ML good car or 4WD rolly poly r&*bish?

[Richard W]

Sorry about the controversial title - wanted an honest response to this one!

A few questions about MLs:

1. I've had experience of 4WD in many forms, LR, RR, Land Cruisers, etc. and the only one with anything close to decent onroad manners had Bilstein shocks fitted.
Is the ML as bad in standard form as the RR/Discovery?

2. What are owners opinions of the build quality issues of the early ones (and when was the first revamp?)

3. I have a need for an occasional 4WD capability(official on stage rallys), would owners recommend having a 4WD all year round just for the need 4/5 times a year? or should I just get a small 4WD for £1000 that I can completly trash in the woods.

4. I've been thinking about swapping mine for a W203 C270 Cdi(T) or ML270 Cdi. What is the opinions out there - will I be completely dissappointed? or will I enjoy 4WD ownership.........?

Please don't hold back with your thoughts - if you think it's the worst thing I could do then tell me! <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wallbash.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':bash:'>

Richard

 

[Maff]

I've so far had a range rover 4.6HSE which I traded for an early ML320. The ride is just as good, if not better than my 97 air suspension range rover. The build quality of the ML320 was crap in comparison to the RR, however the machanics of the ML were better than the RR. (confusing&#33<img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

I now have one of the new facelifted ML270 CDI's and that is much much better in the build and quality department. Close to the same quality as a C-class! The engine is great, pulls well and drives well. I done over 2500 miles in it in just one week driving to Hungary and back without a hitch. The ride seems a bit firmer than the early ML320 I had, but still it's not that bad. It is 'wallowey' however I think you are going to get this with most 4x4 - at least until the new ML comes out with ABC!

Hope this helps,

Regards, Matt.

 

[V12]

Overall, a decent road going off-roader.

Much better than the G-Wagen on road, thats for sure...

So far, ours has been worth every penny, bullet proof engine/box. <img src="http://www.mbclub.co.uk/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

 

[Richard W]

Thanks for the comments guys - Matt was your Comand retrofit difficult? I'm assuming the loom is all in place.......

Looks like the change will have to wait until I can find a decent 270 - of course my chip will fit that too!

R

 

[Maff]

Plugging COMAND in is easy... all you need is a new wiring harness that's about £60 which plugs into the existing harness behind the current radio.

Then the GPS/Tel/SOS roof stick, which just bolts on, that was £80 I think. Wires are already there.

That's it! the COMAND may need to be re-coded to tell it it's in a ML if it came from another MB vehicle like mine did.

However I need to get the speed sensor fixed as the arrow on the navigation does not move that quick, and the speed sensor didn't work on the radio it came with.

Hope this helps!