johnnydee

I'm in the market for as 02 or 03 ML!
I am looking at the 350 or 500 .
I was wondering what i should look out for?
I'm probably going to get one from the dealer because I have an 00 E430 4matic that I need to trade.

John

Porschenut

My parents bought a 2002 ML years ago from the dealer. Since I'm the "car guy" in the family, I went along to negotiate. Ultimately I steered them towards the ML500 over the ML350 since the mileage was only marginally better with the 350 yet the power of the 500 was so much greater and the resale of the 500 is better since it's near the top of the model range.

About the factory reported mileage, I remember it being only 2 mpg better in the 350 vs. the 500.

Mike's ML

The mileage on the ML500 Sucks ---- worth every penny.
Mike

sosh

Not only the additional power but also the additional stuff that came with the 02 ML500. Another downside is the brakes, squeal problems that are a characteristic of these brakes and in most cases can be reduced but not totally eliminated. I will say that with the 02 ML500 I owned I had many more problems than with the previous 98 I had. Most of these were electronic. I was fortunate enough to have an excellent dealer who eliminated most of the inconvience and grief. Just for the record my current 06 ML500 has been flawless since delivery in Sept 05.

johnnydee

Thanks for all the info I just pulled the trigger and got a '02 ML500 with CPO!
John

ruey220

mileage sucks? I get 22mpg highway 18 mixed even with the third row seats as weights in the back. For a 5000+ pound car that isn't so bad. my porsche is 3000 pouunds and i get the same.

ruey220

i never had to deal with a car dealer in the snow. if that was in northern california, they would take off $2000 from the car.

johnnydee

All they have to do is take it through the car wash!!
Saves them a big disount!
Come to think of it I got $2500 off plus CPO to 100k!

John

sosh

Actually buying a 4 wheel drive vehicle when its snowing can add to what you pay. Best time is during the summer!!

johnnydee

Very good point!!!

Mike's ML

How do you do it?
I get in the high 17 MPG in the ML320 and only in the mid to high 16's with the ML500. Most of my driving is 50% of the time at 80 mph and 50% of the time ~30 mph. I didn't do the math to see how many Miles at 80 and 30. The best I have ever done is about 18.5 mpg in the ML320 by really taking it easy. I always use the miles / galons at fillup and never use the trip computer. When coasting on the highway I can get 60 - 70 mpg on the trip computer in either ML.
Mike

sosh

You must have a very heavy foot. On the W163 02 ML500 I had till 05 I got 17.5 around town and 22 on the road. What I did find was that anything over 70 to 75 MPH reduced the MPG considerably and around town anything other than very gentle acceleration from a stop reduced the mileage considerably. The 3rd row seats do not mean a thing their weight is insignificant. My trip computer was always within 1% of the actual computed mileage. My 06 W164 ML500 does a bit better around town and a bit less on the road. The difference in both scenarios is about .5 MPG. My first ML, a 98 ML320 was by far the most economical giving me 19 around town and about 25 on the road as I recall. That was quite a bit lighter than the later ones but I am glad to pay the difference when I think about how bare boned all the early ones were. I do not think mileage is of any concern to an ML buyer particularly new buyers.