M-Class (W164) Produced 2006-2011: ML280CDI, ML320CDI, ML420CDI, ML350, ML500, ML550

New member (X5 Owner)

Old Aug 19, 2006 | 05:23 PM
  #1  
koobah's Avatar
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New member (X5 Owner)

Greetings Everyone. I have always been a BMW fan and had five of them in the past 15 years including 3 M3's. I'm currently driving an '03 4.6is X5 and I'm seriously thinking about trading it in for the ML, so I made a trip to my local dealer (Fletcher Jones in Chicago) and test drove the 350. It felt powerful for a V6 and I'm actually thinking about ordering one with the AMG styling package. I've been following this forum for few weeks and noticed that some people have had problems with the 7G transmission. Is this still a case or has MB fixed these problems? Any other problems or issues I should be concerned about with the 350? Thanks!
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Old Aug 20, 2006 | 11:50 AM
  #2  
SEXYBEEST's Avatar
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wife's car2014 ml350
i did not think i had a problem but my adviser said my number came up as having a possible problem so he had it fixed and it runs even better!
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Old Aug 20, 2006 | 03:24 PM
  #3  
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From: Italy & Toronto, Canada
06 ML 350 in Europe & 12 GL 350 Avantgarde in Canada
Mine was built on March 16, 2006 and has been problem-free so far (approx 5500 Km). Transmission is smooth except for a faintly noticeable bump when slowing down from 2dn to 1st gear, but it's so minor I do not even bother go to the dealer for a fix (there is a fix, I have a copy of the TSB). I will do it on my next service (every 25,000 Km over here). Ride with Airmatic is great and mileage for the first 5500 Km has been approx 20mpg (US) with lots of city driving and of course lots of mountains (Switzerland, after all...). On 90% highway on flatland in Italy, speed 75/90 mph, mileage is 22/23 mpg. This car is a vast improvement over my previous ML's.
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Old Sep 9, 2006 | 02:32 PM
  #4  
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ML350 '06
My ML350 was a recent build (built in June/July I think) and I can say that I have had no hints of weird tranny issues. Very smooth and very happy so far!

Nick
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Old Sep 10, 2006 | 07:31 PM
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GregW / Oregon's Avatar
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Tranny issues

Originally Posted by koobah
Greetings Everyone. I have always been a BMW fan and had five of them in the past 15 years including 3 M3's. I'm currently driving an '03 4.6is X5 and I'm seriously thinking about trading it in for the ML, so I made a trip to my local dealer (Fletcher Jones in Chicago) and test drove the 350. It felt powerful for a V6 and I'm actually thinking about ordering one with the AMG styling package. I've been following this forum for few weeks and noticed that some people have had problems with the 7G transmission. Is this still a case or has MB fixed these problems? Any other problems or issues I should be concerned about with the 350? Thanks!
I'm a BMW fan as well (currently have '01 M3). My early (6/05) ML350 has been almost flawless. The transmission is very smooth and contributes to the good performance of the six, but others have reported some jerkiness at slow speeds, particularly when coming to a stop. I'd say those are a small fraction of all vehicles. Fixes have ranged from reflashing the software to replacing the valve body. I would not steer away from it for this reason.

The ML should be a real hoot when it finally gets the 335 hp 4.6.

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