Merc ML (old shape)...
Discussion
Post 2000 facelift 270CDi and your laughing.
Luxury pack is a must, Family pack adds nothing.
Test drive one and bury your right foot into the carpet, if it doesn't kick down with some oomph walk away, there's loads out there to choose from.
Spare wheel on the back looks pretty but saps economy on the motorway, and parts prices are a tickle more than your standard MB, if you can try and find one that's had it's brakes done as they can get a little steep.
If it has a detatchable tow ball make sure the key is present as they are £££ to replace.
Our local Motorway BiB had them when they were new, and to be fair prefered Rangies all day long. They had wider wheels fit to their ML's for lairy motorway driving but that's being a bit too picky.
Luxury pack is a must, Family pack adds nothing.
Test drive one and bury your right foot into the carpet, if it doesn't kick down with some oomph walk away, there's loads out there to choose from.
Spare wheel on the back looks pretty but saps economy on the motorway, and parts prices are a tickle more than your standard MB, if you can try and find one that's had it's brakes done as they can get a little steep.
If it has a detatchable tow ball make sure the key is present as they are £££ to replace.
Our local Motorway BiB had them when they were new, and to be fair prefered Rangies all day long. They had wider wheels fit to their ML's for lairy motorway driving but that's being a bit too picky.
My 2001 ML 270 CDI with lux and Fam pack has been fab . Its just clocked 115k miles and seems to go better with the more miles I put on it. Its not much of a drivers car, its not very quick, it doesnt handle that well but full of kids, the luggage and the family dog its been hard to beat. It dose 16k miles between services, still uses no oil and returns 38-40 mpg on a run. Whats gone wrong in 115k miles ? 1) center consul switch gear replaced (window switches U.S) 2) broken rear spring 3)alternator pulley 4) turbo hose 5)rear hatch lock broken. service wise several sets of new brake pads, still has original clutch and has had 3 sets of tyres.
I quite often do a 400 mile trip in it non stop and its comfortable, fairly quite and as cheaper to run then many SUV`s. Would I buy another ? yes if I needed a 7 seater 4x4, but plan on keeping mine for a another couple of years or until it starts being trouble some.
Things I miss compared to my old w124 e class estate, no bulb blown warning system, no head lamp wash wipe, no sun roof and the general build quality. The old W124 Estate had that made from rock feel.
Generally been a very good daily/work/only washed twice a year family hack.
marc
I quite often do a 400 mile trip in it non stop and its comfortable, fairly quite and as cheaper to run then many SUV`s. Would I buy another ? yes if I needed a 7 seater 4x4, but plan on keeping mine for a another couple of years or until it starts being trouble some.
Things I miss compared to my old w124 e class estate, no bulb blown warning system, no head lamp wash wipe, no sun roof and the general build quality. The old W124 Estate had that made from rock feel.
Generally been a very good daily/work/only washed twice a year family hack.
marc
We've got a 2001 270cdi (lux/family), bought 2nd hand, now on circa 80K miles. Hasn't missed a beat mechanically. If you buy one not expecting the most dynamic of driving experiences then you shouldn't be disappointed, it is no X5 (then you can't get 7 seats in an X5 though).
The thing we have noticed is that it does tend to eat discs and pads and the MB Dealers do know how to charge for their replacement. First time it came to change we had to cough up £1000 for discs/pads all round (and that was on top of the service cost). Had the car serviced last month, same thing from the MB dealer. This time declined the additional work and took the car to a specialist independent - he said plenty of life in the discs and we only needed to change the pads - circa £300!!
The other thing is the interior trim suffers with the children - especially the plastics.
But as family wagon, we're happy with it and don't anticipate changing any time soon.
The thing we have noticed is that it does tend to eat discs and pads and the MB Dealers do know how to charge for their replacement. First time it came to change we had to cough up £1000 for discs/pads all round (and that was on top of the service cost). Had the car serviced last month, same thing from the MB dealer. This time declined the additional work and took the car to a specialist independent - he said plenty of life in the discs and we only needed to change the pads - circa £300!!
The other thing is the interior trim suffers with the children - especially the plastics.
But as family wagon, we're happy with it and don't anticipate changing any time soon.
Hot66, the pre 2000 cars didn't have the best build quality in the world. They were built in a brand new factory by a brand new workforce in Alabama :
www.mbusi.com/pages/gallery_factory/
The interiors were the main culprit shaking and rattling. That and the first of the W211 E Class brought Mercedes right down on the JD Power survey of the time.
The factory in Alabama soon got a lid on things and by the time the ML facelift came out everything was up to speed.
www.mbusi.com/pages/gallery_factory/
The interiors were the main culprit shaking and rattling. That and the first of the W211 E Class brought Mercedes right down on the JD Power survey of the time.
The factory in Alabama soon got a lid on things and by the time the ML facelift came out everything was up to speed.
My wife has a 2001 ML
great car loads of options, incl large sun roof
my advice is to get as high a spec as you can, if you intend to tow there are many conflicting thoughts about the suitability of aftermarket towbars, the detachable bar fitted by a Merc dealer is around £1500.
there is one on our car, unfortunatly we paid the price, very well concealed though
the 20 inch 295/40s really helped the ride & handling
the towbar is fitted in the picture above
great car loads of options, incl large sun roof
my advice is to get as high a spec as you can, if you intend to tow there are many conflicting thoughts about the suitability of aftermarket towbars, the detachable bar fitted by a Merc dealer is around £1500.
there is one on our car, unfortunatly we paid the price, very well concealed though
the 20 inch 295/40s really helped the ride & handling
the towbar is fitted in the picture above
.the ringmeister said:
Has anyone had any experience of the ML430
Ours is a 430, the performance is as you would expect, quite quick and responsive if you use tiptronic. The fuel economy is in single figures in the rush hour commutes, but raises to top teens mixed and low 20's on a gentle run. Main dealer costs are horrific £600 quoted to change the 16 spark plugs at the last service. Found an independant at much better rates, service and plugs for £400ish. Build seems OK with no rattles or creaks.
[quote=r&J]
Main dealer costs are horrific £600 quoted to change the 16 spark plugs at the last service. Found an independant at much better rates, service and plugs for £400ish. Build seems OK with no rattles or creaks.[/quote]
I do not understand this ,i had my ML55 serviced
(ok it was only a minnor service)
at a main dealer and it cost 200 quid ish
ok so that was in Sweden but there can not be such a huge difference in costs between countrys can there
Main dealer costs are horrific £600 quoted to change the 16 spark plugs at the last service. Found an independant at much better rates, service and plugs for £400ish. Build seems OK with no rattles or creaks.[/quote]
I do not understand this ,i had my ML55 serviced
(ok it was only a minnor service)
at a main dealer and it cost 200 quid ish
ok so that was in Sweden but there can not be such a huge difference in costs between countrys can there Serviced my 270 cdi last week. Did it my self for £63, 2 5ltr cans of synth oil and a oil filter and took 2 hours. Checked all the brake pads, adjusted hand break and did all the checks as in the service schedule. It did 16,800 miles between service (800 miles late according to the on board computer) and it should do around 14,000 before it says it needs the big service. So that's will be the cheapest 30k miles i have ever done, as long as nothing breaks or falls off.......
I've put myself in one for the last week or so. Not a huge fan of the interior (the new ML is a huge improvement in this respect) but the car itself is more than capable.
Someone mentioned the family pack not adding anything. I'd beg to differ, the family pack adds the extra 2 seats and it's extremely important to have. In the trade a non 7-seater is worth anything up to £1000 less.
Someone mentioned the family pack not adding anything. I'd beg to differ, the family pack adds the extra 2 seats and it's extremely important to have. In the trade a non 7-seater is worth anything up to £1000 less.
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