Anyone have (or had) the "original" ML320 - the 98 that came out in 97? Are you the original owner? Please share stories, pics!

 

have a 99 here. Car has been pretty reliable (mechanically). Had some of the normal ML issues: leaking HVAC, rattles (most are solved), fuel sending unit (3 of them), squeaky brakes, transmission rebuild (rough shifting). This was all done under warranty, out of warranty I have changed the spark plugs, the sunroof wind deflector broke, brake pads, and the center drive shaft bushing? Out of warranty stuff probably totalled to under $2k.

 

Have a 98 ML320...one of the first in the country...had some wind noise problems, loose lift gate, rusted bolts on the wheels, replaced front console's window switches, lot of rattles, steering rack was leaking power steering fluid...all of this was fixed while under warranty except the steering rack and window switches which happend when the warranty was out...the newest problem that i've experienced on the car is a louddd noise coming from the back of the car, loudest between 40-50mph...the dealer said it was the differential or somthing in the back...said its good for another 10 or 15k miles aslong as we could live with the noise which i cant but after considering the fact that it would cost 2-$3k to have it replaced....its somthing i can live with...for now haha

 

when did you have it, to claim it was 'one of the first in the country'?

 

I got it around sept-oct of 97

 

not trying to start anything.. but i dont think that was one of the first in the us. i had mine right around the same time.. and a guy i knew had his at least a full two months before me.

 

That's still pretty early in my book!
Any pics guys? These could have some collectability in the future. These trucks started the luxury SUV market.

 

I know it deff wasnt THE first by any means...when i said "one of the first" i meant that it was one of the first bunch to be shipped over etc...i remember seeing no ML's on the road other than mine for the first month i had it...and just getting the craziest of looks...


heres a pic cy65

 

Shipped over??? The vehicle was assembled here in the US.

 

hahah oops ....i meant shipped from Alabama haha

 

hahah oops ....i meant shipped from Alabama haha

 

Don't sweat it man, that IS a foreign land.

 

Blazinginder Thanks - an AMERICAN original!

To put a perspective on how "hot" the ML was, I was at a World Disney World in 97 and ran into the boy band N-Sycnh at a "meet the group session" 97 (BTW pure coincidence - I am NOT a fan, I did not even know who they were at first!), one of those boys, I think it was Lance, was asked by a teeney bopper what kind of car he had, reply, "Mercedes...M Class" all kinds of teeney bopper shrieks ensued.


Thanks for sharing

 

haha yeah..those were the good old days