Once I sell the Q7, I'm probably going to go for either of the above.
I've already owned a RR Sport and really enjoyed it, positives were that it was very smooth, quiet and refined and didn't cost a bean to run other than fuel and insurance. Only real minus was power, being the TDV6 (190bhp in a 2.5 tonne vehicle...) it was a bit cumbersome for my liking and definitely suits the bigger engines more.
I've flirted with a W164 ML 420 CDi for a while, it would have to be fitted with the AMG kit though, the standard looks a bit too magnolia for me. Thought about the GL but (even though we have a vehicle of similar size) the wife thinks they look like a bus so they're sadly off the list.
I'd be interested in owners experiences of the ML and the V8 engine (as rare as it is) and also any opinions. I could be open to the V6 CDi and get the Brabus chip as well.
We've had my wife's ML for about 2 years now and have no plans of selling - it's been nothing but a pleasure to drive. I can't say it was the most reliable of all Mercedes cars we've had though. Even my heavily modded ML55 didn't cost as much in repairs. Most of it was covered by Tier 1 warranty and MB of MK good will so I have no hard feelings towards the W164 platform. That said, give me the simplicity and lack of refinement of W163 any day. LOL!
Anyway, I'll start with the bad bits that failed, in no particular order:
- Gearbox valve body (cold up/downshifts were quite rough and characterised but a loud thud - sudden valves closing)
- HK Amplifier (died quietly one day during a drive somewhere, no symptoms)
- New front N/S HK speaker and a pair of door tweeter speakers (they all sounded overdriven quite often. Turned out the large door speaker wasn't an HK speaker but something else. All 3 swapped by MB, now sounds superb)
- Rear SAM module (replaced twice)
- Aux battery under the driver seat (ironically was draining the main battery)
- Electric tailgate electronic module in the boot (water damage)
- Airmatic compressor (just stopped working one day, reason unknown)
- Couple of glow plugs (no symptoms)
The car had had about 50k on the clock when we bought it from a local MB dealer and we since put 15k on it. Most of the things failed or were on their way out in our first year of ownership. My take is they probably were there before but remained unaddressed.
Problems aside, this twin turbo diesel engine is probably the most sensible engine I've had in a car. It has loads of torque yet it returns good mile to the gallon (25...35). Overall, it is a great pleasure to drive without having to visit gas station very often.
Comparing it to the GL: I've only driven a GL350 not a V8 so it's not a fair comparison but ML is a much more balanced vehicle (wheel base, weight, etc). It felt like a sportscar after GL350. GL is roomier but strangely I didn't get much more out of it with its 3rd row seats down - they don't lay flat so you don't have a perfectly shaped cargo area. It's longer but sloppier if it makes sense.
As you've noticed, even in 420 form vanilla ML looks quite bland. I believe you have to have an SE to have leather seats, else they are alcantara. SE looks very plain though hence my full conversion to BRABUS.
Engine wise, I don't think you can go wrong with it, it's not a new block after all. I believe it's been around for at least a decade now if not more? The issues we had with the car were more options related: HK Sound system, 7-speed gearbox, electric boot - none of it to do with the engine itself. Despite the repairs, we still like it a lot. I offered my wife to have it swapped for something else a couple of times now but knowing she can end up with an ML250, she only wanted it fixed. LOL!
If you have any questions, fire away. As usual, they are good reliable cars when looked after properly and in time. Unfortunately, some things just fail prematurely and give no indication as to why. Latest one - airmatic compressor - just gave a dash board notice while on a motorway and then stopped pumping the air. I swapped it for an S-Class W221 compressor that I had lying around and it worked fine ever since.
