GLS Class (X167) Produced 2020 to present

Brake HOLD feature

Old Apr 4, 2024 | 11:23 AM
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Brake HOLD feature

I could've sworn when I bought my 2024 GLS 450 in December that I had tested to see if the vehicle had the "golf cart" brake feature for red lights, etc. and it didn't.

This week I accidentally pressed down on the brake pedal strongly and I see the word HOLD next to the fuel level on the dash, and the car doesn't move. Golf cart braking...

Was this done via some software update or is this a feature I thought I checked for but am losing my mind?
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Old Apr 4, 2024 | 01:09 PM
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It's always been there. It's a staple feature of all MB models. Some people have a bit of trouble at first to make it work.
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Old Apr 5, 2024 | 10:43 AM
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It's been a feature for years. But it's unlike most every other manufacturer's auto hold, in that it requires an extra push of the pedal to activate it, whereas the others just apply it automatically when you come to a stop. I dislike having to look at the dash to see if it's activated before removing my foot from the pedal.
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Old Apr 5, 2024 | 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by jbattan
It's been a feature for years. But it's unlike most every other manufacturer's auto hold, in that it requires an extra push of the pedal to activate it, whereas the others just apply it automatically when you come to a stop. I dislike having to look at the dash to see if it's activated before removing my foot from the pedal.
I actually prefer Mercedes' "on demand Brake Hold" method compared to other manufacturers.
Acura - button to activate/disable. Doesn't persist into the next restart of car.
BMW - button to activate/disable. Does persist until turned off. I've had my X3 start groaning because I forgot it was activated when entering a car wash!
Mercedes - activates when pushing brakes firmly a 2nd time. Disables when you hit the gas pedal. I prefer this method because I would never have it active when entering a car wash (ever)!
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Old Apr 5, 2024 | 11:23 AM
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Mercedes does it backwards. Brake hold should be automatic and engine stop should require a push. This is how other cars do it.
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Old Apr 5, 2024 | 11:59 AM
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Now that Mercedes has a Car Wash mode, that could disable brake hold in addition to the other 10 things it handles.
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Old Apr 5, 2024 | 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by jbattan
It's been a feature for years. But it's unlike most every other manufacturer's auto hold, in that it requires an extra push of the pedal to activate it, whereas the others just apply it automatically when you come to a stop. I dislike having to look at the dash to see if it's activated before removing my foot from the pedal.
Porsche and Mercedes do it this way. Personally much prefer it, because I have full control over it with my foot. I can decide at every stop if I wanna hold or just stay on the brake pedal and I can release it at any moment by pushing in the brake pedal again. The ones that engage automatically will always engage once activated. I've driven those. For example if you wanna creep forward in them, you have to step on the throttle or temporarily deactivate the hold via the button and then remember to turn it back on. With the Porsche and Mercedes approach I can just release it with my foot and let the car creep forward, then reengage it or just stay on the brake if traffic is about to move.
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Old Apr 5, 2024 | 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by darlop
Mercedes does it backwards. Brake hold should be automatic and engine stop should require a push. This is how other cars do it.
In the example I gave, at least 2 other car makes require a button push at least once to activate Brake Hold...
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Old Apr 5, 2024 | 01:28 PM
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Originally Posted by jbattan
Now that Mercedes has a Car Wash mode, that could disable brake hold in addition to the other 10 things it handles.
To be honest, I can't ever imagine someone engaging Brake Hold on purpose when the Mercedes is sitting on the conveyor belt. Any push of the gas pedal to get onto the conveyor belt automatically disengages Brake Hold!
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Old Apr 5, 2024 | 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by jbattan
Now that Mercedes has a Car Wash mode, that could disable brake hold in addition to the other 10 things it handles.
Very few models have the car wash mode. HOLD predates it and is still a feature on cars that don't have the car wash mode.
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Old Apr 5, 2024 | 03:16 PM
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Originally Posted by darlop
Mercedes does it backwards. Brake hold should be automatic and engine stop should require a push. This is how other cars do it.
I disagree.
I do not want anybody activating my brakes without my permission.

You may be talking about Hill Hold, which is different. I miss it from my earlier Mercedes cars.

But I definitely like their application of the Hold function.

Different strokes.....
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Old Apr 6, 2024 | 11:31 AM
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Originally Posted by EWL5
I actually prefer Mercedes' "on demand Brake Hold" method compared to other manufacturers.
Acura - button to activate/disable. Doesn't persist into the next restart of car.
BMW - button to activate/disable. Does persist until turned off. I've had my X3 start groaning because I forgot it was activated when entering a car wash!
Mercedes - activates when pushing brakes firmly a 2nd time. Disables when you hit the gas pedal. I prefer this method because I would never have it active when entering a car wash (ever)!
My Lexus cars had it work like Acura, and when I first got the S560 I found having to stab the brake pedal really annoying. Yesterday I test drove and brought home a new BMW i7 and had brake hold activated. My 2 car garage is small and I back into it, I was checking to see if the i7 fit (it does) and the brake hold having to be deactivated was really annoying, so I prefer the MB method after getting used to it.

Originally Posted by darlop
Mercedes does it backwards. Brake hold should be automatic and engine stop should require a push. This is how other cars do it.
I can't think of any car that requires you to activate engine stop start. Its on by default for a reason, to get the best EPA fuel economy figures.
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Old Apr 7, 2024 | 08:10 AM
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I've got it on my '22 GLS 450 and love it. No more tired foot at long red lights!
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Old Apr 10, 2024 | 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by SW20S

I can't think of any car that requires you to activate engine stop start. Its on by default for a reason, to get the best EPA fuel economy figures.
Honda
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Old Apr 10, 2024 | 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by mikapen
I disagree.
I do not want anybody activating my brakes without my permission.
I much prefer that to having somebody turn off my engine without my permission.

The 2024 auto stop is so aggressive that it turns the car off when its still moving. And then there is a huge delay to get going again. Its insane and probably putting a ton of wear on the engine for absolutely ZERO benefit.
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Old Apr 10, 2024 | 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by darlop
I much prefer that to having somebody turn off my engine without my permission.

The 2024 auto stop is so aggressive that it turns the car off when its still moving. And then there is a huge delay to get going again. Its insane and probably putting a ton of wear on the engine for absolutely ZERO benefit.
FWIW, auto start/stop can be turned off easily and at least for the AMG models, it only turns back on if the engine is restarted. If memory serves and correct me if I'm wrong, in the non-AMG models I think it turns back on every time one changes the drive mode. I do get the annoyance and I do turn it off first thing after starting the engine in my AMG. In the AMG models it's also turned off by default in Sport mode and above. There are aftermarket modules to keep it off permanently, but at least for me personally, pressing the button every time I start the engine to turn auto start/stop off hasn't been annoying enough to spend several hundred dollars on a module that does it for me, but at least it is something that can be changed if one really wants to. One cannot change the HOLD implementation, though.
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Old Apr 11, 2024 | 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted by darlop
I much prefer that to having somebody turn off my engine without my permission.

The 2024 auto stop is so aggressive that it turns the car off when its still moving. And then there is a huge delay to get going again. Its insane and probably putting a ton of wear on the engine for absolutely ZERO benefit.
You make it sound like Auto Start/Stop hasn’t been around for 10+ years (prob longer). I read sparkplugs were more robust when these first started showing up!

The auto stop while moving is when it’s transitioning from gas to electric. Even leaving a parking lot slowly might be all electric mode until you get to a speed threshold!
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Old Apr 11, 2024 | 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by darlop
Honda
Curious which Honda products do this. Before my GLS I drove MDXs (last being 2020) and about three weeks ago I bought a 2022 Honda Ridgeline. In both cases the Auto Idle Engine Stop feature comes on at each ignition start and you have to push the button each time to cancel the feature. With the 20 MDX the off/on jerkiness was improved over my 17 MDX. The Ridgeline, not so much. I hardly notice the off/on in my GLS. And since this thread started about the Brake Hold, I like it very much, although there are times when it doesn't engage.
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Old Apr 11, 2024 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by TNS550
And since this thread started about the Brake Hold, I like it very much, although there are times when it doesn't engage.
That's seems odd that it isn't consistent. It is consistent for me and I don't think there has ever been a situation where it didn't engage when attempting to do so. Do you think it's your method of engaging it or a vehicle issue?
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Old Apr 11, 2024 | 09:27 AM
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Originally Posted by wildta
That's seems odd that it isn't consistent. It is consistent for me and I don't think there has ever been a situation where it didn't engage when attempting to do so. Do you think it's your method of engaging it or a vehicle issue?
It could very well be me in that I don't always think about the hold feature, and may be stopped a few seconds before I try to engage.
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Old Apr 11, 2024 | 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by TNS550
Curious which Honda products do this. Before my GLS I drove MDXs (last being 2020) and about three weeks ago I bought a 2022 Honda Ridgeline. In both cases the Auto Idle Engine Stop feature comes on at each ignition start and you have to push the button each time to cancel the feature. With the 20 MDX the off/on jerkiness was improved over my 17 MDX. The Ridgeline, not so much. I hardly notice the off/on in my GLS. And since this thread started about the Brake Hold, I like it very much, although there are times when it doesn't engage.
I'm curious as well. All Acura products have the *** on by default and they sorely need it as fuel economy across the board is atrocious!

I can't imagine parent company Honda not following suit since fuel economy is so important and auto journalists typically review based on the default setting!
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Old Apr 11, 2024 | 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by TNS550
Curious which Honda products do this. Before my GLS I drove MDXs (last being 2020) and about three weeks ago I bought a 2022 Honda Ridgeline. In both cases the Auto Idle Engine Stop feature comes on at each ignition start and you have to push the button each time to cancel the feature. With the 20 MDX the off/on jerkiness was improved over my 17 MDX. The Ridgeline, not so much. I hardly notice the off/on in my GLS. And since this thread started about the Brake Hold, I like it very much, although there are times when it doesn't engage.
Honda engine stop doesn't activate unless you press the brake pedal all the way down. They give you control over engine stop and let the brake hold be auto.

As I said I much prefer this to the opposite system on MB where the engine stops at 5mph (no exaggeration).
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Old Apr 11, 2024 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by darlop
Honda engine stop doesn't activate unless you press the brake pedal all the way down. They give you control over engine stop and let the brake hold be auto.

As I said I much prefer this to the opposite system on MB where the engine stops at 5mph (no exaggeration).
There are different implementations of auto stop/start. In cars with manual transmissions for example it's customary for the engine to only stop if you put the transmission in neutral and take the foot of the clutch. Some as you said don't stop the engine if you only lightly step on the brake pedal. Then there are the mild hybrids which turn off the engine while you are still moving. Are the Honda models you are referencing MHEVs?

There are different strategies employed by the manufacturers depending on pure ICE, MHEV or PHEV etc. All in the name of meeting emissions and fuel regulations. Auto stop/start can in fact save fuel and reduce emissions. Engineering Explained did a very good video on the subject if interested, and it does provide more favorable MPG numbers with the standardized homologation tests. If the manufacturer uses auto start/stop in the homologation tests to make the numbers, then they are obliged to turn it on by default and the driver is only allowed to explicitly defeat it by pressing a button. There are actually regulations around this. As said, at the end of the day it's about meeting the regulations.

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Old Apr 12, 2024 | 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by superswiss
Are the Honda models you are referencing MHEVs?
Its a Honda Odyssey. I can't believe people don't know this.
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Old Apr 12, 2024 | 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by darlop
Its a Honda Odyssey. I can't believe people don't know this.
Folks who have only ever known luxury or upgraded to luxury tend to not keep tabs on lower makes (especially true for minivans)!
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