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Option pricing is available. If the base vehicle goes up by $1k, an equipped ML350 will be $52k-$56k. A more modestly equipped one will be lower. You can even go higher than $57k if you add every option. It looks like MB is stepping into the higher price class. However, the features of the new vehicle are great.
M
While the M-class is statistically more susceptible to problems, there are plenty of owners who seem quite happy with their vehicle (and certainly some owners or former owners who would never buy one again).
MB does seem to have taken a lot of pains to address some of the prior criticisms. The quality of materials seems to be at least a step or two above the current generation. The vehicle is now a unibody, with offroading enhancements in a separate option package.
Supposedly MB has taken more steps to improve the vehicle's overall parts and assembly quality. But only time will tell.
I'm certainly interested in it, but I suspect it's out of my affordability level. For less than I can buy a fairly well optioned ML350, I could buy an XC90 V8. Comparable safety, a somewhat weaker but more than adequate AWD system, less luxury, but with a third row (not available on the 2006 M-class, who knows if it'll be added in later model years), and an engine more comparable to the current ML500's.
http://www.michelinman.com/catalog/tires/MichelinLTXMS.html?tiret- ype=6&tire=0
- Mark
moparbad, "Diesels in the News" #6, 5 Feb 2005 2:20 pm
Steve, Host
This Autoweek article claims that a diesel will be available in the M-class in 2006 (not this year), but only in 45 states where it can meet those states' emissions laws. California and New York would be two of the five states where it wouldn't be available.
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101581
If it does happen, there are apparently at least two engine choices. They currently produce between 325-376 lbs/ft of torque, 188-221 hp, but might be tuned differently in the U.S.
I'm not familiar with exporting a U.S. vehicle built to European spec, to Europe, sorry.
I can't imagine MB would make it easy, for obvious reasons.
Not to mention hassles trying to import it; it may not meet EPA or some specific safety regs.
Steve, Host
And there is even an open question of "if ever." There had been talk about alternative classes for third rows, or a stretched W164 (new M-class platform) chassis.
The odd thing about it is that the W164 is bigger than the W163, yet the W163 has a third row option.
One purely speculative theory is that MB wants to make sure there is no intrusion into the third row in severe rear-end collisions, and that the new unibody design may make this more difficult without increasing the overall size of the vehicle. Again, this is purely speculative and may be totally wrong. The Volvo XC90 supposedly has very strong measures to protect against third-row intrusion and does this with its unibody-based platform.
Unfortunately, even if a buyer doesn't need a third row, lacking one puts the M-class more in Touareg/RX330 competitor territory than some other vehicles it competes with. Supposedly the next X5 will have a third row.
Wherever you live, if you're interested or know someone who might be, send an e-mail to jfallon@edmunds.com.
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So Mercedes kindly sold me the front moulding that fits my model for a mere $90. (Primed, I had to paint it myself. What do you expect for $90..?) But no attaching hardware or any kind of instructions came with it.
Has anyone ever attached one of these before? There are dots on the front bumper to indicate where the moulding is to be attached, but with what? I doubt I could get inside or behind the bumper to attach a nut. It's really frustrating.
- Mark
- Don
- Mark
Release date is March 21, 2005
ML350: $39,750
ML500: $48,500
M
The Second Coming of the First Luxury SUV (Inside Line)
And here's just the thing to toss up on the roof:
Mercedes Introduces New Automatic Transmission — For Bikes
Maybe the dealers will start tossing the bike in to sweeten the deals?
Steve, Host
What's next - BMW introducing a new bike with I-drive?
First the BMW owners have to learn how to unfold them though:
(link)
Steve, Host
Do I need the special tool to disconnect the fuel lines? It's time for a filter change on my 2000 ML.
Typically, you can get these high pressure clamps off with screwdriver and cutters, but you're supposed to use a special clamp tool to put them back on. Sorry, don't have any better info.
- Mark
M
Also, I want to the see the larger "R" class. The new 2006 ML will not offer a third seat option. I have it in my 2002 and it really comes in handy.
Mark
On a separate note, the new ML did look very nice inside and out.
her ignorance about the cars.
M
Two new ML's were delivered at the dealership and one sold quickly. The new owner brought it back the next day complaining that the brakes were not working correctly. The new ML owner had to really step on the brake pedal to get the vehicle to stop.
The dealer found that the brake assist was not installed. After the shock wore off, they decided to take the brake assist off of the other new one so that the customer would not have to wait for the part to be ordered. They found it to be missing too. The dealer called another Mercedes dealer who also just had two new ML's delivered and both of those didn't have the brake assist installed.
Somebody was asleep on the assembly line in Tuscaloosa, AL!
Mark
tidester, host
Mark
I cannot believe the poor gas mileage with the 7-speed transmission. The epa is 16/20.
For what it is worth, the brakes worked just fine...
I most likely will trade at the end of this year for a 2006 SUV or wagon. The Range Rover LR3 is a strong contender as is the R-class, Lincoln Navigator and maybe the large Lexus SUV if they update the style.
Mark
I agree, I wish the ML would offer the third seat. Even though it takes up a good bit of space with the side hanging seats, it sure comes in handy when you need them. I keep my ML at my California home and it is mandatory that everyone be in a seat belt by law.
I was stopped once when I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee; a friend jumped in the back area because there were six of us and only seating for five. The policeman said he wouldn't give us a ticket this time (saw out of state plates) but just to be careful because everyone must be in a seatbelt.
That's why a third seat is a top priority for me.
Mark
Looks are of course subjective. But I think the R-class looks like some strange hybrid of a Pacifica, a long wagon, and a minivan, IMHO. While it's based on a stretched 2006 M-class platform, it drops the SUV pretense.
http://www.mbusa.com/microsite/gst/index.jsp
As for why the new M-class doesn't have a third row, I guess there are a few theories.
1) MB will offer it eventually, just not upon introduction.
2) With the new unibody construction, MB couldn't figure out a way to place the third row in a mid-sized SUV, and still achieve the safety level they require in their designs. The current M-class's frame is designed to withstand a very large amount of impact without letting the third row collapse. Perhaps they couldn't do this with the new M-class. OTOH, Volvo seems to have pulled it off with the XC90. So this reasoning is purely conjecture and I don't necessarily believe it.
3) MB doesn't want to hurt sales of the R-class.
4) MB doesn't want to hurt sales of the next-gen G-class, which is also based on a stretched 2006 M-class platform.
5) Various combinations of the above.
Looking at the pricing, it seems that a fairly well-equipped 2006 will cost about $4k more than the previous one. Scheduled maintenance is not included so that hurts too. ML350's with options will cost $50k to $57k depending on how well you load it up. That's pretty high pricing territory.
Who in their right mind wants to stuff themselves into the 3rd row of a standard-sized SUV? If you need the extra seating, then there are the GM Suburban twins, Ford trucks (Expedition, Excursion - not much longer for this beast) and the like. My guess is that MB will position the G-Class for the upwardly mobile types that want the top-of-the-range regardless of family size, or need the G to handle the kiddies.
Ingress/egress is tough enough in the larger SUV's... can't image negotiating the hurdles to crawl into the back of an ML-sized vehicle :P
...
Ingress/egress is tough enough in the larger SUV's... can't image negotiating the hurdles to crawl into the back of an ML-sized vehicle
Yet people brave the confined third-row seats of GX470's, XC90's, MDX's, Pilots, Highlanders, and the current-model M-class. For many of these buyers, the third row is used for kids (who don't mind the cramped quarters) and for short trips when everyone crowds into a vehicle. For many, the third row is unused the majority of the time, but is needed on occasions. They don't care if the third row doesn't have the legroom of a R-class. These buyers don't want something as ponderous as a full-sized SUV, and don't need the size of a minivan. They certainly don't want to pay the extra premium of an R-class or a G-class.