@BenjaminKohl Yeah I remember that Burmester on my previous W222 was awesome, probably even better than HK (i liked the sound depth and clarity). I think the B&W is just a tiny bit better than standard Burmester sound system, but I would certainly be happy with standard Burmester even if I could not find Burmester 3D.

Question, does the E-ABC on the Mercedes really worth looking for? Is there any reliability issues down the road? Does it make the car drives (much) better? The DHP on the X7 is cheap and truly easy and very common to find (standard on X7 M50i) but the DHP on the X& makes a HUGE difference in ride quality. How about Mercedes? Is it as much different, or would a a vehicle that has no E-ABS drives nearly just as good?

 

The 20 GLS450 I bought in November has both the Burmester 3D and E-ABC. Sound system is fantastic. The thing I notice the most is hearing the individual instruments.

As to the E-ABC system, I am not fully sold on it. There are a couple of spots on interstate exits where the roadway meets a bridge at such an angle that a big bounce at any speed results. With the GLS I get a small bump. However, on generally rough pavement, I really don’t notice any improvement over our other vehicles. I will admit that this is my first experience with the E-ABC system and, after reading about it, my expectations are very high….maybe too high.

 

How far down the road you looking? You keep your cars for 9 months 🤣

 

I drove a GLS580 today, there isn't a GLS63 local to test.
I was pretty disappointed with the ride to be honest. While it was more comfortable than my G63 I think my old LX470 with the air suspension was more comfortable of a ride.
I really liked the XB7 I checked out, despite them saying they'd give me the night to think it over I got a call that it sold.

 

@S_W222 As some have said, comparing your X7 M50i to a GLS450 is not very "apples to apples". Many of the "higher end luxuries" like air ambience package, upper Burmester sound system, etc. can more likely be found on GLS580 models. These last couple of weeks, I've been cross-shopping the '23 GLS450 against the '24 X7 40i and have seen nearly every build under the sun and the nicer packages like B&W audio are rare even on the M60i, let alone the 40i. Seems like you already decided a while ago to stick with your current X7 which is financially sound and the heart wants what the heart wants!

Here are some of my observed additional differences b/w GLS450 and X7:

X7
- Uses USB-A for possible music playback from a thumbdrive. I confirm discrete audio from MCH FLAC files is possible on the HK system.
- No spare tire as RFTs are standard
- With the third row up, the trunk had me wondering why I'm not also considering the Q7, which has similar interior dimensions (I know, the horror)!
- Not the nicest looking grille w/o the M Sport package.
- Very hard to find builds w/running boards on lots.
- Easier to find builds w/packages you want on lots.
- Most physical controls are gone. '24 models can be upgraded to iDrive 8.5 this summer.
- Semi-autonomous driving up to 85 mph (prior model limited to 40 mph).

GLS450
- Uses USB-C for possible music playback from a thumbdrive (I had to buy a new USB-C thumbdrive to hear my tunes on the test drive). I confirm discrete audio from MCH FLAC files is possible on the base Burmester system.
- Spare tire is included.
- Even more trunk space than my current '16 GL450.
- The GLS450 looks great even w/o any AMG package.
- Very easy to find builds w/running boards on lots.
- Harder to find everything you like since simple things like HUD is not part of a package and typically is a special order. Mercedes really likes "a la carte"!
- Physical buttons still there ('23 models are the bitter end of this, I guess).

If not having a spare tire is not a big deal, then why are there hundreds of posts on this in Bimmerpost?!!!

I'm giving a pass on the '24 GLS450 since I absolutely can't deal with the steering wheel w/capacitive buttons and fewer physical controls (despite the more powerful base engine).

My 2 cents!

 

Thank you very very much guys. I decided to delay the switch to GLS but I also sold my X7. I decided to jump to a fully loaded MB S-class S560 facelift with nearly every single option from factory minus refrigerator with MSRP ~160K, bought it pre-owned from a private owner. For the SUV, I settled on a fully loaded BMW X5 40i to fit the budget of having both the S-class and X5.

Each time I see a GLS on the road, I love it. But for now, the S-class S560 with the X5 40i are working really well for me. I want the GLS to be my next SUV but honestly the new LCI X7 is also very enticing, so I might also consider those once there are a few pre-owned options on that market that have already depreciated.

 

Congrats and keep us posted!

Can I assume your '22 X7 already had iDrive 8 w/no physical buttons or did you actually have iDrive 7?

 

"- No spare tire as RFTs are standard"
FYI, to clarify wheel and tire options, the 2024 (also 23, 22, 21 MY) BMW X7 xDrive 40i is available with 21" or 23" non run-flat tires (limited to one wheel option for each size) with a compact spare included at no additional charge.

 

Understood. I'm talking primarily about what's in the wild and what I can take off the lot (not a custom build as I personally don't want to wait).

 

Just as fyi, not all GLS' have spare. My 2020 has the high end Burmester system, and part of the spare tire area is taken up by an amp and a subwoofer. Spare replaced by a MB Tirefit kit.

 

Good to know! I'd only be getting the basic Burmester so I think I'm safe!

 

I also meant to mention re the USB-C, that the first thing my salesmen did when we got in the vehicle was go back to his office and get a USB-A to USB-C adapter telling me I'm going to need this. And he was right.

 

I ended up going to get a thumbdrive that has USB-A on one end and USB-C on the other end (whichever end you don't use is "covered"). It's got 256GB storage and probably the largest stick in the house! No adapter needed!

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk...?skuId=6421486

 

Not having a spare doesn't bother me. Neither of my cars have spares!

 

To answer your question, the 2022 X7's have the iDrive 7; iDrive 8 is on the 2023 and later X7's model years, dubbed the "G07 LCI."

 

Thank you!

My point to @S_W222 is that any new X7 he gets these days will have much fewer physical buttons compared to what he was used to on the '22 X7 (same reason I didn't wait for '24 GLS).

 

Looks like they are doing that so you have to keep on paying manufacturer for the feature even though the hardware (minus the physical button) is on every vehicle.

 

24 GLS control interfaces are the same, only difference is touch capacative controls on the steering wheel in the same layout.

 

You're right. Latest pics of the interior show the buttons are still there!

 

are you suggesting the subscription expense I keep hearing about from BMW? For instance, you have to subscribe to have your heated seats work, which is the one I heard about not too long ago. Not sure if true, but if it is, then no BMW for me. I refuse to pay a monthly fee for an option to work. Especially when I’m spending in excess of $80k to buy the car itself!

 

I have an X3 and features for the most part are free.

It was Mercedes that was in the news asking customers to pay for unlocking additional HP in cars!
https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a4...re-horsepower/

 

Looks like BMW does this in some countries. In the US, the subscription elements seem to be similar between MB and BMW - remote start, location, map updates, etc.

BMW heated seat subscription not in U.S. | verifythis.com

 

It was in Korea but anyways, you can buy a lifetime/one-time purchase if don't want to pay monthly, I believe it is the same as buying it outright by optioning it in the past. So ya, as you can tell the hardware is there limited by software for those who didn't purchase it from the start. Various debates on pros and cons on this, the main pro is activate it when you actually need it and/or activate it if you are buying used and previous owner didn't option.
Main pro for these car companies is that it helps to reduce production cost by having less variants of a model.