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Most experts attribute this simply to more complex systems, particularly electronic gizmos and software, and the pioneering of cutting-edge technology on more expensive cars - technology that has not had the testing and years in service of the more mundane systems on cheaper cars.
IOW, all cars offer similar reliability, but if you have more car, there are more things to break down. Any expectation that the extra money you pay for a MB, BMW, Volvo, Saab, Cadillac, Lexus, Infiniti, or Acura buys you extra reliability isn't, and never has been, backed up by the data. The most reliable cars are the relatively simple and mundane ones produced in huge numbers - for example, 4-cyl Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords with auto transmissions.
- Mark
My sister own a lexus RX300 V6, Now this vehicle reached 200,000 mile. So far, she only replaced brake pads, 5 x tires changed, normal services without any major works done to this car. Mine ML320 on the other hand, after the warrentee cost me an average US$2,700 a year. Transmission went once and it cost. The vehicle is now 120,000. It is to costly to keep, I am looking to trade in very soon.
My 1999 ML320 has only 60k miles but burns that much of oil! I have to add one quart of expensive oil for about every two gas station visits for the past year. And it getting worse!
I did the oil consumption test at dealer to confirmed the fact back in August. Our local dealer then agreed to replace the engine under the class lawsuit settlement. However, the dealer later said that MB manufacture refused to do it because they can't download the vehicle data from the instrument cluster directly. The dealer can down load data using hand-held device, but the manufacture said they don't trust that device. So, they want me to pay for a brand new instrument cluster first before they even consider replacing the engine or not. That’s an expensive piece and working. I don’t see any reason I should pay for it.
The dealer once praise the MB manufacture for not to replace me a refurbished engine but a brand new one. Four months later today, I don’t see they have any intention to replace the defect engine at all.
Anyone had the similar problem and experience with oil consumption out there? Where should I get help on this problem?
Thanks
Jin
(yxjin@yahoo.com)
I also had two other major repairs in '04. One was to repair the fuel line. It broke while I was leaving a car wash with kids in the car. I was turning onto a street and lost power steering. The recall notice came in the mail about two months later!! I have also had numerous problems with a intermittent whistling noise, broken cup holders, power seat not working and replaced two sets of brake pads.
I am going to buy a Suburban next year when my lease is up. Not only is the reliability poor of the M-class poor, the dealer now can't afford to give M-class owners "Mercedes Service" on these SUV's because of the problems they have had. Mercedes failed to have this important transmission part in supply in the US and it cost me about $500 extra to rent a car because of time to order it from Germany. I might as well by a Chevy!
2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Steve, Host
The symptom was when I used to slow down/stop at say a traffic light, the transmission would downshift with a thud. I have about 70K miles now and have had no issues with the tranny ever since. The repair was done under warranty.
tidester, host
Can anyone illuminate further?
However, the nerdy column shifter is a little retrograde. The last vehicle I had with a column shifter was a 1983 Ford Thunderbird.
I like my shifters on the floor, where the Lord intended them to be.
The presence of the shift paddles on the wheel is a decidedly modern (read: un-nerdy) touch.
Personal preferences on the location of controls aside, the transmission itself is an interesting 7-speed unit, quite unique in the SUV marketplace.
I may put it on my shopping list in the future.
I am in the Market for and LX470 or Toyota Land Cruiser. Hope to pick one up in the next month or so.
They did the oil comsuption also when i had the warranty, now it's over. NO MORE Warranty for me...Now i have to be careful because Mercedes Dealer will ripp you off. Recently i had a "check Engine light" that came up. First the Technician said that my piston was going bad. Some ridiculous price of LABOR more than 36hours. i started laughing!!! I said you know, i only have 60,000miles on the car and this car is driven by my wife. She does not race. And then right at way she said: Oh! It's The MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR(MAF).
And i said: AH! On the Intake you mean??? She mumbled. And she kept going saying that if i don't fix or replace that the car will start shaking and the motor might blow. So, i implied: HAHAHAHA!!! You are funny, good try. Just for your info, i run a Performance Shop for modified cars. and i will just fix myself. And then she said then i still have to charge you for $200.00. And she asked me: How are you thinking of getting rid of Checking Engine Light off? I said don't worry. I'm not stupid. Just plug the OBD2 computer and take it out. By the way, this was from HELMS Brother's in Bayside New York(service dept).
They wanted to charge me total of from $800.00 to $900.00 for labor and parts. I only spent $275.00 for the part. It took only 7-10 minutes to change the MAF and 2 minutes to get rid off the checking engine light.
Thanks and regards all,
RC.
- Mark
I have a silly question... Do our ML's have heated side mirrors? I normally keep mine in the garage but kept it out recently in the dew and noticed that when I turned on the rear window defogger, the mirrors didn't clear. Every Mercedes I've had has had heated mirrors. It doesn't say "heated mirror" on the mirror itself.
I bought the top-of-the-line ML with the third seat, parktronic and navigation.... I just assumed it had heated mirrors too.
Thanks, Mark
Yet, VW lists used diesels on their dealer sites.
If ou figure you are going to drive your M-class vehicle 200,000 miles and you figure 17 mpg and $2.30/gallon, thats = $27,000 in gas. But with diesel at $2.00/gallon and 30 mpg thats = $13,000.
Also, there will be fewer repairs on a deisel and less chance of a breakdown.
tidester, host
- Mark
needs to be on for them to work. I noticed that
they were on one morning when there was a dew on the mirrors and steam was rising up within a few seconds of starting the car. On my car the heater element outline (4" dia round shape) shows
up first, then the rest of the mirror surface is
cleared.
(1)(200 000 * 2.30)/17 = $27,058.8235 (Premium)
(2)(200 000 * 2.00)/30 = $13,333.3333 (Diesel)
(1) - (2) =~ $14,000 savings.
Weekly cost savings=(13,333.3333/14)/52= $18.3150183 which is more than the $5 a week savings you, Mr Tidester proports as the truth.
I said, "I can't believe they can make the NO exmission requiremtns." He said he did not know but that is what he was told. All this darn verbal stuff.
If I recall correctly, in 2006, CA will mandate the low sulfer deisel fule, whihc will help meeth the tough CA requriments, but not the NO, unless the use a hybrid do reduce pull on the diesel -- NO is a big byproduct when the engine is called to do high acceleration.
Worse news for you, the fuel is already low sulphur. The EPA has some information at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/fuels/diesel/diesel.htm though there is another site, perhaps in the bio-diesel relm, that indicates the refineries in Cal and AZ are ALREADY meeting the low sulfer standards.
I too have been told by MB USA and the kind folks at Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach that the ML will be available in CY 2006 with the 320 CDI power train. Though I am anxious to buy the new ML 320 I may wait the extra eight months, ML not due until April I am told, to let the initial quality issues work out and then snag a clean burn diesel.
By the way, check out biodeisel as an environmental option. http://www.biodiesel.org/ There is an interesting test of the new Jeep CRD diesel that uses the ML 280 CDI engine. These are available in the UK but will never see the US market as MB USA wants to segement the US market for higher priced/margin vehicles.
If Benz is going to sell a 'europen' type deisel, then it will have to wait till 1 Sept 2006, or they risk having to replace lots of clogged fule injectors on their warranty. So your wait maynot be 8 months, but 18 months.
I find it hard to believe that MB can not put the ML on a serious weight reduction program while improving the power efficiency at the same time to deliver a vehicle capable of 22+ MPG highway. This should be a reasonable expectation at the price point anticipated.
I would guess (dumbo talking here) it would probably be new injectors and may be a firmware change to the suv's computer brain.
The Touareg comes in gas and diesel versions and the mileage goes from 14/18 to 17/23, a 20-25% or so increase. I think this is a lot more represenative of what you can expect of a diesel ML compared to a gas ML, not the 75% increase from 17 mpg to 30 mpg that the poster hypothesized.
- Mark
- Mark
Also, someone mentioned about the windshield washer fluid for the rear wiper, mine just ran out and as I filled the front container, the back started working just fine.
I still need to find out about my side mirror heaters. On my next oil change (3,500 miles), I'll ask to see what the problem is, if any.
Have a great day, Mark156
On the Wiper, in the new 164 both window washers are draining from the tank in the engine compartment. Your mirrors are probably like you front window, but have it looked at, it might need looking at for improvements on that option.
The New W164 or M-class as you like to call it will put your faith back in our products, Looking at them and the test that are conducted on every one the is produced it is unbelievable how much better this product has gotten, your Engine choices will be powerful and options are many in this model.
If you have any questions just ask I try and get answers. Great to see you all like our Alabama built Mercedes! Hope to hear from you.
My 2000 ML320 does low-20's on the highway and 16 or so around town. This is pretty good for the type and size of vehicle.
- Mark
Along the way of designing the new 4-valve 3.5 liter motor someone better have looked at torque curves, fuel efficiency, and gear ratios as with 7 speeds to play with and a lighter vehicle the new ML should accelerate very well while being able to pull either 6 or 7 at all highway speeds under any driving conditions thereby improving fuel economy. And with 5 lower gears the around town performance should be better as you can now match torque and BSFC better to road speed and loading.
Looking forward to testing the new ML, too bad we wont get a ML280 like the Brits do. That CRD motor is sweet!
Steve, Host
On the 2000s, there is a retrofit kit to use the new-style fuel filters. Unless you can find one of the old filters, you have to have the retrofit kit done to use the new filters. It's TSB T-SI-47.10/13
- Mark