Hello all, I am one of the few lucky people who ordered in the beginning of 2021 and got my GLS63 in April. I didn't drive it much, until I got the PPF applied (even my wife was grousing about it sitting in the garage for 2 months since the PPF vendor was backlogged and the GLS63 came in 4 weeks earlier than originally planned). Here's my impression coming up to almost 8k total miles, a long road trip (SF<-->LA), and getting through the honeymoon period.

Summary: Good vehicle, great engine, annoying transmission and SW issues. Wish they paid more attention on the mfg line when they built it.

Engine: LOVE IT - can't describe the joy of driving after getting through the break-in period. It's the best part of the vehicle and always makes me smile romping on the gas pedal.
Pros: THE POWER
Cons: hard to really get it to stretch it's legs around town (or with my wife onboard), hella thirsy with fill-ups $100+ a time ($5/gallon super)

Transmission: I hate it. Shifting in Comfort mode is painful and choppy, especially with Auto Engine Off clumsiness. It's extremely difficult to be smooth coming up to stop signs or carefully going into parking spots. I finally found out putting the vehicle in Sport more or Individual with Sport engine/transmission gets rid of this.
Pros: uh.... Sport, Sport+ mode are best
Cons: Comfort mode is painful around town

Seats: The front seats are great, love the massage and heated/cooling features. Lots of ways to get comfortable. I got the macchiato (beige) Napa leather. This is now my wife's favorite vehicle for long road trips, since she can nap comfortably. The second row aren't that great, even with the Executive Rear seating option (massage, heating/cooling), as they lack lumbar controls. I had to buy a back/lumbar support pad for my daughter to handle the 6 hour trip to LA and my son says the seats in our 2015 Honda Odyseey are more comfortable, oof.
Pros: front seats are great for long trips, 3rd row comfy for what they are
Cons: 2nd row seats aren't great

NVH: We got acoustic comfort (worth every penny), with the standard 21" wheels. Ride is great and doesn't bother the arthitis in my back. It's a quiet, comfortable family hauler. On some of the recently repaved roads, you don't feel the speed at 80mph or hear the big trucks when traveling ~65mph. The biggest complaint is the (fake, via speakers?) engine noise intruding into the cabin, even at steady speeds.
Pros: Great place to watch the miles pass
Cons: Engine noise

Build quality: Ok, this is where I'm going to vent. If you pay $150k+ for a vehicle, you expect perfection. I didn't feel the $$ bought me perfection, just the engine. The leather on the driver's seat is crooked. Stitching on the dash is uneven, plastic pieces on the door handles don't line up and catch/cut your fingers, the chrome trim at the bottom of the 2nd row windows is off by 4-5mm from the 3rd row window trim, buttons in the trunk aren't aligned well to each other, buttons for seat cooling/heating move around a lot, the cabin ... and other nitpicks that annoy me. Overall the cabin is solid, but you can hear some loose things when hitting bumps.
Pros: Good overall build quality for vehicle complexity
Cons: Not up to $150k+ vehicle expectations

Electronics/technology: Love it. I was not a fan of the touchscreen or touchpad, but now when I jump into my wife's E300, I really miss it. Cameras are awesome, as is the AR overlay on the screen and HUD integration. Recently we're been having gremlins with Apple CarPlay and MBUX. Some UI issues: you swipe one way on the touchscreen but swipe the opposite direction on the touchpad, LOL.
Pros: overall works pretty well and am still learning new cool features the more I drive
Cons: "Hey Mercedes"... LOL

Thanks for reading through my list. Take care all.

PS. If someone knows how I could turn down/turn off the fake engine noise through the speakers, please let me know!

 

Thanks for the write-up. Couple of notes:

• If you have the Executive Rear Seat Plus package (which you do as you said they have heating/cooling and messaging) the rear seats' lumbar is controlled with the tablet.
• Stops can be less than smooth, although around town I'm almost always in Sport mode. I use comfort on the highway. If you prefer comfort settings outside the transmission, set that up in I mode and that may help a bunch. Shut off auto stop if it bothers you. I haven't figured out if the stop issue is transmission or regenerative braking (or both). It is not consistent for me
• Can't help you with the engine noise, and I'm not convinced much (or any) of it is fake. Previously, Mercedes has used a couple of build codes (U68, B63) for their engine sound generators. None of those are on the build sheet for the GLS 63. They may have just stuck it in as part of the sound system and not had a separate built code, but either way, the exhaust is not quiet on the car (nor should it be for an AMG). I find in comfort mode and exhaust in the quieter mode, it is pretty quiet and very quiet on the highway. I generally put the exhaust in power mode no matter what mode I'm in, but my other cars make as much or more noise than this, so we are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
• The swipes are stupid
• California gas prices are really stupid
• My build quality seems solid

 

My build quality is solid, and I am quite the nit picker. The engine noise is not fake. The acoustic comfort does not prevent the interior from being much louder than I am used to. The transmission is better than the MCT, but I really can’t wait until we have electric drive and don’t have to worry about that stupid thing. Hey Mercedes is laughably bad and 10X slower than Siri. I did a 240 mile jaunt yesterday and loved it.

 

I would think OP did indeed pay the $150 ... or the $60k extra .... for the engine and related performance upgrades.

GLS are mostly $85k vehicles and I don't much envision a 63 comes down the line in Alabama and the shop foreman announces, "hey guys and gals, let's build this one right." You get the same build quality as the base models.

So is the $60k worth it? Only the buyer can say .... I see used 63s on eBay right now for above their original MSRP

 

I did check the tablet on the 2nd row but didn't see anything for lumbar in the seat comfort screen - I'll check again later this week, as it might be in another screen. Glad to hear the engine/exhaust noise isn't being pumped in like I had heard from other places. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

Yeah, I’ve come to the same conclusion on the assembly line build quality, a bit disappointed but not a deal breaker. This is our first $100k+ vehicle so I wonder sometimes if the experiences in other makes ( Lexus, Audi, etc..) are different. Though the fact you just pointed out has me wary of paying that much money for a Grand Wagoneer or Escalade.


When I was looking for a GLS, I almost bought a GLS580 with the E-Active suspension. That might have been the best compromise but I couldn’t get over the floatiness in Comfort mode and insane power on the 63.

With the high resell values, I’m tempted to sell it and buy the new Land Rover - trading in some power for more peace and quiet. But my wife is an MB fan (on her 2nd) and loves their engineering over all, even Lexus/Toyota. Anyway, all first world problems.

Thanks for your reply.

 

$150k won't buy you precision. For example, all of the exposed plastic trim is basically the same average quality and finish as it is in my Mercedes Metris work van. This is a mass-produced vehicle on an assembly line.

 

Mine is around 8K miles as well. My sticker was around 150K. Overall I love the vehicle. Had mine tuned so it’s closer to 750 HP. It’s a beast. Also installed Renntech exhaust module. I have had no issues so far. I love the way it drives. They balanced handling and comfort very well imo. Few things was disappointed with one being no steering wheel heater mine has the AMG carbon fiber wheel.

Also not to change subject totally but the exhaust note is lame to me. I had 2019 S63 with same engine and it sounds sick. Not just louder but deeper and better note as well. The Renntech module opens valves all way over stock and is little louder at idle. Still wasn’t enough so I ordered the only muffler available Meisterschaft for 4000.00. If you want a more aggressive note and little more volume like me DO NOT waste your money on Meisterschaft. This thing sucks imo! It is quite a bit quieter than stock! Really doesn’t change note either maybe slightly throatier. I could not be more disappointed! It looks amazing but you never see unless it’s on a lift! It’s little lighter I guess. Will see if they will return but doubt they will being it’s welded in. I’m looking into down pipes now will get more power and finally get better note. I don’t want catless as can’t stand smell so looking at Super Sprint. They have ones that delete primary and or secondary cats. I did 200 Cell Capristo sport cats on my Ferrari 488 and made it louder and just sound insane. Stayed with stock muffler.

 

Appreciate the write up and second the comment build quality... going downhill.
Also, you are spot-on that it is an excellent road-tripper. I do not have any acoustic options but routinely getting 58-65dbs at 80 on the highway, it's pleasantly quiet and so much quieter (and comfier) than my neighbors Tesla.
Coming from an E63 I waffled on "going big" for the GLS and ultimately settled with the 450.
When I was shopping, the GLS was billed "the S glass of SUVs" which if you've been in or have an S class, the GLS is not and missing many S class standard features. The designers must have missed the day they toured the Sindelfingen plant in Germany.
A good friend of mine has the 2020 X5M Competition and I do think his seats are more comfy including the rear, he has wireless Apple Car play (this drives me crazy that i need to plug in) and the HUD is so much better. I've always been an MB fan (mostly sedans & coupes) but it feels like BMW gaining market share in SUVs.
Hey Mercedes does have some great dad jokes though..."Hey Mercedes, tell me something funny".. spoiler alert, she's slow.

 

Build quality is slipping, 2022 GLS, removed bumper and noticed clear coat runs, debris in the paint, shallow spots, flash hanging. Not the same MB quality it was years ago

 

American made.


Mine is in for a list of minor warranty issues after one year.
My Michelin Pilot Sport 4s tires FINALLY getting replaced after 13k miles! Unheard of... my last GL63 I was lucky to get 6k at most on summer continentals.
Brake Rotors replaced at 6k miles!! ridiculous. Pads barely worn. My guess something went on with the regenerative braking or lane keeping. Rears more worn (needed replacing) than front so replaced both. I do notice slow brake to stop MUCH smoother not and not as jerky as new off show floor. That is why I think something to do with regenerative braking.
Rattle 2nd Row
Parking Sensors go haywire at stop lights with nobody around etc etc...
Sunshade off the track

Fit and finish is not great. Natural wood trim doesn't match. VERY different colors from dash to doors.
Almost all seams on front seats (mostly noticeable from rear seat) full of puckers and poor sewing quility.
Entry/Exit inconsistent (seat and steering wheel)
Lower when entry or exit just stops working.

Wheel scars getting cleaned up too. The car is long. Valets have not been good to my wheels.
This car that needs rear wheel steering! Rare I can turn in to perpendicular parking spot without doing a 3 point.

 

This is spot on. GLS is no more than an extended GLE, same quirks, issues and level of inconsistencies. AMG adds the AMG piece but not different quality or attention than 80K GLE.

 

My first service at 8K included replacing all hub caps, which had flown off while driving (I recovered one that I heard fall off), and software updates for rough idle, park control unit sensors, self-parking, rear hatch hands-free access, active curve suspension recall, and rain sensor. Had an issue with not being able to lower the left rear seat, fixed after 30 minutes of tugging at it. They ended up having to replace the rear hatch motor. Replaced the steering wheel upon recommendation from Germany, but that didn’t fix the false positive hands-off indicator when disengaging Distronic+. Twice, Assyst recommended Service A, but then the message went away and it didn’t stay on until 9000 miles.