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2021 GLS450 2020 GLE350 2005 BMW 325ci Convertible
GLS450 on a ski trip
I've seen others posting pictures of their new vehicles fresh from the dealer. I figured I'd show mine with 1000 miles on it. Thule roof box, bike rack, and ski rack. 4 humans and one great dane to the mountains for a long weekend.
I know some don't like the MB cross bars, and I was hesitant at first, but it positions the box directly accessible from any of the four doors.
Last edited by Dave Stough; Feb 18, 2021 at 01:48 PM.
so how did it do in the snow? i have a gls450 on order and am new to mercedes. i will likely drive to tahoe in the winter a couple times a year, and the weather can get pretty ugly pretty quickly up there. i've taken my audi Q5 up there a few times, once where we got 2' of powder dumped on us overnight and it performed phenomenally with good all season tires. i'll be pretty stoked if the gls can perform likewise.
2021 GLS450 2020 GLE350 2005 BMW 325ci Convertible
I don't think you will be disappinted. Never once did I feel uncomfortable or like I was loosing traction. We had fresh snow on arrival and snow all weekend.
I even let me stepdaughter, who only has her learner's permit, drive about 50 miles out of the resort and back, and neve felt like she had any issues.
I did chicken out at one point. The GPS wanted me to take a trail as a shortcut back to our lodging. There was about 8 inches of snow with some ruts through it. I went the longer way around. Maybe in another year, I might have tried it, but I didn't want to risk it in the dark in a brand-new vehicle!
Great picture! I love the blue (ours is the same color with same wheels). A neighbor has a c300 convertible in this blue which caught my eye to it. It’s my personal favorite color!
We’ve had lots of snow and ice this year where I live - it’s a tank in it all, really impressive. It’s almost too confidence-inspiring to be honest.
I'm just up the road from you in Howard County, so I know the weather you speak of! This is my fourth MB in the same Lunar Blue color. I love it.
Nice! I’m loudoun here - leesburg... it’s the winter of “3 to 6 inches” here, over and over and over again. Covered in about 3 inches of sleet with freezing rain on top at the moment....
The new GLS is superb in the snow. The variable 4 matic is much better than the old 50:50 ratio.
I agree, I think on a vehicle of this size and height, the variable 4Matic is a great fit! But I will admit, I do love the fixed system and never really knew it until taking my 212 out in the snow. The predictability of it is excellent and therefore gives a level of vehicle control to the driver that a variable just can’t do. But in something like a GLS, all the engineering tricky to keep it stable in all situation - the better! I don’t plan on goosing the gas in the neighborhood when turning the corner in the snow to kick that rear end out in the snow in the GLS like I admittedly do in the E sedan for giggles.
But in something like a GLS, all the engineering tricky to keep it stable in all situation - the better!
PRECISELY! No funny business ever, just point and go. You can always turn off the "electronic nannies" but I don't recommended it. If your stuck in some real deep stuff there is always the "bouncy mode" which really does work! The AWD system/suspension system in the GLS is by far the best I have used and the best in the industry. Expensive, definitely, but worth it!
Would you mind posting what roof box, bike rack and ski rack you ended up installing? Researching those items is like going down a black hole. Would be great to know if they work well and you're happy with them. Did you consider the MB cross bars versus Thule? What made you pull the trigger on the MB ones?
2021 GLS450 2020 GLE350 2005 BMW 325ci Convertible
This is the 5th MB vehicle, and I've always had the factory cross bars. On the sedans, there isn't much option due to the threaded bolts in the roof. But I've just stuck with them.
The roof box is a Thule Force XT XL. I didn't think I would need the XXL, but the extra space would have been nice. I like the fact that it opens from either side. I did end up taking a two-step ladder along for ease of loading/unloading on the road, but probably didn't need it, as I can access it all from the four doors.
The bike rack and ski rack are both second purchases. They are the Apex Swing XT and Tram ski rack. I had the previous generation Swing and Tram but was rear-ended last winter, so they were both replaced by insurance. Being able to swing the entire loaded bike and ski rack out of the way and open the tailgate is a true plus.
Looks great! I'm thinking about going with a roof box also. Any reason you went with the Thule versus the Mercedes roofbox? Also, do you know how much the cross bars cost from Mercedes?
Originally Posted by Dave Stough
I've seen others posting pictures of their new vehicles fresh from the dealer. I figured I'd show mine with 1000 miles on it. Thule roof box, bike rack, and ski rack. 4 humans and one great dane to the mountains for a long weekend.
I know some don't like the MB cross bars, and I was hesitant at first, but it positions the box directly accessible from any of the four doors.
2021 GLS450 2020 GLE350 2005 BMW 325ci Convertible
I went with Thule so I can key all my accessories the same and not have to carry a bunch of different keys. I actually think the cross bars are made by Thule, and I probably could key them to match as well, but haven't pursued it.
I paid $700 on my purchase for the lighted star and the crossbars, but I don't know how it broke out. Maybe $275 for the bars?
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