Mercedes ML - Opinions
 

Quick question for you all - I have a chance to pick up a really nice 1999 Mercedes ML 320 for a really low price. Was looking for a DD for the winter months for the wife (She has a 2005 Excursion - we get 10.2 MPG downhill, downwind) to tool around town when she doesn't have the kids.

I've done limited research to get familiar with the common issues - anyone have any firsthand experience to share?

TIA!

The first-gen Merc ML is the biggest reliability nightmare in all of recent European car history. Run, do not walk, away from it.

Well, that would explain the stack of receipts for repairs -- just about everything seems to be replaced on it, from the exhaust to the electronics...

Heres my two cents, I dont have much exp with the ML but I had a 2001 CLK-430 and after owning it for less then a year, I watched it gobble up over 14k in warranty work. It only had 7k miles on it when I bought it and it was stuck in the shop every other week. Sad to say but I will never own another MB as long as I live.

I am sure I got a lemon or whatever but my boss didn't care what the reason was, he just got sick of me saying "i have to go to the dealer and drop off my car".

After that I picked up an 02 Jag XJ8 Super and its been flawless. Last week got my first BMW (CPO 2006 X5 3.0) and hope the experience will be similar. I am loving it so far!

If you can get it for dirt cheap and a lot of repairs were performed, then it may not be a bad deal, but I have heard nothing but bad things regarding the reliability of the ML's. It is one of Consumer Reports used cars to avoid.

don't buy a 320 they weigh way too much, we had 99 430 and we should've waited a year to get the 55. Furthermore the 320 will not get that much more MPG, we currently have a '06 500 ml and I've driven an '08 550, definitely go (if you can) for one of those or the 320 cdi. BTW the 550 is nuts and out runs the speedo to about 60 mph and will spin up all 4 tires in 1st gear, I really want to drive a 63

btw, the reliability on our '99 was horrible, we only put 3k miles on it the first year and all of it was from driving it back and forth from the dealer.

my mother has an 01 ML 430 ...she has 117k on it and has not had problems with it...changed a battery once and one door handle had to be replaced...rest all in great shape... I guess the 320 is a diff. animal

MB's are like the lottery, guess you won with this one. :rofl:

Aside from the reliability issues, have you driven one? It's a pig to drive. Where would I even start. The gas pedal is nonresponsive. The brake pedal is almost like an On/Off switch...meaning that you push down on it and nothing happens for the first quarter of travels, then suddenly grabs like a panic stop. The steering wheel don't self return to the center position after turning. Rolls like a bus, etc, etc...