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Thanx
Just to keep you all updated on the MB chat idea. How does Tuesday, March 5th at 5-6pm Pacific sound? This will be our premiere chat, and it should be a weekly thing after that. All MB owners and enthusiasts (C-class, CL-class, CLK-class E-class, G-class, M-class, S-class, SLK-class, SL-class) are welcome to participate, of course.
Please let me know!
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
Thanks
Jamie
dt77
Not a very good review on the COMAND system in the S-class.
the article dogged it from the ergonomics to how poorly the GPS worked..hmmm...anyone else read it ?
dt77
http://fullspeed.to/ml
I have to agree with some of their points
Robert
This last weekend, I was in Chicago for work and made the time to go to the Chicago Auto Show.
In the accessories area, I found the following item http://www.latchit.com/hilight.html
In speaking to the inventors wife, she quickly followed me to the ML 320 on display.
The good news it works!
Mike
00 ML 320 18K miles
my dad happened to clip it out for me. afterwhich i just chucked the article away ...
dt77
went boarding on sat and it was great ! Snowed all day into the nite.
First time I ever saw so much snow fall. Had a chance to spin around in an empty lot on the way down the mtn. It was great ! ESP is quite amazing. They didn't require chains on 4wd but they did on 2wd. Boy, i felt special.
I also noticed a lot of SUVs that were not 4wd ?. either that or they just wanted more traction ? saw plenty of SUVs with either their front or rear wheels chained.
dt77
For $1500-2000, you can get the Nav. Go to www.mbusa.com and request a M-Class Accessories Brochure.
This is how the COMAND looks in a rather upscale designo ML interior, courtesy of MBZ:
I'll put some real screen shots of my personal ML interior up soon.
Kind regards,
Birger in sunny Luxyland
it's an exclusive feature of the Designo floormats - and BTW also of the ones our local MBZ dealer offers as accessories. As I didn't buy the latest ML locally, I haven't got this piece.
Birger
This will be my wife's vehicle primarily, and also our main "family" vehicle, when we are all together. And since the 320 and the 430 are both within our price range, now comes the hard decision, which to buy. I know the differences in the options, and like the extra things that you get with the 430, but for things like the navigation system, if I went with the 320, I wouldn't order it. What I really like is the larger engine (without much apparent loss in fuel economy), and even better, the larger brakes.
The options that are important to us are really only the 3rd row seat. I'd love to have the HID lights, but don't want to get the sports package to get them.
So, I'd love to hear people's opinions on the merits of each, and if I'll be kicking myself down the road if I don't get the 430.
Also, if someone wants to post any tips on getting the best deal, that would be appreciated as well. My only previous experience was when the ML first came out, and we wished to test drive one, our local dealership told us that we probably wanted a honda instead (based on our age?), so we promptly took our $40k and bought a volvo wagon (which we now are looking to get rid of for an ML).
Thanks,
Jamie
In that regard, having the GPS will be fun (I think of it more of a toy than a absolute necessity since I know where I'm going). But I'm looking forward to using some of the features like where the next gas station or restaurant is.
FWIW, I'm glad I made the decision to get the 430...this thing is a torque monster. Hope this helps.
Regards, Bill
- behind the MCS is a silver box that looks like a cable TV splitter, becasue that's what it is.
-There should be a black coax cable plugged into one side. If you have the nav system, then there will be another cable from the splitter to the MCS.
- The other connection (they are labeled) will feed the cell signal to your handset or whatever else you are installing
- The only tricky part is that the connector is kinda different--it is called an SAP connector, so you might have to get a convertor for your cell equipment--a good install shop that does European phones (i.e. Nokia, Ericcson) should have a connector if you need one.
- On your roof, add whatever antenna you wish--with the straight cell or the cell/GPS combo--again, if you have the nav system, the GPS combo antenna will already be in place.
If you have a MY98-99, its not a short post --check out my post in the archives for the M-Class list: http://www.escribe.com/automotive/european/mbmc/m8171.html
O
Oh also met a guy at the car wash with a AMG C OR S 55...CAR GORGEOUS....(THE CAR NOT THE GUY...ALTHOUGH I MUST SAY HE WASN'T BAD EITHER...) HE SAID PRECISION PARTS IN LYNBROOK NEW YORK ADDS ALL AMG PARTS TO CARS AND ML'S....THINK HE COULD BE RIGHT.....? HOW COULD THESE BE ADDED TO ML AND COST?????????WJOA....BON
I have an 1999 ML430 and about every three washes or so using a high pressure full service wash... I get a puddle of water on the passenger side floor... fortunately I have the Mercedes rubber mats and just dry it off. If I look closely I can see dripping water from the lower kick panel on the passenger footwell area. Since this only occurs when in high pressure car wash senerios I don't really care and continue to drive vehicle with no problem.
To make a note of what the ML does do well (very well) is drive through terential rain fall. In Florida, where my in-laws live, we have driven through many a storm with driving rain and never has any water leaked in. So it is a "man made" leak issue and not necessarily an ML or Mercedes issue. You can argue the point that other SUV's can go through high pressure car washes without leaks but this in my opinion is a waste of time.
As far as your sunroof leaking you may want to let the dealer know but again.. any vehicle with the right water pressure on a rubber seal will leak. I can get water in our Audi for example by holding a high pressure washer nozzle at an angle in the door seam - hitting the flexible rubber door seal which flexes and lets just a bit of water in.
Don't get over concerned is my point it is not really an issue for most instances except in car washes...
There is a chance (if my explanation above was not the case with your ML) that the sunroof drains or drain tubes could be blocked or even disconnected. These drain tubes run down the pillars (not sure if "A" - "B" or "C" pillars - Drew will know) but they can allow water in if compromised. IF they are blocked the water will not drain appropriately and can "pool" up in the sunroof water channel (rim around sunroof) and then has no place to go... perhaps leaking into the vehicle.
Anyway, just wanted to give you the facts on the issues - may not be any issue at all - reporting it to your dealer won't hurt anything though if there is a drainage issue.
Take care - Frank
I am interested in buying or leasing a ML320. How much should I expect to pay if I want to purchase the car? Or, how much should I expect my monthly lease payments to be based on a 36 month 15K mile?
(With very little down)My current lease on an Infiniti Q45 is up and I would like to hear from other MB owners about the ML320?
Thanks,
Matt
1/2 ;-)
It just is too damn cold to wash by hand in the winter and usually the vehicle has salt or sand on it anyway and my hose doesn't have the pressure to remove it all with out wiping and this may scratch. Another benefit of the high pressure is that it has a filtered water cycle last that puts on water that is not hard or too soft and leaves the car spotless for the most part without wiping down. I guess this with the silicon wax does the trick.
I must say that I am extremely anal and would not bring my vehicle through any sort of brush system in fear of scratches... but that is just me!
See you! Frank
I've also heard about the high pressure wash pushing dirt into paint but don't see any real issues. I probably would not do it on new paint until it had properly cured/hardened and had a good sealant applied.
I think anyone can think of a way to suggest pending damage with any form of washing if they wanted to. I'm sure the high pressure wash/sand blast analogy came from someone thinking of a sand blast setup with sand being "blasted" against the paint... in reality the sand/salt is already on surface so it is really being pushed off the paint provided there is a soap agent to assist. The wash I am speaking about sprays the whole vehicle with a soap/soaking agent - low pressure w/2 full applications... then it uses the high pressure to remove...I feel pretty good about the dirt (especially sand) being suspended in the soap agent.
I'm sure Drew has the ultimate answer : ) Perhaps another picture of all the cleaning agents he uses : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
Frank
We were not as impressed with the MDX. The MDX had more road and wind noise (especially with the roof rack) than either the Sequoia or the ML. The interior of the MDX is not really very luxurious. I think the Sequoia Limite was just as nice, if not better quality, than the MDX. The price for a fully loaded MDX is not cheap (close to $40,000). I don't want to sound like I am totally trashing the MDX because it is a nice SUV, and it meets some people's needs fine. However, for that kind of money, I would take the ML over the MDX because the MDX is really only a "near-luxury" SUV instead of a truly luxury SUV.
I think we may end up with the ML, but I sincerely urge you at least check out the Sequoia. Better yet, if you can test dirve both the MDX and the Sequoia back to back, like we did, you will be sold on the Sequoia. Good luck, and please let us know what you decide.
2. Can you please kindly comment on the reliability of the newer ML's? I am very close to making a decision, but I still am a little concerned about the reliability of the ML. Thanks
It seems I get more stratch marks when the guys come and wipe the car dry.
The wash I used to be at, they would place the terry clothes on the ground ! er. picks up little dirt particles or even tiny stones.
then start wiping my ML dry.
i have some visible marks in my hood.
other than that, the automated brush wash doesn't seem to do much harm.
I can't say any water finds its way into the ML. There was only occasion when it did that.
I had the roof on tilt and no one noticed and it had just entered the wash when I intervened and started to shout ! roof open ! stop wash !
and of course, it took them 5 mins to figure out what I was talking about. Most of the guys at the wash only spoke spanish. Luckily, the inner cover of the moon roof was closed so not too much water entered my baby.
dt77
As far as using automatic car washes - ITS A TRUCK.
My only problem was hitting a deer the day after Christmas . It came out of nowhere on a dark country road. It cracked the bumper, pushed in and broke from its mounts the passenger headlight assembly, splintered the hood wind defector, and bent the fender a bit. I veered away from it as soon as I saw it and I and my passenger were fine. The air bags didn't even go off. The auto body shop did a great job and it looks just like new. Luckily I remembered to tell them to take the fog lamp bulb from the old headlight and put it in the new one.
I just bought one of those Fresnel mirrors to attach to the rear window, as I can't see where I'm going when backing into parking spaces, etc. Anyone have any tips about where to place it? More toward the middle or the edge of the window?
Vanessa
The sunroof may need an adjustment to tighten the seal but doubt that this is where all the water came from - although if one of the sunroof drain tubes was loose or off who knows where the water would end up!?
Definitely tell dealer - perhaps don't tell them that the door could have been left a jar or they probably won't look for another problem... they'll just blame it on the opened door and move on. Get them to at least adjust the sunroof to seal better and check that the drains are working properly...then go from there.
Good luck - Frank
Drew: Did you write your review of the MDX? If so, could you please let me know where I can find it? Thanks.
On another note, Happy Valentine's Day to All!!!
(I got my ML430 a hot wheels minature ML430)
So I guess the PIAA's would be the next best.
Some wait for improvements, and the price creeps yet higher. My elusive ML320 becomes more elusive. I'm too young to afford one, and too old for Dad to buy me one.
Questions for the wise men:Do they get any cheaper around model-year-end? When is model-year-end? Drew indicated that there were going to be changes to the 2002-will there be body-style changes? What's a good price on a used MY2000 ML320?
The men in white coats are telling me it's time for my medication. You guys are great.
What about the poor deer?
On a serious note, how do those of you who have the integrated phone like it?
Any ideas?
TIA
...Tracy
www.ometofu.com/ml.htm
Is $300 under msrp the best i can hope for???
Yes, I agree, they do have some quality problems. I had the earlier batch and it was replaced under warranty. Life time warranty ain't bad.
I heard the philipsvisions are pretty good output wise, but not as white...
dt77
http://fullspeed.to/ml
Did any of you installed or know the Cobra stainless steel frontguard, can you give me some inside info. on this. Both of these onsale at $447 and $543. TIA
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