cool_man

Hi,

I know that left hand drive M class are made in the US. So I suppose that all right hand drive ones are originally made in Germany? Is the quality much better than the US made ones?

m500

I would think so. As least thats what I hear from people who driven the ML and E wagon. They prefer the E wagon. The ML just not refine enough to be a real ML as E or S.

amb9800

Up until the 2002 model year, most non US-market MLs and all the diesel and RHD models were made in the Steyr-Daimler plant in Graz, Austria, which also makes vehicles like the Mercedes G-Class, the European market Jeep Grand Cherokee, the upcoming BMW X3, a new Volvo, etc.

But in 2002, with the huge expansion of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama MB plant, all ML production, including the diesel and RHD models, was shifted to the US plant. So the non-US market MLs are now exported to their destinations from Alabama.

They say the Graz-built ML was better quality-wise than the US-built ones, but still not matching the build of the other MBs because at least some of the ML's quality problems (earlier model years especially) were due to the car being a cost-cutting model at heart, so the materials used in the earlier models just didn't match the level of MB's other models. However, the current MLs (which are all built in Alabama) have pretty good quality - you can see a huge jump between the '98 or '99 and the '02/'03 models for example.

cool_man

Hey,

Thanks for the advise. A dealer that is based in Dubai is offering me a 01 ML320 with only 6200 km on it for US$20,000. Not including the tax that I have to pay about US$7,000. Do anyone think this a bargain?

mart500ml

I THINK THAT GOOD PRICE GUST GO N KBB.COM AD CHECK WITH THEM ALSO ALSO CHECK ON THE CARFAX.COM

amb9800

I'm not sure how car pricing is there, and it also depends on the car's options and condition, etc., but if it was for $20k in the US, that would be a great deal to say the least. Here old '98 or '99 MLs with high miles can go for more than that .