ML270's why so cheap
Discussion
StuVT said:
Im looking for a merc as my daily. I see loads of ML 270 diesels for about £1K.
They look like a load of car for the money so if something looks to good to be true it normally is.
Whats the catch?
Stu
Associations with nomadic folk of irish extraction, mostly...They look like a load of car for the money so if something looks to good to be true it normally is.
Whats the catch?
Stu
An unquenchable thirst and lack of performance, secondly and thirdly.
They are a very good towing vehicle. If you're happy with the mpg vs performance balance they are perfectly fine. Don't let the image thing get in the way
steve-V8s said:
Were they actually a Merc ? Seem to recall they were based on something from Japan.
I know someone who had one when they were a bit newer and constantly complained about the fuel it drank and the fall apart, loose rattly nature of the interior trim, it did tow quite well however.
Built (badly) in the US.I know someone who had one when they were a bit newer and constantly complained about the fuel it drank and the fall apart, loose rattly nature of the interior trim, it did tow quite well however.
They're $hit.
As above, built in the USA and quality checked by a dog. Awful engine with an abundance of common problems, don't make the keyfobs anymore either. They rust and eat suspension parts for breakfast, too.
Terrible cars, I can't ever quite decide between the 168 A class and the 163 ML which was the worst merc made!
As above, built in the USA and quality checked by a dog. Awful engine with an abundance of common problems, don't make the keyfobs anymore either. They rust and eat suspension parts for breakfast, too.
Terrible cars, I can't ever quite decide between the 168 A class and the 163 ML which was the worst merc made!
AC43 said:
steve-V8s said:
Were they actually a Merc ? Seem to recall they were based on something from Japan.
I know someone who had one when they were a bit newer and constantly complained about the fuel it drank and the fall apart, loose rattly nature of the interior trim, it did tow quite well however.
Built (badly) in the US.I know someone who had one when they were a bit newer and constantly complained about the fuel it drank and the fall apart, loose rattly nature of the interior trim, it did tow quite well however.
I had an ML Inspiration back in 2003, it was a great car.
It used to do 27 round town and 33 on a run. Being a diesel everyone used to moan this was terrible. But back then everyone was buying 1.9tdi VAG, 20d BMWs etc. etc. that were getting 40+.
From MY02, so 51 plates, the build was much better.
I don't get all the negatives about build quality, the interior was superb, soft touch plastics and leather everywhere, cars after that got more and more plasticky, and my W163 made my W164 and even my S212 E350 I have now feel a bit cheap.
Also, with them being softly damped, and not ridiculously heavy, many of them still feel good today, not something you can say about an X5 that is 15-20 years old, or even a Disco 3 or early L322 FFRR.
New front dampers make loads of difference and cost around £120 a pair and can be swapped really, easily and quickly.
They do have issues, but more 270cdi issues than ML issues.
Main one is swirl flaps, the work lose, and cause limp mode.
Best thing to do is unplug the motor, put a resistor on it and you will be fine.
EGR gets blocked too, again, remove it and put a resistor across it.
Before people knew about the above it would be a new manifold, and it takes around 8-12 hours to swap plus costs £600 for the part, so is one of the reasons prices dropped.
I have owned three now, the Inspiration back in 2003, I bought another 270cdi (2002) back in 2013 as a stop gap for 3 months waiting for my new car, off one of the forum guys and loved it so much I kept it 2 years, and another one again recently. That was the 3.7 350, to be honest that was too thirsty, but nice engine.
Also, you can put in a nice modern double din unit in there which transforms the cabin too.
It used to do 27 round town and 33 on a run. Being a diesel everyone used to moan this was terrible. But back then everyone was buying 1.9tdi VAG, 20d BMWs etc. etc. that were getting 40+.
From MY02, so 51 plates, the build was much better.
I don't get all the negatives about build quality, the interior was superb, soft touch plastics and leather everywhere, cars after that got more and more plasticky, and my W163 made my W164 and even my S212 E350 I have now feel a bit cheap.
Also, with them being softly damped, and not ridiculously heavy, many of them still feel good today, not something you can say about an X5 that is 15-20 years old, or even a Disco 3 or early L322 FFRR.
New front dampers make loads of difference and cost around £120 a pair and can be swapped really, easily and quickly.
They do have issues, but more 270cdi issues than ML issues.
Main one is swirl flaps, the work lose, and cause limp mode.
Best thing to do is unplug the motor, put a resistor on it and you will be fine.
EGR gets blocked too, again, remove it and put a resistor across it.
Before people knew about the above it would be a new manifold, and it takes around 8-12 hours to swap plus costs £600 for the part, so is one of the reasons prices dropped.
I have owned three now, the Inspiration back in 2003, I bought another 270cdi (2002) back in 2013 as a stop gap for 3 months waiting for my new car, off one of the forum guys and loved it so much I kept it 2 years, and another one again recently. That was the 3.7 350, to be honest that was too thirsty, but nice engine.
Also, you can put in a nice modern double din unit in there which transforms the cabin too.
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