Benz Werd

It's coming up 2 years since I took delivery of my new ML500 in early Jan '13.

I've now done 32,000kms and I have to say the car is just brilliant!

Awesome fuel economy for a heavy bi-turbo V8 as well. Average around 12-13l/100km around town, and 9-10 on a long distance drive on the highway.

Only real issue I had was the engine rattling sound in the early days but they fixed that over a year ago now and everything is fine. https://mbworld.org/forums/new-m-cla...ease-help.html

Transmission occassionally clunks when I'm slowing down to come to a stop. Did it a few times when it was new, but then nothing for about a year or so. Has now happened about 3 times in the last month, but it's only once each time. Getting my 2nd service soon. Stilll got over 12 months of warranty left fortunately. My old W164 was quite bad for this, so it's a huge improvement.

Just put a new set of shoes on her today. Ditched the factory Pirelli Scoprion Verdes and went with Continental Cross Contact LX Sports (http://www.donnellans.com.au/tyres/c...84%A2+lx+sport) and I'm very pleased so far. Wanted something a little longer lasting and more suitable for a bit of off road driving. (I have the ON & OFF Road Pack). The Pirellis were just about had it after 32,000kms. Tyre size, oops I mean tire size () is 275/45 R20. The Pirellis were 265, but the 275s were recommended so I went with them. Got 45,000kms out of the Contis on my W164, but they were 19" rims so will be interesting to see the difference, if any, with the 20s.

Would love to hear from other ML drivers who are approaching or over 2 years of ownership now too, especially if you upgraded from a W164 also ... cheers from Melbourne folks!!

shortspark

I have an ML350 gas version purchased 2 1/2 years ago and now has 21,000 miles (around 34,000 kms). It is not as powerful as your 500 but I have found mine to be plenty powerful for my needs and driving habits. In fifty years of driving cars and trucks from all manufacturers, I must say this one has been the best. No problems to speak of (only had to replace a side mirror due to stress crack and a rear hatch shock - both under warranty). Those minor problems aside, it has had only been in the shop for A and B service.

All car manufacturers will put out a problem car now and then, even a real lemon now and then. When that happens you usually hear about it here and other MB forums. However I have to believe that the vast majority of ML owners are very happy with their purchase.

I do wish they had installed better tires than the generic Dunlops that came on mine. I may not make another 5,000 miles on them. I really don't care because I love Michelin tires and want to go with them as soon as possible. I do no off roading so those kinds of timers are not a consideration for me. Not that the Dunlops have been terrible but I know the ride and road noise will be much improved with the Latitudes, not to mention their better wear. Unlike you, my brakes and shoes are fine. I travel country roads in flat, straight Texas so I only apply brakes when I reach my destination, well almost at least. I could not be happier and pat myself on the back every day that I chose this vehicle over all the others I was considering.

MannyS430

wow your fuel economy is at par with my bluetec. whats your secret? do you go over 2000rpm? lol

Benz Werd

That is awesome, thanks for your feedback.

Sorry if I caused confusion when referring to new shoes. That's just tyres/tires. The brakes are all fine, it appears. Who knows what they'll try to sell me when service is due in a couple of months.

Benz Werd

I really don't know haha. I'm amazed at it myself to be honest. I've had plenty of V8 4WDs/SUVs in the past and they're all heavy and drink fuel like there's no tomorrow. Grand Cherokees, Landcruisers, Range Rovers - all shocking on fuel.

Except for both my MLs. Of course the W166 is even better than the W164 as that was the old 5.5 litre motor.

But I don't drive hard at all, there's usually only me in the car. I always use 95 or 98 octane premium unleaded, apparently that helps too. Keep my tyres inflated properly, all that sorta stuff.

Cheers, it's dinner time on this side of the pond

2012MLBlue

My 2012 550 has also been pretty flawless. 30,000 kms so far. Only issue under warranty was two rear parking sensors replaced when my blind spot monitoring stopped working last winter.


Only nagging issue is the key fob batteries die so quickly. I have probably gone through 10 of them in less than 3 years on one fob. I do leave the keys in the car parked in my garage so I am thinking this is why they drain so quickly.


My fuel economy is not as good as yours and I am a very conservative driver 98% of the time and drive in light highway traffic to my office 4 days a week. I am at 13.8 L/100km over the entire ownership. Best road trip tank going from Toronto to Hilton Head got me 707 km for 11.19 L/100km (4 people and lots of luggage). NEVER under 10 and I run 94 Octane and have tires set at 35 front, 40 rear most of the time. Still I think the fuel economy is very good for a powerful V8 and heavy truck.


My fuel economy is tracked using fuelly.com and the Mercedes fuel economy calculator is reset every time I fill up and is always optimistic (usually off by 1 L/100km which is close to 10% deviation).


Overall I have enjoyed the ML but am looking to move on when my lease is up in March. I just enjoy driving a new vehicle every 3 years and am in a financial position to do so.

Benz Werd

Thanks, good to get some more positive feedback.

The fuel consumption I have generally calculated myself, not using the trip computer, but I don't do it often anymore. Did it alot when it was new as I wanted to see the difference after the engine had run in. I found it just got better and better right up to about 10,000km. The 9-10l/100km (I think it was 9.7) was on a trip from Melbourne to Sydney which is around 900km, and a dual-laned divided highway the whole way with a 110km/h speed limit with no stopping at all once you hit the motorway outside either city (only for fuel/food etc). Only 2 of us in the car, not alot of luggage either. Perhaps a tail wind too haha. I too was blown away and recalculated it 3 times to be sure.

Just using the trip computer I can leave our house on the car's first trip for the day, have a 4km drive on local roads to the freeway, then drive into Melbourne CBD (approx. 22km) which is about 13km of 100km/h speed limit, then maybe 4-5km at 80km/h, the rest at 40-60km/h, and my trip computer under "From Start" shows sometimes as low as 11.8l/100km. I often watch it from when I leave home and with all the acceleration through the local roundabouts and intersections it often initially shows 20l/100km but you can see it come down quite quickly once you jump on the freeway. Once I arrive in town, and if I continue to drive around it slowly creeps up to mid 13s generally. My "from reset" shows 14.5l/100km, over the last 310:12h, distance 12,706km and an average speed of 40km/h. Was hoping to never reset that from new but earlier this year it started showing ---l/100km so I had to reset it. Hopefully it won't do that again.

Only replaced my key fob battery twice in 2 years, but the keys are generally always with me or hung up in a safe place in the house so what you say makes total sense. Must be quite annoying.

Are you going to buy another ML500/550 next year? It seems as though they're still available in your neck of the woods, same as us. Poor guys in the US can't get one anymore, and it's happening here soon too apparently. I suspect when the facelift comes out next year.

I would buy another one in a heartbeat, but it's a little early yet. Maybe another 18 months or so, don't like hanging onto them long after the warranty expires. Have no idea what I'll get if there's no non-AMG petrol V8 anymore.

MLee

350 BT coming up towards 2 years and not a single issue. Last 5860 km done at 7.9 l/100km. Today's run of 230km shows 7.8 l/100km.

Lee

GregGebhardt

Great to read threads like this. Seem we only hear the bad news and little of the good. I only have about 11k miles on my 2014 ML350 BT but it has been pretty well flawless except for the owner not reading the manual

Enjoy, I am.

350MH83

I have 32000 km on my 350 BT, a little less than 2 years old. So far I have had absolutely no issue. Everything works as it should, torque is impressive, and I received only good comments about it from anybody stepping in. The only trips to the dealer were for the A service (400 euros, around 500 USD) and to swap from summer to winter tires. I am averaging 8.9l/100km, but that's almost 100% city driving. On a secondary road trip, following trucks at 70-80km/hr, I managed 6.6l/100km! It was under special conditions obviously, but that remains impressive for an engine capable of 258HP and 620Nm of torque, moving a 2.2ton vehicle...

m7mad

Had the car for 6 months now and aside from the engine noise on start up which the dealer cant fix its really a great car to own. I love how the engine sounds on the V8 especially after changing the mufflers and that high torque makes the car accelerates and reach high speed in seconds, We did a little drag race me and my bros Audi A7 3.0t and I was surprised, I have passed him about 2 cars when we raced to around 150km. I also love the fuel economy on the car, on my last 500km trip I have been averaging about 13.6L/100 on city driving and 8.8L/100 on highway.

Benz Werd

Howdy mate, wow, your highway fuel economy is great, even better than mine!

I'm curious why your dealer can't fix your engine rattle though. Have you printed out that service bulletin in my earlier post and given it to them? If not, do it and your problem should be fixed under warranty.

You will love your car so much more if it's sorted!

EVOII_Racer

I have owned my w166 ml63 for 2 years and i have driven 34'000 km pretty hard. I drive my ml a lot in Germany and went twice on a racetrack.

Since i am driving often at high speed (in Germany) my fuel consumption is high! 15.9 litre for the first 30'000 km. I also have big HRE rims so that doesn't help lol. However considering the mods is reasonable imo for such a beast!

The only issues i had is the seat moving a little bit and i had to change rear and front brakes but thats normal i believe.

I honestly couldn't be more happier, the w166 ml63 is an outstanding machine!

m7mad

I actually printed it out and when I went to MB work shop they refused to take it and told me they already have those papers and its a common problem. Last month I left the car for its first maintenance and I told them about the engine noise and they said they will take care of it, once the car have finished they told me they did fixed the engine noise and you should no longer hear it. 2 days later the sound came back. I went to them straight away and they apologized and gave me a GLK350 while they fix my car. Now its been 2 weeks and no update. I hope they don't replace my engine lol My dealer suck.

MannyS430

wow yours gets more hp and better mileage... this is because the diesel in italy(europe) is more refined than ours in north america right?

I remember my cousins in italy had a vw golf TDI back in 1999... it had 150hp for a diesel it was crazy fast.... our diesel golf/jetta had like 100hp... lol

27T

2 years, 25K. Like new. No probs.

HAILERS2

2014 ML350 Bluetec, 35K plus deliered mid Feb 2014. Only real problem was a defective volume switch on the steering wheel. It functioned but had no 'spring' feel to it when depressed.

Fuel mpg? Depends a lot on speed and headwinds. At a constant 80mph I hover around 24mpg and that's by filling the tank and calculating with a hand computer. Although on this ML, the instrument panels calculation is real close to the manual calculation. Within one mpg b/t the two.............on long hauls, not city driving which I never have calculated.

At a constant 70mph with no head wind I've calculated 29mpg over a 160 mile run on the interstate.

Inside Yellowstone national park where the speed limit is 45mph............I'd swear the ML was making diesel instead of using it.

The ML makes me want to buy a S350 Bluetec with the lesser frontal area for better milage. I bought this vehicle for the comfort/quiet of long drives and so I wouldn't have to stop and gas/diesel up every 350 miles like you do in a gasoline engine car. Diesel fuel tax sucks though.

couture

2 years on ML350 and only 7500 miles, all flawless and still smells new, great mpg. Wife's car so we mostly use my F-150 Lariat (ecoboost) which is 3 years old with 53000 flawless miles on it. I prefer the F-150 over the MB.
Last problem prone car we had was a Yukon XL Denali which ended our GM relationship 0f several years.

Kaasmann

It's almost two years to the day, 25,000 km mostly highway. My fuel economy is same as most of the 350 BT, except if I use Shell V-Power in which case its terrible. The V-Power is supposed to be a superior diesel, except it isn't in my ML. 9.0 l./100km sure isn't as good as 7.8 l./100km @129km/hr, my normal driving speed (except in winter).
I once had it up to 191 km/hr but got scared and slowed down.
Trips to the dealer included scheduled maintenance and switching all-season tires for winter tires.
Again, I have to replace the batteries in the key fob, but that's my fault. I should not have tested it so thoroughly in Europe. The fob turns on many interior lights in Mercedes over there, and it even managed to unlock & lock another ML's doors in Helsinki, Finland.
Does anyone have comments on the Continental tires that my ML came with? I have noticed that a Rolls Royce Wraith (well I test drove it) have Continental tires too.

sxue888

My 2013 ML350 BT is almost 2 years. The mileage is at 39K. The issue that concern me a LOT is the engine warning light that was on and off in the first year. The dealer has found nothing till last month when the warning light came on with rough idling when cold. They fixed it by replaced a val part. Now the similar things happen again. I am worry it is the other val parts start to failing

27T

Still flawless.

DFW01E55

6 months and 8k miles on a BT, good mileage, pleasant to drive.

I am tired of the proximity sensor for unlocking the doors, it works only 2 out of three times and it's just not a difficult technology. Also had the keyless go fail a couple of times. That's just weak.

sxue888

The ML just came back from the dealer service for the engine warning light - it was a faulty injector and needed to be replaced. The repair was done under the warranty so no cost to me but it's damaging my view on the MB reliability and quality.