Last summer, venturing outside my usual CarMax comfort zone, I acquired a 2021 Mercedes GLE63s AMG. This Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) powerhouse SUV, discovered in Santa Fe, New Mexico after an extensive nationwide search, became my latest automotive adventure. You can read about the full acquisition story here. Now, with 8,000 miles clocked, mostly without significant road trips, I find myself in a quandary: am I deeply in love with this machine, or should I consider selling and starting fresh? Unexpected repair costs have nudged me towards the latter, a topic we’ll delve into shortly.
Firstly, for any observant IRS agents reading (purely for documentation purposes!), let it be known that this Mercedes GLE63s AMG is indeed a work “truck.” It frequently serves work-related duties! Even the journey to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, was strictly business! Of course, the “truck” designation is mostly deployed to elicit eye-rolls from my family.
Jokes aside, its primary identity is a high-performance SUV. The factory-fitted summer performance tires, however, have presented some challenges. In July, a substantial nail found its way into one of these tires, necessitating a $600 replacement. Exacerbating matters, this specific tire was exclusively available at the Mercedes dealership. While I ideally prefer all-season tires for practicality, the initial investment in summer tires felt like a sunk cost. Unfortunately, history repeated itself a month later when another nail struck the opposite rear tire, resulting in another $600 expenditure.
The recurring tire incidents prompted me to consider replacing all four with all-season alternatives. However, the search revealed a surprising scarcity – nobody seemed to stock all-season tires in the required 22-inch diameter. Pirelli does offer a set through Mercedes dealers, but availability was pushed to spring at the earliest. The 22-inch wheel diameter appears to be the bottleneck. Switching to 21-inch rims, a factory option for the GLE63, would open up tire choices, but that entails purchasing four new rims plus four new tires – a $3,600 proposition. While seemingly excessive, owning an all-wheel-drive SUV rendered useless in snow also feels illogical. Home storage space for the summer tires is non-existent. Currently, I’m in discussions with Tire Rack regarding 21-inch tire and wheel combinations, especially as the weather forecast predicts our first snowfall this weekend. It seems my BMW M3, equipped with all-season tires, will remain the winter driving champion.
Beyond tires, dealership visits for the GLE63s have included attempts to rectify the clamshell center console doors. A single button is designed to open both, but in my vehicle, only the left side operates reliably. Mercedes acknowledged this as a known issue, but a straightforward fix remained elusive initially. On the third attempt, the dealership finally replaced the entire center console storage bin. Similarly, a loose fender flare and a noticeable 1/4-inch gap in the rear bumper molding were addressed proactively. The service manager agreed to order new parts, have them painted to match, and install them, all under warranty at no cost. In two weeks, the GLE63s is scheduled for a Service A appointment and a fuel pump recall, addressing a known issue with plastic fuel pump impellers. The experience remains to be seen.
Reflecting on Mercedes’ US manufacturing presence, I recalled my time at the US Air Force War College in Alabama in 1993. During that period, Alabama was actively vying to host Mercedes’ first US assembly plant. Ultimately, Alabama secured the deal by donating land and deploying the National Guard for site preparation. Back then, we joked about the future Alabama-built ML SUVs featuring optional gun racks. Driving a Merkur XR4ti at the time, I never imagined owning a luxury Mercedes SUV from that very plant three decades later.
The thought crossed my mind: could some of these minor component issues stem from Alabama assembly rather than Stuttgart precision? Then, my curiosity shifted to the hand-built AMG engines – were they shipped from Germany, or were they also being manufactured in Alabama? The service representative mentioned visiting the Alabama factory and confirmed engine production there. Initially, this was a bit deflating. However, skepticism lingered. A quick inspection under the hood myself revealed the signature plate. The engines, indeed, are “Made in Germany.” The German umlauts speak volumes.
In early December, an unwelcome screeching noise emerged from the front brakes. Concerned, I took the GLE63s to the Mercedes dealer for inspection. The initial diagnosis: a $2,600 front pad and rotor replacement, likely resolving the issue. Yet, they also noted the pads still had 6/32″ of thickness remaining, not immediately requiring replacement, and no wear indicator was illuminated. A consultation with the shop foreman was suggested, but didn’t materialize. Instead, the theory shifted to potential brake glazing from my purchase. My experience with service technicians has been inconsistent in terms of expertise and communication. Ryan, my CarMax service contact in the past, consistently demonstrated greater conscientiousness. Mercedes replacements come with a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty. However, GLE63 owner forums report brake replacements as frequent as every 10,000 miles! This frequency is unacceptable to me, prompting exploration of FCP Euro pads with a lifetime warranty. Even my local Goodyear store offers a 24-month/24,000-mile brake warranty, significantly better than Mercedes’ offering for these wear items.
Tires and brakes, classified as normal wear and tear items, are not covered under warranty, and these escalating expenses were giving me pause. Before committing to these replacements, I decided to explore selling the GLE63s to CarMax. My rationale was simple: if CarMax offered a price close to my purchase price from last summer, I might cut my losses and start anew. The car hasn’t significantly depreciated, so unlike past CarMax transactions where I felt like I gained an advantage, this felt different. I actually missed that feeling of getting a great deal from CarMax. While CarMax doesn’t currently have current-generation GLE63s in stock (a few 2019 models are available), their appraisal, shown below, indicated a lack of enthusiasm for acquiring mine. The offer was $30,000 less than my purchase price just months prior and $25,000 below comparable CPO Mercedes GLE63s currently listed. CarMax famously states they will buy any car, and indeed they will. However, they retain the prerogative to set a price that discourages rational sellers. And in this instance, I wasn’t taking it.
Ultimately, I’m leaning towards keeping the GLE63s and embracing its performance, though tire and brake solutions are still pending. A spirited drive on the winding roads of rural Loudoun County, Virginia, solidified my decision. The video’s audio barely captures the exhilarating experience. I believe I will commit to this car and savor the ownership experience. Having not encountered another GLE63s on the road in six months of ownership adds a touch of exclusivity. Perhaps a trip to Daytona later this month, coinciding with the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona for, ahem, “business meetings,” will further cement its unicorn status.
History has a way of repeating itself. On New Year’s Day 2024, a positive Covid test resurfaced, prompting a reflective drive to the John Lewis Memorial Bridge in rural Loudoun County before retreating to my hotel isolation (aiming to protect my family this time). This bridge, located on a secluded road crossing Catoctin Creek, dates back to 1889. The county describes it as “a rare surviving example of a wrought iron truss bridge—one of only five still standing bridges built by the Variety Iron Company.” It’s a place of tranquility and, strangely, familiarity.
Almost exactly three years prior, on New Year’s Eve 2020, I sought solace at the same bridge in Etta, my 2008 Porsche 911 CarMax unicorn, after receiving the devastating news of a positive Covid test. Times were considerably more daunting then, pre-vaccines and Paxlovid. Tomorrow, I’ll load up the Mercedes GLE63s with my isolation gear and return home. If the biggest challenge I face is sourcing tires and brakes for a formidable 600hp SUV, then I’m undoubtedly in a fortunate position.
