MBZSW221

My wife has been driving a 1998 ML320 for about 7 years. Now it has been good but I think it is time to get her a newer car. I am debating on weather to get an 2006-2007 ML or 2003-2005 Range Rover. I have a few questions

1. Will the ML be as easy for her to park? She is very comfortable with her current one.

2. Is it better to get the 500 or 350?


3. What are the problems and issues?


4. How is the build quality in the interior?


5. Should I just get a Range Rover?


Thanks in advance

N_Jay

W164 ML is far superior to the W163 ML, especially in build quality.


Get the Range Rover if you like worse gas mileage.

MBZSW221

Yeah I think I am gonna say no on the Range. I like the styling and features but I am not that keen on the BMW engine and the electronics. Today I went to check out a 2003 Porsche Cayenne S. I have driven one in the past but the one I went to see today was bull****. Back street used car dealers are stupid. There cars are all scratched and dinged and when you try to trade in your car, they refuse to take it because they found a scratch under the bumper and a ding.


Anyway, I am gonna stay away from those dealerships and go to a major dealership to get a better car. I would rather pay more and get a clean ML than pay less and get a dodgy Porsche Cayenne. So do you guys recommend a ML350 or ML500. All I know is that the ML500 has more options.

flexstar

I might suggest to consider the X5 as I think it's a very good vehicle.

MBZSW221

I am not that big of a fan of the X5 and my wife does not like BMWs. I think the ML would be a much better suit for her but thanks for the suggestion. I was even considering the V8 Touareg. But I decided to get her an ML500 over the ML350 because it is much more loaded with options and the 5.0 V8 was really good coming from the perspective of my S500.

chsu74

I would suggest you be patient and widen your search for a 04-05 cayenne turbo with your budget. They are bulletproof with a few known issues taken care of like coil packs, coolant pipes, cardan shaft and control arms. Do not buy a Cayenne S. Different motor...

MBZSW221

Yeah I think I can get a decent one in my budget. I however will still consider the ML500. Never driven one before but have driven a GL450 before.

chsu74

Don't test drive a Cayenne if you are seriously considering a ML. If I wasn't looking for a 7 seater, there would be a cayenne diesel in my garage. I would consider a ML diesel as well..

MBZSW221

How about a Land Rover LR3?

N_Jay

2/3 the cost,
1/2 the comfort
But 100% of the unreliability.


Sold!

chsu74

They say when your Rover no longer has oil leaks, it's because it ran out of oil.

N_Jay

Oil leaks was a problem that neither of my RRs had (and they were from the old generation).


That old aluminum V8 was the best part of the car.
Porsches leak and BLs had electrical and some mechanical gremlins.

chsu74

There are plenty of Rover and Discovery Forums to formulate your own opinion about these cars.

MBZSW221

Thanks, but I think I am gonna stick with the ML. We travel with the kids and I don't think an LR3 can travel far.

Iamnotfat

I went through the same dilemma as you did looking for a used SUV for my wife.

My Choices were:
Nissa Pathfinder
Toyota 4runner Limited
BMW X5
BMW X6
Mercedes ML350 (W164)
Mercedes GL450
Porsche Cayenne S

Nissa Pathfinder: Poor reliability...looks ugly...

Toyota 4runner Limited: Looked alright...kinda boxy...reliability was good..but the price for a used one that looked alright was too close in price to a Benz...why buy a used Toyota when you can buy a used Benz?

BMW X5 Test drove it, and it felt sluggish, like a tank...really wasn't amazed about the exterior body styling.

BMW X6 Really liked the exterior styling (since my wife loves racing and sports cars, the hatch style looked sporty) Hated the fact that most come with 4 seats...unless you look for a 5th seat (which is an add on option) Hated the BMW dashboard...the thing just protrudes out and looks so dated...

Mercedes Benz ML350. Really liked the exterior body styling...only thing better would be a 2015 body styling, or the BMW X6 body styling. (Of course this is purely personal preference, each person has their own likes/dislikes)
Loved the interior. It felt really modern and was also luxurious. If you pick the Avant Garde package/Premium 1 package (these always come with LED's rather than fog lights, that's how you tell them apart right away) the vehicle comes with options you would get on a ML500. We got push button start. Keyless entry, etc.

Mercedes GL450. Similar to the ML350, except we didn't like the exterior size...she felt like it was less of an SUV and more of a truck...also, for the extra row of seats, you lose out on your trunk space, it's a smaller trunk to accommodate the extra row of seats. (Unless you fold the seats down)
Also, it's a V8, rather than a V6...which means, if you don't need to tow a boat/house, you're just wasting fuel mileage. If you need to tow things, get a BlueTec....you pay less for fuels cause you use diesel,(check your local diesel/Premium Petrol prices first to compare) and you don't have to use Premium petrol, which saves you quit a bit of money. The Diesel gives you V8 torque and you can overtake cars and feel like you're driving a V8 once you're going past 100km/h. Only negative about diesel is bluetec adblue...but just buy the stuff from Volkswagen and add it yourself and save the $.

Porsche Cayenne S...since our budget was the 2010...we didn't like the body styling that much (the rear mainly was ugly)
We also didn't like the seats...the material the the interior was made of looked like suede...although I'm sure it was probably an expensive leather or alcantera or something, we just didn't like the look of it.

So all in all, and this was just our opinion...for our price and budget, the 2011 ML350 Avant Garde P1 benz was the best...looked amazing on the outside, and inside, and she loves it...she's now a Benz fan for life.

jesusg9

You got it !

I had 2 Range Rover, a P38 (1997, 136 Cv, diesel) and a L322 (2002, 180 Cv, diesel).

And now a W164, a trustworthy ML.

Any way, since 2006 L322 and L405 are as reliable as big are her prices. And IMHO, Range Rover are better, I miss them, so does the dealer . Do not confuse with the other RR caricatures evoque or sport

Best regards.

MBZSW221

Now another competitor has stepped in. GX470 It is reallllly reliable, but I hate the styling and the options. I just hope an W164 ML can be capable of 600 mile trips with no problems.

N_Jay

We do regular 600 to 2000 miles trips in our GL.

MBZSW221

I will try to make time and go test drive one I found. Any must have options? Heated seats is a must have which is strange that most 350s dont have it

realrideracing

I just sold our W211 sedan tonight so I'm in the exact same situation as the OP. I am will be looking for a replacement for the wife. We're looking at either a '09 ML350 or a '12 GLK350 since both of those are in a price point that we would be able to pay cash or at least do a short term loan.
My wife really prefers the exterior styling of the GLK but likes the interior of both cars equally. My Mercedes mechanic encouraged me to stay away from the GLK350 because he feels that it's just a C-Class and not as "solid" as the ML.
I've heard both good and bad regarding the ML350's, particularly the '09, from the front suspension, brakes, engine, and the weirdest one was that one of the computers is under the front passenger seat and to be careful not to spill a drink while sitting in it!
So I'd like to hear from the actual ML350 owners here and your honest unbiased opinions of this car. We tend to keep our cars for a long time too so while we'll be looking at a lower mileage example, we plan to keep it at least 6 years and accumulate some miles. Thanks in advance.

STLML350

ML350 2010 or newer

MBZSW221

I am looking at some 06 MLs either 350 or 500. Any specific things to look out for? What's a good mileage range? I also noticed that most 500s are less expensive than 350s. Again should I stick with 500 or 350?

STLML350

Please look into the issues with gassers pre 2010, major cam issues. 2010 or later are better.

flexstar

Stay with the ML and the 350 engine.

MBZSW221

I stumbled upon the ML63. What do you think? Should I trade my S550 for it?
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...973656060.html