mkaresh

I wanted more up-to-date auto reliability information that included actual repair rates. So in late 2005 I started getting people together to make this possible. TrueDelta now reports absolute repair rates that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so it's possible to track cars closely as they age.

No model years of the W163 M-Class are in the survey yet, but the 2000 MY is getting close to the minimum sample size, and others aren't far behind.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, participants receive full access to all results, not just those for the M-Class, free of charge.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Car reliability research

Boston Mark

I just bought a 1998 ML 320 with 153344. mile on it. Since then I have put on almost 2000 miles in it.
When I got it it needed a set of plugs an 02 sensor (bank 2 sensor 2 ) alignment and wires as well as a LOF. Having got all of this done I get 21.4 around town and almost 24 on the highway (About the same as before but much smoother at an idle)
The last thing that bugs me is at low speed left and right turns, it acts like as if I were in 4 wheel drive with the axles locked. There is a bit of a vibration. I was told this is because of the AWD. I had Auto zone pull the codes and there was a Transmission sensor that showed up. I had them clear the codes and checked back about 400 miles later and nothing showed up.
So far I love this thing!
Boston Mark

mkaresh

Can other people verify that the low-speed behavior of their W163 is or is not as he describes? I thought the Mercedes system didn't engage the front wheels unless the rears slip, but could be wrong on this.

timdf

later year models they changed the power split f/r to help prevent this shuddering problem.
A little searching of this forum should reveal the details.

Tim

mkaresh

The 2000 is now just a couple owners short of the minimum needed to get started, and other years are now over halfway.

Help get your year included:

Car reliability research

mkaresh

150 M-Class owners now signed up. A good start, but more are needed to include all model years in the survey. The 2000 is soooo close.

Car reliability research

mkaresh

The 2000 is now also in the survey, and the 2007 is now close. Additional participants needed for all model years.

Car reliability research

mkaresh

Updated results recently posted for the C, E, and GL.

Hoping to have the M as well as the GLK and R in the February update. It will come down to how many owners participate, though.

For 100 models where we have enough data we've also introduced two new statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds," to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop.

Help us provide this information for the first-gen M-Class:

Car reliability research

mkaresh

Getting close to that February update. The 2000 M-Class is right at the minimum sample size. A few more participants could make the difference between having a result and not having one.

Other model years now a bit over halfway to the minimum.

Help get your year included:

Car reliability research

mkaresh

It looks like we're going to be a few participants short for a result in February. The next update will be in May--hopefully then. A few more participants would do it.

Details here:

Car reliability research

mkaresh

This time next month it will be clear whether we'll have a stat for the W163. It's going to be close, so even a few additional participants would be very helpful.

Car reliability research

mkaresh

We're a few responses short, so unfortunately this is not yet clear. I'll do what I can to get those last few responses.

For the next round, a few more participants would clearly make a big difference. Details here:

Car reliability research

mkaresh

Ended up a few responses short of the bare minimum for the 2000.

To help make a result happen in the next update, in August:

Car reliability research

mkaresh

I about a month we'll preview the August results to participants. I hope to learn then that we have enough responses for the W163 M-Class--it's going to be close.

mkaresh

Updated stats this month. With the 2000 M-Class, it looks like we're going to end up a single month of data short of the minimum.

In other words, even a single additional participant would be very helpful.

To help get your year included:

Car reliability research

mkaresh

We did end up a single month of data short for the 2000. We should finally get there with the next results update, in November. The sample size will be very small, so additional participants certainly would be helpful.

mkaresh

Updated reliability stats next month will include the 2000 M-Class--sorry it took so long.

I'd like to cover all model years--simple matter of getting more owners involved

Car reliability research

mkaresh

We have an initial result for the 2000 M-Class based on owner experiences through September 30, 2010.

With a reported repair frequency of 132 repair trips per 100 cars per year, it's about average. This is based on a very small sample size, so it could be inaccurate.

We'll have further updated in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise results and cover more model years.

Thank you to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help:

Mercedes-Benz M-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We have some new pages that display all reported repairs by problem area:

2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class problem reports

From this page it's possible to select a different model year or specify a problem area.

ML 500 mz

I have a issue along the same line. Example.... when I come to a stop sign, let up on the gas, seems like someone is holding on the bumber, drag.

mkaresh

We didn't receive quite enough responses for the 2000 M-Class to include it in the current results. Thanks to the participation of a few more owners, it will be in next month's update.

I'd like to provide stats for all model years. So I hope more owners will participate.

mkaresh

We now have a reliability stat for the 2000 M-Class based on owner experiences through March 31, 2011.

With a reported repair frequency of 133 repair trips per 100 cars per year, it's about average. This is based on a very small sample size, so it could be inaccurate.

We'll have further updates in August and November. With more participants, we could provide more precise results and cover more model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz M-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We have an updated reliability stat for the 2000 M-Class based on owner experiences through September 30, 2011.

With a reported repair frequency of 152 repair trips per 100 cars per year, it's again about average, but getting close to "worse than average." This is based on a very small sample size, so it could be inaccurate.

We'll have further updates in February and May. With more participants, we could provide more precise results and cover more model years (we cover three years for the second-generation SUV).

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz M-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the M-Class (on our redesigned site) to include owner experiences through December 31, 2011.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2000: 135, about average, very small sample size

Thank you to everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates in May and August. With more participants, we could provide more precise information and cover all model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz M-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We have an updated reliability stat for the 2000 M-Class based on owner experiences through June 30, 2012.

With a reported repair frequency of 96 repair trips per 100 cars per year, it's about average.

We'll have further updates in November and February. With more owners involved, we could provide more precise results and cover more model years.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz M-Class reliability ratings and comparisons