The refresh GLS has full screen CarPlay and all new MBs have/will have phone as key. The refresh added some tech from yours, I don't feel like I'm missing any tech really in my 223.

GLS has absolutely wonderful feeling clicky buttons. Those I DO miss.

For me I'm just a realist, being upset about what "should be" doesn't do me any good, when you look at what else is available the GLS is a great product. Could it be better? Sure. "Should" a Mercedes be devoid of any kind of cost focused engineering and design? I mean in an ideal world sure...but in reality as a consumer I have a limit of what I am willing to spend. What I would really like MB to do is to address their interior construction to reduce or eliminate clicks/creaks/pops/snaps and rattles. That they absolutely can do because other carmakers do that better. Switchgear solidity though is not an area I think they need to work on.

 

My MY23 GLS450 can play MCH FLAC on the USB port. My understanding is they moved this functionality to the more expensive 3D Burmester package for MY24 and newer.

 

Thats a bummer.

 

The first refresh/facelift 24-26’ is actually still not a true “full” screen. It’s about 90% if you take a look (the left side is still cropped), which again is truly embarrassing that Mbenz couldn’t figure it out (or at least, didn’t even try, when coders like Max/Elebest can fix it yet with the original native MBUX system). Am sure the 2nd refresh will address that, but well, by then it’d be 2027 until they would have finally offered a true 100% full screen carplay.

I am not too upset and am fine with the car/SUV being less than ideal. I have no expectation for perfection in any car, but I do have a few things that are slowly moving from (nice to have) to (must have) on my list nowadays. Among those, full carplay screen and digital phone as key as a “must have”. The current “nice to have” items include hands-free full-self-driving on highways, rear wheel steering is nice, and perhaps a proper dynamic or active suspension (I don't like E-ABC), but I can live without those nice-to-have features in the refresh GLS just fine.

And yes, it looks like we’ll get a true full-screen CarPlay and digital phone-as-key that for most 2027 Mbenz high-end models which is great. At this point, am just voicing my opinion that while all of this is great, Mbenz as a corporate should know that they are way too late (in fact, always too late). I bet the majority of current GLS buyers would switch to the X7 if it was bigger and as versatile, and Mbenz should be really concerned that the new X7 generation is actually bigger, taller and wider yet guaranteed to expand the tech-gap even further. Right now, the GLS is marginally better for me than the X7 because of the size, versatility despite the lacking tech, and it also offers some other minor advantages like captain chairs that actually fully fold (X7 doesn't) and a 3rd row for adults, couple 100 lbs more in towing capacity which happened to be just about what my largest trailer needs when loaded. A 2024-2026 is still the best option available to us if we want to upgrade, and am equally excited for the 2027 if there is a dual screen option instead of the all-screen dash design.

 

That doesn't bother me at all. The way it was done in your generation for me was a dealbreaker.

I am not too upset and am fine with the car/SUV being less than ideal. I have no expectation for perfection in any car, but I do have a few things that are slowly moving from (nice to have) to (must have) on my list nowadays. Among those, full carplay screen and digital phone as key as a “must have”. The current “nice to have” items include hands-free full-self-driving on highways, rear wheel steering is nice, and perhaps a proper dynamic or active suspension (I don't like E-ABC), but I can live without those nice-to-have features in the refresh GLS just fine.

I don't know that the gap in tech is a serious driver for these buyers. Myself having really looked at both BMW and MB, any tech benefits in the BMW aren't a motivator for me at all.

 

The X7/X5 have semi-autonomous hands-free driving mode called "Highway Assist". I don't think Mercedes has anything like that yet.

 

Actually, ALL of their high-end as well mid-level models now have that too. The new X3, and X5, X6, X7, 7-series, 5, iX, XM. The 7-series and iX had the highway hands-free in the US since July 2022. X7/X5/X6/5-series/etc had it since April 2023. In Germany, the same hardware/vehicle, also allows you to watch videos or check emails while the car drives itself at speeds up to a certain speed on some roads. The (eyes away) feature is not unlocked yet in the US due to our great regulatory hurdles but at least we get the hands-off but (eyes-on road) part of it.

Also, The current X3 (and majority of 2027 models) will offer additional/similar features for urban/in-town too.

 

Its basically the same as modern Distronic, still requires attention. The difference is requiring attention via eyes vs touching the wheel. To me thats 6/12 Dozen. If I can't direct my attention elsewhere I may as well drive.

 

MB's system will be the top of the game soon: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/t...-mercedes.html

 

Not really. Completely different even in the same car with and without hands-free turned on.
When hands-free is anabled, the car converts to a semi self driving vehicle. It’s not just lane centering and adaptive cruise control. There is no more micro-adjustments, very smooth on curves and guaranteed to stay where it needs to be, and reminds me of Tesla FSD but better. When hands-free is NOT allowed or turn off for whatever reason on the same highway (sun, snow, whatever), I can immediately tell the difference and it’s back to regular lane keeping assist with hands on wheel, and I can see more micro adjustments that i can feel just like any other car. The same system and hardware is actually L3 in Germany when hands free is on. Here we are getting the same hardware but without the L3 on paper because there is no official certification for it (hence it enforces the eyes tracking). When hands-free is off, it’s back to the “equivalent” of L2 (that’s how it feels). Hard to describe but hopefully this makes sense.

 

I have an E350 loaner, my S580 is in for the 20k B service. I'm surprised how much I like it. I gotta say, I optioned up an E450 with ALL the options, nappa leather, air suspension, all of it...$97k, hard to say my S580 is worth $43,000 more.

@S_W222 Carplay though...not full screen:

 

Wow man.. is this the same in your W223? But it is a big screen though.
I think the W223 is edge to edge.
This is a bummer though in the E class, I just don’t understand why.

 

No, the S580 is fullscreen, well except for the climate section at the bottom. Its the portrait screen though, not the landscape screen like the E

Honestly though I use MBUX more than CarPlay because it works so much better, COMAND in the 222 I used only CarPlay. I play music directly through MBUX because the sound quality is better and display the native MB satellite nav map.

 

Since I started this one, which went basically all over the map, I wanted to circle back with a final fix that will ensure it never happens again. Score one for MacGyver. Seeing as how MB has publicly stated they want to go back to using more screws.....

I guarantee you, this car could hit an aircraft carrier at 150mph, and that rear seat control panel will still be there. There is no way it's falling out again now, and I'm not out hundreds for a new one with the same cheap plastic clips. This is SOLID to the door panel. You can see my previous failed attempt with superglue residue on the plastic.

How:

Take the door off and disconnections (YouTube it, it's on there, very simple).

Take the panel off the back of the control module for the seats.
Pre-drill the holes through the module frame into the nearby post.
Screw them together.
Put back together.
Enjoy.

Took me all of 30 minutes to do.
Very important to pre-drill the holes so you don't split the plastic with the screw of choice.

 

Nice lol. How it should have been done from the factory.