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The elusive pics have finally surfaced! The M-B Germany site now has official pictures of the 2002 M-Class. Of course, all the info is in german, but at least the pics are up (including a few of the interior!). If you follow this path, you can view the pictures from the M-B Germany home page:
www.mercedes-benz.de -->
Pkw -->
M-Klasse -->
Motoren -->
(For the individual models, scroll down to ML270 CDI, ML400 CDI, ML320, ML500, or ML55 AMG and click on the model name to go to the specs pages. Therc are great pictures of the new wheels, bumpers, chrome trim, side mirrors, foglights, headlamps, tail lamps, on each model page! Finally!)
or
Design und Ausstattung -->
(This page shows animated GIFs of the new climate control system- front and rear(!), side curtain airbags, foglights, automatic headlight system, etc.)
or
Individualisierung -->
(From here, you can see a close up of the new climate control system, and then click on "designo" or "AMG" to see a few pics featuring those options.)
I'm not sure how to post the links themselves into this document, but with a little patience, I'm sure you guys can navigate your way through everything. I hope this was a help to those who were curious to see what the new facelift brought to the 2002 ML. I know I'm ready to go get mine....
Have a good week!
-Angel B.
http://www.mercedes-benz.de/mbd/t46/0,1506,C21HD,00.html?
Dan
Link:
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/5350/newv.htm
Be interesting to see how this evolves over time.
Dynamical even at a standstill:
Newly designed, color coded bumpers, clear headlights (FF), fog lights integrated in the front bumpers, exterior rear view mirrors with integrated turn signals, additionally (for ML 400 CDI, ML 500 und ML 55 AMG) chrome accents on grill, door handles and hatch handle.
Planted on the road:
The ML 270 CDI and ML 320 roll on larger aluminum rims in new design, the dimensions are 8Jx17, with 255/60R17 tires. Rolling stock for ML400 CDI and ML 500 are 8,5Jx17 on 275/55R17 tires.
Even more safety:
In order to further improve safety in case of side impact, the M-Class now sports standard window bags, which will cover the side glass entirely.
Even more climatic comfort:
Fan and registers climatizing the rear can now be adjusted from the back, too. In addition hereto, the new ML offers increased compressor power, solar sensor control to aid faster cooling of the cabin and many more convenient new control elements and functions.
Pretty bright:
The "driving light assistent" (difficult to translate) turns the lights on automatically at dawn. It can also: turn on exterior lighting upon unlocking with the remote, keeps head lights and tail lights on after locking the car with the remote.
Impressed Tarik
Puzzled Tarik
The world may never know...
Robert
Invisible
MogMog Tarik
Phone: +49 89 950 6051
E-mail: mb.fahrprogramme@bkp-gmbh.de
Just click your way through the left hand menu, if you need crude and raw translation, let me know, otherwise there is still babelfish, he, he. Also, there is a button "Video straten" underneath the picture of the drifting C-Class, which, obviously, starts the video footage (duh).
Drew,
they also mention a program in Canada (yippee), although I don't know whether this is the one you attend about once a month anyway . It is a called an exclusive driving program, and is given on S-Classes and CLs. Check this site, and click on S-Klasse/CL Coupé, then Termine (schedule).
Heavily digging Tarik
Should be interesting to see pricing.
I am happy that mercedes stays consistant in evolving the cars every two years. MOst important is changes are not radical which preserves the body style as well as resale appeal. A close look from those whom know can only differenciate the difference in model years.
This last version should be very much debugged and be very good performer.
I think o1's will have good pricing and should provide an incentive for those seeking good value.
02' is worth the wait for those willing to pay msrp ontop of a price increase. Im sure this question will come up about 100 more times this summer.
Thanks
Jamie
P.S. Thanks to all who posted the info on the 2002 M-Class.
KarenS "Mercedes-Benz Owners: Chat Transcripts" Jun 1, 2001 9:30am
http://www.just-auto.com/news_detail.asp?art=29490&app=1
Too bad we don't get the diesel powered ML400 CDI in N.America because of the high sulphur content in our diesel. Interestingly, the article says that it's limited to left hand drive models only!
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Does anyone else have problems with this?
My sister-in-law in Dallas says her ML's low oil light comes on regularly and they ignore it with no problem, and evidently no low oil situation.
Admittedly most owners of German cars that I have known (including BMW and Audi) have had electrical problems as part of the German car experience. I love the way the ML drives, when I have it, but after 2 days of being stuck with a Malibu I question whether Mercedes are worth this aggravation (especially after only 5 days of ownership) and because I am not sure if it is the dealership or the sensor (which the dealer should be able to master) at fault.
Robert
That reminds me, the next time I go to B.C. I'll take a camera with me. If I see a guy stalking and taking photos of MLs, I take a shot of him, and that will be our first view of Drew.
That's the problem if you have exclusive dealership with no competition. I really thought that car washes are subsidized by MB. Obviously, I was wrong. Is anyone in here knows other MB dealers that don't offer this free service? Maybe I was just spoiled. Sorry for the whining.
I guess, I'll have to wash my own car. It's not that I don't want to, it's just nice to have one of those washes, specially during winter.
And another thing, Robert, I brought the ML to the dealer so that they can aim the headlights, and the service manager said, that the headlights that I have is a third party, and not an ML55 so he refuse to touch it. So what I did, since there are no other MB dealer here, fortunately, the loaner that they had given me that day was an ML, so I aimed the loaner in my garage door, and put a mark on it, then when I got my ML back, I adjusted it base on the marking on my garage. It's sad, but I'll just have it aimed when I get back to Chicago.
Its surprising that they would not touch them at your dealer.
Robert
Thanks
Jamie
Thanks
Their top-rated seats were the Graco SnugRide DX5 and the Cosco Designer 35, followed by the Century Avanta SE V and Fisher-Price Stay In View (please note that Fisher-Price has decided to leave the car seat business).
www.carseatdata.org is a nice site that has a database that contains info from people on what car seat they're using and how well they feel it fits.
Its now listed at 2170kg, or 4839lbs! This will have a major impact on performance....
I took it back to the dealer, ripped them a new one (if you know what I mean), got an ML loaner this time and faxed the dealer manager a 2 page letter I had written to MBUSA HQ in New Jersey about ML's problem and this dealership. I left a voice mail for the saleswoman and told her the local Lexus dealer would get a copy of it also; she was also told I was returning the car. I love driving it but I owned the one for week, they had it more than I did and I didn't buy it to share with them.
I spoke to my saleswoman later that morning and she told me my car was the first topic of the morning meeting's discussion. Later, the Manager of Parts and Service made it clear the dealer manager gave him a copy of my letter.
The bottom line is: The oil level was fine but these sensors are routinely defective and replacing it will fix the problem; M-B is aware of it so no one should "ignore" the warning because M-B will fix it.
Because of my insistence on going to M-B for a problem the dealer should have fixed I am now known by everyone in the dealership. They have redetailed this car beyond my expectations (he's fixing a coffee stain under the rear seat that I never would have noticed), he is fixing every rattle that I and then the Repair Manager found, ordered me all-weather mats (to go on top of the carpeted mats?) and locked me into his computer to get a Mercedes loaner whenever my ML is in for service and they will pick up my car for it. Which is too bad because I love playing in their showroom (they have the CL600 now).
There is no reason to "put up" with anything on this vehicle.
Very amused Tarik
Wanting-to-know Tarik
Never had a sunroof before and was concerned about the skyview roof's complexity. I chatted on Yahoo's Mercedes board and found a Benz mechanic who said its a little more complex and has two motors. But he said the only ones he ever had to repair always came in with lots of little kids who kept opening and closing the roof. Its not a toy nor meant to run non-stop.
The dealer lent me a 2001 for 2 days with a conventional sunroof while they were working on my ML so I had a chance to compare them.
When closed, the skyroof is definitely noisier. The sunroof closed causes no noise. The skyroof closed has wind noise you will hear, but I don't think its any more noticeably than the windnoise around the Lexus RX300's mirrors. It is constant on the highway at 70mph but not intrusive and you don't play the stereo any louder to cover it.
When open, I actually prefer the skyroof because of the oversized air deflector. With the roof wide open and the windows closed the front passengers don't feel any breeze (you may even need A/C). My kids love the back seat and say it is just like a convertible. Their friends ooh and aah over it.
When the skyview is slightly open, the deflector keeps the airflow under control.
When open, the sunroof on the highway seems too noisy to me. On the regular streets it seems insignicant in size. Certainly the back seat doesn't participate in it.
I bought my ML despite the skyview roof not because of it (this ML was one year old). Now that the weather is nice in Cleveland, I love it. And I can't imagine having an ML without it. In So Cal you could use it all year so it be great!
Can't comment on prices. Posts from SoCal seem to cheaper than here because you have so many more dealers in competition. As a starting point, did you see what carsdirect.com is asking?
Dave
We may see the new models in August. It really isn't that long of a wait considering the size of the purchase. If you consider the fact that any of the older models including the 2001's will depreciate with the new facelift and available options you may not have such a "real" difference in price... that is if you weigh the fact that you will sell the 2002's for more than the 2001's in the future.
First time visitor to this forum. Love to read all the messages. Keep up the good work guys.
of the '02 interior (it is also in the current issue of German auto mag AutoBild), one can (with the help of the EagleEye!) also see another new feature which has been sorely missed: Finally there are speakers in the sail panels! This should provide a better listening experience for those of us whose ears are not attached to the ankles ;-) I wonder whether these panels would be retrofittable to older models?? I would guess yes, especially as the '01 and '02 models have the same interior colors - while the panels on older models will probably fit, there will be a difference in color.
Birger
Robert
The Hot laps were great. Initially only two E55's ad one S55 running. First run in an E55. Driver had ESP off the entire time and exceeded 90mph on most of the run! Great fun. Next lap in an S55. ESP on entire run (never saw triangle lie up) and driver was rather timid with the car, saying he had been asked to take it easy ( I think he may have been a little intimidated by the car as he had lengthy discussions with some of the other drivers prior to our run). An ML55 was sitting there, and later was available to ride upon request. Later a CLK55, 2 E55's, S55, and CL55 were running. After waiting in line for a ride in the CL55 which was definitely being driven hard (lots of tail slides and hard running) the CLK pulls up, HUGE amounts of brake smoke. A few cool down laps and they started up again with that car, but were definitely running slower. In the midst of this, the CL completely misses the last turn, blows through the cones, over the other lane (just missing an E55) through the barriers of the parking lot, between our parked cars and into the main drive! I thought the rider was getting a really extended test drive, but obviously something went really bad. Amazingly the only damage (done by cones) was a crack in the front air dam and a broken fog light! Needless to say, that was the end of the CL55 running in the hot laps, and by that time one of the E55's and the S55 had dropped out as well. With only two cars running, the line was huge. I ended up getting out of line and watching a display of the traction system (roller ramp) and the "Frame twister" with the truck on offset ramps, Passenger front and driver rear wheels off the ground, and people hanging on the outside bouncing the car off each wheel.
All in all a fun morning, but not nearly as much fun as BMW's use of driving instructors and racing events (both in the 3 and X. cars). Many people I spoke with had been at those events and felt the same way. I was hoping to sharpen my skills, but ended up taking some nice rides.
Only saw one person being flagged after taking out 3/4 of the cones in the CL500.
Perhaps the most dissapointing (but understandable) aspect was information on new models. The new C-class wagon and coupe were there, but the current E-class and ML were the only ones displayed. As this was somewhat of a selling event, I would have thought that they might have said something about the '02 models. At the hotlap section, one gentleman from MBNA said they were awaiting info on the forthcoming SLK32. Funny, Automobile Magazine just did a four page spread on the car. I asked him about this and he looked at me like I was from Mars! I was a little dissapointed that they wouldn't share any information especially as I expressed my interest in both the new E and ML. I guess the're just letting the dealers do this as needed.
Ken Yee, moved my time to 9AM. I will be driving up in my silver CLK430 Cabriolet. Do you have any direction to Suffolk Downs from 128 or 3? I hope that the lines will be shorter in the AM.
Follow 3 into Boston. You'll have to take the Callahan tunnel exit. After you exit the tunnel, you should see signs to Suffolk Downs (at least that's what I've been told :-)
Do a mapquest to be sure. Hope to see you there.
It is amazing MB has re-invented the climate control for no good reason... it would have made much more sense to adopt the better C-class style climate control already in production and also used in the G-class. Can't figure out what they were thinking... why not give us two zone if your going to go to the trouble and make the system automatic... this seems like a band aid for what should have been offered from the very beginning.
ON an MCS note... the picture of the Euro ML shows the Command system.... this is not offered on the US models - the MCS is the system what will continue for US 2002 models... just wanted to clarify this if anyone was thinking the Command was taking the place of MCS.
Cheers