Opinions on Buying a Black ML
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Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Jackson, MS
08 ML320 CDI
Opinions on Buying a Black ML
Want some feedback on exterior color Black. Anyone who's got one- does it show scratches real easily?? A pain the !#@# to keep clean?
Does Obsidian Black show less scratches because it's metalic???
Dealer has got a black 320 CDI that I'm considering. Said I'd never own another black vehicle, they look great when their clean, but....
Thanks for any input.
Does Obsidian Black show less scratches because it's metalic???
Dealer has got a black 320 CDI that I'm considering. Said I'd never own another black vehicle, they look great when their clean, but....
Thanks for any input.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: I'm a Jersey Girl
2011 ML 350, 2009 Smart Passion, 2004 Audi TT Quattro
Any car I have ever owned was Black or Dark Gray. It does show the deep scratches. Its sorta something you have to deal with when you have a black car. I just got the ML with Black paint. I just think every car looks better in black.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: United States
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
I had an 00 Black ML and oh did it ever show the scratches. Now they have nano particle paint that is said to resist small scratches and swirl marks. I just got my new C in Obsidian Black at the begining of the month and I have noticed that on the actual metal surfaces that there are far less swirls and scratches, but on the plastics it still gets swirls like crazy. This may be because the Obsidian sparkles are hiding them better. If you see a Black ML next to a Obsidian ML there is no contest, Obsidian wins.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
I like the std black but not the obsidian. The 98 I had years ago was black and it was very attractive when new. However it did pick up lots of swirl marks from car wash brushes and showed every bit of dust and dirt. Had to be washed every day to look good. My 2 subsequent ML's were a dark metallic blue and now Alpine rain. The dark blue was also a problem to keep clean but the Alpine rain is not but in fact at least to me is a boring color. My E is emerald black and again is difficult to keep clean the last E was silver but again boring and you saw yourself coming and going. My current thoughts is the next one may be white. A very personal choice!!
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: AZ
2008 ML550; 2005 SLK55
Same thing here. After the last black car I owned, I said I would never get another, but here I am!
Yeah the black shows scratches easy and yeah it takes more work to keep it clean, but man does it look GOOD
. It's worth the extra effort to keep it clean.
To me, the Obsidian looks more like a dark charcoal. The metallic in it is kinda grayish. The jet black is just super rich, dark, black. Compare an Obsidian next to a Black and you'll see how much darker the black looks, especially in the sun. I think the Black looks a little better with the chrome trim and such as well.
Either way you can't lose, go for the black interior!
Yeah the black shows scratches easy and yeah it takes more work to keep it clean, but man does it look GOOD
. It's worth the extra effort to keep it clean.To me, the Obsidian looks more like a dark charcoal. The metallic in it is kinda grayish. The jet black is just super rich, dark, black. Compare an Obsidian next to a Black and you'll see how much darker the black looks, especially in the sun. I think the Black looks a little better with the chrome trim and such as well.
Either way you can't lose, go for the black interior!
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From: HK
2010 BMW F10 535i
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Member
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Bellevue, WA
2009 VW CC
Black is the best :-)
And if your in the market....buy mine!!!
https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w164/221427-brabus-ml-sale.html
Good luck with whatever you decide.
And if your in the market....buy mine!!!
https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w164/221427-brabus-ml-sale.html
Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Senior Member
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From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1972 280SE 4.5
As an owner of TWO black Mercedes, I won't hesitate to tell you... BUY WHITE!!!
Black cars are a royal pain to keep clean. Our ML is Obsidian Black and there is no way to make it look "sparkling clean." Because of the gold/silver speck it always looks like it has dust on it. The E is Sienna Black, and while it looks gorgeous under the sun, it shows every bit of dust that hits it. I swear; I'll wash the car and by the time I'm done drying one end, the other already looks dirty.
Hope this helps in making your decision...
Jose
Black cars are a royal pain to keep clean. Our ML is Obsidian Black and there is no way to make it look "sparkling clean." Because of the gold/silver speck it always looks like it has dust on it. The E is Sienna Black, and while it looks gorgeous under the sun, it shows every bit of dust that hits it. I swear; I'll wash the car and by the time I'm done drying one end, the other already looks dirty.
Hope this helps in making your decision...
Jose
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From: Northern NJ
2014 BMW 550i
This is my second black car. After my first car was white and second car was black, I said never again to either of those colors. If I had the choice I would have preferred a different color, but this was the only one they had with the options I wanted. It does look great clean, but it is a pain to keep clean.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
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AlabasterWhiteSL ObsidianBlackML
..obsidian black is the best color on the ML, white is just as good and IMO all colors look just as dirty
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...7&d=1193589549
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...7&d=1193589549
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: I'm a Jersey Girl
2011 ML 350, 2009 Smart Passion, 2004 Audi TT Quattro
..obsidian black is the best color on the ML, white is just as good and IMO all colors look just as dirty
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...7&d=1193589549
https://mbworld.org/forums/attachmen...7&d=1193589549
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From: HK
2010 BMW F10 535i
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 650
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From: I'm a Jersey Girl
2011 ML 350, 2009 Smart Passion, 2004 Audi TT Quattro
I dont even care that Jersey is supposed to get some crappy weather Sat night / Sun morning. I just want to drive it around! Get it dirty!! (well take some pictures first THEN get it dirty)
Member
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Endicott NY
2014 ML350 Bluetec, 2016 GLC 300, 2023 Corvette, Z51 Stingray
I have owned 4 black BMW's. I vowed when I bought my ML350 that I would not get black. I opted for pewter. Glad I did. This is just my opinion. I do agree that nothing looks better than a clean freshly waxed black automobile. I
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From: United States
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
I went from a black ML to pewter as well. I am a bit disappointed with the pewter though, I looked at an E class in the show room and it was much darker pewter than my ML. Maybe the difference from one being painted in the states the other in Germany?
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Carmel, IN
ML350 Bluetech
I love my Obsidian black ML. I've had it about 6 months or so. It does look dirty pretty easy, but I don't really think it's much harder to keep clean than my pewter E was. Just depends how **** you are. I wash it about every week or so and I don't think it gets that bad between washes. Now that it's winter and there's lots of road salt and sand it doesn't look quite as good, but neither have any of my previous car colors (red, blue, green, pewter).
The other color I was choosing between was the Verde Brook. That color really looks sharp in the sun. But I wanted black interior and my dealer practically fell out of his chair when I suggested Verde Brook and black. Oh well.
The other color I was choosing between was the Verde Brook. That color really looks sharp in the sun. But I wanted black interior and my dealer practically fell out of his chair when I suggested Verde Brook and black. Oh well.
Super Member
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From: I'm a Jersey Girl
2011 ML 350, 2009 Smart Passion, 2004 Audi TT Quattro
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Howard Co MD
'13 ML350 Bluetec for work, E550 for pleasure, & ML350 for my wife
I think a nice shiny black MB is about the sharpest looking thing on 4 wheels.
That said, I'd never own one. I just don't have the time to give a black car the personal attention it would need to stay pristine.
I have a Pewter GL and a Granite Gray E. Both colors are easy to keep looking good. They can be a bit dirty without it showing much. Even really dirty, common in this funky weather time of year, they still look good, IMO.
My wife is loyal to Silver. Her 2005 ML seldom gets a hand wash & wax, but does see a lot of automatic car washes. The paint today looks pretty much as it did when we bought it. We are getting her a new ML550 next weekend, and it is going to be Iridium Silver as well. With the AMG styling package, and the little chrome door handle inserts, the car is beautiful, though I personally think the color is sort of more feminine than other colors. I have to say, she looks great in it, and she just loves it.
That said, I'd never own one. I just don't have the time to give a black car the personal attention it would need to stay pristine.
I have a Pewter GL and a Granite Gray E. Both colors are easy to keep looking good. They can be a bit dirty without it showing much. Even really dirty, common in this funky weather time of year, they still look good, IMO.
My wife is loyal to Silver. Her 2005 ML seldom gets a hand wash & wax, but does see a lot of automatic car washes. The paint today looks pretty much as it did when we bought it. We are getting her a new ML550 next weekend, and it is going to be Iridium Silver as well. With the AMG styling package, and the little chrome door handle inserts, the car is beautiful, though I personally think the color is sort of more feminine than other colors. I have to say, she looks great in it, and she just loves it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: United States
2008 R350 & 2008 C300
I love the Verde Brook color as well. I would have went with that, but because I ordered mine before they were offically released the color choices were limited, couldn't even order them.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 10
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2006 LR3
Always seems to me that the manufacturer always markets the car in its best color. I love black but all of the online marketing around the 350 is done in Silver. That's what led me to my decision. I am also coming off a Black LR3 which when clean is a beauty but tough to keep that way.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 647
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From: Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe
2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
I would have taken silver if the sideskirts and lower parts of the bumpers cameron in silver too.. I chose black because those plastic panels only come in black.. obsidian black gets scratched Very easyily..
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 429
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From: South Florida
2006 ML500
I have a black ML and it is my favorite color for this car. No regrets. Besides, with the way these ML's (at least mine...) puts out brake dust, the paint won't be the hardest thing to keep clean!! 
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 650
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From: I'm a Jersey Girl
2011 ML 350, 2009 Smart Passion, 2004 Audi TT Quattro
So I drove the ML around today. It doesnt have the fresh off the lot shine anymore. Stupid weather. Eh well. SUVs are meant to get dirty 
