Anyone Have a ML430??

[Racerbvd]

Anyone a ML 430 that they are looking to trade off, also, what are your thoughts on the MLs??

TIA

[Walko]

Great tow vehicle

[brittbolen]

My parents have an ML55. Despite the fact that the ML is a very poorly built car (statistically they have lots of trouble) they have been very happy with it and I don't remember them having any problems other than tire wear. I believe it is a 2000.

fast for what it is, and nice brakes.

I still think it looks like a marshmallow.

Britt

[kevjandon]

There are better SUV's out there for the same or less money.d

VW Toureg
Volvo XC90
Acura MDX

Although sitting in the ML feel like pure luxury.

I'd stay away from 98 and 99's they had a lot of electrical issues.

Most seemed to be fixed by 2000.

[johncj8989]

I have a 430. I've driven the crap out of it and it's been a good car for me. I know they have gotten some poor reviews and have had some problems but mine has been ok. The only thing I have had to do is have a power steering hose coupling replaced which was part of a factory recall. The v8 really moves the thing to.

[motion]

I owned a new ML320. What a pile that thing was. Biggest complaint: the constant side to side rocking. Feels like you're in a small boat all the time.

[kaisen]

The 4.3L engine is close to perfect, one of the best Benz engines IMO. As stated previously, it really make the ML move out. I think the ML430 handles better than the MUCH heavier Toureg. 2001 and newer has the upgraded dash and headlights. Most ML430's have Navigation and I've found it to be a good system. ML430's are also pretty cheap compared to other high-range V8 SUVs (X5, Rover, later Cayenne/Toureg).

They wear tires very fast. They had problems with wheel speed sensors and ABS/ETC systems. The electrical/interior problems aren't fitting of a Benz.

Also consider the Infiniti FX45 if you like V8 punch. The RX330 and MDX are pooches compared to a ML430. I think the ML430 is a great choice for the money.

E

[fuelie600]

We had a 2000 ML430 for 3 years. My wife used it as her daily driver. Only had 1 problem: my wife was at a car wash, when the guy finished vacuuming the interior it would not shift out of park. She called me and I conferenced in the dealer service tech. He told her to jam an ink pen into the bottom of the shift gate it disable the interlock.

We had to do it that way until we got it to the dealer for repair.

I agree with others, the 4.3 is a great engine. Handling was great for such a pig of a vehicle.

Good luck!

[brittbolen]

oh yeah, at least on the ML 55, the spare tire eats up so much trunk space that my dad carries his golf clubs in the backseat.

The ML55 is stiff enough that the roll isn't that bad for it's height.

B

[LeRoux Strydom]

Save yourself a bunch of aggravation and expense, and buy a BMW X5 4.4i or 4.8i instead of the ML.

Check out http://www.lemonmb.com/ml_class.php

LeRoux

[kaisen]

If you compare pricing for a 2001 X5 4.4 (~$35K) and a 2001 ML430 (~$25K) with similar miles you are looking at close to a $10,000 difference.

I've said it before: I can fix a lot of sh** for $10,000.

My Mercedes experience has been good and I've owned several. My BMW experience has been awful and I've owned five.

Example: My 7 series had a seat that would 'twist' as it reclined because it had a seperate motor driving each side. Each motor was remote via cable drive.... like a speedometer cabe with a nylon square drive. The nylon cables shrunk, shortening the cable enough to pull out of the drive end. The motors were fine. Each seat had two for recline and one for headrest up/down (which broke more than once). Each cable was over $150. The repairs were $1100 and this was 10 years ago. The rear subframe mounts wore out at 60K and would allow the rear suspension to rock forward under braking: $800. The driveshaft threw a center bearing about the same time: $1500. I could go on.

My 5 series puked a manual transmission for $3500. My 3 series convertible was also a nightmare moneypit.

My dentist had a 540 that went through two engines due to porosity of the block/heads.... the first under warranty, the second at his expense.

A good friend just got rid of his 19K mile 2001 M3 Convert because it was in the shop more often than he got to use it.

Everyone has their own opinion and story, and I'm sure there are several bad Mercedes (and Porsches). The point is, I don't think the X5 is $10,000 better if all you are looking at is reliability.

Also, the ML430 is a truck, with a full frame and stout underpinnings where the X5 is car-based. Only you would know which suits your needs better.

E

[joehahn]

I had a 98 ML 320 (first year so take w/grain of salt). It was the WORST car I have ever owned, bar none. It was frightening worrying about what would break next. Run away.

E, those are great Bimmer stories, I have had a few with Audi that are similar.

joe 68 L

[Racerbvd]

Thanks for the imput guys, I'm thinking about trading one of my track cars for an ML for my mother.