ML General advice

[t o j]

Getting a ml 320 soon.
What should i look out for and the MPG??

 

[wobbly]

Bit more info needed, there are two types of ML 320, one petrol and one diesel.

Are you looking for the older shape w163 in petrol, or the newer shape w164 in diesel.

 

[momomo]

The old shape w163's do have a lot of issues and are no where near as good as the w164. But if you do you're research and know what to look out for you can get yourself a decent w163.

In regards to mpg, a diesel will be slightly better than the petrol and even the diesel figures aren't anything to shout about but it is a big 4x4.

 

[wobbly]

In regards to mpg, a diesel will be slightly better than the petrol and even the diesel figures aren't anything to shout about but it is a big 4x4.

My current 320 diesel on average returns 28mpg, my old 320 petrol only averaged 19mpg.

I think 30% is a bit more than slightly better.

 

[momomo]

My current 320 diesel on average returns 28mpg, my old 320 petrol only averaged 19mpg.

I think 30% is a bit more than slightly better.

Yeah just a wee bit more

 

[A210AMG]

Hello ^ momomo have you had both?

My w163 ML350 (3.7 petrol) does around 16mpg purely town and up to 28mpg on a run at 80mph (sorry 70mph..)

My father inlaw has a w163 ML270cdi and that does over 30mpg for both journeys.

Mines a faclifted model (indicators in the mirrors which are meant to be better than the older ones) however my father in laws is an older one and has had no really issues.

If its a new shape ML320Cdi then I would like to see 30mpg out of that avearge.

 

[momomo]

We have had the 163 320, havent had the diesel. Thats very good actually, i was presuming in my post above so im quite surprised, not bad at all to get over 30mpg. How does you're father in law drive? Quite carefully or just drives?

 

[A210AMG]

He just drives it, actually quite heavy footed? however its on 90K plus miles so probably pretty run in now

 

[Doosh1]

Had a ML320 petrol which even on a run struggled to see over 20mpg at around 80mph and currently have a ML270cdi which is marginally better at 25mpg around town and 30mpg on a run. And thats driving relatively carefully.

I owuld look at Gas converted cars if you have any local suppliers of LPG. I have a X5 running on gas which pound for pound beats the diesel ML270cdi The X5 give the equivelant of 35+mpg.

hope this helps

 

[Geezer]

What's the price of LPG?

 

[kwakdonut]

65-70p per litre depending where you are in the country

 

[mw_C32]

My local garage is selling it at 62p per litre. there are some places selling it at under 60p but most as kd has said are in the 65-70p range.

I have run my ML on it for the last six weeks and it costs about 17p per mile on LPG as opposed to 26p per mile on petrol. Petrol price calculated on pre budget prices too (petrol £1.10 avg - LPG £0.61 avg) as I have not put a drop of it in for the last 6 weeks.
I had about 4 gallons in the tank when it was converted and as it starts up on petrol I now have 3 gallons left.....

M.

 

[A210AMG]

^ How does it run on LPG are you happy with it, what's your equivalent mpg? 35?

Cheers

 

[mw_C32]

^ How does it run on LPG are you happy with it, what's your equivalent mpg? 35?

Cheers

I don't know how to work out the equivalent mpg as I just work on how much per mile...

MPG wise on petrol I was averaging 17.81 using 827.6 liters over 3242 miles.

MPG on LPG I am averaging 14.38 using 570.73 liters over 1745 miles.

This is all calculated on an iphone app called road trip.

As for how it runs, well I'm very very impressed... there is a minute performance loss and I mean minute. Unless you drive the car a lot on petrol then switch to gas you can just about notice a difference.
Apart from that it still goes like stink, no jerkyness or misfiring, just smooth quiet power.
The best bit of all is at the pump, I have now filled up quite a few times as I can only go 200 miles on a tank full but each time a small but noticable laugh pops out when I see the liters going round a lot more than the £££££. and all around me are coughing up £1.18's per liter.....

I supose rather than post here (Sorry OP.) I should start a new thread about this...

Mark.

 

[Doosh1]

LPG ML would also be congestion charge free even if you go for a AMG63 Model!

 

[dougal74]

LPG ML would also be congestion charge free even if you go for a AMG63 Model!

No car other than a manufacturer supplied dual fuel car qualifies for the exemption.

 

[mw_C32]

No car other than a manufacturer supplied dual fuel car qualifies for the exemption.

I'd question that...

If the company that fitted the convertion is registered on the governments powershift register then you would qualify for CC Discounts....

"To find out whether a vehicle or a conversion meets the criteria for the Alternative Fuel discount, the vehicle and supplier can be looked up on the following website Powershift Register / Other services / Transport advice / Business / UK Home - Energy Saving Trust. Please note that the Alternative Fuel discount is only available to vehicles and suppliers that are recognised by the TransportEnergy PowerShift Register."

See here ....PowerShift Register

Mark.

 

[dougal74]

Agreed, but click on the register and you will find no Land Rovers (I had an LPG Disco) and the only Mercedes Benz is the Sprinter. It was simply too costly to go through with the Powershift certification for most manufacturers/installers to do it. Most of the cars on there wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding let alone rip up tarmac like an ML63!

Best way round it is to get an 8 seater!

 

[PJayUK]

I have had a W163 ML320 for nearly a couple of years now. Contrary to what I had read and expected I have had no problems with it. Its used daily and currently has around 85,000 miles on it. The most that it has needed is a new MAF sensor when it was last serviced and the pilot bushing replacing on the gearbox. I have to say that my W163 ownership experience has been much more satisfying than my W220 experience which had a number of very expensive issues culminating in failure of the front Airmatic struts (bye bye car!)

So I would not rule out a good W163 as there are good examples out there...