ML270 CDi Owners! (HELP!!!) Fuel Consumption / Servicing intervals-Costs / War

[adam2116]

Hi there thanks for taking ur time to read my article!
im thinking of buying a USED (1999/2000) ML270 CDi (auto) , i have a Honda CRV at mo which is s**t! revs at 3,500rpm@70mph! gosh do i hate this thing! needs a service every 6,000miles (@£285), drinks petrol like theres no tomorrow, thinking of buying an oil field! still mechancally its sound, never failed me, quite roomy for a wunnabe 4x4 and a genuine Honda 3-year warranty for (£685) aint bad! im doing my research at mo! im wanting a 4x4 maybe bigger, but with less cost in long run! which brings me to the ml270 cdi! ok heres some questions i need answering! so all u ml270 owners help me out!

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a) Fuel consumption of ML270CDi on town roads? on motorways?
(my honda crv 1998 auto is giving me 28miles in town for £10
[email protected]/litre) (18/mpg/town.....24/mpg/motorway)

b) Servicing costs how much does it cost for a Major Service 'B'?
how much does it cost for a Minor 'A' Service? and how
frequently have you had to have had it serviced? (eg: every
6,000 miles?, or every 16months?)

c) how much does it cost to extend a genuine mercedes
warranty? (my honda warranty extended for 3 years cost me
£685)

d) have you had any niggles? wallowing? squeaks? iv read a lot of reports all have quite frankly put me the merc.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel Consumption / Servicing intervals-Costs / Warranty / Niggles
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

just cant afford the X5 and am limiting my budget to £15000 max! i think its stupid to pay more than £10k for a car! but i need a 4X4 so in this case im making an exception! and besides the alternatives aint all tht (shogun/landrover/colorado etc)

ur help is greatly appreciated! if u can please try answer all the questions!, i need as honest a picture as possible, as a honest hardworking father of 2 earning a hard living as a bricklayer (£15k a year). so all my earning are going into this beast, please advise honestly

 

[clk270]

I think you'll be lucky to get a ML270 for less than £15k, even outside the dealer network. Quick national search on autotrader only came up with 320 petrols (S-W reg) with 90k miles plus.

At this sort of age and mileage servicing will be no better than the Honda, unless you find a good specialist.

Re mpg - I currently get 32 mpg on very short runs back and to to work (less than 4 miles at a time), rising to 40mpg if I stick the cruise on 70 on the motorway. Given that the CLK is somewhat more aerodynamic than an ML then suggest you take at least 6mpg off these figures.

Servicing depends on useage - long motorway drives at steady reasonable speed can get up to 20k betwwen services - if used to commute then expect something nearer 13k intervals
Service A on the CLK is £180 - £200 dependent on dealer, Service B £350+. Would expect similar for ML but guess there are more transmission checks as the mileage increases. Also bear in mind brake fluid changes every 2 years and air con regassing / repairs which also adds up to the running costs.

Build quality not the best on early models, but has improved ovr the years. Try to avoid old model with unpainted bumpers and skinny wheels - they now look really dated

 

[marcos]

Not sure about values but when I had a ML270 CDI for a week I was getting about 25mpg as an average. Not very good for a diesel but the car is shaped like a brick and my right foot is fairly heavy.
I would expect servicing costs to be quite high for this type of car as well.

 

[jimmy]

I too think you will be lucky to find (a decent) ML270CDi for less than £15k. A friend has recently bought a ML430, I tried to talk him into a diesel but he could not find one at the right price and the premium for a diesel means you have to think hard about your mileage to work out if it is worth it.

As for running costs, I reckon the 4x4 ML must be one of the most exbensive models to run and service, especially at MB dealer prices.

The above mentioned ML went into the stealer for a routine service earlier this week and the prices for parts are incredible, I wish I could charge half what they charge. Needless to say much of the work was not done at the dealer, just enough to stamp the service book.

I used to have a Discovery and a Shogun so I know about the running costs of these things, I would seriously ask yourself if you do really need a 4x4 and luxury car in one. Because quite honestly the performance, ride, handling and performance aint that good.

 

[adam1]

Have you considered the Toyota Rav4. It has good reviews, and wil be facelifted so good discounts out there used or new.

I don't think ML has good reviews, but its a Merc. Honda will be changing the engine on the CRV to diesel soon and for 15k a new one would be a steal.

 

[Dieter]

Hi Adam,

I've had an ML270 for the past 19 months.

Average mpg = 27.28 (over 17,000 miles from new). This is bl..dy good for a two ton vehicle with auto and 4wd (only got 22mpg on my 3.0 ltr Capri years ago)

Services dictated by Assyst.

'A' service @ 17,000 miles = £200 + £170 for rear brake pads). not too bad as most vehicles era serviced once a year (not twice in 3 years). Also still had 2000miles 'to go' (on Assyst).

You won't get a 270 for £15K unless it's a dog and I think 320s average low 20's mpg.

Another suggestion is the Subaru Forester. I averaged 27mpg over 24K miles in the Turbo model. It sure went well (0-60 <9sec) and 'saw off' many a saloon (and gave me no problems). Also quite exclusive, unlike Mercs these days.

Cheers,

Dieter

 

[adam2116]

more info !!!

Hi thanks for ur informative and prompt reply!

just like to ask u exactly which model of the ML270 you own? (1998?) or the face lift version? is there any niggles? i heard there are plenty of squeaks etc, and that not being a truebred german car, its not half as decent as the old merc cars!

and what abt the insurance group?

the mileage your achieving is quite qood! im very impressed! ive seen for 15k might buy it!

 

[philip888]

Hi Adam,

I just pick up a auto ml270 cdi ,x reg 40k miles with a few dents and need a service for £19k.

Since i only had this for about 2 week, i can only tell you that i am getting about 150miles for £20 fuel.

The car just been back from the main merc dealer for a service B, it was a standard service plus the cost of a air and fuel filter, it cost me £550 included vat.

__________________
philip
ML270CDi + E240

 

[Dieter]

Hi Adam (again).

I have the face lift model but I don't believe there's been much change to the engine/drive-train etc. so it should be comparable. However I do tend to mke good use of cruise control (more peaceful and amusing to watch 'slow and go' tactics through Gatsos etc.)

Insurance round the £500 mark (over 50, London suburb).

Only real niggle has been a rattle in tailgate which is the 'grab' handle clips coming loose and causing a rattle (it's starting to happen again).

Whilst not as nippy as the Forester it shifts OK once on the move and is surprisingly nimble round the twisty bits (all those electronic aids kicking in).

It's probable that as Merc has become more of a 'mass market' car maker that 'over-engineering' has declined. One of the remits for the new M-class (2005) is to improve build quality.

Cheers,

Dieter

 

[bluethunder3]

ml270

hi,i have had a 2001 270 35 to

gallon​

solo towing a 1240 kilo gram caravan 4 adults 1 child to

euro disney​

and back 27 to

gallon​

very pleased.

 

[horsesuitedfool]

I have had the X5 3.0 Diesel Sport and also an ML270 CDI, and as much as i love the Mercedes brand of cars more than any other i can honestly say in my opinion you should save up and buy the X5 as if you need a 4x4 it wipes the floor with it, just my opinion though so dont flame me!! Have you looked at Discos?? They are cheap at moment.....

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The W163 ML is from an older generation than even the first X5s - it was old school with a ladder frame chassis, and proper off-road ability, and compared to it's contemporaries it was pretty good on-road.

When the other German brands caught up they went with the new generation formula which was all about on-road dynamics, and eventually the W164 ML went the same way in order the compete with a different market.

I quite like the relative crudeness of the W163.

 

[horsesuitedfool]

The W163 ML is from an older generation than even the first X5s - it was old school with a ladder frame chassis, and proper off-road ability, and compared to it's contemporaries it was pretty good on-road.

When the other German brands caught up they went with the new generation formula which was all about on-road dynamics, and eventually the W164 ML went the same way in order the compete with a different market.

I quite like the relative crudeness of the W163.

True, depends where you going to drive it mostly cause the ML is better off road than X5 but not as good on road.....

 

[lynall]

Ml270 cdi o4 plats at sutton valance card kent passed it last week think price was 11 or 12 k, silver comand etc



Lynall

 

[BlackC55]

This is what I call a thread resurection.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

This is what I call a thread resurection.

I hadn't noticed.

I wasn't even born when this thread started...

 

[LozML270]

just bought an 03 ML 270 and first 70 litres got me 400 miles which is about 26mpg. About the same as BMW 320 CI Convertible auto does. But the Diesel costs more so I am a bit behind.

Temp gauge shows below 80C most of the time. Would this be an influencing factor? If so any idea how much labour is involved in replacing the thermostat? I know the part is around £50.

The gauge is not likely to be faulty, right?

Ps, this IS a thread resurection!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Very likely thermostat, common fault. As you say the part is £50 ish from the MB dealer.

Try searching this forum for thermostat - there's really good write up on how to do it.

 

[tom b]

This has got to be the longest spanning thread on here!!!

Keeping an eye on it though as im planning on getting a ML270......

 

[LozML270]

I have been driving a BMW320CI Convertible and loving it, but the ML is actually a smoother if more wallowy drive. Its quieter cruising and more serene. I really have to like it because I can do 1000miles in a week if I let the office loose on my appointments calendar. Best feeling is looking forward to driving it for fun at the weekend!

Local Garage told me if the heater is hot not to worry about thermostat. If heater blows cooler think about changing the 'stat. I'll see how I go these next couple of weeks? Sound fair?