99ML430's
 

Hello fellow MB knuts, I have never owned one before, have always owned hot-rods or BMW'S, just bought one for the wife, just read the horror stories, no problems as of yet, bought the enxtended warrenty, good idea or not, car had 8k miles on it, bought it for 28k from dealer, to much I know but the miles were goooood.
I would love to change the stereo, it has rear CD changer, bose, possible to put in an in-dash after market unit in like alpine?

Re: 99ML430's
 

8k miles is very low but 28k is overpriced imo. an 01 ML430 or even 02 ML500 can be had for around that price.

$28k for a '99 even with low miles is way too much....
 

sorry to be such a wet blanket - but how the dealer could charge that much is beyond me, they must have no concience (sp?), but hey that's car dealers for you.

I also wonder why it's such a low mileage ?

Fyi I have a '00 ML430 with all the goodies in excellent condition with average miles for its age (4 years x 12,000 miles per year) and I doubt I'd get much more than $18k trade in maybe $21k private sale.


The used care market is really soft right now - particulary for ML's.

None the less enjoy your new car and hope you don't need the extended warranty ;-)

dude....there's plenty you can do with this beast!! Here are some things I did as soon as I got her.....

- new stereo system = all new speakers, added tweeters in the front door sils (didn't have bose system), added an amp and a 13 inch sub in the rear, clarion head unit, 6-disc cd changer in the glove box, added satelite radio. Radio now finally sounds acceptable.

- fog lights = installed hella FF100's in the front bumper. Highly recommended. Had dealership activate in dash switch and light.


as far as the price, I know everyone here is saying its too high, but I paid almost $29K in Oct 2002 with 30K miles. Maybe I got taken for a ride also?? But this SUV has been awesome in these crappy New England Winter's!! Nothing stops her!!!

Of course now my check engine light is on....but we will see about that.
Good luck with your new beast!!

Thanks for all the comments everybody, I live here in hawaii and we are very limited on used autos.
The car was owned by an old japonese lady that owned property here in hawaii and visited here very little, the service report was clean, so we jumped on it.
The car drives great butt Stiggs your right about the bose system, it's OK at best, I hear changing over to a new system is a big pain in the but, I also hear the horror stories of stereo shops screwing up the electrical system, is this true?
I went to price how much it would be to change over the system and was quoted 800$ in labor alone:bs: . Tell me please that is too much money for an install.
Hawaii is a beautifull place but is exspensive as hell for service:wall:

The total cost for my new system was around $2K
I don't think the labor was that much...but it was up there. You have to remmeber, this is a benz...some people are afraid to mess with them. The first radio shop I went to said they wouldn't even touch it!!

ML 430 Problems
 

Since the warranty ran out in May, I've spent nearly $1500 maintaining this POS. My lease runs out at the end of Apr. Fortunately, I have a Subaru to drive. I think I'm gonna park this thing, until I turn it it, and get another Subaru!!
Cheers
Pat ( a disillusioned MB owner)