Advice needed for buying an ML

[mercedes lover]

Hi everyone

I haven't been on here for ages as 14 months ago I traded my C class in for a BMW. Now I need a 7 seater for my wife for her job. I want an ML 7 seater thats for shore but don't have that much to spend. I have seen on on a 2001 Y plate with 103000 miles on the clock, is that too many miles for an ML to be worth looking at? Also any advice on what to look for when viewing the car would be really appreciated!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I appreciated money is tight, but aim for a facelift model if you can - look for revised bumpers, indicator repeaters in the mirrors, non-frosted headlamp lenses, and slightly nicer heater controls - as they're supposedly superior to the earlier model.

Look out for rattly cats, rust on the tailgate around the release lever (best open the tailgate to eye height), worn ball joints, weaping dampers and worn brakes. All of which can be costly to sort.

Good luck with the search.

 

[mercedes lover]

thanks, I will look out for all that, am I right in thinking the face lift model is the 51 plate nwards? I test drove 2 weeks ago a 2002 ML270CDI, it was nice but seemed so slow on acceleration. I am hoping the 320 will be a fair bit quicker!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Yes, 51-reg onwards should be facelift models.

We have a ML270 CDi and it's not what you could really call quick, but I've never found it too slow, and sometimes it's quite surprising.

Might be worth trying a few of each model so you know what a good one and a bad one looks and feels like. Good look with the search.

 

[BTB 500]

I need a 7 seater for my wife for her job

Are you sure an ML will have enough room in the back?

 

[230K]

Hi

The E Class estate 7 seater is a much more practical 7 seater in my opinion. Have tried both, we have 5 kids and ML just doesnt compare to E Class.

230K

 

[Jmal]

thanks, I will look out for all that, am I right in thinking the face lift model is the 51 plate nwards? I test drove 2 weeks ago a 2002 ML270CDI, it was nice but seemed so slow on acceleration. I am hoping the 320 will be a fair bit quicker!

I just bought a ML320 '02 (facelift w/ 90k), was gonna go for 270CDI, but they're priced higher and the difference with the acceleration is about 2 secs slower. 320 should do it in bit over 9 secs, whereas with 270 it is over 11.

I was ok to go with 320 despite it is quite thirsty on the petrol side, as I don't drive that much. Reason I wanted a ML is 4WD, space (not 7 seater thou) and drive height. So far no regrets, just brought 24 meters of fencing back from Homebase in the back of the ML today with no problems..

 

[A210AMG]

Hello

With the E-class estate the rear seats face the back window? is that correct, Meaning even less boot as you have to get in from the back? is that not right.

We have been using mine with one of the back seats in recently, which means 2 adults in the front, 2 little ones in the middle seat in car seats with one adult and an adult in the back. This left enough room for two prams (And not the buggy type two normal prams..) and picnic gear etc which I was quite impressed with.

The back seats can also be move forward to with the 6th and 7th seat passenger more room.


My farther in-law has a 2000 ML270cdi and I've driven one when looking for him, they seem to go well? so maybe the one you tried was tired (faulty MAF?)

Obviously I would also say try and go for a facelifted one, but they are more money


Mines a ML350 which is actually a 3.7. Does probably 20mpg average with 25mpg to 28 mpg on a good run.

Worth it as I don't do the millage and it makes a great sound.

My dads E class estate (2003 E320cdi) doesn't 'feel' as big as our ML, the boot is a tad longer but nothing like as high.

Horses for courses but I love our ML.

 

[MLingus]

I appreciated money is tight, but aim for a facelift model if you can - look for revised bumpers, indicator repeaters in the mirrors, non-frosted headlamp lenses, and slightly nicer heater controls - as they're supposedly superior to the earlier model.

Look out for rattly cats, rust on the tailgate around the release lever (best open the tailgate to eye height), worn ball joints, weaping dampers and worn brakes. All of which can be costly to sort.

Good luck with the search.

This is VERY good advice
Look for the MLs with the AMG body styling.I LOVE the bodykit and the wheels:bannana:

 

[hawk20]

This is VERY good advice
Look for the MLs with the AMG body styling.I LOVE the bodykit and the wheels:bannana:

Matter of taste I guess. I loathe the bodykit boy-racer look. And the wheels spoil the ride quite seriously.

 

[lynall]

Lisa had an early Ml320 v6 98 s reg for just over 1 year and was a pretty good car, in a year regass air con £80, remove and weld up split cat pretty common it seems and rear tailgate solenoid broke also very common, fixed by me for £0 same as cat job, also the usual abs esr fault new switch £10.

Mileage on mercs doesnt seem to matter to much.

I remember it being very comfortable over rough roads roads and rolling like a pig on the corners suprisingly quick from a standing start.

Also remember fuel economy being 17mpg average!!

I would assume both the 270 and the 320 diesels will be slowwwww! hence all the chipping/remap posts



Lynall

 

[mercedes lover]

Very happy, I went yesterday to view the ML320 2001 Y reg. Car has fall MB service history, black leather, silver with tinted back windows, test drove it and was great to drive and decent acceleration.

So I traded the BMW in and I pick the ML up in 2 weeks. The 2 seats in the back will only be used for my wife when she carries 4 children around, so other than that we will fold them up as I only have 1 cild at the moment. In the ML where did Mercedes put the Auto Trader?

I must say I am very happy to be coming back to Mercedes, I liked the BMW but just kept getting road rage whilst driving it for some reason, I didn't drive any different to my C class I had.

 

[jonnyboy]

I remember it being very comfortable over rough roads roads and rolling like a pig on the corners

Also remember fuel economy being 17mpg average!!

Lynall

There definitely must be something wrong woth ours then as it drives very very roughly on anything less than a good road, not much diferent to my Nissan Cabstar! Its a 52 plate ml500 7 seater with 75k

 

[lynall]

Hers was defo a good ride as she always moaned at the way my td5 disco crashed over the bumps, was on 18" wheels and air at the rear.

The Ml iirc had 15 or 16" wheels so if you have the larger wheels maybe thats why?


Lynall

 

[Barney9304]

More than happy with the ride on mine and I do 45k a year.

 

[Barney9304]

More than happy with the ride on mine and I do 45k a year.

 

[jonnyboy]

just checked mine, its on 17"s maybe thats it ?

 

[A210AMG]

Hello Mines on 17" alloys and rides very well,

My dad commented how well it rides and how smooth the engine is and he has a 2003 320cdi E class ********** estate.

I still want larger wheels but it does 'look' nice when clean and rides very well.

If yours is really that bad maybe get the shocks etc checked?

 

[MLingus]

Matter of taste I guess. I loathe the bodykit boy-racer look. And the wheels spoil the ride quite seriously.

Standard bodywork is boring.I love the AMG bodykit
Yes,ride is only a little more bouncey than the smaller wheels. The ML's ride isn't the smoothest but definitely NOT the worst.BIG body-roll though.
I love the AMG wheels

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The AMG kit does look tasty. We almost had one we bought ours. Best with AMG alloys too rather than the 6-spoke wheels that came with the AMG-kitted non-55 cars.