w163 ml55 - anyone any experience?

[DavidL]

I'm going to need a 4x4 soon and whilst my go to option would be a s/c range rover they are rather big.
I quite like the idea of a 163 ml55. I like the engine, we have one in our c55, and they are a bit smaller. They don't command huge money so happy to pay a bit more for a good one and I might even get one with 7 seats or at least the option to fit the drivers side boot seat if the spare wheel is on the other side as I'd only need 6 seats really.
Anyone any horror stories?

 

[noogieman]

You do know the ML's are made in USA?
So there's no geprufte deutsche qualität over ML55AMG.
Make sure you look it over before purchase and drive on bad roads to determine rattle and other sh*t!

 

[E55BOF]

I had a high-mileage cheapie - manky old banger, really - I bought on a whim from a dealer who had taken it in part-exchange. The engines are bombproof, and it drove OK once I had replaced the duff MAF, but it was getting quite rusty around the edges. If you do get one, make sure the spare wheel is still there in its cradle under the rear, and that the cradle mechanism isn't seized solid.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The W163 was a great car. We had a facelift ML 270 CDi diesel for 10 years or so. The ML 55 is a likeable car with a lot of character. Don’t expect it to be refined though!

The naturally aspirated 55 engine is as reliable as AMG’s come, and their service and repair costs are the lowest, so I wouldn’t worry about the engine as long as there’s some reasonable service history.

The car itself will be at an age where the suspension will be overdue refresh and you might find that the spring and dampers are expensive, and so lived-with until an MOT failure. They’r3 a single unit IIRC.

I’d pay attention to the rest of the suspension, including bushes and ball joints. They’re big heavy cars and they will take a pounding, so be prepared for replacing them in time.