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I made an appointment with the dealer (Laguna Niguel, CA) and although he didn't laugh in my face and was perfectly willing to humor me if I wanted to reverse their direction on one side of the car, he made it very clear that all uni-directional tires "must have the big arrow on them," showing which way the tires were designed to rotate, and that my tires were not uni-directional, despite the lack of congruence of the tread pattern when you compared the two front tires..
Ok, I'm dumb, but I feel dumber buying what I now consider to be tires that are designed by idiots and not know any better.
So, here's the new world we live in:
(1) you can have symmetrically designed tires that will look the same, no matter which side of the car they are on or how they are put on;
(2) you can have tires that are meant to be installed so that they rotate in only one direction, in which case, the tread probably is asymentric -- in that they are specifically designed to maximize performance by some rational criteria -- but, your tires also will exhibit the same (asymmetrically the same) tread pattern, no matter how they are mounted; and,
(3) you can have tires with an asymmetric tread design, as if they are designed to accomplish something (like a rotational tire), but no "big directional arrow" because it really does not matter how they are mounted, just like symmetric tread design tires, but not.
Gee, I'll take choice 3 . . .
Saved or lives many times.
The '99 was listed with a cargo volume of 82 cubic feet.
Looked at the new '06 and found it listed at 72 cubic feet.
Since the new model is larger all around why the apparent downsizing?
Ten cubic feet is significantfor my needs.
Thanks.
Newmowner, I was driving normal, I haven't really used the manual shifting. I'm wondering if the gear shifting downhill is also caused by DSR? That's one for when you're going downhill.
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Steve, Host
Wouldn't you know it, I missed it!
M
Thanks
Steve, Host
197 : Obsidian Black
500 Power Folding Mirrors
530 Navigation
536 Satellite
550 Trailer Hitch
873 Heated fromnt seats
318 Trim Package
320 Entertainment
324 Sunroof
I'm now shooting for 250k.
Paul
Any chance you tell me more about ML 320 `98 .. im just about to get one, with 120.000 km .. what can u tell me more about what i can expect to be prepared to fix, slowly replace, watch for, etc... if u have time plz reply!
tnx!
Igor / Slovenia / Europe
About a month ago, I took my ML to my local California Mercedes Benz dealer to have a couple of warranty items taken care of. I even had to take it back again because the two items (sticky gas pedal and leaking washer fluid box) was not repaired the first time. About 1.5 years ago, this Mercedes shop tried to get me to replace my front brakes at 26,000 miles... they changed out the rear brakes at 18,000 miles. I'm sure it didn't need it but I was going on a 2,000 trip and didn't want to worry about running into brake problems.
At 41,000 miles, my brake pad light has not come on. I asked the dealer why did they tell me I needed new front brakes at 26K, and now at 41K, I'm still doing OK. He couldn't explain it. He asked me if I had the brakes replaced by another shop.. I said no. So, I could not trust the dealer to do the work nor did I want to reward them for trying to push unnessasary work early. I'll take my ML back for warranty work but not for other work. It seems that the dealer can never get things fixed the first time..... I don't know why.... what do they do back there in the shop?
Mark
The truck was undriveable. The dealer did the aligntment. They said that it was not warranty problem. Charged me $500. Now the problem happened again. They just called me few minutes back and said a gear box has been changed. Did anyone have the similar problem? I had numerals problems with the truck. It was pretty good the first year, but in the third year, so many problems.
I really haven't had a lot of problems with my ML. A few warranty "adjustments" here and there (trying to remember what I've had done over 4 years). This is my second washer fluid box, I had a rear cup holder replaced, front plastic under bumper was loose, rear hatch lock replaced, speedometer light went out, windshield squeaked (had to weld something under the wiper area). Small things don't bother me, cars are made of so many different parts from different manufactures. It's when something is not repaired the first time or they lie about something. The Brake suggestion when I didn't need them really bothered me.
My next SUV will most likely not be a Mercedes. I want to try something different. I'm thinking of the Land Rover LR3, the Volvo SUV, the BIG Lexus SUV if they change the styling and lastly, maybe a Volvo wagon... whatever I get, I want seating for 6 or more like my ML.
How many miles do you have on your ML now?
Mark
My next will not be MB for sure. Will try Lexus 470 or Large Toyota.
Thanks,
--oohay
They replaced steering angle sensor and light is off now.
The truck is still outoff alignment little bit.
Dealer claimed that it could be a bent frame, subframe, etc. I don't believe that as I only drive the car on paved road, mostly highway.
Noticed the tires are getting bald (but worn out evenly) with only 34K on them.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
--oohay
I replaced my tires at about 36,000 miles (currently 41.7K miles).... my previous tires were worn fairly evenly... actually, front and back had a little more wear on the inside of the tires. I didn't get an alignment very often because it was steering so straight but, obviously, I did need one.
I bought the same tires (Goodyears) as what came on the vehicle.
Mark
Gaby
I told the dealer that the box shouldn't lock except with the key. Somehow, I closed the box with the keys inside.
The mechanic pushed my passenger seat all of the way forward and up; he managed to get my keys out of the box to open it. I think the box is open on the top and you should be able to see inside of it. I haven't looked at it myself but that's what they told me.
Hope this works, Mark
M-B USA responded to me that cargo volume has diminished in the '06 from 82 to 62 cu ft.
Their design priorities shifted to make a more comfortable environment for the occupants.
Upon my inspection I can say the cargo area may have been reduced by whatever formula is used to calculate such but no visible shrinkage is apparent.
Anyone cross-shopping the R-Class? (Inside Line)
Steve, Host
However, the '99 as I recall had several upgrades over the '98 you mention particularly in the safety features.
Airbags, etc.
The German built engine and drive train, if well maintained with Mobil One 0W-40 oil, will last for many years. Also, by this date all of the nagging early issues will have been resolved especially given the mileage you are considering.
Again it was the non M-B manufactured parts out-sourced in the US that failed to meet long established quality standards. These I'm sure have been replaced by now.
Hope this helps.
Ironically, the vehicle is larger on the outside, but the cargo area has shrunk and there is no third row option (which is more of a marketing call to avoid hurting R-class and the next-gen G-class sales).
- Mark
A totally loaded ML500 was $61,000 (with sport package). Honestly, I couldn't see what was so 'sporty' about it. I did like the smoother front bumper and fog light arrangement that comes with the sport package. The sport package was $5,300!
My '02 completely loaded with the third seat, parktronic, nav, bi-xenons, etc. was $52k. The only option I didn't get was the sport package.
Mark
I have a 97 C-230, the light has been on for at least three years, no other symptoms, no shaking, stalling or vibrations. Last year, it passed emissions test with flying colors. This year in NY you can't pass inspection if the light is on. So the dealership told me it is the mass air flow sensor and they want $900 to change it. But they also say, in the absence of symptoms typical for that sensor, that the problem could be elsewhere, and that they would look more after the first $900.
What would you do? How can I get the OBD 2 computer you mentioned?
Thanks in advance,
AlFed
Is there a web-site for actual vehicle production and actual sales for the above...if so, I may be able to tell if demand exceeds orders...or is there another site which would indicate...days from production to sale? Thanks for any comments on the ML350 and web-site directions.
Cargo volume is an issue for me but M-B had sent me specs on the R class. It has 85 cu ft of cargo room BUT it is 203 inches long the same as my S-430 4-Matic.
This may not bode well for my wife who needs the space but wants the maneuverability of our BMW.
See this M-B site for details:
http://www.mbusa.com/main/features/rclass/index.jsp
R pricing starts at $48,775 and is better equipped than the base ML.
The curious thing to me is that the E 4-Matic wagon has 69 cu ft of cargo room.
Thanks.
Moral of the story. Don't sell your M-class to family ;-)..
lamp switch, or one of the relays that controls the ETS pump. This is across the board for ML's, including AMG's. Depending on the shop rate, this is probably under three bills total. I don't know what dealers you've been visisting, but your figures are completely unreal.
Just my .02, Mark
That's what I offered him. Anyway he after he filled up gas again and the check engine light dissappeard. So we suspect the gas station attendant didn't close the gas tank cover completely or the gas may have been bad.
Thanks
Are you hung up on this particular tire? I can't say enough good things about the Michelin LTX M/S on my 2000 ML320. Put on a 35K, they look about half-worn at 75K.
- Mark
So far, it has been 'hit or miss' finding anything about the '06 ML350/500.
Thanks
So we need a ML350 2006+ and a ML 500 2006+ discussion? Anyone want to just keep lumping them together?
Steve, Host
carmenp