W164 ML ?

[KennyN]

I will be needing another workhorse within the next few weeks as the trusty Clio will be off to the big scrappy in the sky soon and will be seeking a larger replacement for the runs to the dump with rubbish from the house resto and to take Mutely to the park.

I was previously looking for a SWB Shogun but after doing a bit of digging using the MOT history checker a lot of the Shoguns i was looking at seem to suffer from chassis corrosion even on ones around 07 / 08 , the boot is tiny even with the rear seat folded up , the motors are very agricultural plus they are basic inside unless you get the Warrior upward versions.

I still quite fancy the SUV type of vehicle so my attention is now focusing on an ML W164 or a facelifted X5 around the same vintage as the Shoguns i was looking at previously,06 / 07 /08 . Budget will be around £6k ish which should get me an early ML320 with around 100k miles and no DPF , hopefully.

I average 6 miles daily driving so MPG not really an issue neither are consumables or insurance costs at 52.

Apart from the usual used car checks , servicing etc and the usual OM642 problems, are there any ML specific issues to be aware of , do the rear seats fold totally flat to assist loading and lastly do all or any ML`s come with Airmatic or are they all sprung ?

Thoughts ?

Kenny

 

[Smart320]

A few come with airmatic but most not. I have had two ML's a 2007 320cdi sport and a 2011 350 cdi Sport
The first was very nice despite not having quite as many toys but not quite as reliable despite having done less mileage, although problems were mainly wheel sensors/ new throttle pedal being required. Look out for a really complete service history, including the gearbox being serviced ( 4 years or every 37.5k miles.from memory. ) the ride on 19 / 20 inch wheels was good as far as I was concerned even on the 20's.
The V6 diesel generally reliable if they have been regularly serviced but suggest you look at threads on the forum regarding common problems. The 2007 one had no DPF and I actually found it was a quieter motor overall than the later 350 cdi.
Seats go almost flat and you get a nice long load area. Only thing about doing 6 miles a day is that you will not get the engine and gearbox warmed up especially in winter, you might be better looking for an older petrol engined ML

 

[m80]

Nowadays I look at more reliable and that means more simple, especially with Mercs, Honda's not so much.

My choice for a good motor would be the 203 estate, the 211 has the SBC and some with rear air suspension so greater potential issues.
I feel the V6 CDI has quite a few gremlins waiting to bite, but a levely engine.
The 270 was a good lump, although agricultural, and also before facelift so not as desirable as post 2005.
Finding a 203 in good body condition might be a challenge though, especially up your neck of the woods, southern motors are generally better nick if they have lived down there.

If I were looking for a builders type vehicle,
C220 CDI 203 estate (definitelty no DPF and they were an option from 2004 (people will dispute but I had one before I understood them)).

Vito, later the better for body condition, definitely the 2.1. A Dualiner can offer 1 row of rear seats, the traveliner can offer 2 rows. All rear seats 'can' be easily removable if with clip in rails. N classed is lower tax.

Mitsubishi Outlander, had VW 2.0 CDI and later 2.2 (I think) Mitsubishi engine. Seatrs flatten, if right model the rear bumper drops for loading. Good economy, can be very well specced and selective 4 wheel drive (hence the better economy).

If your tip accepts trailers a tow bar can be well worth its cost.

 

[KennyN]

I feel the V6 CDI has quite a few gremlins waiting to bite, but a lovely engine.

I had one in my CLS , nice smooth motor with a but of grunt especially with the Brabus Box fitted.

The car will be more of a "daily" ,as the 440i will be getting put in the garage, so i was still looking for it to be a decent place to sit for slightly extended trips with the hound up and around the hills . I was not wanting to go too "van-ish" as once the house is completed in a few months there will not be such a need to transport the larger stuff around.

My main concern with buying a 10+ year old car is the corrosion and to be fair the 06-> ML`s dont seem to have the same levels of the ferrous oxide as their equivalents from Mitsubishi which i am surprised at.

Kenny

 

[Mactech]

I kept an 08 320CDI ML for 6 years. Only tyres and routine service in 70k miles. After flirting with Audi, Porsche and Range Rover the ML was my inspiration for a return to my current GLE. I have only had cars with Airmatic, it is much more useful on an SUV than, say, the CLS allowing the a much better ride/handling compromise than the steel sprung ML. I have no experience with cars over 6 years old, but I hadn't even had to put new pads in the car 70k miles and the car was still completely rattle and squeak free.

 

[Nat]

W164 ML500 owner here.
Bought it last October and it's been a dream to drive and own. Yes, it's a bit thirsty even compared to my other cars but I doubt it will ever see us doing more than 5/6k miles a year. It tows a 7.5m caravan really well and copes with everything we throw inside returning 16/18mpg. It'll also out pull most things from the lights whilst towing. It'll pass most things and even occasionally petrol stations Without a trailer on the back I've had it returning 28/29mpg on a run and 18/21 round the doors.

This one has airmatic and I did have an issue where it was leaning to one side slightly on the front but this was quickly cured by replacing all the level sensors. That was done by a local specialist for £180 as I never had the time to do it myself. It knocks spots of my last ML which I bought from new and that was a 2010 350 derv and for the miles we'll be doing a petrol makes sense as a derv wouldn't even have warmed up.

I personally think the ML looks miles better than most of it's competition while not having an agriculture feel to it.

 

[KennyN]

W164 ML500 owner here.

I would consider the w164 500 version , unfortunately they are few and far between especially north of the border.

I even considered dipping my toe in the AMG water with an earlier model ML55 but the head started to overrule the heart on that one.

There is a ML270 that popped up on eBay last night , it isnt too far away so i may have a look as it looks quite nice , at least from the pics but the "cheesy" wording in the ad indicates it is not an enthusiast that is selling it plus it doesnt fall into the £570 pa tax bracket like some of the newer ones.

MERCDES ML270 CDI AUTO, LOOK AT THIS CAR | eBay

K

 

[Nat]

I would consider the w164 500 version , unfortunately they are few and far between especially north of the border.

Oddly enough there are 2 164 500's within 25 miles of me(Hampshire).

Here's one of them - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201901043633494?model=M CLASS&postcode=rg291jl&advertising-location=at_cars&fuel-type=Petrol&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&sort=price-asc&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&radius=25&page=1

The 500's are few and far between as most people are buying the dervs. I did advertise mine a short while ago then pulled the advert as to replace it with something similar, like your list above, I'd have to part with even more money so decided to spend it on fuel instead

The ad reads ok'ish. Some people including business's just seem totally clueless at doing adverts which is ironic really. I'm sure you know by now what to check for on them by now.

If it were me I'd hold out for the 55 version on a 163 or a 500 on the 164.

 

[Oli]

Do you need the off road ability of the Shogun?, if not an ML is a good choice, as is an X5, if you really want an ultra reliable,very capable and strong residual holding 4x4 get a Landcruiser, they are, admittedly not as refined as an ML though.

 

[KennyN]

Do you need the off road ability of the Shogun?, if not an ML is a good choice, as is an X5, if you really want an ultra reliable,very capable and strong residual holding 4x4 get a Landcruiser, they are, admittedly not as refined as an ML though.

No off road ability required unless parking on a grass verge constitutes as off roading.

The LC would need to be SWB as the big one is huge and would be overkill for our needs , my neighbour has a 04` LC SWB and it has served him well for over 10 years with minimal issues.

As with most of the cars i am contemplating their availability is an issue north of the border and i am not scouring the country for a 12 year old £6k motor as there maybe a "good" one but it may take many miles and hours to locate it.

K

 

[Oli]

No off road ability required unless parking on a grass verge constitutes as off roading.

The LC would need to be SWB as the big one is huge and would be overkill for our needs , my neighbour has a 04` LC SWB and it has served him well for over 10 years with minimal issues.

As with most of the cars i am contemplating their availability is an issue north of the border and i am not scouring the country for a 12 year old £6k motor as there maybe a "good" one but it may take many miles and hours to locate it.

K

I had a LWB 120 Series so the smaller 3.0 D4D and it wasn't that big to be fair, a little longer than an ML but narrower too and definately smaller than a Disco 3, the Amazons are huge!, too big really, there are SWB ones around but they don't seem nearly as popular, they are very well built though. To be fair I don't think a 164 ML is a bad pick either, I quite like them, my only advice, after bitter experience is avoid anything from the Green Oval!.
That's always the trouble with finding a good second hand car, having to travel for it, plus being north of the boarder it can really mean some distance for you I imagine!. I'm usually willing to travel a couple of hours if something looks that good but no further.
I've had an earlier Cayenne too and that never put a foot wrong, although couldn't live with 12 MPG any longer, them and the Touareg share most of their underpinnings maybe a 3 litre V6 TDI Touareg might be worth looking at too?, I'd bet you'd get quite a decent one for £6k.

 

[Smart320]

Had both a Land-cruiser Prado. ( 3.0 D4D in uk ) in North Africa , 12 years from new and the most reliable car I have ever had! Then had 2 ML's 320cdi / 350cdi. Would have either again, the ML is less agricultural, much smoother engine and gearbox compared with the 4 cylinder manual Toyota but both have their plus points , the Toyota being a 7 seater .

 

[kid-jensen]

ML W164s do occasionally have their problems, but they are great cars to drive and own.

Loads of room in the back with the seats folded for carrying "stuff" and don't feel agricultural at all, more like a car with compromised levels of grip and a bit too much lateral oscillation, which is true of all jacked-up vehicles to a greater or lesser extent.

I have normal coil springs on mine, and I find the ride (particularly sharp holes/ridges) quite bad, but when I bought it, I thought it was the smoothest-riding car ever, so I guess my standards have risen over the years.

This is what I've had go wrong and fixed so far:-

2x Front Parking sensors (#£10 each)

That's it, apart from fluids and lots of Diesel.
NO rust apparent anywhere except some light surface corrosion underneath where it doesn't show.....nothing to worry the MOT-man.

I changed all 4 dampers at about 60,000 miles because I thought they were past their best and the difference in handling and stability was amazing. Unfortunately the spannering work has introduce a N/S/F suspension creak which I haven't been able to pin-down, even though I subsequently changed Lower and Upper Control arms and both ball joints, none of which made any difference.

4 years of ownership, and I still love the shape of it and look forward to every journey. What more could you ask of an "old shed?"

 

[moodi]

Where did you get the parking sensors from? Trying to confirm the right ones for my X164. Did you remove bumpers?

ML W164s do occasionally have their problems, but they are great cars to drive and own.

Loads of room in the back with the seats folded for carrying "stuff" and don't feel agricultural at all, more like a car with compromised levels of grip and a bit too much lateral oscillation, which is true of all jacked-up vehicles to a greater or lesser extent.

I have normal coil springs on mine, and I find the ride (particularly sharp holes/ridges) quite bad, but when I bought it, I thought it was the smoothest-riding car ever, so I guess my standards have risen over the years.

This is what I've had go wrong and fixed so far:-

2x Front Parking sensors (#£10 each)

That's it, apart from fluids and lots of Diesel.
NO rust apparent anywhere except some light surface corrosion underneath where it doesn't show.....nothing to worry the MOT-man.

I changed all 4 dampers at about 60,000 miles because I thought they were past their best and the difference in handling and stability was amazing. Unfortunately the spannering work has introduce a N/S/F suspension creak which I haven't been able to pin-down, even though I subsequently changed Lower and Upper Control arms and both ball joints, none of which made any difference.

4 years of ownership, and I still love the shape of it and look forward to every journey. What more could you ask of an "old shed?"

 

[kid-jensen]

Parking sensors bought on ebay for about a tenner... (3 years ago).
They had "Made in Mexico" stamped on them so I reasoned that since the car is made in Alabama, they're probably OEM.

They work fine anyway. and were already black.

Only did the front ones. The bumper is easy enough to remove, just as bit tedious, and you'll need a helper at the critical moment to avoid it crashing to the ground...

 

[moodi]

Parking sensors bought on ebay for about a tenner... (3 years ago).
They had "Made in Mexico" stamped on them so I reasoned that since the car is made in Alabama, they're probably OEM.

They work fine anyway. and were already black.

Only did the front ones. The bumper is easy enough to remove, just as bit tedious, and you'll need a helper at the critical moment to avoid it crashing to the ground...

Body colored black or matt black? Sounds good

 

[kid-jensen]

Gloss Black...

 

[KennyN]

Going to have a look at this tomorrow , MOT history seems good.

A bit poverty spec with the base engine but should serve its purpose.

2006 Mercedes-Benz ML280 3.0TD CDI auto Sport,recent service 2 keys, | eBay

Also been considering this but a bit of a distance away for a quick look , didn`t know they made a Black Edition ML in 2002 :

2002 MERCEDES ML 500 AMG/BLACK EDITION 7-SEATER | eBay

Kenny

 

[Mactech]

The 163 is a whole world apart from any 164. The difference really is 20th vs 21st century in terms of ride, refinement and electronics. The ML280 doesn't have quite the grunt of the 320 or 350, but IMHO, seems to run little sweeter. Just depends on condition underneath the used trader gloss when you get to see it.

 

[KennyN]

Had a look at the 164 earlier today , price kind of reflected its condition.

Minuses - Drivers seat Artico split and saggy , slight play in the steering column , lower oil line "weeping" , had some paint around the NSF lower bumper area , needed a good claying and a polish , some surface rust around the boot trim , poverty spec audio.

Pluses - New discs , interior (apart from the drivers seat) in decent condition , engine sounded fine , no issues starting from cold , battery felt strong , no dents.

Needs a proper test drive and a decent going over with a fine tooth comb.

Kenny