terpsgirl

This message is to request some information from experienced ML people..I am considering buying one as I have started driving a lot more for work and decided an SUV would be nice to have. I currently drive a saab 900s Conv., this will be a huge switch. First of all, I am 26 (important only due to possibility of people thinking I am married with kids) working as a software consultant and so I am driving to client sites (that are reasonably close) and the home office in Philly a lot, is this thing good for longer drives? Does this vehicle have FAMILY car written all over it? Also, what problems are common, I dont need to be stuck on 95 in a nasty part of Philly any time soon.. Thanks for any info you can give me on these "trucks"..

Steph

mbtech208

Hello Steph, and welcome to the forum. As a Mercedes technician, I have seen MLs at their absolute worst (as well as any other Mercedes). But the majority of people seem to like them. They have their problems, perhaps more than other Benzes. MLs are outstanding for long trips, they are quiet (except when they rattle) and comfortable-riding for an SUV. I'd tend to shy away from the '98-'99 models because a lot of improvements were made to the 2000 models, and again they were upgraded for 2002 with more features, power, etc.
Interstate 15 between Las Vegas, Nevada and Barstow, California has a stretch of road with a lot of high-energy power transformers. I have heard of these transformers interfering with the ML's engine computer and making it stall on that particular stretch of freeway. This is the only time I've heard of an ML leaving somebody completely stranded, so if you don't drive from Barstow to Vegas very often, I wouldn't be too worried about that.
Styling is a subjective topic, and in my opinion the ML looks a little more minivan-ish than some other SUVs. If you're 26, not married, and have no kids, why do you want a bulky SUV? I'd be looking at the Mercedes CLK, which is comparable in size to your Saab. Not to mention the CLK is a beautiful car and is generally more reliable than the ML. Good luck with your choice, and feel free to ask any more questions

-Dave

sosh

I own a 2002 ML500 and this replaced a 98 ML320. Like the vehicle very much. Have had a number of issues with the 500 but none of them that prohibited use of the vehicle, dealer took care of most of them with help from the factory. Its great on long trips, comfortable and solid. Quiet and not tiring to drive. The 500 is a great improvement over the 98 I had from the standpoint of comfort, fit and finish, handling and features. I also have an 01 E320 4Matic. This too is an excellent vehicle and I have a difficult choice when I have to decide which one to take on a long trip, usually take the ML as I rely on the GPS Nav. Recently completed a 5 day trip covering 1725 miles in the ML. I am in a Phila suburb and there is very good dealer support in my area. Good Luck!!!

curtrich

Steph,

You have brightened my dreary, rainy morning. You're driving a SAAB 900 Convertible, one of the least reliable vehicles ever made, and you're worried about reliability. I guess I can see why. The first answer is, it'll be more reliable than the SAAB. But then, virtually anything is more reliable than current SAABS.

But I didn't write to do SAAB bashing. They've lost their last 5-6 dealers in Houston and don't even have one in the 4th largest city in the country, so I probably shouldn't kick them when they're down.

To answer your questions, current MLs seem quite reliable. They're also quite versatile and extremely safe. With Tele-Aid, if you're stuck in a nasty part of Philly, you won't be there very long as you can summon help, whether it's a MB problem like a flat tire, or an evildoer.

It doesn't scream family car. It says, adventurous person. My 3 MLs have certainly gone places I wouldn't go in a SAAB (closed trails in Big Bend, Colorado mountains, Interstate 10--Sorry, that was SAAB bashing again). They are comfortable on the road and will tell your clients that you appreciate safety and versatility.

I consider them the ideal urban defense vehicle. Anything that can catch them on the road can't catch them off the road, so if in doubt, leave the pavement. If it's all pavement in the Philly jungles, head for rough stuff.

jwb

how about them terps!

Steph,

go for it, i dont think family car, thats a minivan. I dont have mine yet, but most people seem pretty happy. I ordered a 500 from the Tysons dealer. I can get you a name if you want no hassle. My "other mercedes" turns 19 next month, and i LOVE it.

mbtech208

I can certainly vouch for the unreliabilty of Saabs! I've TWICE been left dead in the water by Saabs, both of them belonging to a used-car dealer I worked for a few years ago. One was a '91 900S that lunched it's starter motor, the other was a '90 9000 Turbo that grenaded its own turbocharger, sending metal shrapnel into the intake. The end result was definitely not pretty. That was the last time I'll drive a Saab without either a cell-phone or a tow-truck escort.

Stanley

Steph,

My wife has a 99 9-3 conv., and it has been the most reliable car we've ever had. Never been in the shop once! So, I guess the moral is all vehices have problems, but there are exceptions.

My 2002 ML is much improved over the earlier ML's, but there are still some problems. Some 2002 ML's have windows that go down by themselves, which has something to do with the auto up/down feature. Some also have defective trip computers that will go crazy, and set off the alarm at random. Mine went off at a funeral, which was pretty embarassing. Some also have gps units that lock up from time to time.
Fit and finish is improved over previous models, but some still have rattles and squeaks. Overall, if you are lucky enough to get a "good one", you should be happy with it, but if you are unlucky and get one with problems, you are pretty much on your own.

terpsgirl

Thank you all for the information..

Ok, so, just to get something out, I havent had problem one in my saab..I love the car, its never had a problem other than brakes, tires, normal maintenance.. In fact, I will be giving it to my mother since she likes it so much..and I just hope she doesnt have to run from any evildoers!!

The CLK430 is my absolute favorite car..my friend has one and the first time I drove it, I fell in love. Unfortunately, while driving on 95, as many accidents as I have seen and as nasty as some have been, I have decided that an SUV is probably my best bet. The other problem is the amount of miles I will be putting on it, I dont want to buy a 70K car and cry every time I turn over another thousand miles. I would really like to have both, unfortunately, I dont make that much money yet...(maybe next year!!)

I am definitely looking at the 2002, as when i look at the changes that were made, it doesnt seem as minivan-ish. This is becoming a terribly hard decision for me, going from little sporty convertible to the suv, especially when people say oh, just get the CLK, which is what I really want. I like the styling of the x5 better, unfortunately, I cant afford to have my truck burn my house down.

Thanks for all of your help guys, im sure I will have a ton more questions...

-Steph

Stanley

Steph,

The X5 thermostat problem has been fixed, so the fire danger is no longer. This problem affected most recent BMW's , my Z3 was included in this.

You might want to check out the X5. BMW has just lowered lease rates & traditional financing. Even though the X5 is more expensive than the M class, monthly lease payments are about the same. Same goes for financing.