sure we don't need to tell you, MB vehicles are built completely differently than any other production vehicle out there, and have the most sophisticated design from a computer platform standpoint. For this reason, the development of these products requires much more time and coding. Off-the-shelf remote starter product offerings (or their respective pricing) such as Compustar or Viper remote starters simply do not apply to these vehicles.

The key sacrifice is not something that we can get around implementing into our system configurations. This is due to the way that MB has designed their DAS4 security platform. The vehicle needs to "see" a key present in order for the engine ignition sequence to take place. For this reason, a key is sacrificed, the remote's battery is removed, and it is connected via wired leads to the starter module, and is powered up upon remote start sequence only (and is powered down at all other times, making it "invisible" to the car).

If you were to get this product installed by us at our facility, we would charge approximately $1100 plus tax, or $1200 with Drone Mobile smartphone control. An extra key for the install (if you wanted to retain 2 fully-functioning keys) would be an additional charge. That cost varies from dealership to dealership, but we could get it done for you for less. If you got it done elsewhere, the price may vary (as each shop sets their own labor rate), but you're looking at paying the same for the product regardless of where you purchase it from.

Hope this answers some questions for you all.

Also, we have coverage for the GLC (as per the GLC mentioned above), in case our system is of interest to you GLC owners also.

 

Mercedes Me Connect is $200/year after the "initial 3 Years complementary period". So for the price of above (no matter how good, but still an) aftermarket solution (including the required extra fob), one would get about 8 paid years of factory (no issues/headaches) remote access via Mercedes Me. Do not know how many people keep cars 7/8 years these days, but think the choice for cars equipped with Mercede Me and/or Mbrace is clear.

 

Mercedes ME offers much more than remote start, but the value of other stuff will vary between the users.
IMHO the required subscription is just like SCN coding - design to drain more money from customers wallets.
Latest news say that Bin Laden is going to fight SCN coding on behalf of farmers, I wonder if MB owners will benefit from that as well.