I've put up with the terribly designed heat/AC controls on the floor with their little red lights and light up icons that are invisible in the sun. I've nearly had several accidents trying to see them on a sunny day. I've put up with probably the only car sold in the US without front window/ windshield tinting. Pulled into my yard today the same way I have for the past 14 years. Stopped to look at something on a completely level patch of lawn. Went to move, no go. The stupid piece of crap is stuck on the level in maybe 1/4 inch of soft ground covered with grass. Pirelli tires, 15000 miles. Absolutely no excuse for this. Thank God I don't live in snow country anymore. At my age I fully expected this thing to be the last car I'll ever buy. If I can get it out it's off to local non-MB dealers.
Now I know why it comes with built-in tow hooks front and rear.

 

Sunglasses help with the lack of tint. I haven't noticed any issues seeing the gauges, but then again, I dont mess with them much...I set the ac on cold, low fan, and I'm done. Living in Florida, I know the value of tint. Haven't taken it off the pavement yet, but I have seen videos of the GLK doing some impressive things off road.

 

Do you have a 4Matic?

 

Take your foot off the brake!!!! heheh!
Sorry, couldn't resist... hope you feel better with it after venting! All cars have their headaches...

 

No.

 

Actually dragging the brake is a technique to help get out of a wheel spin situation. Did not work. I lived and drove in norther US snow country for 50+ years. Never expected to get stuck in my own front yard in 1/4" of soft soil. Ridiculous.

 

I remember seeing a video of a GL getting stock on a level ground with a little soft, muddy soil and that has 4matic on it. It just spins it's wheels and won't move.

 

That sucks sorry to hear your frustrations, I can say my GLK 4matic has handled the recent snow in the northeast with ease - no digging out needed just put in gear and go

 

Did you "try" disabling ETS ? In a RWD GLK - in the even you need to rear tires to go to "spin" - like soft surface - you might try that, and rock back-n-forth.

If you need your front windows tinted - like about $70 - give it a whirl..

 

It sounds like you have 20 inch wheels and I have the same tires, with RWD, if the grass was a little moist, it probably would get stuck if you didn't have a 4matic. I had front wheel Volvo C30 with 19's and I was pushing it out every other block getting home after some snow.

 

I'm shocked.... I have a 4matic and a very steep driveway at the cottage... Arrived at the cottage today, drove down on sheet ice, has never been a better vehicle!!! My last Murano locked in 4 wheel still slipped whereas the 4matic has never failed. My son & I have tried to get it to slip/fail... hasn't yet! Hope that '420tee' will find some good feeling with his..!
Hey... pulled the snowmobile out of the garage, made it 90% to the top of the hill, then slid back down (out of control)... this is no slouch(sp) 2009 Yamaha
the hill is a PITA, and the 4matic laughs it off!!!

 

Same setup. Back in CT we had a 100 yard steep down from the road driveway. We had two 4WD's but my company cars were Dodge Caravans FWD and very seldom had a problem getting up it. I don't know why companies cling to outdated RWD at all.

 

I thought of giving the ETS a try. Too pissed yesterday to care.

 

You are right!!! I remember way back when, driving 2 wheel drive full size vans and adding some parking brake did take care of 1 wheel spinning on ice...

 

Somebody has been videoing on my lawn!

 

Tried ETS off, NG, Tried starting in 3rd gear, NG. Final solution, my 25 year old Dodge 4WD pickup with nearly bald tires. Pulled both and never slipped a wheel. I recommend anyone with a GLK who might ever consider driving across perfectly level but slightly damp grass invest in a 4WD something first.

 

I have the 4Matic and am not worried at this point. Watch the YouTube videos of the 4Matic GLK handling pretty well in much rougher environments than someone's front lawn.

 

See post #7 above. Maybe, or probably the problem is more the tires than the car. They didn't give the slightest hint of traction, just like being on a sheet of wet ice. They didn't even throw up a roostertail of wet mud when spinning.

 

Yikes - glad I have the 4matic. With snow tires on, my GLK drives like a tank. I purposely go driving down un-plowed roads just to see if I can get stuck. So far, it has never even hinted that it might get stuck.

 

^ my experience as well...

 

What tires did it come with?

 

[QUOTE=420tee;5902928]I've put up with the terribly designed heat/AC controls on the floor with their little red lights and light up icons that are invisible in the sun. I've nearly had several accidents trying to see them on a sunny day.

I don't understand the problem if you car is like mine. Whenever I turn the temperature controls, the temperature settings are displayed on the lower left and right corners on the Command display. I never attempt to look down to see where the temperature wheels are set.
JB

 

[QUOTE=MB-JIM;5904090]Not on mine. It's a 2011. Obviously MB recognized the dangerous situation they created and improved it. With sun coming in the side windows it's just a guessing game as to how the controls, temp, fan, A/C, etc. are set and being darm near on the floor trying to see them creates a potential accident.

 

Did you test drive the car before you bought it? The ergonomics are not the best with HVAC controls poorly positioned. This is something you should have noticed from day #1 and if it bothered you, why buy the SUV?

The GLK is still just a c-class and even with 4-matic is not a 4x4 vehicle. Reading your description of what happened I agree with others that this is likely the tires not giving you traction and your model being RWD.

This is not a GLK design issue. The GLK is not an offroad vehicle and does not pretend to be. Perhaps a Jeep, Range Rover, or 4x4 pick up would better serve your needs. A cheaper solution would be to outfit the GLK with better tires but most of the tire options are poor. Perhaps the The Scorpion Verde or Yokohama’s AVID Ascend would work.

 

2 days ago I got stuck with my GLK and thought I was in trouble. I pulled down a country lane (road was covered with snow) and pulled slightly to the right in preparation to turn around. Next thing I knew the entire right side of the car went down into the ditch.

After my kids and I calmed down, I turned off traction control, put the car in S mode and started rocking. Eventually the GLK pulled out of the ditch. My kids and I were quite elated.

Upon turning around and inspecting the site, the entire right side had gone down so far that the bottom of the GLK was hitting around and I could see grass where the body of the car was.

So the GLK might not be a a true off-road suv, with the 4 Matic and General Tire Altimax Arctic tires it saved me for sure!