I'm generally content with my decision to purchase the 2013 GLK 250. The size is perfect for my needs and it fits in the garage with room to spare. I'm also pleased with the power, torque and fuel economy.

About the only few things lacking from perspective that would make it the perfect vehicle for MY needs would be the following:

1. Two speed (low range) transfer case
2. Rear locking differential
3. Air suspension

I need to go off the beaten path in the winter and tow often enough that it would be nice to have these features. I would be willing to pay a premium to have these features in a small SUV.

I cross-shopped many other brands like the VW Touareg, and Jeep Grand Cherokee Eco-diesel but "settled" on the GLK. The VW and GC were just too large for my needs and the VW doesn't offer a low range transfer case otherwise it would have been a tough choice. Both also have V6 diesels which are nowhere near as fuel efficient as the GLK.

I realize that I represent a very small market segment that would want these options but it's a shame to have to "settle". At least in Europe you get the choice of many more configurations and options.

One can only wish.

 

For me, its a few differences between US/Canada versions and 2012+/2014 models.

I was looking forward to Disctronic. Instead it has not been offered in any 2014 250 BlueTECs. At the dealership i was told they had software issues which does no explain why it is my problem.

All the internet services are only available to US, like the dealer website or weather... Not that i would use it, but it blows reading about something in the manual and not having it. Also a lot of the on screen features (split screen, fuel economy graphs, seat adjustments). Once again, not necessary but i would prefer to have all of that useless garbage.

The windshield wipers are terrible. I expected more.

Turbo lag is brutal from a stop. But hey, i could've bought c63 for another 10k... So the demand of no turbo lag might be unreasonable.

OEM all weather mats and cargo mat are fine, but could have been a better fit in my opinion. With the mats, its the drivers foot rest that was avoided by all weather mat. And the cargo mat is just a random fit lol. Looks like its for GLK250 but also feels like it came off something else.

And another problem that i ran into is that Vossen has not put any 22s on GLKs. Despite the guy on these forums having 22" CV-3s on his GLK, the Vossen people recommended not to put 22s until they have tested that fitment for themselves.

Oh, also the choice of Harman Kardon vs Bang Olufsen would have been nice.
And the choice to have black roof liner with any other interior options.
Bigger gas tank would be nice as well. Like 100L would be perfect.

Am i happy with my GLK? Yes i am, but there is always a reason to complain lol.

 

Not really sure what to make of this we bought a 2014 GLK250 and it has distronic "Works great". Sure the internet services are not here in canada but I synced with my iphone and have internet. The split screen would have been a nice option though. Never really notice much turbo lag "well not enough to bother me". As for floor mats I ordered weathertech and they are a perfect fit. While the choice for stereo is limited the Harmon Kardon meets our needs. As for a black roofliner all it is is a check in the right box, I've seen them with both grey and Black "ours is grey" and they both look great...

 

Roofliner colors are linked to interior colours. With black leather interior black roofliner is not available, through dealer or through the online canadian configurator.

Same with Distronic, if you follow through canadian dealer, you will not be able to get it. It is not even mentioned on the overview page of the Driver Assistance Technologies:
http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/content/...?isflipfocus=1

I only wish i had Distronic...

 

We still love our 2011.

I have no interest in going off-road so we chose the 2WD and it runs great.

The only thing I wish it had is the xenon lights option; I didn't know about those when I got the car or I would have gotten them...

 

Why do you need any of the above? The first limiting factor will be the giant wheels with low profile tires (which of course can be swapped out).

1) 1st gear is very short for slow crawling or climbing. Keep in mind that your GLK gets moving in 2nd gear unless in sport mode.
2) Traction control will lock whatever wheel is spinning - not sure what's the benefit of locking dif. noways when the traction control almost fully stops the spinning wheel.
3) So you can replace it every 2-3 years? Those things are extremely unreliable especially on newer cars and very costly to replace.

I wish GLK came with active seats than can be had on E/ML/CLS

 

Oddly enough I don't have a 12v power outlet in the trunk. Space is there for it. Just not there.

 

That is something you could easily add. Mine got relocated from the driver side to the passenger side when I had a subwoofer installed.

If only mine had the Comand system, hitch, and lighting package...those are the options I wish were on the CPO I bought!

 

NYCGLK is right about #3. Had 2 Rovers with air and the compressors are working all the time. First car compressor lasted about 100k, second one only 53k. Just a gimmick
for most and not really off road.
What you really are lacking, for off road, is Articulation and Suspension Travel. Put a steep ramp in front of one front wheel and see how far up you can drive and still have the rear wheels on the ground. This measures the 'Twist" of the suspension and is need for going over rocks and logs. The Defender I owned had probably the best articulation of any stock vehicle. Won't get it with stock independent front suspension or McPherson struts. Second, for off road you need lots of ground clearance and shield for when you don't have enough. Just installing larger tires ain't gonna' do it. For hard beaches and woodland trails, the GLK is good enough, A lower gear would just get you off road enough where you need a winch or a retriever or one of those dogs with the barrel around its neck..

 

Most of this stuff is available on the European version, although I threw in a few dream features that are not.

• Toggle between Eco/Sport/Manual should be on the steering wheel
• A more configurable display, I'd like to see my digital speed readout + perhaps music info. at the same time (especially if the navigation is on the other screen)
• Delete model designation (I'll de-badge myself, but would have been great if it came from the factory this way)
• Adjustable brake pedal, it's way too far forward for me to find a really comfortable seating position under braking
• Rear heated seats
• Front seat cooling
• Summer tires from factory
• Splitview
• Three features I would have added if it were my vehicle and not my wifes: panoramic roof, HK Logic 7 & a trailer hitch.

 

Which dealer did you buy from? Distronic for 2014 was on the hidden order sheet at Hyatt. It's the same sheet that shows other non-standard configurations (ie: our 2014 has command nav but it does not have a sunroof).

There are some really cool things available on that list... but they don't show it unless you ask.

 

The unavailability of options in the US that are available in Europe annoys me.

 

GLK63 would be nice.

 

Does GLK63 exist in Europe?

 

Nope, but they do have far more engine choices than we do. They have a V6 diesel that would have been intriguing to me.

 

Sadly, the current generation GLK is at the end of the road basically. I think they're going to announce the new one in January 2015, as a 2016 model for sale late next year?

 

Ya, i had no clue about it until afterwards... fml... I bought at lonestar. I asked about distronic, and was given a ****ty asnwer by sales, instead of showing me these option sheets. They probably wanted to move their inventory, but im pissed

 

I got it from Lonestar as well. But I picked my options thru Mercedes Canada website(Build your own GLK) & did not know about this option availability. In fact it still does not show under Driver Assistance Package.

 

Not just on newer cars. Are any of you old enough to remember the MB 300 SEL? You could always tell a 300 (as compared to the 280) by the splayed out rear wheels from the failing air suspension.

The 6.3 version was fun, though...

 

Yeah like I said, they don't list this stuff online. I had Hyatt show me their actual internal ordering screen. The advanced driving assistance is still in there, as is the package we did: Premium Package w/o sunroof, $2,100 MSRP rather than $3,600.

 

So sad. I couldve had my Distronic and black headliner with black leather and ashwood trim... Brutal.

 

Sorry - if it makes you feel any better they talked us out of the black headliner - we went grey and glad to have done so as the black on black would have been really dark with no sunroof and our front windows being tinted.

 

My GLK is the perfect vehicle for me. After having three Jags, three Jeeps, a C300, and an E350.

I wish it had the seats from a E350. The GLK seats are good, but for long trips, the seats in the E are just better.

Ventilated seats.

Adjustable pedals.

EDIT: One more thing. The fabric retracting liner on the pano roof bounces around and makes a rattling noise if the window is open to any significant degree. I would do something about that.

That's it. I love my GLK.

 

a chauffeur.

 

distronic is a special order item with an up-charge of 250. I got it on my 2014.