Thanks to all the comments about the Ml320 CDI and answering my questions. The test drive of the Ml320 CDI was fabulous. There is a desert silver Ml320CDI with P02 and heated seat package and ipod integration kit. I dislike the standard look with the 17 inch wheels and wanted one with the appearance package very badly but alas there arent any out there with the colors I wanted and I have to wait 4 months, and I can't.
However, I was wondering since MB has an accessory catalog and dealer install optional wheels, can I tell my dealer to swap out the 17 inch wheels for one of the nicer looking 18 inch wheels and deduct the price of the 17 inch off from the price of the 18 inch wheels? That way since I am not using the 17 inch wheels, the dealer can make a trade and charge me a lesser price than the normal price of 1,500 for the 18 inch. Let me know if any you have done that or think its possible.

Thanks!

 

This is where your negotiation skills with the dealer come into play.

 

just purchased a new ml 320cdi and its awesome. I traded in a '04 touareg and was very pleased with the whole transaction. I drove the ml 350 and the 320 back to back and compared side to side with both running. I don't think there is any comparison . The power and fuel mileage is incredible. VERY noticable difference. I am averaging about 23 mpg in town and the little bit I have driven on the highway about 26 mpg. The fit and finish is great, very solid, precise. If anyone is thinking about the 320 cdi, don't hesitate. Hope to learn from all the members here and will try to contribute as well. jerry

 

according do Car & Driver, the 320 CDI is a second slower than the 350 and fuel economy is not that great either:
Peak horsepower is a modest 215 at 3800 rpm, but diesels are all about torque, and there’s plenty of that: 398 pound-feet between 1400 and 2800 rpm, which is more than that of the 5.0-liter gas V-8 in the ML500. That’s enough to get this 2.5-ton luxury SUV — 239 pounds heavier than the ML350 — to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds, a second slower than the 268-hp gasoline version.

here's the link: http://www.caranddriver.com/shortroa...di-4matic.html

 

The advantage of the diesel is the practical use of power. Rolling on the throttle at highway speeds, the car just smoothly ladles on the torque, as opposed to having to downshift 2 gears to get in the powerband. I would bet money the passing acceleration of the diesel is far superior to the ML350. Also, the fuel economy depends greatly on the use of throttle. If you drive hard it will definitely dip into the high teens, especially in the city. Drive judiciously and it is in the 20s all day long, city or highway.

 

ML320 CDI should be always faster than a 350...

 

MBUSA states the 0-60 acceleration as:

2006 ML 350 = 8.2 seconds
2007 ML 350 = 7.9 seconds
2007 ML 320 CDI = 8.0 seconds

That is a .1 second difference, not 1 second. Our fuel economy is around 24.5 mpg combined. You are not going to find ML 350s or ML 500s at that average mpg. We get over 500 miles on a tank of diesel. January's Automobile magazine stated that they got over 25 mpg in a tested ML 320 CDI.

 

Numbers are one thing, reality another...ML320CDI should be always faster than a 350, not only that, 320CDI is just as fast as Jeep 5.7HEMI from a roll. I did that, I know that.

 

Yeah, that's it

 

Yeah and just as I mentioned in the other thread, I badly smoked a Audi Q7 3.0TDI a few days ago with my ML320 CDI The ML has the same engine as in the E-class, where 0-100 km/h is arround 6 seconds, so despite the extra weight its still a fast car

 

Yeah, for sure! Just be aware of those V8 Jeeps. From a stop they will destroy you badly it will take ages to catch up and pass....
When we did a couple of runs with my 320CDI vs WJ 4.7, we measured Jeeps acceleration from 0-60km/h, it was exactly 3 seconds.....
But once you go from a roll, you should smoke them. They are pretty slow on higher speeds.
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI, they are heavy as hell and probably slow as hell too
Did you do anything to your ML yet? I remember you were saying something about modifying your engine.

 

So far I've only had the car lowered (HR springs) => even better handling. You're right about the V8's, I got smoked by a X5 4.4i a long time ago and I still have bad dreams about it at night.. Which is why I'm seriously concidering the Brabus/Kleemann powerchip

 

I did a 0-60mph in my ML350 with a Cayenne S...the first 40-50 mph we where side by side..afterwards the cayenne slowly passed me but it was not much of a difference I was impressed...I also run a light with the range rover sport and left him 3 cars behind...

 

Well, RRS comes with two engines, one is classic from his big brother RR, another one is supercharged. Maybe you ran with classic one.
I am very impressed by you Cayenne run, I thought Cayenne would be faster than that, it is suppoused to go from 0 to 60 in 6.8 seconds......very impressive.

 

You dont have to worry about that, once I was destroyed by Cayenne Turbo, on the other hand once I have killed Audi S3, maybe it was not an S3 really, it looked just like real S though (with all bells and whistles), X5s are fast as hell anyways....
Have you heard of new ML 420 CDI? It goes to 60 in 6.8 seconds, which is just as fast as Cayenne S or probably faster since ML350 was almost as fast a "S"....