The Jury

I was looking at a '99 ML430 today (I have attached a pic) and it looked really good for a 99 (super clean). It has the panorama roof option which I hear is hit or miss on quality. Some have it and love it, some had a bad experience. Since this ML has been around a while and it still operates smoothly I dunno if there could be an issue with it or not in the future. it seems well used and very quiet and smooth. This thread seems to have hit or miss experiences.

Anyway I am thinking of swapping my CLK430 for it even trade..... is this a dumb idea?

The Jury

Sorry, this iPhone doesn't perform well in bright light so the pic is not all that great.

sosh

Not really rare and not very good either. Most people that have them have experienced lots of troubles and very expensive repairs. Dealers generally do not like to sell them because of the grief that follows in fact used car dealers usually do not buy them for resale and if they do they pay lots less than market. If it has not yet broken it will and if it has broken and been repaired it will break again. Use lots of caution buying one with this roof.

The Jury

I inspected this one very well. It is smooth as butter and zero noise. I think given it's age that is a plus. I had a few "don't buy a CLK" opinions also when I went looking for my 430 and I can say it has been the best car I have owned yet even above my Lexus IS300, and SC400. Seems like anything Mercedes is hit or miss.

I am concerned with the issues revolving around the roof gearing system, but this one shows no sign of concern at it's age and I am a bit more confident in it given how quiet and smooth it operates.

sosh

They all work great until one day they jam, usually open when its about to rain. Sounds like you have sold yourself on it!! Age makes no difference. You will be horrified when you see a repair bill thats maybe more than your ML is worth!! Good luck!!

The Jury

Nope, haven't made my mind up at all. I understand the "mechanics" aspect of it. People think it works all perfectly then one day it doesn't. This is not how things work. If there is a stress point that eventually breaks then the stress point will show indication of stress if properly inspected and you'll know where the issue lies and how to counteract it. Age means everything. Wear and tear.

Since this is a heavy system and requires a lot of moving parts, the lubrication is the key to it's survival. It needs a nice clean track to slide on and it needs to do it with as little of friction as possible.

I was hoping someone with a broken one had some insight on exactly WHAT broke so I will know the stress points to inspect. Until I know WHAT it breaks I have no way to make up my mind. (not WHY it breaks because it is obviously a problem with friction stressing to the breaking point)

That's just the stubborn side of an Engineer If I know what fails I can design a plan around it.

....... and I'm not bending over like a sheep and replacing an entire system to repair one moving part. People who have no mechanical ability and a fat wallet do that. As an Engineer I'd have to retire if I did something that stupid. That's like replacing the whole car because the left headlight went out. There are hundreds of moving parts on that system and only one can fail at a time. A quick stop at the local machine shop and I can have a CNC replacement part to my specs in 24 hours at a cost of $50. Being an M.E.C.P. certified mobile installer and ex car audio and security store chain owner helps too. I've torn cars apart for a living all my life.

Now if it is a massive failure, then I wanna know before I decide.

mihir_d

My 2000 ML320 has 106K miles on it....the skyview roof has never been a problem...its the single biggest thing I like about my ML...

By the way, we seem to share similar tastes...I too am a iPhone owner....

azinn

DON'T BUY IT! YOU WILL BE SORRY! My 2 cents.

sosh

Totally agree with this. But like I said you have already decided. I should have figured you were an engineer after your first response. Only way for you to learn is to experience it. The prior poster seems to be the only lucky one I have seen here with no failures.

My ML

i rekon its good i have one and no problems with it its a 2000 model

The Jury

I'm extremely disappointed I passed this up based on it's reviews, but I did go and drive it today anyway just for kicks. This is one of the nicest ML's I've seen around here and it sucks I had to pass it up.

Took pics though so enjoy.......

MJ50

b4 there was pano roof, there was skyroof on MLs...
only if it was relliable...

sosh

Skyroof is the pano roof, same thing.

sosh

You did the right thing by passing on it!!

Mike's ML

Unfortunatuly you will probably never realize how lucky you are by passing up on this ML. There are a lot of other really nice ML's out there.
Mike

MJ50

it is essentially the same... but just 2 different terminologies...

Mr Cheeks

I am not sold on the pinstripe but it does look nice

sosh

Its the same technology and is exactly the same. Only difference is that on the ML its called a skyroof.

RAFFIE55

I love the color combo. My wife drive the same one except for the panorama roof. She has just the reg. sun roof. Bought it a little over 2 years ago with 99,000 on it, and very clean. Now it has 118,000 and nothing major wrong with it. just the typical MAF sensor. IMHO I like the Older MLs. Just my 2cents Good luck.

Cali_ML

I have the Panaoram roof with over 130K miles and again no problems.

Stiggs

I think you have it wrong. Look at the pics below....the ML has the Skyroof. Its all one piece.....kinda like a lattice setup. The other pic is of the Pano roof. Its more like two seperate sunroofs. Look different to me.

firefighter608

definitely a difference, if I didn't spend so much in the drivers seat and had a family I'd get the Pano as it is I hardly use the sun roof cause of the added noise makes my hearing worse

sosh

You may be correct, however I have heard the roof on the ML referred to as Skyroof and Pano roof. I am not that familiar with the sedans but a good friend just purchased a new S Class with the double roof. The sales person and the dealership referred to it as a rear sunroof as did the paperwork on the car. In any case the large roof on the ML is the problem one.

sosh

When this roof became available on the ML's the dealer I do business with had several vehicles with the roof that he had taken back or exchanged due to what he refered to as unrepairable rattles, leaks and wind noise on the large roof. But you are doing the smart thing by not using it at least very much as when it breaks it will break in the open position.

Stiggs

When the dealer says Pano roof they are not talking Skyroof. For all intents and purposes there is no more Skyroof. The double sunroof is the Pano roof. Thats all they have now.