GLE suspension bushings and ball joints, how durable?
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C230K 2005
GLE suspension bushings and ball joints, how durable?
Hi. My country roads are far from being the good. Not just potholes but bumps, imperfections, you name it. I know my question is a very generic one, but do you have an idea how durable are GLE suspension bushings, ball joints and other suspensions parts? Have you changed it in your vehicle? Have you experienced misalignment or weird steering sensations after some time driving on roads with many imperfections? I'm not talking about hitting big potholes, I'm talking about constantly driving on less than ideal roads. I've had a Range Ravor Sport, a Lexus GX460 and a Lexus RX 450H and they've seen to managed said roads well but I don't know how durable/resistant Mercedes GLE suspensions parts are? Would I need to make annual replacements or such? Any word of warning, using a GLE on less than ideal roads? Thank you very much!
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Hi. My country roads are far from being the good. Not just potholes but bumps, imperfections, you name it. I know my question is a very generic one, but do you have an idea how durable are GLE suspension bushings, ball joints and other suspensions parts? Have you changed it in your vehicle? Have you experienced misalignment or weird steering sensations after some time driving on roads with many imperfections? I'm not talking about hitting big potholes, I'm talking about constantly driving on less than ideal roads. I've had a Range Ravor Sport, a Lexus GX460 and a Lexus RX 450H and they've seen to managed said roads well but I don't know how durable/resistant Mercedes GLE suspensions parts are? Would I need to make annual replacements or such? Any word of warning, using a GLE on less than ideal roads? Thank you very much!
Ball joint and bushing failures are not commonly reported for 166 vehicles, with the exception of the lower control arm which has a soft bushing by design for comfort. Second might be the upper control arm ball joint, which is reported across all MB models.
My view is that the GLE has “typical” suspension life. It’s subjective.
My vehicle has 100k miles and the steering and suspension are solid as a rock. I drive mostly highway miles but have taken it up very poor mountain roads to trailheads in Colorado. No complaints.
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C230K 2005
Hard to answer the question directly.
Ball joint and bushing failures are not commonly reported for 166 vehicles, with the exception of the lower control arm which has a soft bushing by design for comfort. Second might be the upper control arm ball joint, which is reported across all MB models.
My view is that the GLE has “typical” suspension life. It’s subjective.
My vehicle has 100k miles and the steering and suspension are solid as a rock. I drive mostly highway miles but have taken it up very poor mountain roads to trailheads in Colorado. No complaints.
Ball joint and bushing failures are not commonly reported for 166 vehicles, with the exception of the lower control arm which has a soft bushing by design for comfort. Second might be the upper control arm ball joint, which is reported across all MB models.
My view is that the GLE has “typical” suspension life. It’s subjective.
My vehicle has 100k miles and the steering and suspension are solid as a rock. I drive mostly highway miles but have taken it up very poor mountain roads to trailheads in Colorado. No complaints.
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Alignment should never be needed, unless suspension or steering parts become worn and replaced. Alignment is not a preventive maintenance procedure.
Bad roads will accelerate wear, causing parts to need replacing sooner than from driving on smooth roads.
Bad roads will accelerate wear, causing parts to need replacing sooner than from driving on smooth roads.
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16 GLE400 4matic
You only do Alignment when your working on suspension like lower upper control arms, ball joints, trailing arms, struts, etc. or sometime wheel bearing and bushings or the steering wheel is not straight or sometime uneven tire wear.
I have gone 4-5 years without doing wheel alignment before.
Parts do fail over time due to wear and tear.
I have gone 4-5 years without doing wheel alignment before.
Parts do fail over time due to wear and tear.
Last edited by amusa; May 25, 2022 at 05:18 AM.
Thread Starter
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C230K 2005
Thank you all for your insight. I've been thinking and I'm almost decided to desist on my GLE purchase. I was going to buy a GLE 2018 and a "transitory" car until the new GLE facelift next year and sell my BMW X4. Currently I have X4 and a Mini Cooper S and for the wife (and family trips) a X5. I felt the X4 uninspiring and was eager to buy the GLE. I love that in the GLE you have a higher commanding view than on the X5 and the X4 but in the end it will be the same: I just take care too much of my cars and I have become tired of watching for potholes, bumps and the likes. Morning driving is not that bad but evening driving is because I can't see fast enough and I have slowing down and not enjoying the car. I dread the moment I hit a pothole that could severely damage the wheel, tires and most importantly: the suspension. No joy for me. I know SUV are supposed to be more resistant than sedans but I find hard to keep out of my mind my worries for every bump, every imperfection and/or every pothole. I love the GLE but I'm afraid to buy it and then don't enjoy at its full. I would have to go to the Ranger Raptor option and keep the Mini as well. Thank you!
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C230K 2005
I've read some horror stories about outrageous expensive repairs because of potholes with both Mercedes and BMW sedan vehicles, but not with SUVs like the X5 or the GLE. In your experience all this years on this forum, have you heard similar stories with GLE or ML vehicles or are they truly more resistant and durable and can take unfortunate potholes damages better? I'm in quite a dilemma because I know I'm going to miss the riding experience if I go the pickup guy but, on the other hand, with my fears I couldn't enjoy the X5 or the GLE...
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Out Of Control!!
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
There is no guaranteed resistance to poor roads. Slow speed and large tires are the only preventive actions.
If your roads are that bad consider a Unimog or equally truck-like vehicle. How about a Jeep Wrangler?
If your roads are that bad consider a Unimog or equally truck-like vehicle. How about a Jeep Wrangler?
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Thread Starter
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C230K 2005
Mr. Chassis, please excuse my stubbornness but I know you have a lot of knowledge and don't want to miss the opportunity to ask these last question: I drove an VW Amarok today and I felt the ride quite "agricultural". Supposedly the Nissan Frontier and Ranger Raptor (that one is not for sell on the US yet) should be a bit better on that aspect, but I think that the truck feel is almost impossible to vanish completely. My wife insists that I have a serious OCD and should relax more on that matter because she thinks that if I bought the pick-up I would sooner than later miss the "sophistication" of the MB and BMW cars I've driven. SO, the QUESTION IS: Suppose that I don't hit any serious pothole, e.g. the ones that break the wheel and/or cause a bubble on a tire, but that I will drive not with the gentleness that I treat my cars but with normal to fast speed on bumpy/irregular roads (by bumpy/irregular I mean to say not perfect) the worst case for me would be to replace sooner than normal some suspension parts but without paying exorbitant amounts of money? I mean, are those suspensions parts I would have to change from time to time extremely expensive? Thank you very much! Best regards,
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From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Mr. Chassis, please excuse my stubbornness but I know you have a lot of knowledge and don't want to miss the opportunity to ask these last question: I drove an VW Amarok today and I felt the ride quite "agricultural". Supposedly the Nissan Frontier and Ranger Raptor (that one is not for sell on the US yet) should be a bit better on that aspect, but I think that the truck feel is almost impossible to vanish completely. My wife insists that I have a serious OCD and should relax more on that matter because she thinks that if I bought the pick-up I would sooner than later miss the "sophistication" of the MB and BMW cars I've driven. SO, the QUESTION IS: Suppose that I don't hit any serious pothole, e.g. the ones that break the wheel and/or cause a bubble on a tire, but that I will drive not with the gentleness that I treat my cars but with normal to fast speed on bumpy/irregular roads (by bumpy/irregular I mean to say not perfect) the worst case for me would be to replace sooner than normal some suspension parts but without paying exorbitant amounts of money? I mean, are those suspensions parts I would have to change from time to time extremely expensive? Thank you very much! Best regards,
The 166 chassis is excellent off road. Not many people know this. I have taken my GLE up steep and very poor, rutted, roads in Colorado and the vehicle performed perfectly. If I did that every day, the vehicle would require more frequent suspension maintenance (shocks, bushings, ball joints, tie rods, tires).
A pickup truck is the vehicle for the roads you describe. A Toyota Tacoma comes to mind.
You can use a W166 on the roads you describe. If you drive slowly you likely won’t break anything. But you will likely require more frequent maintenance. How much more frequent is hard to predict.
