GLB200 AMG LIne Premium Plus w / Driving Assist

Huge disappointment

Owned a GLB200 Premium Plus with Driving Assistance from new. Was a full specification model (before Mercedes started to remove the 10 speaker sound system, memory seats and electric tailgate from the Premium Plus trim).

Had originally purchased the car as needed an occasional 7 seater but did not want a full sized SUV so the GLB, (despite being on the more pricey side compared to rivals) fitted the bill.

However, immediately after taking ownership, encountered multiple issues. Creaking steering rack, clicking noises from steering column, alarm randomly sounding, front suspension loud creaking, hesitant gearbox (car juddering as if about to stall each time you came off the brake to move off) as the main highlights. Dealer, (MB of Loughton), completely useless at solving issues. Never provided a courtesy car when vehicle was in for diagnostics / repair. Raised a complain to MB UK (not interested).

Other annoying features? Plenty of those. E.g. very dim lighting in boot area making it difficult to find anything in the dark. No third row interior lighting whatsoever. Interior doors handles made of very thin plastic which creaked in your hands each time you open them. Lots of cheap scratchy plastic on the door panels. Driver and passenger seats very narrow and uncomfortable. Also, the doors themselves fully cover the cills which is good in some ways, but means the bottoms are very low and can sc***e on even slightly taller than normal kerbs when you open the doors.. Finally, the 7 speed gearbox and 1.33 litre Renault derived engine were an aweful match, especially around town where the car lurched and juddering constantly. Some say it's the same engine used by Dacia and Nissan?

Had no choice but to sell after 15 months of ownership as spent more time in the dealer workshop than with me and had lost all faith in the car. Now replaced with a new Volvo XC90 B5P which is superb.

Redeeming feature? Interior tech was good and ambient lighting nice for the kids. However, nothing that could make up for the shortcoming of this excuse of a Mercedes.

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