So, we finally got a great offer on my wife's 2022 X7 M50i fully loaded .The MB dealer gave us the number we've been asking for.

For trade in, he has a nicely equipped MB GLS 450 with a lots of options.

Can you all help me with the decision, should I keep my X7 M50i or get the GLS 450? What do you all think of the vehicle, what things should I look for or be aware of that may change my final decision?

 

The GLS580 is a better comparison with the engines.
There will be a noticeable dip in power going to the 450.
The 450 isn't underpowered but you will notice it then you hit the pedal to pass.
I like the GLS more, I think it is more comfortable.
You really need to get the 450 on the freeway and decide yourself.
Im debating a GLS580 or 63 right now (coming out of a 18 G63)

 

My X7 is the gigantic powerful M-power V8 engine on the X7 M50i. While appreciate the power, it is just not a big deal for me as long as the vehicle pulls itself just fine. I don't push or drive fast. I am more interested in the vehicle to vehicle comparison. X7 is a very nice SUV, I do not want to downgrade if GLS is not as nice or reliable.

 

I have a few friends with the X7 (and other models of BMW). Nice cars, no doubt about it. Probably drive a bit better than the MB in terms of fun and power delivery. But my personal option only - I think the Merc's have a nicer and more relaxing and "chill' interior that holds its appeal for longer. Not saying the BMW isn't exceptionally nice too, because it is, but just in a different more modern way. It's like trying to compare an iPhone to the Samsung. The Samsung is probably a bit more cutting edge on widgets and gadgets, but the iPhone is a bit more refined, in my opinion.

It's really up to you though and what your personal preferences are. Me? I'm rounding the corner to 50 now, and would rather wear a Seiko than an iWatch. I want to motor along in what fits my own personal preference of style the most. In that regard, to each is their own.

We've not had any major problems with our 2020. Eats rear tires (staggered 21' rim setup) every 25k miles, a couple of minor fitment issues due to it being a 2020 and built in the middle of the pandemic, easy fixes or soon to be easy fixes. It hasn't asked anything of us, now over 50k on the clock. It's been excellent.

We definitely have far more X7's roaming around my area of the rock than we do GLS's, that's for sure. Not sure if that's an inventory thing, or preference thing. But you do notice the GLS's at the stop light when you see one, whereas the X7 kind of blends in now a bit.


Ours is the 450, and have 0% complaints about the power. It's plenty. Nobody is going to track a beast like that anyway. If 6 seconds isn't fast enough to 60 for you, then we probably speak a different language when it comes to driving styles in general. But when I do need to get it going, it goes very well. I don't think you need a twin turbo V8 in this car at all. Would be nice, no doubt about it, but not needed by any means, in my opinion.

 

It sounds like the message is (conservative) in terms of the GLS 450 vs BMW M50i here. BMW forums are like, heck no BMW X7 is levels better than GLS. It makes me wonder if we should just keep our X7 based on that. But I still would love to hear from others too to collect as much feedback are possible.

 

GLS is roomier. It is wider and longer than the X7. I recently sold a used X7 50i to a customer and while it was plenty fast I thought the GLS had a nicer interior and was more comfortable.

 

First ? Why are you thinking of selling the X7?

To me the GLS is more plush/comfortable especially for road trips.

Both are great cars with pros and cons.

You just have to decide which you like more.

 

No reason for selling. I just have that OCD thing that keeps pushing me to the next vehicle once I reach the 9 months mark of ownership with almost any vehicle, lol.

 

It always seems a bit "quieter" in this forum than over at other BMW X7 forums. It seems BMW owners might be more passionate about the vehicles as there a lot of posts on X7 and multiple forum websites. Alternatively, maybe MB owners just don't spend as much time on the forums in general - just my take on it.

We've taken both the GLS450 and X7 on 1,000 mile round trips (thank you Sixt Rental for carrying these vehicles for road tests!!!) bringing and returning one of our kids to/from college and going to football games. We have 3 college age kids at 6' (our daughter!) and 6'3 and 6'4 for our boys. All were quite comfortable in the GLS whereas the X7 wasn't great for them in the back.

On the other hand, we'll be empty nesters soon and it'll be rare to have our tall kids in back. For both vehicles, we love the ride for long trips. I think my wife and I were a bit more comfortable in front in the GLS vs X7. It also seems the X7s have a bit more tech features though the new operating system seems a bit cumbersome and I would miss physical buttons for climate control, seat heaters and things like that which have been removed on the X7.

Our biggest concern is which car will be better in terms of maintenance, maintenance costs and reliability. We've always had Lexus vehicles and basically just do oil changes and tires - never a problem. The new LX isn't right for us and we're curious about the upcoming Lexus TX that should be arriving this Fall.

Any of you have had both BMW and MB and how has your experience been with the dealership service team, maintenance expenses and overall vehicle reliability?

 

I've had both, Mercedes in the past, and now my entire fleet in my garage are BMWs (BMW 530e PHEV, X7 and 4-series). I had in the past a W222 that I LOVED SO MUCH!. The dealership experience at Mercedes is WAY MUCH better than BMW, but when I spend that much money on a car I try to believe that I should not care about the dealer as I should rarely need them for maintenance or help, and I just assume that should not be a huge factor to count on for that purpose. We really don't have a very solid convincing reason to trade in our X7, other than just me as usual looking to swap vehicles every year (not a good practice, but life is short, and why not enjoy it if it comes at the right sale/buy number). I negotiate very well and always leave the dealership without keys same day, and come back to push again the next day. Usually gets me at least 3-4K more on each deal that way in exchange to a hotel room reservation with family in case we end up driving to a different state/city to check the next car. I am not very excited about this X7 to GLS switch unless it comes at the right number and I feel they need to discount another 1-2K to convince me. But am also interested in feedback from folks over here on the X7 vs GLS topic. I hate to switch to a lesser vehicle or it's equal, always looking to switching to the better car especially since am I am willing few grands maximum (like 1-3K only, otherwise am out).

 

If there was simply a right answer then they would not both exist.
Personally I hate the ride and infotainment system of the X7 and find it butt fugly but there are plenty of them on the road so clearly not everyone holds the same opinion.

 

Yeah but I would say that the X7 without the Dynamic Handling Package, it drives like crap, but the Dynamic Handling Packages makes the vehicle drives like a dream.

 

Its all personal preference. To debate them is like debating between dark hardwood floors or light hardwood floors when both are oak. I consider the BMW as dark hardwood floors, and the MB as light hardwood floors. I like light hardwood floors.

none of us can convince you otherwise, its what you and only you want. However, in no terms is the GLS a “discount” to the X7, and to assume so is a mistake.

 

They are both very equivalent and really the biggest differentiator is style. Which do you like better?

I did not like the exterior look of the GLS until they offered the AMG night package on the 450. Now with an emerald green with AMG night package + spoiler, I get stopped and complemented daily. Car is stunning. If the offer was a basic GLS with chrome trim and plastic wheel arches, I would prefer the X7. GLS interior is a clear winner though.

If you want an upgrade, why not get the new Range Rover?

 

Just came back after a test-driving the GLS.

Initial impressions:
- As a former S-class owner, I was shocked how tough and rough the GLS on the ground. Even compared to our X7 with DHP, the gls radiated all the road pot holes in a way that X7 handles 100 times better. I know most people said the GLS might be better in comfort, but my experience is the complete opposite. Just 1 min after the drive, my wife said no to the GLS and prefer to keep her X7 instead
- Even though the leather is the standard one, the very large texture made the leather feels cheap. Also the door armrest seems cheaper and had an indent from the former owner arm, which is not a good sign.
- The headup display feels like cheap projection on the windshield. The X7 is way more refined. The GLS headup feels like it is just a cheap reflection wherein the X7 headup makes you feel it is part of a true screen on the windshield
- The GLS ride is higher which was the only positive sign. The screens look sharp and nice but the BMW dirive (I think() at least look better. Did not have time to try the GLS software but I have the experience anyway from my previous S-class W222.
- The i6 on the GLS actually drives really nice and has good torque and power, but the transmission (as usual) sucks compared to BMW.
- The major disappointment was theh way the GLS handled pot-holes.
- My wife saw a couple e-class that she loved. Kinda crazy cause she never wanted to downgrade from 3-row SUV to 2-row SUV which is why she is not taking my offer to get her the X5 HPEV, but now she likes the E-class couple!. Brand new, the e-class is within our budget. I advised her to wait until tomorrow/monday before making an emotional decision, and I was glad we left the dealership with her X7 2022 keys in hand!. The dealer really wanted the X7 but I really think it is better than all option available at that time.
- We took a quick look at the EQS SUV, they had 3 available, I was surprised how small it feels in person (not sure about exact dimensions though). Did not like the front, though the rear is nice and interior leather is awesome.

 

I own a 2020 GLS 450 (Black/Expresso) and 2021 BMW X7 xDrive40i (Phytonic Blue/Cognac). Both have second row bench seating to better accommodate adult passengers, grandkids and car seats. Both are very nice vehicles to drive, but with different characteristics.

The GLS is slightly larger, heavier, taller and has more cargo space behind the third row seats. Interestingly, it has a smaller turning radius. It also has more second and third row leg and hip room. The GLS feels heavier and is subjectively quieter on the road, but paradoxically the steering is lighter and the steering has noticeably stronger automatic centering force. The X7 has quicker throttle response, sharper steering and less body lean owing to a tighter suspension, though auto/stop start is not quite a smooth as the GLS. I believe it is fair to say that the GLS and X7 are mostly true to their brand identities: the former is a more of a luxurious cruiser and latter is more of an athletic cruiser, though both have nearly the same straight line acceleration in Sport Mode.

Our GLS has 20" wheels and would likely have crisper handling with 21" wheels and sport tires, which might slightly stiffen the ride quality. (If you live in the snow belt, think twice before getting 22" wheels.) Both have averaged 20 mpg in mostly suburban driving conditions and get about 25 mpg at 75 mph on the Interstate Highway. I prefer the X7 for local travel and the GLS for longer trips. I've owed V-Series Cadillacs and Corvettes so the crisp handling of the X7 is a faint reprise of that experience.

I prefer the infotainment system on the GLS, especially the instrument panel section. The graphics, colors, customization options and themes are excellent and the twin displays are bright and highly legible. The miniature touch pads on the steering wheel can be awkward to learn how to use, but with patience and practice they work well.

I dislike the GLS console touchpad and disabled it. It has been around for many years (before the touch screen) and is probably beloved by long-time M-B owners. A recent trade report said that it may be eliminated for the 2024 model year. The GLS has several redundant mechanical buttons, which I occasionally use for HVAC settings. Incidentally, the 2023 X7 has an upgraded infotainment display panel with iDrive8, which may close the gap with the GLS MBUX system. Unfortunately, BMW has eliminated the redundant mechanical buttons for control of HVAC.

As for maintenance and reliability the 2020 GLS has had 20 safety recalls. About half of those have been limited to a small number of vehicles and several were remedied by automatic over the air firmware/software downloads. Presumably, quality control has improved since the 2020 model year, though there are continuing reports of defects in the 48 volt electrical system (particularly the 2021 model year) and class action lawsuits related thereto. I had to return the GLS to the dealer for safety recall service on four occasions. Also, a vacuum pump in the fuel evaporation system failed and the OEM Cooper tires wore out in just 12,000 miles.

No safety recalls have affected our X7 and a tail gate lift failed under warranty. Maintenance service is free for 3 years on the X7, but runs hundreds a year on the GLS.

So there are a few opinions and objective observations for what it's worth. Good luck with your decision.

 

I don't own either of these, but I am currently in the market for one potentially to replace our Chrysler Pacifica minivan. To me the space and your need for it plays a huge role. The GLS is considerably bigger inside with more room in the second and third rows, and more room behind the third row. Seeing that it would replace a minivan, and I have two kids and a golden retriever plus a 75 year old mother that travels with us some, we need that additional space so for our use, the GLS would be the clear winner. Although, I have to admit I am tempted by something like a Kia Telluride for 1/2 the cost that has the same interior room in a vehicle 10 inches shorter.

We are 100% CarPlay users, so MB's implementation of CarPlay in the GLS and GLE is a huge downside, and may be a deal breaker. I really hope the 2024 refresh solves this. I prefer Mercedes' approach to the gauge cluster, I like regular gauges and I love that MB lets me have both, all the gauge options in the new X7 are pretty abstract. The rest of the infotainment to me is a wash, understanding that I have not driven a refresh X7 but I did play with the new infotainment in the new 7 series.

I think they both ride and drive great, the GLS feels bigger and a little more ponderous, the X7 is a little more buttoned up. sounds like your test drive was a used one? What size wheels and what were the tires aired to? Coming from my S Class I felt the GLS rode very well. Not as well for sure.

Styling, I think with the AMG Package the GLS looks better. Non AMG, the X7 looks better.

The X7 is considerably cheaper, optioned to my satisfaction about $8-10k cheaper. Pretty normal with BMW vs MB.

If I was driving it around every day as my car, I think I would choose the X7. For the purpose of it being the family car and a road trip car, I think I would choose the GLS. If I had a nice 2022 V8 X7 I was happy with no way I would trade it on a GLS, certainly not a 450.

 

I am going to look at an XB7 tomorrow.

 

DesertGolfer: Great unbiased comparison as only an owner of both the GLS and X7 could provide. Does the X7 go through tires as fast as the GLS does? Thanks!

 

The GLS had 21" wheels and same for my X7 M50i. My X7 has the Dynamic Handling Package, and I don't know if that is the reason the drive was really superior in the X7 on the comfort size. I agree that a regular X7 would lose to the GLS, but the X7 with Dynamic Handling Package (which is very common on the X7 and cheap to option) wins hands down compared to GLS. The ride quality difference was very apparent to be honest. Don't get me wrong, the GLS drives really nice, but did not absorb road imperfections as well as the X7 with dynamic handling package. The room for 2nd row and 3rd row is not a big deal for me, both are really spacious and the difference is really not that significant. X7 has a lot of forward-backward adjustment for 2nd row seat that can change the ratio between 2nd to 3rd row spacing significantly. It is not like those who are used to X7 will find the extra few inched like a life saver in GLS, or that who are used to ride the GLS will find losing coupled inches in the X7 like a huge problem (my point is: both are similarly size so I left that out of our comparison to make the decision). Just my feedback. Last point, the carplay on GLS is a huge dissapointment.

Couple questions:
1. The X7 has Dynamic handling package (DHP), does the GLS come with an equivalent system to make the ride as good as X7 with DHP?
2. X7 has ambient air package perfume, does the GLS come with something similar?
3. X7 has 3 tiers sound systems, highest being B&W which is common on many X7 and sounds great, does the GLS come with any upgraded sound system than it's standard one?

#2 above is not important, but #1 and 3 are really critical otherwise GLS will continue to feel a downgrade for those daily use packages.... Trying to understand the GLS configurations better because BMWUSA website is limited in options now.

 

This depends on your use case, for me I'm coming from a minivan, so I'm accepting a big interior volume reduction in any SUV/crossover other than a Suburban. The difference in space in the third row is huge if you need to transport adults back there, and the difference in cargo area behind the third row is huge if you need to travel with all three rows up, which we do. To me, if I didn't need the space I wouldn't look at either of these...

eABC suspension. Hard to find because of chip shortages, I believe it has to be a 580.

Yes, Mercedes invented that lol. Air Balance package.

Yes, the Burmester High End system, but supply chain issues have limited it and I believe you have to get the 580 to get it. B&W in the X7 is better than the base Burmester, but the Burmester High End is better than the B&W.

 

@SW20S Yeah I can see now. It is nearly impossible to find 2020+ GLS with all these options that am looking for, which I already have on the X7, and that is making the switch for me even harder.

I am looking at 560e S-class PHEV, and I have had W222 before. and thinking of that as an option for us. I posted in the W222 forum to seek feedback for the 2nd time about S 560e PHEV as an option instead of the S 580

 

Really hard to find a 560e…

 

No, but the X7 has only 8K miles split evenly between a set of OEM Bridgestone all-season tires and Blizzak winter tires. Consequently there is not enough wear to fairly project an estimate of final mileage. Also, I replaced the OEM Cooper tires on the GLS with Michelin Primacy. Based on tread wear thus far the Michelins should last for at least 25,000 miles or more than double the garbage Cooper tires. FYI, there are a couple of threads on this forum regarding the Cooper tires.

 

I've found the difference in space in the second row and third row pretty signficant between the two cars, the GLS feels cavernous to me vs the X7 which seems more like a three row GLE, but both are quite large and comfortable.

Air balance package is not so difficult to find, especially on a 580. E-ABC and high end audio are very difficult to find and would need a 2022 or newer, as I think they were quietly discontinued for the 2023 model year. Even then, would be easiest to find on a 2020 MY. Just would have to be careful it's not a pre pro car, where they're the most common but the risk of reliability problems are higher. E-ABC and high end audio are definitely more rare on the GLS then DHP and B&W are on the X7, though I wouldn't exactly call them common on the X7.

The Benz doesn't have a base audio system on the GLS. The standard Burmester is equivilent to the HK on the X7.