After looking at several different ML's and years of, Bought a ML430. the price was right for the mileage. We seen some really badly taken care of ML's and some just outright over priced for their conditions. It has some of the same issues I have noticed reading through the threads here. BAS/ESP light comes on, a little shudder when cornering in a tight curve at low speed, and something I haven't read about, a gas gauge that works randomly. Anything else I can expect from this car with 120k? It is a part-time driver for the wife through the Midwest winter months. Let me have it. Thanks in advance, Mike

 

Correction on my typo. It is a 2000 not an 01'.

 

my gas gauge is acting weird too.. usually full tank will read empty, at 3/4 tank seem to return to normal operation. It is a pretty common condition for older ML.

 

Man that's wild. I filled it up for the first time shortly after buying it and reset everything, trip etc... and noticed as I was driving it home it slowly started move down to empty. It's just as you said I am guessing reading right for the time being at 3/4 tank. That should make the wife crazy to hear. Thanks for the heads up, Mike

 

The level sender is part of the fuel pump. To fix the gauge the pump has to be replaced.

 

I understand that a car nearly 10 years old and 120k miles would have some issues to deal with. Yesterday the car went in for the MVI inspection to get it licensed. I had the car looked over very well. While on the rack, there was not a hint of any leaks whatsoever, a good thing. The car checked out and passed easily. We ran our errands and drove maybe 20 miles or so, and the check engine light came on. While sitting at a light the car idled a little rough, but not bad. This morning it drove just fine no rough idle or anything, wow. I went to Advance Auto and hooked it up to the computer. I did kick out these codes, po306,po308 and po300 all related to misfires. The car seems to be alright now, even the CEL is off. What's up? Tune-up, O2 sensors, MAF? Funny thing is, it never coded anything with the random BAS/ESP light that comes on. Where to start. Mike

 

The codes break down as follows.
P0300 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0306 - Cylinder 6 Misfire Detected
P0308 - Cylinder 8 Misfire Detected

O2 sensors doubtful. I am leaning towards fuel delivery or the MAF.
In the fuel delivery area it could be a pump/filter issue. Possibly an
injector, but I doubt the injector based on the random misfire code P0300.
If the fuel pressure is not constant there will not be enough going to the
affected cylinders to allow detonation in that cylinder.
The MAF can make them do this. The darn things usually show fuel trim
codes along with misfires, but they do show a bad MAF code. That always
drove me nuts on the 430 engines.

If it were me I would get a good indy to do the fuel pump (you need
that to get the fuel gauge working anyway) and the fuel filter.
Also have him use a scanner that can read MB specific codes. The
scanner Advance uses is generic and will not show most of the MB
specific codes.

Even a bad load of fuel can cause these problems. Misfires like this on any
make or model can be a real goose chase based on all the variables the
fuel delivery system has to tolerate.

Also the random BAS/ESP light could very well be a $15 brake light switch
that is also a very easy DIY job.
It is worth the try to fix the BAS/ESP because a large amount of MLs
have had this switch go bad and cause BAS/ESP lights to come on.
If the switch does not fix it a scanner that reads the MB codes for this needs
to be used. I have seen wheel speed sensors also cause erratic BAS/ESP
codes.
Again a cheap part to replace easily. I just hate to throw parts a vehicle
without knowing what is causing the problem.

Also do we know when the plugs were changed if ever? I have seen more than
a few MLs over 100k miles with the original plugs.

If it is the MAF it is a ten minute job and the part is DIY. Price for genuine
Bosch should be around $150. The dealer will rape you on this part.

 

Great information Levi, thank you. The first thing I checked was the brake switch. I assumed it was okay, just by all the lights actually work. Can it still be bad? Secondly, I have no idea if the plugs and wires have been changed. After reading several post and searching I suspected a bad MAF. I do have a great indy I can take it too. I have seen the Bosch MAF, but not for that price. Thirdly, the fuel pump. Is there a discount place to get oneof those as well? My guy will install the parts for me even if I get them. Thanks again, Mike

 

autohausaz.com has The OES made OEM fuel pump/sender for under $256.
The MAF for $154 and the Mahle OEM fuel filter for $64. Free ground shipping.
I used the parts with great success.

 

Ha ha! Too funny. I just bought a 1999 ML430 with a 104,500 miles on it for my daughter and it had the same issue(s). Filled the tank up with gas and the gauge read empty. It was a "WTF" moment. Then, at a little bit less than 3/4's it started working again. The BAS/ESP lights were on too. Replaced a brake sensor/module, problem fixed. The radiator had a very minor leak. I later learned that the Valeo / OEM radiator was prone to this, so I replaced it.