Ml 430

[dmarley]

Hi,

I have not posted in a while as i nearly turned to the dark side, so thats my reason for not posting...

'Anyway, the wife wants more kids - which will make it 3 in total. So i need something a little bigger. So i have decided on an ML ( for my sins ). Now i have been looking at the 270cdi, but i like having a bit of power ( as my 230k gives me that )... SO i was thinking of a ML430..

Does anyone on here have one and what do they think or the ML430 and the ML in general.

Any advice or comments much appriacted....

I have already searched the forum and found a couple of small posts, so was hoping for a little extra

Thanks

dave

 

[Gucci]

Are we talking W163? If so, as others have advised me (I'm looking out for an ML). The facelifted one is better made, but the 270cdi is better still over the petrol....petrol made in USA. HOWEVER. The ML500 sounds COOL! Yes it's 20MPG instead of 30MPG for Diesel, but your still in top tax band G for both.

 

[dmarley]

It wont be a new one, probably a 52 / 53 plate...

 

[hawk20]

Are we talking W163? If so, as others have advised me (I'm looking out for an ML). The facelifted one is better made, but the 270cdi is better still over the petrol....petrol made in USA. HOWEVER. The ML500 sounds COOL! Yes it's 20MPG instead of 30MPG for Diesel, but your still in top tax band G for both.

No, no no. Band G does not affect any cars built before March 2006. Go to DVLA website and you will see this. Before that date, the top band is emissions over 185 and that is loads of cars. So either the 270cdi or the 500 will be OK if it is 163 series. I had a ML 270cdi, did 15,000 trouble free miles and thought the performance was good enough for UK roads. Lots of low down torque and pretty respectable 0-62 time (was it eight point something??). Diesels built in Austria and better quality. Also less agro with the greenpeace brigade! A 5 litre V8 is a bit hard to justify! Nice though.

 

[Dieter]

Hi,

I believe Diesels were also made in Alabama. I remember trying to insist that I got an 'Austrian' 270CDi back in 2002 but then it appeared that for two months out of three cars came from Alabama (as did mine and I had no real probs over 4 yrs). Most ML's (inc CDi) were built in Alabama but quality of facelift was always better than that of pre-facelift (even though more of these were built in Austria).

Where they were built, imho, is a red herring.

Best bet is to get a 430 or 500 face-lifted (2001 on) model if you want a bit of go. 270 Cdi is OK ( never do 0-60 in < 10 secs except downhill with a following wind) but it does pull well(ish) when you're 'on the go' (more important than 0-60) and returned 28 mpg.

What Hawk says is true as my pre March 2006 ML 320CDi is rated F ( tax = £190).

Cheers,

 

[Alfie]

Hi,

I believe Diesels were also made in Alabama. I remember trying to insist that I got an 'Austrian' 270CDi back in 2002 but then it appeared that for two months out of three cars came from Alabama (as did mine and I had no real probs over 4 yrs). Most ML's (inc CDi) were built in Alabama but quality of facelift was always better than that of pre-facelift (even though more of these were built in Austria).

Where they were built, imho, is a red herring.

Best bet is to get a 430 or 500 face-lifted (2001 on) model if you want a bit of go. 270 Cdi is OK ( never do 0-60 in < 10 secs except downhill with a following wind) but it does pull well(ish) when you're 'on the go' (more important than 0-60) and returned 28 mpg.

What Hawk says is true as my pre March 2006 ML 320CDi is rated F ( tax = £190).

Cheers,

This is very interesting so does that mean if I buy a C55 that is built before March 2006, the highest tax banding is F (£190)?

I love this if its true as it sticks 2 fingers up at those whingers who want 4x4's and the rest taxed more severly.

 

[spitzkop]

Lots of low down torque and pretty respectable 0-62 time (was it eight point something??).

Its actually ~11 seconds, but it doesnt feel like it and pulls well when you are moving. BUT, get it re-programmed from 163BHP to 220BHP and the car moves, with a capital M. Sub-10 seconds, top out over 130mph and it feels drastically quicker in-gear. Get good economy when you drive sensibly, but still do ~25 when your flooring it.

 

[Gucci]

No, no no. Band G does not affect any cars built before March 2006. Go to DVLA website and you will see this. Before that date, the top band is emissions over 185 and that is loads of cars. So either the 270cdi or the 500 will be OK if it is 163 series.

:bannana: THANKS!!!!:bannana:

 

[hawk20]

This is very interesting so does that mean if I buy a C55 that is built before March 2006, the highest tax banding is F (£190)?

I love this if its true as it sticks 2 fingers up at those whingers who want 4x4's and the rest taxed more severly.

Yes Alfie it does mean you can do that. And the logic is that, since the car is already built, there is no point in clobbering it. It won't go away. The higher tax is to deter new cars like that being built and sold in UK. Also applies to the Richmond residents permit which has trebled for Band G -but again that excludes pre March 2006, a point few seem to realise. Finally, you are also safe with Red Ken's congestion tax going up to £25 per day for 'gas guzzlers' because that too has been defined as vehicles in Band G. Therefore only post March 2006 vehicles will be hit by it.

BTW, we may all like to ponder that inside London, the exemption for residents -from the congestion charge - will go for cars in Band G. Now they can deduct 90% of the charge if they live inside the zone. But no more once the new max of £25 comes in. Will many inside the zone ever buy a big engined car again? Should help resale prices of pre March 2006 ones though.

 

[Alfie]

Yes Alfie it does mean you can do that. And the logic is that, since the car is already built, there is no point in clobbering it. It won't go away. The higher tax is to deter new cars like that being built and sold in UK. Also applies to the Richmond residents permit which has trebled for Band G -but again that excludes pre March 2006, a point few seem to realise. Finally, you are also safe with Red Ken's congestion tax going up to £25 per day for 'gas guzzlers' because that too has been defined as vehicles in Band G. Therefore only post March 2006 vehicles will be hit by it.

BTW, we may all like to ponder that inside London, the exemption for residents -from the congestion charge - will go for cars in Band G. Now they can deduct 90% of the charge if they live inside the zone. But no more once the new max of £25 comes in. Will many inside the zone ever buy a big engined car again? Should help resale prices of pre March 2006 ones though.

A result! Many thanks.

 

[nickg]

Hi,

I have not posted in a while as i nearly turned to the dark side, so thats my reason for not posting...

'Anyway, the wife wants more kids - which will make it 3 in total. So i need something a little bigger. So i have decided on an ML ( for my sins ). Now i have been looking at the 270cdi, but i like having a bit of power ( as my 230k gives me that )... SO i was thinking of a ML430..

Does anyone on here have one and what do they think or the ML430 and the ML in general.

Any advice or comments much appriacted....

I have already searched the forum and found a couple of small posts, so was hoping for a little extra

Thanks

dave

might be easier just to trade the wife in instead

 

[BTB 500]

what do they think or the ML430 and the ML in general.

Well ...

Top Gear survey 2006 (56,000 owners) put the ML in 146th place out of 152 cars.

Top Gear survey 2005 (76,050 owners) put the ML in 155th place out of 159 cars.

Those cover cars registered from 2002-2004.

 

[hawk20]

Well ...

Top Gear survey 2006 (56,000 owners) put the ML in 146th place out of 152 cars.

Top Gear survey 2005 (76,050 owners) put the ML in 155th place out of 159 cars.

Those cover cars registered from 2002-2004.

Yes. Odd since most threads I have read, here and elsewhere, suggest ML owners love their steeds. I had a 2004 ML270cdi and did 15,000 without a single hiccup.

 

[Alfie]

Yes. Odd since most threads I have read, here and elsewhere, suggest ML owners love their steeds. I had a 2004 ML270cdi and did 15,000 without a single hiccup.

The trouble with those surveys is that its only people have complaints about their vehicle that bother to vote. So its not a true representation of the actual car.

For instance many people have problems with more expensive cars but really cant be bothered with 'trivial' surveys hence their statistics are not included.

As said on this forum, many many people are/were very happy with their ML's.

Mine was an absolute gem and I have to admit to missing it somewhat.

 

[BTB 500]

My last two 'everyday' cars have both come BOTTOM of the survey at various points (current VW Sharan, and Vauxhall Sintra before that)! I've enjoyed both, and have had very few complaints about them or the dealers.

But ... I accept there must be a lot of disgruntled owners out there to get those results.

 

[BTB 500]

The trouble with those surveys is that its only people have complaints about their vehicle that bother to vote.

So how do the cars at the top of the survey get such good scores?

 

[nickg]

Wouldn't you say its more (or as much) about how a car matches up to expectation than how it actually performs.
The 163 ML, by all accounts, was below historic Merc standards, hence the poor performance.
Conversely, the XJ which seems to do very well these days in JD Power surveys, is measured by its owners against previous generations of Jag and therefore does much better.
Loyal Jag owners are used to driving unreliable cars and therefore think the new XJ is amazing!

 

[se97mlm]

So how do the cars at the top of the survey get such good scores?

I wonder how much of it is people justifying their purchase... Those who buy underdog cars never seem to have a bad thing to say about them for fear of "i told you so" but those spending a lot of money on something like an ML might feel happier having a good whinge about it.

Having said that, i reckon how the problems are dealt with factors largely as well. With my Polo, when it went wrong, i always felt like i was gatecrashing a private party at VW, but if i had been treated well I'm sure that a few visits to the dealer could have been forgiven.

 

[Gucci]

Those surveys are quite interesting, but the percentages aren't considered as they should be. A car can languish at the bottom of the chart, but have 73.4% satisfaction. If I got 73.4% satisfaction rate, I'd be happy! Ask Tony Blair if he'd like it?

STILL BUYING ONE!

 

[BTB 500]

Those who buy underdog cars never seem to have a bad thing to say about them for fear of "i told you so" but those spending a lot of money on something like an ML might feel happier having a good whinge about it.

Quite possibly, but there are a lot of expensive cars placed much higher up than the ML.