Hello Gents,
Wanted to do a proper write-up for this deserving 👏 platform . So here ut is. Please feel free to chime in, sharing is learning, and learning is maintained thru teaching.

Picked up @ 25k miles, pristine condition. Lunar blue/beige leather/brown dash/brown wood. Color combo is just beautiful 😍 ✨ 💕 IMHO. Never seen a blue 550.
Only scratches on the car i put them in the first days 🙃😬.

New brakes, new Mich4 Michelin LTXs, fresh oil change, alignment. All dealer performed before picked up the car.

Drove back home, impressed with everything. These Mercs are niiiice! I like! High five!

Dropped to fav tint shop right away. 20% all around, including pano, 30% windshield, PPF hood, Ceramic coated front bumper and wheels( like them 21"AMGs) .
Added Exoshield Windshield Protection(basically a film that protecrs fro. rock chips, cracks) . I normally go through a windshield per ski season, due to sand they throw when snow comes . So i learned my lesson. BTW, it works great, have it on the Q7 also. Highly recommended .

Then off to my fav indy. Put Proflush on the way there, so it cycled thru. Performed oilchange with Liqui Moly LeichtLauf 5w40 (Mercedes approved) added Ceratec friction protector.
He sprayed Ozium($5@Target) in the A/C vents and hood airports , let it run, and moldy smell gone!!! Surprisingly easy fix for an unpleasant problem to deal with in a luxe veh.

Changed cabin air filters(all 3), indy got me the latest Mahle) and engine Air filter K&N Performance(99$ on Amazon).

Dropped at local MB Dealer for tailgate strut creaking, replaced.and inspection. All 👍

Performed a new alignment at my fav alignment guy. Just to have it dialed in properly.

Now funtime!!!

Took it for thousand miler fam trip. Thoroughly tested on all kinds of conditios, from snow@21degF,twity canyon roads,uphill climbs,highway long hauls,etc...

Distronic+ is awesome, on hwy very relaxing . May need brakes&tires replaced earlier, but i think is a worty trade off.
Funny fact, my Body Battery was recharged during a 8 hr drive home(???🤔👍&#128077

This rig is something else!!! Wawawiua! Amazingly balanced handling for its size and cargo. Adaptive Suspension works amazing, steering assist 👌!! Wonderful and generous powerband, especially in the low RPMs, great gurgling V8 grunt(although I'm not into that). Great MPG(considering.. ) Again, compared with the Q7(.y other awesome rig).

Hope to take good care of it and enjoy it !

Mods to come??
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We'll see how these Michelin LTXs perform in actual heavy snow*otherwise they're great so far, soft and quiet, not to mention free😀😀&#128077

New 22"rims on sone 285/45 meat. The wheel well needs some muscle stuffed in. Possibly lowering it. I am nmust ew to Air suspensions, so i must get a feel and understanding first.

Some paint correction , and maybe a DIY Ceramic Coating.

Engine ECU tune..

Cheers for now,

Input appreciated,

Thanks for looking,

I hope you like, othersmwise.

Bob

 

Let's see some pics of this rig!
Blue/Beige combo is silky smooth

 

now it is, i gave it a claybar treatment yesterday.
to get that road and snow grime away. Boy, that's a lot of car to do!!!💪🤣. But, nonetheless, labour of love. 😊 🙏

 

Still getting a hang of the ADS AIRMATIC.
very niiice, so far. Contemplating wider,thicker meats(295-305/45/22s).
Rig has plenty of pow (for now). Enjoying it 😀 🙏 for now. Wonder what 100🐎/torquies would feel like to this already beautiful and 💪piece of artshinery.
Anyone has powerband graphs for this platform or tunes?

Chirboyz,

Bob

 

Pics!

 

yessir

 

Great looking GLS!

 

Thanks, but had little to do with it. GLS(550) is just a beautiful thing by its own nature. Totally enjoying it(6k mies in 2mos&#128512, still learning the car, pondering next mods.
prob wheels stay for the winter, as it is main fam snowmobile. Did not give it a proper photoshoot eithe.

Chirz,

Bob

 

Looks rather nice nestled in the snow.

I hope we get a sprinkling of the white stuff in the UK soon. It adds so much to a photoshoot

Clay bar treatment a must and a good paint protection should be applied, then you're set for the winter.

Enjoy!

 

Hello nice English Gentleman, I like you! I like . ..GLS! Is niiiice! 👋!
I PPFd the whole hood only. Rest of the car i was hesitant to actually Opticoat. There's few scratches (very minor though) and car has seen 4 seasons with just regular washes. So that's the reason , too much paint correction.
i just give it thoroughly solid washing myself. I also use tve Meguires Ceramic Wax at every wash. That's a good enough layer of protection , although not Opticoat

Chirz,boiz,

Bob

 

Update on WeatherTech liners: they are awesome! Although they don't snap as tight as in tge Q7, very easy to clean.
Another update:

They are not that awesome, they snap out. But the new 3DMaxpider are off the hook! Gotca new set for the Q7, they are that good!

 

Hitting the 4vyear mark soon, contemplating extra warranty. Can't get it thru tge dealer , need to go 3rd party. Any suggestions?

chirboiz,

Bob

 

Hello Gents,
Long time no see, but wait..

I just got the 17GLS550 tuned 91 OE Tuning and it's Awesome! Rig should have come like this from factory. Some extra 100 horsies/torqies, generous powerband, great MPG, etc..
For comparison, other car is APR ST2SP 18Q7 4M Audi, about 440/420 , but lighter car. Merc feels faster, though.

Swapped the awesome V- patterned 285 40 22 Toyo Proxes ST3s with meatier, wider and stickier 295 40 22 Toyo Proxes.
Great success!

Chirboiz,

Bob

 

 

Love the wheels, what are they? Beautiful!!

 

Thanks,
TSW Sebring 22x10.5 ET38
They are nice, but drilled rottors dust them a lot.
Chirboiz
Bob.

 

 

totally read that part in Borat’s voice lol

 

Great succes! High five!

 

what are your comments on the OE Tune? How is the driveability and smoothness compared to stock? Am really curious to see what/if any gains in mpg’s you are seeing if you lay off the giggle pedal.

 

is niiiice! I like!
High five!

 

 

Swapped the awesome 295/40/22s Toyo Proxes Sport with the fantabulous 305/40/22s Lexani LX30.
Wider footprint/stance, V-shaped threaded ribs. Mo' cush, for the Push! Extra meat definitely improved ride in all aspects.Tested on dry and wet roads, handles superbly such a big rig. Yesterday had one of the rare Norcal rains, so was happy to test them. And pushed them good. Really, really, good.
I ran the previous version Lexani LX20 on the Q7, and got some 30k Smiles out of it. So looking forward to get the same great love from these new tires.
Now, with proper shoes and unleashed power, big boi GLS550 pulls and feels like a 747 taking off...Finally.

Chirboiz

Bob

 

Looks good, congrats. Any tire rubbing the wheel well at full steering lock?

 

no issues whatsoever, wondered if i could squeeze a 45 tire inthere... it could rub when car lowers itself in sport mode, so i did not go 45, but went wide 305 (and got some height also). Mo meat. But feels cushy enough, with beautiful planted control. Again , sensibly better compared with the previous 295/40/22s. Which in turn , felt better Than 285 40 22. Which in turn, felt better than Mushylins LTX 275 45 21s car came with. Wheels are 22x10.5 also, that's spread out, no need for spacers, beautiful poke also.

Chirboiz,

Bob

PS: Btw, if anyone needs the OEM 21" AMGs wheels/tires, they are available for sale on the marketplace .