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It is fully loaded, although I don't know if beside keyless go and active lane assistance was more available on 2016 models?
Based on photos above, not fully loaded - no leather and because of that no ventilated seats, no multicontour seats, only base headlamps instead of "MB active LEDs", I speculate that due to absence of aforementioned no rear A/C controls and most importantly no Sport exterior package consisting of beautiful "AMG" body work and beefed up brakes. Pictures do not clearly show if it has P3, but you are saying active lane assist meaning car has P3, active parking assist appears to be there since front camera seems to be there.
Edit: regarding the topic - there are many significant enough differences (I still have both W166 ML and GLE) so if I were in the market, would never look at ML if equivalent level of GLE is available.
Based on photos above, not fully loaded - no leather and because of that no ventilated seats, no multicontour seats, only base headlamps instead of "MB active LEDs", I speculate that due to absence of aforementioned no rear A/C controls and most importantly no Sport exterior package consisting of beautiful "AMG" body work and beefed up brakes. Pictures do not clearly show if it has P3, but you are saying active lane assist meaning car has P3, active parking assist appears to be there since front camera seems to be there.
Edit: regarding the topic - there are many significant enough differences (I still have both W166 ML and GLE) so if I were in the market, would never look at ML if equivalent level of GLE is available.
That's very helpful, Thanks.
Good for me I don't care about those options. Leatherette always lasted for me much longer than leather, when I had it at 20 years and 300k miles in W123.
I might like AMG trim, but that comes with lower profile tires and that is big turn-off for me. LED lights are nice, but where we drive we don't have chances to turn high beams anyway, so this is secondary.
From data card the . GLE comes with 315MHz garage door opener, what is a bummer as I have 450 MHz gate opener and my W212 opens it just fine.
Buying used gives you always limited choices and as I said -local dealer told me to forget about diesel and that is why I am picking it up 2500 miles from home.
A recollection about ML W163 we used to have.
When we order the ML320, it come with break-thru technology and at the same time MB USA made no-hassle sale practice. So after placing $1000 deposit we had to wait full year for delivery.
Maybe fact that we order cloths seats and no sunroof had something to do with the wait, but it was what it was.
New technology at the time faced lot of mechanic who never updated their skills and when we have been happy with it (thanks to my DIY skills I guess) lot of other owners had their cars spending weeks if not months at dealerships.
So 1 of those ML320 owners, *****ing about technical issues on the forum come with the news that he bought 2nd one. Why? Because they had triple rollover in the 1st one and he, his wife and 2 grandchildren walked away.
Now I check GLE has no crash ratings available, but I don't expect anything less.
This is historic, but still my favorite MB commercial
EDIT. To be only fair, my wife was heavily rear -ended in W163 by BMW X5 at 40 mph. The impact pushed her to crash 3 cars stopped in front.
When W163, with frame and addition of hitch and brush guard protected the drivetrain, who still made it home, my wife suffered spinal cord damages.
Lot of people, especially Supper Duty drivers think that big vehicles protect them in accidents. When that might be the truth in collision with other, smaller vehicles, the heavy vehicles do have high death ratio in single vehicle accidents.
I am happy GLE has no frame.
So I pick up GLE in Virginia and am driving it home to Las Vegas making few stops on my way. The engine performs very well, although I was hoping to get more than 30mpg, what is not happening.
First thing that strike me comparing to W163 ML we used to own is lack of low gearing. Do W166 ML models have lower gears, or MB abounded the idea all together?
The truck suppose to have lane assistance PLUS, what suppose to steer it back into lane. I am getting vibration warnings, but on other action.
As far as I could test the distronic and crash prevention don't seem to work, or data card I got is wrong and I don't have it.
Its too late since car was already purchased, but:
Originally Posted by kajtek1
I might like AMG trim, but that comes with lower profile tires and that is big turn-off for me.
265/45-20 (standard tire size fro AMG exterior package) is hardly low profile. 19" tires (255/50-19 on the car) have sidewall of exactly 5" while 20" (265/45-20) tires have sidewall of 4.7", yes lower but not much.
Originally Posted by kajtek1
LED lights are nice, but where we drive we don't have chances to turn high beams anyway, so this is secondary.
The advantage of active LEDs has nothing to do with high beam, but everything to do with how brightlow beams are at night as compared to standard headlights. They also illuminate turns which is useful in most night driving conditions.
"Fully loaded" was the only reason for my posts in the thread. It is far from it - it is a base car, give or take. (Maybe "fully loaded" means car's equipment compared to much older car/model this GLE replaced, but comparing apples to apples, the car is close to base than loaded.) I did not mean any disrespect, just commenting on facts.
So I pick up GLE in Virginia and am driving it home to Las Vegas making few stops on my way. The engine performs very well, although I was hoping to get more than 30mpg, what is not happening.
First thing that strike me comparing to W163 ML we used to own is lack of low gearing. Do W166 ML models have lower gears, or MB abounded the idea all together?
The truck suppose to have lane assistance PLUS, what suppose to steer it back into lane. I am getting vibration warnings, but on other action.
As far as I could test the distronic and crash prevention don't seem to work, or data card I got is wrong and I don't have it.
Regarding "Low gearing" those pedal shifters on the back of the steering wheel might help in shifting to the lower gears
Maybe I misread the datacard about the assistance PLUs but I have like 5 different sites to check it and it shows.
234 BLIND SPOT ASSISTANT
258 COLLIS.WARN. SYS. W/ ACTIVE BRAKE INTERV. FCW STOP
476 AUTOMATIC LANE RECOGNITION
It is nice car regardless.
Now it also shows
893 KEYLESS START
I read some confusion on the forum if that require subscription, or not.
Any quick tip how to check it?
All you have to look is at the headlights - LED active lights are only available as part of P2 (or P3 since P3 includes P2 + mainly distronic/driver assist).
Above GLE is a very base car with only P1 package. No US GLE I've ever seen was without P1. So P1 (basically Navigation, Keyless and passive(warning only) blind spot assist and lane keeping assist) only. The main question is if the car is equipped with active parktronic with the surround view/cameras. On a picture above there is a dot under the front grill star reminiscent of the front camera, but active parking assist is usually not fitted to cars without at least P2 package.
Yes it is a very nice car as compared to W163 ML (assume, forgive if I'm wrong, this is the compared to vehicle), but sorry, it is missing about $15K worth off very important "staff" from being called "loaded". On the bright side, because the car does not have P3, the rear brakes will last certainly much longer (about twice as much) as those cars equipped with P3 if an owner with P3 does not deactivate active lane keeping assist.
After some driving few observation I was able to confirm.
1 ECO start/stop is an option. My car doesn't have it, even I have the button on center console
2. Low gears is an option. I noticed in manual additional control next to touch pad, that my car lacks.
3. even my datacard shows J8A DSM STAR1 FBS4 REMOTE STARTABLE - it seems to require MercedesMe subscription to use
4 the PDF manual I downloaded from MB USA site with my VIN, has lot of errors .Not only it did not show center console, but garage opener activation was all wrong. Good thing my car come with original paper manual
After some driving few observation I was able to confirm.
1 ECO start/stop is an option. My car doesn't have it, even I have the button on center console
Diesel should have it as standard. Must be something wrong with it.
If you have the ECO button, then your car is equipped with it. It's just not working.
Low gears was only available with the off-road package which included the 2-speed transfer case, skid plates, and more. You should have an off-road button which simulates a low gear by holding the transmission gears longer. The 722.9 has a very low first gear which is all you really need.
The car is marked as 300d with 2.1 l engine.
I found that the button with "A" and circle around it on center console is for ECO stops, but I don't have any lights on the cluster, like I do in E, who is having ECO.
Also my datacard is not showing ECO, although different sites show it a bit differently, so can't relay on it.
Will have to dig more in the manual.
I don't sweat lack of low gears as I don't plan to do rock crawling, although I still remember the fun when I took friends in W163 on 100% inclines.
The car is marked as 300d with 2.1 l engine.
I found that the button with "A" and circle around it on center console is for ECO stops, but I don't have any lights on the cluster, like I do in E, who is having ECO.
When car is started the light should be in the button itself and should be on (ECO active - default), if light is on then all is working as designed and when button is pressed (which is what I do every time I start the car), the light goes off (ECO is deactivated until the cars is turned off), and so on.
The car is marked as 300d with 2.1 l engine.
I found that the button with "A" and circle around it on center console is for ECO stops, but I don't have any lights on the cluster, like I do in E, who is having ECO.
Also my datacard is not showing ECO, although different sites show it a bit differently, so can't relay on it.
Will have to dig more in the manual.
I don't sweat lack of low gears as I don't plan to do rock crawling, although I still remember the fun when I took friends in W163 on 100% inclines.
if you have the A with the circle around it that is eco mode. As mentioned - it starts automatically and the switch should have the green LED illuminated on it as well as ECO in the center screen cluster. If you press the eco button in the center console the green LED will turn off and the ECO in the center screen cluster will also go off.
if you have a problem with ECO mode it would notify you in your center cluster.
The brochure will also inform you of this. I provided you the link to that in a separate thread you started.
In 2015, ML renamed it facelift GLE. So 2015 "before face" ML and "after face" GLE. Beware of the first 272/350 / petrol engines - they are very problematic. Expensive parts / 4x balancing camshafts 3000 $ / + it is necessary to remove the engine due to the crankshaft balancer ... repair 6000 $. And you come home normally in the evening and you don't start in the morning ... that's what most people have. I own a few MB but I don't like new ones. I bought 164 and then 166 but that wasn't it. So I have a tractor 163/270 cdi and 55 AMG / again and I'm satisfied. With the S-class also 220 then 221, now again 220 and I'm looking for 140. My Vito 639 2.2 cdi automatic has 800,000km and right now has the first major defect - the brake cylinder KO. The former km had 124,250 d T taxi in Germany. I bought it with 1,200,000 km and it drove me to 1,603.xxx km. The engine was still great, but due to corrosion it had to be shut down. Today, a friend of the w245 has 90,000km and a third CVT transmission. Previously, the Mercedes engine was a concept. And today? Diesel has a Renault bottom ... Karl Benz must be happy about that. Today one defect due to which 10 things do not work. Previously, the steering rods lasted over 100,000 km. Today with w210 300TD I changed them in 26 days ...
I don't drive a lot lately, but the GLE I am biding on has 113k.
Would that be a gasser, the mileage would be a concern, but that diesel just broke-in, so it is not a problem.
This year my Sprinter broke HP fuel pump near Flagstaff, where dealer did not have qualified mechanic and butchered the repair.
When new parts cost me a lot, the Sprinter had 260k miles on it and I bought it cheap enough to make economical sense even with such tragic event.
Some might want to learn that MB USA offer free roadside assistance.
Now E55G, would you dare to calculate how much fuel money the 25 mpg Sprinter saved over 260k miles comparing to gasoline model?
The auction ends in 3 days and so far I am winning bidder.
I wrote this reply over 3 months ago and I enjoy my GLE for close to the same time, yet the car I was writing about above is still at Copart.
Evidently Copart changed its rules and now they take consignment. The GLE went via dozen of actions, yet the seller is not realistic and keeps high reserve. He lower it lately by $1000, but seems value of the cars went down in last month as well, so slim chances it will sell tomorrow
I love the colors, but come on. .... https://www.copart.com/lot/46103311/...list_US_v2_cta
A friend visited us with his W166 ML truck.
We both have been comparing the vehicles and even knowing this is the same platform, all those different lights, different trim, lack of running boards on ML makes it quite different looking truck. You would consider them different vehicles would you see them on the street.
Than ML has less electronic gadgets.
I recently sold my 2014 ML350 4matic and then bought a "newer" 2016 GLE 400 4matic. Here are the (not so obvious) differences that I have observed..
Things my ML had better:
- The ML had a softer dash where your knee rests (maybe mine was more "broken in" due to being 2 years older lol, but it's obvious when my knee hits that GLE dash area that it's not as bouncy/soft/receptive)
- The GLE WILL NOT let me close the rear hatch using the key fob... I used to do this all the time with the ML (say when I brought in all the groceries and walked away from the open hatch, I could fob it closed from inside the house on the ML). WIth the GLE, I have to actually walk back out to the car and press the close button (booooooo)
- The GLE seems to have the more jerky transmission (when switching at slow speeds around 2nd gear) like the newer 2020+ vehicles have. My ML wasn't perfectly smooth, but it was no where near this jerky (I have had both transmissions serviced)
- The ML had more rear seat leg room... I know it's supposed to be the same car inside, but for some reason my GLE seems to be more cramped in the back seat. Is the dash bigger in the GLE (Pushing the front seats back an extra inch or two)? Are the seats further forward in the rear? Not sure, but it was obvious the first time I went to go sit in the back seat.
- I preferred the all tan interior of the ML over the brown carpet floor of the GLE. I just liked having everything be tan, even in the floor boards.
- The GLE has the double-sun roof that is really pretty, but it's much noisier with wind and outside sounds when you're on the expressway. In the ML, I could slide the smaller sunroof door closed and completely silence the interior on the highway.
- The GLE has the STEWPID Auto Start/Stop "feature" that I absolutely hate. It actually engaged while I was coasting in a parking lot the other day and restarted as I was turning that just felt awful, made a pedestrian think I had hit the gas to try and push them out of the way. This feature is SO DUMB and ANNOYING!
- The GLE drives/parks larger than the ML did. I just don't feel the GLE is as small and nimble as the ML (yes I really do know they are the same car other than just a few fenders/headlights, but I CAN TELL it's different way more than I expected)
- The GLE 400 power is a tiny bit delayed compared to the ML... the ML really seemed to pull from low and then just keep on pulling really linearly compared to my GLE 400. When you pull onto an onramp, the GLE seems a tiny bit hesitant and then al of a sudden you're doing 105mph. Where the ML felt a harder pedal and started to pull lower in the press. This may have also been because of my sprintbooster now that I think about it.
- My GLE has the heated/cooled cupholders, but for some reason the right cupholder is a lot smaller than the left. So buying two water bottles for a road trip often means one has to go in the door instead of the 2nd cupholder... there's only enough space or like a small late cup.
- The door handle spot where you can unlock/lock the car by touch was FAR more sensitive on my ML than the newer GLE. I never even really concentrated with the ML, just half-assed touched the door handle and the car would love/unlock. On the GLE, I really have to touch JUST the little spot or hold my hand in the handle for a 0.5 second longer and while the delay is so small that most folks won't notice it, I have noticed a few times now where I walk away and don't get the door lock as easily.
- While the infotainment screen is larger/more colorful/nicer on the GLE, it still requires the old wheel dial to enter an address for navigation that takes like 10 mins to enter and ultimately gets turned off because my wife will have google maps pulled up on her phone in like 5 seconds and tell me not to fiddle with it. So it looks beautiful but we never use it. I think there's a button to say commands, but I'm not yet sure if I can say "navigate to Billy Bobs House of Biscuits" and it be smart enough to know what I mean. The only time this wins is when we're driving in a national park and there's no wireless signal, thankfully the MBComand still knows where things are and will route you with directions without any wifi/cellular signal.
Things my GLE has better...
- Sex appeal! The newer AMG style exterior that I have on this version with the 5 spoke 20" wheels and the low front bumper, all the chrome, the rear spoiler, the huge sunroof, the step side that lights up the ground all around the car at night, the silly "Batman" light that shines a Mercedes logo on the ground, and everything all together make this one beautifully well-balanced looking car compared to the ML! Again, it's a refresh on the design, but it's VERY pretty and everyone compliments me.
- Power! The GLE400 will go from slow to "oh my god that is jail time if any cop sees me" very very quickly! Yes I know that I complained about felt horsepower/response above, but overall this car is STUPID fast. Cannot even imagine what an AMG or V8 must feel like. I now totally understand how many full size pickup trucks are using turbo V6s now-a-days, this GLE will absolutely SMOKE just about anyone who pulls up next to me and wants to get flirty at a red light.
- Towability... My ML did not come with an installed tow port so I never got to try it out. This newer GLE has a tow port, power outlet, sway bar hookup, all neatly tucked under the rear bumper and I KNOW this engine is powerful enough to tow.
- I like being able to handwrite letters on the bulbous control pad thing, that's a little helpful compared to the 2014 single wheel control.
- The newer GLE has better ventilated seats. This may be because the seat isn't as worn out from fat people like me as my ML was (so there's more plume for air to flow around inside it), but it's a much cooler seat compared to teh ML which is nice for my post-COVID-era back fat in the summer heat.
I'm sure I'll think of others. Overall, if I had to do it over again, I'd probably not sell my ML - it was a little bit better in things that I notice... and IT WAS $18,000 CHEAPER than my GLE
Hope this is helpful for anyone currently thinking about buying one of these W166's and trying to figure out the real differences, not just the spec sheet comparisons.
06-25-2021, 01:41 PM
