Young04

Hey all,

I am coming from a 2020 BMW X7 and I am strongly considering replacing it with a GLS. Couple questions I could not find the answers to:

- Does the 2024 GLS have keyless entry sensors on all four doors (can you lock and unlock by touching the handle of the back doors)? With the 2023 X7 (LCI), they removed the sensors from the back doors.
- Is the headliner microfiber? It seems to have been an option on the 2023 model but I do not see it on the 2024 order guide.

wildta

Yes to #1. Not sure about #2.

DesertGolfer

My 2024 GLS 450 MSRP invoice lists 58U Crystal Grey Headliner as a no cost option. Though listed under options, it was not an option in the GLS 450 order guide and is presumably coordinated with upholstery color selection. My GLS has Bahia Brown upholstery. The material is not a faux suede microfiber like Alcantara, but rather a textured synthetic fabric with a cross-hatched pattern.

450Benz123

How come you aren't going with a new X7?

EWL5

Probably because of the possible issues w/AC power and current epidemic of brake booster failures (I can definitely see a class-action lawsuit for this one).
Quite a bit of buyers are still waiting for their X7s due to a Stop Sale.

Young04

Can't walk between captain's chairs into the third row, lack of space behind the third row and just a lot of weenie cost cutting moves BMW incorporated into their LCI model. I am a sucker for nice leather in cars though and this is one area where the MB trails the BMW.

DesertGolfer

Unfortunately, all auto manufacturers have reliability issues and Mercedes has had its fair share of defects and safety recalls, ranking average or lower in the industry. While BMW has an air bag recall for 2000 X series models and stop-sale order for the 2024 X7, Mercedes is currently recalling 143,000 2021-2023 models for a fuel pump defect, including the GLS 450/580.

I hope that after four years of production experience and warranty claims analysis that Mercedes has fixed the numerous issues with the X167 platform and my 2024 GLS 450 will be reliable over the long run. I also own a 2021 BMW X7 and it has no safety recalls and a defective tail gate lift was replaced under warranty. Both are among the very best in their class, but when they break, it's no fun.

wamochi

i went from a GL550 for 9 years (X166) to a 22 X7 M50i and am pretty happy with that move. at that time MB suspended V8 GLS models and the markups on the cars was insane.

anyway, i am a sucker for nice leather too and the standard MB leather really does not look great anymore like it did 10 years ago. definitely spring for the exclusive nappa if that bothers you. it's gorgeous and feels and looks buttery smooth, similar to the merino in the X7.

the lack of space between captains chairs in the X7 sucks but i did see one post where the owner removed the arm handles and that made it a lot better. i have yet to do that since i rarely use the 3rd row, but it is a good solution if you plan on hauling carpools around! the arm handles in the GLS are super flimsy and look cheap, they wiggle quite a bit too. i test drove a CPO 580 so i could decide if i wanted to order one, and the armrest was basically broken.

the GLS is definitely bigger though and i prefer that in some ways. i can see myself going back to the GLS in 7-8 years now that they've finally put the wireless carplay in and made it full screen.

Young04

I removed the armrests when the kids were in car seats but it's kinda weird without them there now that they are out of car seats. Weird design choice by BMW especially since their power seats are so slow to get out of the way.

As to the nappa leather - I'm sure it is nice, but only color available seems to be black. Plus I don't think there is leather on the lower dash and by the door cards like there is for the full merino leather package for the X7.

BenjaminKohl

The Nappa is very nice, but the lack of color is annoying. Option U38 nappa dash and door trim makes the lower dash genuine nappa, but the lower door cards remain plastic unfortunately. That option was only on 2020s and 2024s, nit 2021-2023 models.

BenjaminKohl

The Nappa is very nice, but the lack of color is annoying. Option U38 nappa dash and door trim makes the lower dash genuine nappa, but the lower door cards remain plastic unfortunately. That option was only on 2020s and 2024s, nit 2021-2023 models.

SW20S

They wouldn't even let me drive a new X7 the other day because of the stop sale

EWL5

It's not just X7's. BMW is making customers wait for their best-selling X3s!

classic_erik

I also have an 2023 X7 (LCI) with captains chairs and initially thought trying to walk between the 2nd row into the 3rd would be a hassle but it's not that bad. We only have booster seats on the captains chairs so we can move them forward to access the first row but my kids still find ways to crawl back there through the middle. Give the X7 another look once the stop sale ends!

SW20S

For me it wouldn't be a big deal since the third row would rarely get used, but our dog couldn't get between the second row seats in the X7 so that disqualifies it as a family vehicle.