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2024 GLS 450 Windshield showing a metallic mesh with Acoustic Comfort Package
Hey all, this is my first post in MB World! My apologies if I am breaching the forum rules by not writing an introductory post first, but I think this issue is worth sharing asap since it might end up being a recall for 2024 GLE/GLS models with the Acoustic Comfort package. This is my second Mercedes vehicle after owning a 2019 GLC 300.
Two weeks ago I bought a brand new 2024 GLS 450 pretty loaded, pinnacle trim, acoustic comfort package, AMG exterior package, etc. A few days ago we noticed like a metallic mesh kind of structure being visible on the upper passenger side windshield, near the rear view mirror. This was not visible during the first week. I suspect that due to the heat where I live (South FL) maybe the windshield suffered some kind of damage and the layers split, making this internal mesh visible.
But this is where it gets more and more strange. I took my car to the dealer to get it checked out today. And I walked the showroom with the mechanic and we saw a 2024 GLE (acoustic package), brand new in the showroom, showing the same defect. So my dealer will create a case with MB and figure out why this is happening and hopefully order me a non defective windshield. It was interesting seeing a brand new car in the showroom showing this defect as well. If my hypothesis is right, maybe during transport to the dealer the car got exposed to a lot of heat and sunlight. Hopefully Mercedes does not come back with some BS explanation as if this is ok.
Has anyone had a similar defect on their windshield? Anyone knows what that metallic mesh is for? ( I suspect UV/IR protection?)
My 2024 GLS 450 with AMG Package Defect on upper passenger side of windshield looking from the inside. Looks like a metallic mesh very intense towards the center right of the windshield, and then fades away as it nears the rearview mirror. This was not visible during the first couple of days. Defect on upper passenger side of windshield looking from the inside. Windshield mesh seen from outside of the windshield 2024 GLE at my local dealer, garaged in their indoor showroom, showing the same issue as my car. I suspect that due to the sun during transport same thing as in my car happened.
It's a "cutout" from your acoustic glass in order for ezpass toll readers and radar to get proper radio wave signals thru your special laminated glass (inherent feature of the acoustic package). The mesh is to show the exact locations. It's in the manual.
Thanks for providing context on the reason, but it should not be visible like this. It was not visible during the first few days, and the mechanic from MB thinks that it should not be like that, since towards the center of the windshield you see how it fades away and the grid becomes transparent. I suspect the windshield layers separated thus making the inner layers more visible.
Thanks for providing context on the reason, but it should not be visible like this. It was not visible during the first few days, and the mechanic from MB thinks that it should not be like that, since towards the center of the windshield you see how it fades away and the grid becomes transparent. I suspect the windshield layers separated thus making the inner layers more visible.
Gotcha. Now I see what you mean. Sorry I'm sure it's hard to capture that fine detail with a camera phone. Yeah it should be nearly invisible unless you're up close mounting your hardware and then you can faintly see the very light small form grid pattern.
It's not a defect. All acoustic package vehicles have two patches like that where toll tag transponders have to be placed to work. That said, finding the mesh areas on my '21 GLE was difficult. I'm guessing that they tried to make that are more visible, but something went wrong in the process. This is what mine looks like:
yeah but yours looks transparent because the glass is sandwiched correctly.
Reiterating over some of the details of my orig post:
1. it was completely invisible the first few days. Now it obstructs your view from inside.
2. The center bottom patch is completely invisible, as it should be.
3. The first few days it was completely invisible and after sun exposure now its permanently visible. There is even a gradient from center to right until it is obviously visible to the naked eye
My point is that heat or something affected the glass and now it looks like literaly holding some window mesh in the glass, it obstructs your view. And the center patch did not had this. Moreover at the dealer we examined several cars with acoustic glass and only another 2024 model had it visible in the top. All other cars with acoustic glass did not show the patch from the inside. This is why I think there is a defect in these 2024 windshields.
Originally Posted by EWL5
I've seen that mesh in other cars (other than Benz) for the explicit purpose of easier pickup of the toll readers.
This is normal. Not sure if other manufacturers can do it better but the tech in these toll readers haven't changed in over a decade (if not more)?
Originally Posted by jtjbt20x
It's not a defect. All acoustic package vehicles have two patches like that where toll tag transponders have to be placed to work. That said, finding the mesh areas on my '21 GLE was difficult. I'm guessing that they tried to make that are more visible, but something went wrong in the process. This is what mine looks like:
yeah but yours looks transparent because the glass is sandwiched correctly.
Reiterating over some of the details of my orig post:
1. it was completely invisible the first few days. Now it obstructs your view from inside.
2. The center bottom patch is completely invisible, as it should be.
3. The first few days it was completely invisible and after sun exposure now its permanently visible. There is even a gradient from center to right until it is obviously visible to the naked eye
My point is that heat or something affected the glass and now it looks like literaly holding some window mesh in the glass, it obstructs your view. And the center patch did not had this. Moreover at the dealer we examined several cars with acoustic glass and only another 2024 model had it visible in the top. All other cars with acoustic glass did not show the patch from the inside. This is why I think there is a defect in these 2024 windshields.
Understood. Hopefully you get a resolution. Now I'm wondering if I had acoustic glass in my older GL450 since that mesh pattern was pretty prominent.
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