GLS Class (X167) Produced 2020 to present

How quiet is your GLS?

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Old Jul 10, 2021 | 04:24 PM
  #1  
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GLS 550
How quiet is your GLS?

I am driving GLS 580 2021 without acoustic package and the car seem to be noisier than my previous GLS 550 2017. Also exhaust sound is very loud and I can mainly hear exhaust sound behind me rather than engine sound when accelerating. During acceleration the transmission doesn’t shift smooth from 2 to 4 gear and feels like not enough power to shift up in eco and comfort mode , but works ok in sport mode. May be transmission needs reprogramming?
How noisy is your GLS?
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Old Jul 10, 2021 | 06:37 PM
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wolds's Avatar
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2017 Chevy SS, 2018 GLA250, 2020 GLS580
Originally Posted by VG2010
I am driving GLS 580 2021 without acoustic package and the car seem to be noisier than my previous GLS 550 2017. Also exhaust sound is very loud and I can mainly hear exhaust sound behind me rather than engine sound when accelerating. During acceleration the transmission doesn’t shift smooth from 2 to 4 gear and feels like not enough power to shift up in eco and comfort mode , but works ok in sport mode. May be transmission needs reprogramming?
How noisy is your GLS?
There is some inherent clunkiness with the transmission I would say, just the nature of the components involved. It's only under a few specific conditions that can be mostly avoided I've found. One important note is that there is definitely a programmed break-in period and eco mode is weird during this time. The power falls flat after a certain throttle percentage is what it felt like to me. After break-in period eco mode actually gets a bit rowdy if you push it. Based on others preferences started here, I found a new preference for individual mode setting everything to sport except the engine mode (after break-in).

As far as acoustic package I just went for it knowing that if it's offered, it must have at least some difference but also because it adds the thermal tint layer. I do believe the thermal tint helps but it is no miracle in South Florida. Now that you describe how audible the exhaust is that confirms for me it must make a pretty big difference. I don't hear much from the exhaust and less from the engine. I remember another 580 owner with the package actually being upset that they couldn't hear the exhaust well enough.
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Old Jul 10, 2021 | 11:35 PM
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Like a bank vault. I do have the acoustic package. I also have the optional 22s which are shod with Continentals with "contisilent" technology.
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Old Jul 11, 2021 | 12:44 AM
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E63s amg 2017, GLS 580 2020
I think you have have an issue with your exhaust system, the GLS 580 is really quiet and I would say the engine sound is much higher than the exhaust. as you mentioned you might need to do some reprogramming for the gear issue but for the exhaust sound i think you need to explain the issue to your agency
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Old Jul 11, 2021 | 07:17 AM
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Originally Posted by c4004matic
Like a bank vault. I do have the acoustic package.
I was in my GLE with the acoustic package and my wife couldn't hear me scream during a test from inside while she was standing three feet away.
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Old Jul 11, 2021 | 08:35 AM
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The very first thing that struck me as I drove my new 2021 GLS63 off the dealer lot was: “Wait, I thought I got the Acoustic Package”!
I did. It’s quite noisy inside, especially compared to my 2017 GLS63, and obviously the Bentayga.
It has Advan Sport tires, which I don’t think have the silencing foam.
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Old Jul 11, 2021 | 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by jbattan
The very first thing that struck me as I drove my new 2021 GLS63 off the dealer lot was: “Wait, I thought I got the Acoustic Package”!
I did. It’s quite noisy inside, especially compared to my 2017 GLS63, and obviously the Bentayga.
It has Advan Sport tires, which I don’t think have the silencing foam.
The 63 is meant to be loud, in fact, some of the loudness is speaker aided.
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Old Jul 11, 2021 | 11:36 AM
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I don't have the acoustic package and I find it reasonably quiet but not completely silent. Quieter than my ML diesel. I give a rating of 4 out of 5. I would have paid extra for a bit more silence but the acoustic package was not available in Canada. There is no significant engine noise and the exhaust note is louder under hard acceleration but not like the AMG. The exhaust is not adjustable even though it has 2 modes. I have the 22 inch Summer only Continentals which are very quiet and the 21 inch All season Michelin MOS which are equally quiet. Both tire sets are MB spec. I do hear a bit of a faint whine while coasting (radio and fan off) and it goes away while driving normally. I would normally attribute that to axle bearing noise but it is minor and very faint so I am monitoring that. I have not noticed any problem with the shift 2-4. I drive 95% highway. I prefer the sport mode for nice shifts but the shifts are much later even after you lift off the accelerator. I use Sport for around town or towing and ECO for highway driving.
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Old Jul 11, 2021 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by c4004matic
The 63 is meant to be loud, in fact, some of the loudness is speaker aided.
No, I don’t think so. Please cite your source.
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Old Jul 11, 2021 | 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by jbattan
No, I don’t think so. Please cite your source.
https://www.motor1.com/news/385329/m...rt-loud-sound/
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Old Jul 11, 2021 | 04:00 PM
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Yeah, that’s different, relying solely on the external variable exhaust flap positioning.
No artificial sound is created for Emotion Start.

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Old Jul 11, 2021 | 04:29 PM
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Originally Posted by jbattan
Yeah, that’s different, relying solely on the external variable exhaust flap positioning.
No artificial sound is created for Emotion Start.
I would love for any merc tech to "pipe in" 😁
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Old Jul 12, 2021 | 04:52 PM
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My GLS 450 is SUPER QUIET in any mode, unless I rev the engine or overtake another vehicle with a downshift.
I do have the acoustic package, which is one of the best options I got.

.
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Old Jul 15, 2021 | 10:55 AM
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450 here with the 21" wheels, no acoustic glass option. All is quiet for us, even more-so recently as I replaced the OE Pirelli tires to the Michelin Primacy tires that are NOT the MB code. Just regular Primacy tires. I didn't know what that MB code meant, have lots of experience with Primacy, and couldn't justify the cost difference. Now I know via this thread. Maybe next time, as this car tends to eat the rear tires inside of 30k miles. I'm at 26k already after 11 months of ownership. This one is going to see 200k+ for sure...

Yeah a little tire noise, but nothing out of the ordinary for a car in general. Certainly doesn't bother us. I don't know if we'd like to be completely isolated from the road and noise, to be honest. One of the things we never liked about our Toyota vehicles in the past (especially the two SUV's) was not feeling connected to the road very well. Couldn't tell what was going on until what was going on, was already going on. I like to hear a little, especially if I'm in the rain.

Last edited by nc211; Jul 15, 2021 at 10:58 AM.
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Old Jul 15, 2021 | 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by nc211
450 here with the 21" wheels, no acoustic glass option. All is quiet for us, even more-so recently as I replaced the OE Pirelli tires to the Michelin Primacy tires that are NOT the MB code. Just regular Primacy tires. I didn't know what that MB code meant, have lots of experience with Primacy, and couldn't justify the cost difference. Now I know via this thread. Maybe next time, as this car tends to eat the rear tires inside of 30k miles. I'm at 26k already after 11 months of ownership. This one is going to see 200k+ for sure...

Yeah a little tire noise, but nothing out of the ordinary for a car in general. Certainly doesn't bother us. I don't know if we'd like to be completely isolated from the road and noise, to be honest. One of the things we never liked about our Toyota vehicles in the past (especially the two SUV's) was not feeling connected to the road very well. Couldn't tell what was going on until what was going on, was already going on. I like to hear a little, especially if I'm in the rain.
Mercedes spec. gets you the MO designation but I don't know what the real difference is. MOS designation is the MO with the "S" acoustic option which has a sound deadening liner in the tire. Mercedes Canada recommend this MOS spec. now.
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Old Aug 3, 2021 | 09:35 PM
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GLS 450 2021
I didn’t know break in periods still exist… what is the breakin period on the GSL 450 and what do they limit?

QUOTE=wolds;8372617]There is some inherent clunkiness with the transmission I would say, just the nature of the components involved. It's only under a few specific conditions that can be mostly avoided I've found. One important note is that there is definitely a programmed break-in period and eco mode is weird during this time. The power falls flat after a certain throttle percentage is what it felt like to me. After break-in period eco mode actually gets a bit rowdy if you push it. Based on others preferences started here, I found a new preference for individual mode setting everything to sport except the engine mode (after break-in).

As far as acoustic package I just went for it knowing that if it's offered, it must have at least some difference but also because it adds the thermal tint layer. I do believe the thermal tint helps but it is no miracle in South Florida. Now that you describe how audible the exhaust is that confirms for me it must make a pretty big difference. I don't hear much from the exhaust and less from the engine. I remember another 580 owner with the package actually being upset that they couldn't hear the exhaust well enough.[/QUOTE]
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Old Aug 5, 2021 | 10:12 AM
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RPM was one obvious one, but I didn't make any point to test the limits or see what else was limited...no value in that for me. It lasted 1k miles or maybe less, I simply don't remember.
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