We have a first gen ML in the family and occasionally I get a chance to drive. I have seen trim color fading and paint on plastic parts peeling. Also had some engine issues. It feels like driving a big truck and major pain for someone used to driving X5. But should be OK for your wife if she is coming from Ex-curse-ion. You can's get more than 5-6 mpg on that monster.

Thanks to all for the feedback. I was mainly looking at this ML because I could get it so cheap and the body was perfect and it had been maintained. Up here an AWD / 4WD vehicle is a requirement and although my wife loves her Excursion it is a pain to take on errands...She has driven an ML before and liked it (I don't personally care for the looks or for the performance but then I'm a BMW guy) which is why I was considering it.Thanks again.

Just as an aside.... one of my coworkers drives an 07 or 08 ML65 AMG. It looks sooo sick :drool: It is fast as hell and sounds amazing. However, he's had it towed on a flat bed several times and the reliability on it is $hit. I want to say he said it's done ~15k + in warranty work in the year he's had it.

I really don't know much about the older ML models but thought I'd share this experience of unreliability.

Do not buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Horrible early M Class

well the only thing i like about MB early models is that they have done a better job with their V8 models as a standard...unlike the X5 where pretty much the only thing that gives away the 4.4 from 3.0 is the exhaust and Headlights...U can definitely tell the diff. between a 430 and a 320...

I love the ML but only with the Sport Package, it look beautiful with it. The interior is very high quality with a wonderful attention to detail. The ML is decently priced, rides well and has decent capabilities, nowhere near my Treg's but somewhere in the same mild-awd area as the X5. The one thing I dislike highly and the main reason I didn't buy it was the braking. I found the brakes to be quite poor even in normal braking. Didn't inspire confidence at all.

Really? I can typically tell the difference between a stock 3.0 and a 4.4 from a mile away. Especially in sport package trim. I have been fooled a few times though.

I can't tell the difference between the MB's very well at all.

On The E53 the only thing you could tell between was the grill, and I replaced mine with 4.4i's for 100.00 :rofl:

Well I mean 'stock' what is offered without packages...on MLs is much more distinguished...bigger chassis on the 430 V8 models compared the the smaller 320s . It must be me lol...since usually i look at one and tell right away 320/430 ... now the 350s fool me because they have many upgraded features from the 320s...

Ohh well ...handling and everything else all hats to the X5

I know this is getting off main topic, but comparing the base model 3.0 to base 4.4 you are right. I have been confused more than once myself. You can really only tell by the exhaust, but if you look back at BMW's over the years, they are all like that. There really isn't much differentiating a e39 530i and 540i, e30 318i and 325i, e46 325i and 330i, early model e90 328/325i and 330i, and so on. Really the easiest way to tell on most BMW's are the wheels, especially in sport package trim.

To me the 4.4i sport package is easily recognized over the 3.0. Clear turn signals front and rear, chrome grill up front, quad exhaust, and much wider rubber. The stance of the vehicle is much meaner and immediately noticeable over a 3.0.

Hy-jack over.