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Comments
Cheers
Pat
Comments appreciated.
RDL
Has anybody experienced this problem?
RDL
Guess I'll have to keep it forever :-(
1) I would like the fog lights to come on with just the parking lights, not with the headlights.
2) I wish the power steering was easier to turn in tight parking situations. I guess the tires are too big.
3) I would like radio controls on the steering wheel.
4) I would like the heated seats to be offered in the second row.
THINGS I LIKE:
1) The Parktronic works perfectly, especially since it's difficult to see the end of the front hood.
2) The seats are very comfortable for long trips. (just completed a 2,000 mile trip)
3) The power of the V8 is awesome!
4) On icy surfaces, the ML sticks like glue with perfect traction. (Drove 12 hours (700 miles) through an icy/snowy situation on my 2,000 trip)
Just my .02, Mark
They also had to replaced the brake pads (front & rear) and the front rotors. It seems to me it is too early to make this repair ($732.50).
Regarding the rumble noise between 13-17 MPH three dealer mechanics suggested to change the tires and do an alignment. Tires are still good but I plan to change them in January. I bought a set of original Dunlop GrandTrek at $81/tire at TireRack.
RDL
My advice is, to save yourself lots of $$$ and headaches, go buy yourself a Kia Sportage and tape a Mercedes star to the front of it. You will then have the Mercedes ML "look" on a vehicle that will run a good portion of the time, and for maybe a third of the cost.
Best of luck.
1) How difficult is it to remove the standard stereo (not Bose and no Navigation --I will order the car this way) and replace with aftermarket equipment. Has anyone done this? and has anyone put a CD changer under the front seat. In the back is useless to us (on the RX 300 it is in the glove compartment). Also seems like a standard DIN head unit would fit up front. Is this the case??? (Not trying to be a snob, but if we buy, we do plan on keeping for some time and since I do have aftermarket Alpine and Boston Acoustics in my other car I know how much better aftermarket can be compared to Bose)!
2) I plan on buying not leasing and holding onto the vehicle for some time....any thoughts on Xenon headlamps??? If I do hold onto the ML for a long time will I be the only MB owner in the future without them?? as I am assuming as time goes by they will be more prevalent.....
3) I read on a Edmunds review a while back that the air re-circulation switch automatically resets to open the vent after it has been closed for over 30 minutes. This could be a major issue for me as I live in northern NJ, frequently drive in traffic and on interstates, and prefer not to breath fumes every half-hour as a reminder to close the vent. Can this control be reset at the dealer???
4) Extended Warrantee or not ??? If I get an extended warrantee it will be from MB....
5) Did anyone get the inspiration package, how is the leather different???
Thanks in advance??? Rob
I hope that this helps.
Wally
Anyone else heard of this remedy? Mark
Happy Holidays
Pat
Mike
Earlier discussions on the temp system refer to it as semi-automatic. I finds the temperature drops too much to be trying to maintaining a constant temperature until the car has really warmed up.
I start the dial off at 12 o'clock in the white and then put it at about 10 o'clock after 15 mins otherwise it will get too hot. I should really try just leaving it at 10.
As air comes in whether the fan is at 0 or 1, I always leave the fan off when I first start the car otherwise I'll get cold air coming into the cabin. Sometimes if I get on the freeway right afterwards I never even have to turn the fan on - freeway speeds seem push enough air into the cabin. This is unlike MB sedans with the digital guage. When you turn the fan to 0, you can actually hear the vents closing and nothing comes in the car. This leads me to believe it's not just a difference of digital or analog guages - the whole system is different.
The new mud-flaps were installed and I'm sure will do the job but they are kinda big.
Mark
very reliable but for 2 problems.
WINDOW SWITCH FAILURE: wife complained the
1-touch down on drivers window was harder to
activate. I ignored her. Then, at Midnight,
the window switch failed with window down.
It was midnight, 20 degrees, snowing, 40 miles
from home, and we had 2 sleeping babies in the
back seat!
Mercedes roadside assistance arrived within
15 min (but we had to call in twice).
Mechanic said all ML's with the original
switch configuration are subject to premature
failure ... which is why he keeps spares
in his service vehicle. Repair took 10 minutes.
(2) Mass air flow sensor went bad at 20kmiles.
Otherwise, this has been a rock solid, dependable
family hauler. If it keeps on at this rate, one of
our toddlers will get it as her first car.
Road Side Assistance: When we called about the
window problem, Merc. said a tech would call us
back in 10 min. 30min passed and no call. We called
again, they apologized, and alerted the 24hr tech
from another local dealer, and he called us back
in less than 2 minutes. So, be persistance and call
until you get service.
John Feng
Mike
Mine failed going into a car wash but I jiggled it up in time. Unfortunately 3 days later I was leaving a parking garage (remembered it on the way in) forgot about it, the window went down and stayed down. 20 degrees out but I was on the way to dealer anyway so I dropped it off, went to the Infiniti dealer next door, picked up a QX4 brochure and sat in the M-B lobby reading it and complaining to my sales person about the ML.
Purchased 98 ML320 in 00 with 16,000 miles
Comments:
Loves - The handling and brakes - More on that
Hates - heater air flow to feet is absolutely worthless and not worthy of MB's name - need to shut off dash vents to force air to feet.
Interestingly noted messages by others about the window switch. Mine went out too, and dealer replaced at no charge along with other maintenance charges after initially telling me it would be about $80. I previously took the switch apart to try to fix myself, and concluded the plastic source of the problem was not fixable.
Handling: Besides my own love of how it handles, My wife has loved the ML handling as she ran over a deer on a dark WY interstate this summer. She kept it on the road. No damage to the ML, but a few days later a dog in Jackson went crazy smelling the underside of the truck.
Braking: I found the brakes outstanding as I realized yesterday that the car in front of me was not only slowing down but actually stopped. My foot pressure quickly changed from gliding pressure to all out jam. The ML successfully came to a stop before I hit the car in front of me. I then looked in the rear view mirror and realized the Dodge van behind me was not going to be as courteous. I was ramed forward into the car in front of me.
The ML is fixable, but I'm told that with the declaration of damage on the title, I will lose about 30% of the ML value versus a never-damaged one when I trade. So I am seriously going to try to get the insurance company to just purchase the ML from me, or at least pay me for the lost value.
Questions:
Has anyone had experience on the value declination? I'm told I should trade now and get the other driver's insurance to pay for the lost value right away. Anyone had experience on this?
If I trade, everyone in the family (wife, 16 yr old son, and 25 yr old daughter) says I should get another ML as opposed to the competition.
I am considering a used 2001 or a new 2002 320, or a new 2003 320 or 350.
Did MB fix the air flow to feet problem?
Did MB fix the window switch problem?
Anyone have any experience in the 350 and comments on it versus the 320? Any comments on the 2001 as a used vehicle?
Thanks for all replies.
mvhanson
the window switches have finally been fixed and with auto climate control in the 02's they have improved the overall ventilation system.
i drove the 350 and couldn't tell a difference between that and the 320 but i'm sure there are improvements if it's timed. i would look for a used 02 -- these vehicles don't hold their value as much as other Merc so you can probably get a decent deal.
i ended up going with the MDX simply because i needed some more space for the occasional sixth person, i wanted fewer breakdowns, and more power.
tidester, host
thanks for the comments and welcome.
I'm waiting on repair estimate now, and that will influence what direction I go.
I welcome other comments from others.
I looked at GMC Yukon this pm. Talk about sticker shock.
mvhanson
Thanks for the comment.
mvhanson
Sorry about taking more than three weeks to react to your post - but I've been off on holiday in a computer-free environment ;-)
Whatever other options you choose for your future ML, DO get the Bi-Xenons! Since I retrofitted them to my 2001 ML 270 CDI, driving in the dark is a non-issue. The low beams are very efficient, without dazzling oncoming traffic, and the hi-beams are just awesome. Even more so, if you do a small modification to also have the traditional H7 hi beams come on like on the European models - but even without this additional candlepower, driving by night is a pleasure.
I know, they don't come for free, but IMHO it's one of the most important safety (and comfort) features. And in some years from now, it might be a little harder to sell a ML without this option.
Cheers from wintry Luxembourg,
Birger
Pluses +: Nothing broke. I got 52,000 miles on the original Dunlops and 59,000 before the dealer recommended replacing the front brake pads. I bought the same Dunlops from Sears for $89.00 on sale. The dealer wanted $140. The heated seats are wonderful. There is adequate power for every thing I do including trailer pulling. The MB hitch works perfectly. The nav system is adequate but really not necessary. I have no squeaks, no wind noise from poor door seals, no complaints. The audio system is great for a truck, but,(see negatives). You can see out of it far better than out of my E320 sedan. My wife likes it. The cup holders work. It gets respectable gas mileage. I want another one.
Neutrals +/- : It is and always was a truck. The ride is stiff and solid. If you like a Buick ride, you won't like the ML. It uses premium fuel which with today's economics costs a mere 5% more than regular (because even cheap fuel is now expensive). The cargo space is adequate for cargo, but, (see negatives). It is great in bad road conditions without second guessing the traction system. I live above 9000 feet 80 miles west of Denver and the ML has been tested - often! Many other SUV's are OK driving through stuff, but fail in the downhill mode.
Negatives - : There is not enough room for a jury rigged third row of seats. the Honda Pilot has enough room and it burns regular gas, and it's way cheaper. The CD changer is foolishly located way in the back. The gas tank should be larger so cheap guys like me could make it from Sam's club or Costco to sam's Club or Costco for cheap gas. The spare isn't full size.The "fuel remaining miles to go to empty" readout calculates all the way to dry if you have selected km's but gives up the ghost early if miles is selected giving only a low fuel flashing warning. Probably doesn't matter if you live in a big city and never leave.
That's about it. I read guys complaining about door seal squeaks and must presume that they don't sell cans of spray silicon in their part of the world. I see many petty gripes and can only guess that some folks who thought they were buying a touring car didn't know they bought a truck, and MB makes zillions of trucks, this being one of their itsy bitsy ones. For the person considering an SUV, I say go for an ML and you too will be (ML) Most Lucky!
A caveat. In Denver, the 320's but not the 350's are offered for invoice, but the dealer has a $2000.00 incentive below that plus the usual holdback, so some good buys are there for the wise buyer. Don't run out your warranty miles before you run out your warranty months like I did. I want another one!
I live on a hill and got about 15K out of mine. The ML is a heavy truck and the brake pads are very soft. Many of us are getting between 15 to 19K only.
I don't know how the sensor works, but the noise doesn't sound right. Better call your dealer right away.
To say I am annoyed with this is an understatement. But I am going to fork over the cash (almost $400). In 6 months when my turn comes around to buy the next vehicle, I will go with a Lexus GX470 and not the ML500 as I was planning to. I have had too many issues with this vehicle and the dealer, pardon me, sucks. I enjoyed the car when it was working properly but don't care for the aggravation and frequent trips to the hideous dealer anymore.