Tony Musgrave

Today we collected a replacement for our 2001 270cdi. The new car is still a 270 cdi, but it is termed the Inspiration.

This model has AMG seats, designo black wood trim, chrome surrounds around the dials, larger wheels, and a lot of other extras .

The car came with a £2,700.00 discount and we got a super part exchange deal on the old vehicle (£24,500.00)

I am a happy bunny, and the 2004 mods are well thought out.

Has this variation been offered in other parts of the world ?

Stiggs

post some pics of that beast!

yellowsub

I liked the look of the ML350 Inspiration. I thought that the special cosmetics upgrades were just tasteful enough to set the car apart from the countless MLs that seem to be on the road in the South New Jersey/Philadelphia area. After looking at it for a extended weekend test drive my wife, the primary driver of the ML350, concluded that the black wood looked like "dirty plastic".

We ended up without the Inspiration package but did step up to the M2 package that included the memory seats/mirrors marriage saver option.

In the seven months since we took delivery our ML has been trouble free except for the skip/fast forward joistick on the radio. It took three sevice trips to get the radio removed and replaced correctly.

FYI. hight test 93 octane petrol/gasoline has broken the $2.00 per gallon mark in Philadelphia, but South Jersey stations can be as cheap as $1.61 a gallon. My only regret is being unable to by a diesel ML in America.

Cheers and enjoy your ML.

Michael

Tony Musgrave

I agree .. We tried to clean ours , only to discover that it was meant to look like that. !!

Driver55er

Me three on the dirty look of the wood appointments. This is a very similar look to what I have in my 99 e55. But that is a much cleaner look compared to the splotchy look of my ML inspiration.

I also have the joystick problem. What did they have to do to correct this problem?

Also has anyone had an issue this idle stumbling at stoplight stops. Sometimes the idle stumbles and and drops to 300-400rpm when stopped with the foot on the brake in drive at stoplights? Anyone else with this issue?

Keep on truckin'

Driver55er

Also, anyone with a knock in there steering column when traveling over bumps? You can hear and feel the knock throught the steering wheel. This is a very big peeve of mine and I am curious if this vehicle is designed this way.

yellowsub

Driver55er,

I forgot two other service trips.

First repair trip, the power steering clamp recall notice arrived 2 weeks after taking delivery. Our ML350 was a demo car with 3900 miles on it. Why couldn't they take care of this while the car was being demonstrated and driven by a sales person.

Second repair trip, we were unable to activate the On Star. New software loaded by dealer.


Third repair trip, first response to unreliable radio joystick, they tried to reprogram the radio?

Fourth repair trip, second response to unreliable radio joystick, they replaced the entire radio but forgot to activate the CD changer.

Fifth repair trip, third response to ureliable radio joystick, they activaed the CD changer and told the Missus that there was NOT an optional indash single CD unless we bought the GPS system.

Any comment on the in dash single CD.

Regards, Michael

Driver55er

Michael,
Mine too is a loaner I bought with 13K. Physically it is flawless but I now have seven issues to address now that you mentioned the clamp recall. I don't have the nav in my truck but the unit in my friend's 03 e has the nav and the disc player can be used as a single player.

Any thoughts on the steering road feedback. I didn't remember other vehicles I test drove having this same feel in the wheel.
Thanks,
Adam

yellowsub

My wife, the primary driver of our ML350, hasn't had any complaints about the steering or knock feedback.

Regards, Michael