GLS550 Why choose a GLS over others - Pic Heavy
 

First off, not ours, saw this when debating what to buy. Once we looked inside, the choice was easy.

This GLS550 was optioned similar to how we did, virtually all options except B&O, even had the off road package (very helpful for cleaning wheel wells).

I did not know the story behind this car so never posted pictures. We purchased Mom's GLC from this dealership recently so I was able to talk to her salesrep to understand what occured.

This dealership stores customer custom order cars off-site until ready for pick-up at which point they bring to the dealership. The dealership had one of their employees bringing this GLS to the dealership for delivery and decided it was a good time to drive at an extremely high speed while texting. This is the result of a GLS hitting the back of a dump truck at high speed (was told near 100mph, but I can't validate that obviously).

When looking from the back of this car, looks normal, not until you see the front do you get an idea of the impact and integrity of this car. The driver (employee) walked-away with no injuries, which I believed based on what we saw of the interior. Airbags were deployed however that was the only evidence inside the car that something had happened. There was no damage behind the bottom of the windshield. I have a couple shots of the interior, however it was through a side window as the dealership was closed when we were there (and GLS long gone before we were back to that dealership).

Anyway, hope these images help some feel more confident in their decision to purchase a GLS, these things are definitely built strong.


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Devastating damage and incredible structural integrity. That said, 100 mph seems unlikely. Glad the driver was unhurt.

no shot 100 mph, but awesome nonetheless. would love some interior shots if you are able to get any.

model years 2009-12 of the GL the IIHS reported ZERO casualties. that of course says something about drivers of the vehicle (cautious family folk mostly) but it undoubtedly is a statement of the car's safety, as well.

Shouldn’t the car stop itself though?

If you are hitting the breaks not hard enough, the car will assist and break harder for you to avoid a collision. I have experienced that with my ML and that's what you get with the standard Active Break Assist. If you don't break at all, the car won't do it either unless you are using it with the non-standard Distance Pilot. If you are going too fast and someone cuts you off it may happen no matter what.

I got into a massive crash with my W166 ML last year, at 135Km/hr, when somebody swerved into us from a parallel line. We crashed into the crash barrier, the car flipped on its side and finally came back on its wheels. It was extremely scary, I had my wife and my two daughters (aged 2 and 4 at the time), and we all left the scene unarmed. The car did a wonderful job at taking the hit and saving us. That's why we went straight to the dealer and purchased a GLS. We did not even considere switching brands. I had done a thread about it, link is https://mbworld.org/forums/new-m-cla...ed-my-car.html

No biggie all that will buff right out:puke:. I guess the employee is now working at Mc Donalds. As for the speed, given the damage it was probably doing 50 when it hit. Impacts againts a solid surgace at anything much higher than than are devastating. Remember cars frontal impact test is at 35. 15 mph higher than that involves a lot more energy given that e=mv^2

In this case it looks like it read ended a truck, hence the damage on the top of the hood and up to the A pilllar. If the truck was moving, it's possible the GLS was going more than 50. But I agree, the damage is not compatible with 100m/hr into something solid!

Either way, the GLS still looks like in remarkably good shape. Rear ending a truck often ends up with the front row occupants getting their torso cut right off the rest of their bodies... Definitely ended up much better here!

At least it serves as an unoficial crash test given the GLS has never been tested! The GLE is quoted but the fact is that though they may share a lot, as far as crash testing is concerned, they are completely different vehicles due to weight and geometry. It could be just as good or much worse.

Sooo... who has 1st dibs on the wheels? Yeah, I had to be that guy... But in all seriousness, these things can take a hit. A few years ago, a W166 ML got t-boned at an intersection near my house. We passed the scene after it happened. The side airbags had deployed and the 2 doors just looked dented. The other car looked almost like the front end of the GLS in the OP's pic. We used to have a '12 ML BTC and a guy in an Avalon tried to cut us off, low speed impact. We only had minor fender damage and was still driveable. He was leaking coolant all over the place. This past September during the remnants of a hurricane, a tree came down in my driveway on our GLE. Cracked windshield, broken mirror, and just dented hood and panels. These vehicles are not cheap but these are the reasons why this is the car I want my kids riding in.

Edit: Suck part is that whoever ordered this car probably waited a good while for it to be built. Now they have to wait all over again for a 2nd one!

Interesting reading your thread, thanks for sharing. Nice to see aftermath like I did and hearsay from the dealership, however nice to hear firsthand the safety of these things. We picked ours due to the safety and number of idiots out there driving, smoking and playing with phone all at same time. If in an accident and it saves us from injuries, not a lot of time before it's literally paid for itself.

Glad to hear your family was safe in the accident.

Thankfully nobody got hurt

Would you say the the GL/ML are safer than Range Rovers? I think RR's look better.

A guy in a CLS 550 hit and killed a couple teenage kids a few weeks ago, they were stopped at a stop sign and he rear ended them going over 100mph. He knocked there car over 200ft, and he survived with minor injuries.

Impressive and reinforces my view that MBZ is one of the safest cars you can drive.

Agreed, but I hope the dealer terminated the employee. People who text at 100mph (or any speed for that matter) should not be employed in a job that requires driving. See prior post.

Old thread, but timely given all the crazy drivers post-Covid lockdown.
Wonder if the 6 souls would have survived in a GLS --



News story: https://nypost.com/2022/08/08/nurse-...urder-charges/
Speeding car was a Mercedes C-Class; the driver survived.