Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

excellent fit, easy to use - very happy. would recommend to anyone who is looking for a sunscreen for there car. Show details

Perfect car with massive torque – Wow 700nM starts from 1200rpm. And guess what? 7 seater with 0-100km/h : 5.7 seconds Fuel consumption 1:14 km!!!! Service cost about $630/year. P.s this car is quite reliable so far. Feels heavy but engine make it light. Makes me think twice to choose hybrid over diesels. Nowadays to much tech makes unreliable. But mercedes diesel seems to nail it… Read more

as we can see some commercial diesel mercedes in bus or trucks around australia. Simple diesel and adblue. That’s what i need. Lucky I don’t choose eq boost or etc from Mbenz’s. Downside is only this car will cost u $$$ triple digit

Highly functional and comfortable SUV – Purchased 2013 ML350 Bluetec with full Mercedes Benz service history at Westpoint Star in Perth on June 2019 vehicle had 106,000km. At Mercedes franchised dealer you get a 2 year full factory warranty and I also took out an extended warranty ($3,615) issued by Westpoint Star with National Warranty Company (NWC) for 4 years which started June 2021,… Read more

giving cover to June 2025. This I feel should take a bit of pain out of possible expensive repairs if and when needed. Having owned a variety of Mercs from W123, W126 (extremely reliable) realised that modern Mercedes are no longer the cars they once were since they started to embrace technology which typically European is not fully proven compared to Japanese brands such as Toyota. Vehicle was bought mainly for travelling to the Southwest and also we were planning to do some travelling within WA once all Covid restrictions were removed.

Have found this SUV to be supreme on the road, has so much torque that over taking up hill is effortless and with the adaptive cruise control you can truly relax when touring and maintain a fast pace. Suspension is standard no air but that’s ok, tends to crash over certain surfaces and as the tyres are 265mm they can tramline where the road surface is not consistent across the width. The original factory supplied Continental Contact 5 tyres that were developed for the Ml give very good wet weather traction and road holding with confidence compared to other SUVs and brakes are superb. I continue with Continental Tyres, these last around 30,000km.

First thing to go faulty was the 2 NOX sensors for the amine injection into the exhaust for the Pollution control. This fault caused the computer to start a Km countdown from 800km at 0km car will not run without anti pollution system. Westpoint Star organised replacement sensors and fitting but took around 2 weeks to get from Singapore...job cost $3300 if I was to pay but was under their warranty. This is the problem with parts in Australia these are over priced compared to Europe or on line cost only a few hundred dollars per sensor (once you identify the unit required).

Next the Bluetec amine injection system stopped working, temperature sensor issue, it was deemed better to replace the whole amine tank/pump assembly since there are parts that are getting old with higher risk of failure and avoid a double job later on with more cost, this was under my warranty. Not sure of full cost but alternate manufacturer not original was used since cost was too excessive as quoted by NWC...

Next item was another NOX sensor upstream...seems there are 4 installed, the last one has been ok so far but expected to fail sooner rather than later. These sensors only have a certain lifespan in use and the ones on my vehicle were replaced for the first time.

Next item was the exhaust temperature sensor faulty, car still drives ok as the computer inputs its own readings from an algorithm enabling the vehicle to operate. This cost NWC $1300 under my warranty.

The last item was a small hose associated with the operation of the gearbox changing up or down and therefore cruise control would not work. Hose was partly split, once replaced all was good but cost me $200 for the part and a further $600 for labour since so much has to be stripped out at the rear of the engine to get access.

The vehicle is serviced once a year as per the schedule and even when I asked about interim oil change was advised not required by Mercedes.

Another couple of items worth mentioning are the main battery under the drivers seat, this I had replaced since it was now 8 years old @ 117,368km and did not want a breakdown when we toured WA late June 2021. There is also one other battery the auxiliary that is critical for the car and if this fails the vehicle will go no where. This battery is located at the rear cargo area behind the panels on the driver side, this controls gear changing operation from what I found out. Mercedes confirmed both these batteries were original supplied with the vehicle in 2013. The main batt cost $824 850A unit and the Aux batt $302, a lot of money but now at least peace of mind until the next issue.

Front pads and disks will be next as advised they are getting close now for changeout but advised to wait till the light comes up. Vehicle now has 148,000km.

Fuel consumption has averaged around 9L/100km for some 6000+km we completed on the tour. Vehicle had a large Thule top box, 2m Rhino Rack side awning, we towed a 182kg Euro trailer with our camping gear, so maybe 350kg all up. Vehicle sees just over 8L/100km without head wind fully loaded up, even with passengers does not vary too much, so it is economical or was until diesel fuel reversed with 91 fuel pricing!

These are very good SUVs and even now I cannot find the equivalent but you got to be realistic about how much you may have to afford if something goes wrong, certainly there are other workshops out there who will charge at lower hourly rates and maybe a bit less for the parts but they will not have full access to Mercedes technical back up. Westpoint Star made all the arrangements with the warranty items and have had no issues with the franchise and support when needed. People need to research what they will take on when purchasing a European vehicle, I will only buy a second hand Merc with full service history from Mercedes, you pay top dollar but the 2 year warranty without hassle and extended warranty option is a blessing, you may struggle with other warranties when it comes to claiming.

Happy driving.

Usually get new car around 3 years. My 2015 ML is so great that I have now had it for 7 years – My German made 2015 ML has now done 139000kl. Replaced wiper blades and onto 3rd set of tyres, and REAR brakes ( rotors and pads) were replaced at 118,000kl. Front brakes are still original and at last service at 137000kl I was told they would last at least another year. The twin turbo diesel is incredible. Being a heavy vehicle it can be slow to… Read more

get away from the lights, but on the open road with a bit of speed it can pass a slow car in an instant. It devours C grade single lane country roads with comfort and safety. The brakes nearly popped my eyeballs out in the one emergency braking situation I did to avoid an accident. I could not believe how quickly and safely it pulled up considering its weight. The real bonus has been its fuel use, currently averaging 7.5 lt/100kl over the last 25000kl. On a open road trip unloaded sticking to 100kl/hr I can get as low as 6.1lt/100 if there is little head wind. Fully loaded up ( with full tank and lots of luggage ) for annual trip to Qld it averages around 7lt/100kl. Plastic exterior body parts with no extra care taken still look like new. Interior when clean looks like new. No rattles squeeks or cluncks. Main reason I have not bought a new replacement one is the new GLE's are made in the USA, and seeing previous to 2011 ML's were made in the USA and had many reliability issues, I am obviously worried about upgrading. I would like to upgrade to get some more modern safety technology, but while this car is super reliable and extremely safe and comfortable to drive, I will probably keep it for a few more years.

One of the worst cars we have ever owned, stay away from these ML's they are so poorly made ! – Central locking stopped working, rear seat belt jammed , alternator stopped charging , O2 sensor stopped working , engine rear main seal leaking and the list goes on, all this and only 120 thousand K'S , and this Benz has been serviced every 5 thousand k's , Mercedes says every 15 thousand, what a joke ! Show details

Luxury drive and luxury features – Having test driven a number of high end/luxury SUV’s I found the GLE 450 to be the most comfortable, safe, fantastic speed and comes with all the bells and whistles, especially if you add some extras to the base model. I added the AMG package & sound system for an extra $10+k which sees bigger rims, full moon roof/sunroof, seat memory and warmers,… Read more

leathers as well as a number of other features. Really is the most smooth ride and has some snazzy functions with massive visual screens. It comes with all the comforts one would expect. It doesn’t come cheap but what Mercedes does really.

This car with 48v technology is fast! – The GLE 450 comes with a 48 V hybrid tech and delivers an extra 16 kW and 250 N metres of torque. Wow it is fast - pick up is fast, mid range is fast, overtaking is an absolute breeze. Keep an eye on your Speedo as it is so easy to go over. After 20k on the clock, I’m starting to get some tyre skipping on super cold mornings but nothing like that experienced in GLC class I had previously. Overall, this is a quality suv.  Show details

faulty sat nav/entertainment system – my $120 000 GLE 300d is 7 months old and has been in for service 3 times with a faulty sat nav/entertainment system. the car has also needed 2 reversing cameras replaced. last service took 3 weeks. system has just crashed again. i expect way more for the money Show details

The best car I have ever owned – I have had numerous cars and SUVs, including other Mercedes Benz, and this is by far my favourite. I purchased it as a certified used vehicle from a Mercedes dealer, highly recommend those if you can find one, given the additional 2 year factory warranty. I purchased in September 2019 and have had no issues whatsoever. Mine has the sunroof,… Read more

keyless go and lighting options and I have to say if i ever bought new, I would 100% get those features as they are the stand outs for me. The keyless go is awesome - all you do is touch the handle to lock or wrap your hand around to open. The bi-xenon lights work perfectly, maybe not as good as the new LEDs coming out, but they are definitely better than the stock halogens. I also love that it comes with roof rails, which will fit any kind of roof racks.

The build quality is great, it feels solid and heavy while driving but not difficult to manoeuvre. I was worried about the engine performance with this model given it is only 2.1 litres, but the 250 achieves great fuel readings (around 7.1 litres per 100km for me), while also being very easy to drive around town. Maybe the start-stop feature helps, but i usually turn that off. Fast it aint, but it does everything fine and I definitely wouldn't say it is under-powered.

It feels luxurious inside, the leather (pleather?) is good quality and the carpets are really thick too. So much room in the back, especially with the seats down, I reckon you could fit a single mattress in there. The AC is good, but the entertainment unit is dating a little in 2020, although it has bluetooth and mine came with a DVD player. I do wish it had Apple CarPlay and also a higher resolution screen.

I hear these ones are the best quality compared to the first and second generations, although I will never forget the 1998 Mercedes Benz ML320 from Jurassic Park: The Lost World, which is what turned me into an ML fan for life. After 20 years, i finally got one.

A great vehicle but keep up to date with recalls & service and theres a lot on line about these vehicles (settings etc) – There is a recall for the ACS hydraulic reservoir located front left with Bonnet open ( stability control with air suspension ) but is more to it than replacing dipstick as air would have got into the system and therefor like any hydraulic system needs to be bled out and then also seals checked ..push dealer fix properly Is worth the effort to… Read more

get to know your MB and the oil and filter types and codes to do some basic maintenance yourself if you inclined and off to a dealer once a year .. unless you flushed with cash the dealer can do all ..!

Great car, pity about the smell – Had the smelly aircon, Dealer said it was not their problem. I took out the internal filters and let the windows down when parked up in garage. This smell only happens in summer, otherwise I love this car. Show details

Awesome family car! – Honestly the nicest SUV to drive, driven everyday with two kids under 5. Really fuel efficient, even around town. Purchased as a used vehicle from a Mercedes-Benz dealership. The 2 year warranty was a bonus. The only issue we have had was the AdBlue heating element. Luckily warranty covered the costs. Only negative is the brakes and tyres ware… Read more

quicker than normal, but it’s expected with SUV’s.

Holding out for the new GLE with the third row option. Recommended highly for someone in the market for a family vehicle, super safe and drives amazingly.

Disappointing and problem prone car – Bought in 2017 (MY16). Compared to its competitors, this car has great features, but that's where it ends. It's diesel, and drives great, but there are too many problems lurking in my car since owning. Most problems are fixed at time of writing. Needless to say, this will be my first and last time owning a MB. When I first bought my car, the… Read more

boot button was stuck causing the boot to not set the height correctly causing the tailgate to rise and bump the garage door. This was brought back to Mercedes the day after delivery of the vehicle, so I already had my doubts.

The next problem was the tailgate could not open automatically, and would require external assistance (I.e. I would have to manually pull/nudge the tailgate roughly 1cm to open). This problem was brought to Mercedes attention within a couple months of ownership, and kept coming back every couple months. The tailgate was finally fixed (Hopefully) on its annual service, where it was also delivered to the Mercedes body shop for a couple days. Since, this problem has spontaneously occurred a couple times, and cannot be replicated for the mechanics to see.

The next problem is probably my biggest, if not second biggest problem with the car. After less than 6 months of ownership, the car's air conditioning system began to pump out repugnant fumes. This smell is produced every time the car is started. Every passenger who has entered the vehicle cannot believe that this new car would produce a smell so revolting when compared to their own old cars. It has since become a joke between friends and family as the poo car (to put it nicely). I have taken it back to MB, who say it would cost roughly $600 to fix (mind you this is less than 6 months old at this stage, and 4 months when we noticed the smell), and not claimable under warranty. Also, as the filter is changed every 2-3 years under service, I have to live with this smell until early 2019. The smell alone is so noxious that I am honestly contemplating on switching cars.

The next problem which occurred this year (2017) was that when driving upto 110km/ h, the car's bonnet sensor would act up, causing all sorts of alarms to go off. This was a daunting experience as this is the last thing you expect when you're traveling 110km/h. I took it back to MB who then fixed the problem overnight.

Other small problems and grievances that arose in this car during ownership are:

- sunroof button began to fracture (yes you read that right)

- sunroof would not fully open and would only nudge a couple centimeters. Had to fully close the sunroof to "reset" its position. Manage to record this and show to dealers.

- car would not change past 4th gear even when doing 80km/h. Yes the car was in auto, and no, the car could not be switched to manual even through the paddles and "M" button.

If you can look pass these issues (I can't because of the smell), I did like the way the car drives, its responsive engine/throttle, the ride comfort, and of course the star badge. What a shame that it earned itself a poo like reputation between friends and family. I generally keep my cars between 5 to 10 years, but I think I will let this car go at the end of this year (after two years of ownership). If I had known of these issues before buying this car, I would have definitely gone else where, and would advise other potential buyers to rethink their decision.

Great car all round, including brilliant for caravan towing – Bought new from dealer with the Designo and air suspension package. Must be the only one towing a 8m caravan with it and certainly have turned a few heads and frequently opens discussions with caravanners. The interior even now, at 3 years old - absolutely magnificent and has a good luxury feel to it. 360 camera, adaptive cruise, lane departure… Read more

etc all add to a great drive. The interactive command system is now a bit outdated and not as smart as the newer ones, but still does the job well. The ride comfort is just brilliant. As we just had crossed 3 years, had been looking around in the market to trade for a new ride, but nothing compared favorable on ride and overall comfort to the ML350. I am frequently towing including long distance and this car is a dream for doing so and makes light work of up or down roads. Fuel efficiency is 7.5lt on country driving - and a bit more for my wife who is more heavy footed. When towing 2100kg - the fuel when towing country highways is sitting at 15lt/100km, 4 pax driving at 100km/hr and I consider that good economy. Actually made us place our trade in plans on hold for the time because we can not find any new SUV to be better in a similar price bracket. Just out of warranty, had a add-blue tank/heater issue and although all incl new sensors, was quoted at over 7k, MB Goldcoast worked with MB Australia and repaired it under warranty. Overall, not just the car has been a pleasure, so has dealing with MB Goldcoast who have made every visit a pleasure and welcoming occasion.

A great car now even better – We had the previous ML250 which was a great car, it had a few warranty issues that were fixed outside of warranty (thank you Mercedes). The GLE 2017 is noticeably smoother and seems more powerful down the lower gears thanks to the new 9 speed transmission. The updates with tech and safety which include collision alert and lane departure are a… Read more

major improvement. As always, the fit and finish, quality carpets and plastics and thick paint are what you pay for. You may pay more upfront but this is reflected in resale. All these attributes is what keeps consumers coming back.

Fantastic AWD! – I'm the 3rd owner of a May 2008 build ML320 CDi diesel. 10/10 in every respect except ... yes, the front bucket seats. What was Mercedes thinking? Nissan make more comfortable seats than this marque. Why? Lack of lateral support, sore bum. Problem completely solved with a pair of custom pure lambwool seatcovers. Now brilliant! All Mercedes… Read more ·  1

common rail diesel engines are detuned (because not everyone commits to ontime servicing or uses premium diesel fuel, so I went to Coolum Motors (see Steve) and have him do a custom tune (remap, no piggy back needed). You won't believe the extra power and driveability. The 7 speed gearbox is now smooth and it revs right out smoothly and effortlessly.

Exhaust emissions and diesel smell is noticeably reduced and exhaust output is now dark brown with a hint of carbon and not filthy black as was the case. Best $1500 I've ever spent. Worth it if you're hanging onto your Merc. We are! Torque is up from 510Nm to just over 600Nm. A custom remap by an experienced technician will not shorten engine life - provided the computer combustion re-map is done properly and with care.

Another tip: Buy only BP Ultimate if you can. It doesn't bust dirt in 2 tanks BUT it does keep things running smoothly under the bonnet and BP Diesel fuel has a slightly higher octane rating than Caltex. I also use a small amount of ProMa DT5 fuel treatment to keep everything running sweet. You'll notice the difference.

Also, ensure that at each 15 000km service that your mechanic thoroughly cleans the inlet ports to remove as much of the carbon deposits as possible. Diesel engines gulp air and if the intakes are restricted (like human arteries), then the driving experience will be rather lack lustre. Cleaned regularly your ML will drive like new again.

I love quality engineering and when the vehicle was new would have cost $106k. I paid $46K 5 yrs later and feel I've got a bargain. Depreciation is a vertical dive with luxury European cars so now will only buy good used vehicles.

If you have one of these well sorted AWDs and care for it, you'll enjoy many years of satisfying motoring.

Great car would buy again – We had the ml amg for around three years till we trade in. We found the car perfect for our family of 4. Performance amazing and the handling to match. Fuel little heavy but as expected. We always felt safe and secure in the ml and that's why we purchased. Should of had a touch screen as others car had but didn't. The heated seats… Read more

where great with the option to turn on wife's seat on a hot day.

Tyres expensive and rims protruding tyres are never a good idea.

I would buy again even with the above minor things.

Didn't purchase new shape as don't like the coupe look.

Matt.

Reversing sensor not working properly at all – I bought new GLE 350D, which is new model of ML350D. Everything is great, except reversing radar. The sensors don't beep until one inch close to object, which is too late. I rang the Mercedes and brought car back. They simple say all fine, that is what they are like in Mercedes. Unbelievable.  Show details

Love the comforts like heated seats, torque, handles well. Down side easy to forget the stalks on th – Great car, handles well, love the heated seats, very powerful, looks good. Downside easy to forget the stalks on the right near the steering wheel are gears not indicators especially if you're on the freeway doing 100 km and you indicate left it puts car in neutral. Bluetooth can't connect to music on iPhone need to buy special adaptor.Software in car out dated.  Show details

Keeping getting problems – I bought a ML250 from a friend just before 3 years warranty ran out. Got it fully checked by Dealer just before 3 years warranty. But two months later, I kept getting big problems, Seat belt faulty, which costed me more than 2K. (the problem was already identified by the previous owner, but the melbourne dealer didn't pick it up). The engine… Read more

can suddenly turn off when we stop before a red light, and was told by the dealer that it was fuel pump problem. After complaining to dealer, they agreed to cover most of cost of it and I would pay $250 for it. Then the LED and computer system was not working and the buttons are not responding at all. the dealer upgraded the computer system.

Just a week after I got my car from dealer, the light of "engine diagnosis" is on. Very very disappointed. I really regret that I ddin't buy extended warranty.

I owned the car for 6 months only, average I went to dealer once a month for this and that problems. Can't trust the quality of Mercedes-Benz.

I have owned many second hand toyota corolla, camry and RAV4 for many years, and never had any problems. But with the Mercedes-Benz, the problems seem endless. And the service, repair and the parts are much more expensive.

BTW The car drives well.

Looks can be deceiving! – Run away folks and never buy an ML350. I assumed since it was German engineered, it would be perfect like the BMW which I've owned several BMWs since the 90s. I chose the 2006 ML350 over the X5 based on being of a more luxurious look. I didn't expect the quality to be that of a $10,000 new vehicle. It was just that, a piece of junk. From the… Read more

balance shaft issues to the power steering issues to the transmission issues, it never stops. Repairs in the thousands! Saddest part is Mercedes knew about their defective issues and don't stand behind their known defects leaving the customers in a bad way. Shame on Mercedes! I will never buy a Mercedes-Benz again and will stick with BMW always. My Mercedes-Benz SUV piece of junk everyday vehicle is now garaged and I'm forced to drive my weekend BMW M6 as my everyday vehicle until I figure out what to do to get rid of it without taking a huge financial loss but still maintaining my honesty conveying the good, the bad and the ugly which is how I live my life. Mercedes don't care about reputation nor repeat business from loyal customers; they just care about money..

ML350 CDI - AMG – Purchased new in 2010, really nice car, optioned with AMG Exterior Pack & Luxury Pack. After 5 years of ownership have to say pretty disappointed with the reliability of the car, however the car is loverly to drive and has lots of features. Negatives: Both rear struts had to be replaced (thankfully under warranty) Front fog light keeps… Read more

burning out and melting the lense (Not covered under warranty they say...)

Wheel speed sensors keep failing - different wheels $750 to fix each time - started just after 3 years so no warranty.

Glow plugs now need replacing and it has only done 40k kms. Yes it will cost a lot to fix these too.

Servicing costs are just ridiculous

Tyre wear is just terrible even with alignments

Some exterior parts are now fading and coming off the car (high mount brake light lens)

Positives

Excellent transmission

Nice on the hwy and country roads

Lots of space

Good air con

Nice leather dash board

Overall a good car let down by some quality issues and bad parts.

ML 350 4matic 'engine diagnosis' problem – Got a new ML 350 4matic in 2013. Running really smooth in a year. After the first service, have 'engine diagnosis' light on and run really rough. Went to dealer, told me it is petrol problem even I put in #98 from Shell or Caltex. Dealer reset the code and let me go. Unfortunately, this happened 3 times in a month. Dealer still complains the dirty petrol. Running smooth. Bad service Show details

The benchmark in luxurous SUV – This review is for the W166 post 2012 model and after reading all the positives about this vehicle decided to get one myself. Had this for a while now and it’s time for a review. You approach the car and what strikes you is the sheer size of it. It is a full sized SUV, wider than some of the prominent Japanese brands, is well-proportioned with… Read more ·  1

a good sized cabin. I love the boxy-ness of the body style as it means you can make good use of the massive boot that will make trips to IKEA a breeze.

The interior was well laid out with all switchgear within easy reach and the command system was intuitive and easy to use, although we originally struggled with the pairing and downloading of contacts from the phone via Bluetooth. The seats were supportive and nicely firm and you could seat 3 adults in the rear comfortably. Build quality is impeccably Mercedes and did not disappoint at all. Sound proofing was very good save for some whistling from the side mirrors at highway speeds. My only complaint of the interior is that somehow Mercedes has decided to change the locations of the stalks on the steering column since all new models launched in 2012. Signal and cruise control stalks are swapped around and the gear level is relocated from the centre console to the right of the steering column. The first few weeks was filled with dramas prior to getting used to the location of the stalks, even for regular owners.

The dealer told me that a 250 diesel would be sufficient for everyday driving and he was right. The engine had plenty of torque and was punchy enough to get it off the line. The first tank of fuel got me nearly 900km, and I am consistently hitting nearly 1000km with about an eighth left (according to the fuel gauge) before I need to visit the servo.

Ride quality is very good and it soaks up the bumps on the road excellently. Sometimes, you tend to forget that you are in a tall car and you need to watch the abrupt steering inputs but otherwise, no complaints on the driving manners of the car.

Overall impression is that this is an excellent car for the price you pay which offers great value compared to other premium marques. Luxurious, good ride quality, punchy engine with plenty of low down shove and great fuel economy. Not happy with the multiple stalks on the steering column, can cause you to hit the wrong one.

ML 320 CDI – Great SUV. You have class, power and mid size room.(prado size) You feel safe punching along at 110kmh+ on most roads. Great features. This one had the distronic cruise control (radar) that slows you down with the brake to keep pace with traffic and then speed you back up when the obsticle is gone. Heaps of gadgets that work well. GPS system is… Read more ·  4

spot on. Rear boot area is a good size.

Cant fault the engineering.

Options are where they get you on a new purchase. Options are too hexy.

Good – Overall we're happy with the 500 and we just bought a smaller B200 for my wife to scoot around in. Mercedes has been a nice change in out lives. I have not gone off road with it but it does not seem like it was really built for it even though it is considered to be an SUV. Nice handling, the wipers come on automatically when it starts raining… Read more

(this surprised me LOL) very comfortable and heated seats. Came with a decent Benz golf bag! Very good looking set of wheels - comfort and class. The key/door unlocker only works from a short distance. For some reason I cant figure out how to set the phone system up to work with my mobile - I wasn't given any instruction from the dealer.

Mercedes Benz ML 320 CDI – The Mercedes ML 320 CDI is an outstanding SUV. Its so smooth to ride in, it has great economy. 8.4 to 9.4 on the highway & around town. Tyres are expensive, especially 18inches but its a Mercedes. The turning circle is unbelievable for an all wheel drive, park assist, the heating and A/C perform very well.  Show details ·  5