Advice Needed: ML350 or ML500
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 13
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Advice Needed: ML350 or ML500
Hi All,
I currently have a 911 Turbo and an older (1998) ML320. Love the ML, but it's getting to 120K miles and was thinking of switching.
Question is should I get the ML350 or 500. Gas mileage is somewhat important but not a big deal unless there's a huge difference in the 2. Options wise I'd like to have xenons, navigation and satellite radio. Side question - if an ML doesn't come with xenons, nav or xm/sirius is it possible to retrofit without much effort?
What would you do? I'd ideally like to spend low 20s which is what I understand the ML350s are going for in auction. Is it worth the extra $5-8K to get the ML500. I understand these are going for mid to upper 20s in auction.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
I currently have a 911 Turbo and an older (1998) ML320. Love the ML, but it's getting to 120K miles and was thinking of switching.
Question is should I get the ML350 or 500. Gas mileage is somewhat important but not a big deal unless there's a huge difference in the 2. Options wise I'd like to have xenons, navigation and satellite radio. Side question - if an ML doesn't come with xenons, nav or xm/sirius is it possible to retrofit without much effort?
What would you do? I'd ideally like to spend low 20s which is what I understand the ML350s are going for in auction. Is it worth the extra $5-8K to get the ML500. I understand these are going for mid to upper 20s in auction.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 429
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From: South Florida
2006 ML500
I drove the 350 for a month and then purchased my 500. I liked the added power and it just felt so much nicer driving it. I'm sure it was the badge playing head games. 
The gas mileage was only 2-3 mpg different between the two so I wouldn't worry about that as a major factor.
The gas mileage was only 2-3 mpg different between the two so I wouldn't worry about that as a major factor.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,408
Likes: 3
Hi All,
I currently have a 911 Turbo and an older (1998) ML320. Love the ML, but it's getting to 120K miles and was thinking of switching.
Question is should I get the ML350 or 500. Gas mileage is somewhat important but not a big deal unless there's a huge difference in the 2. Options wise I'd like to have xenons, navigation and satellite radio. Side question - if an ML doesn't come with xenons, nav or xm/sirius is it possible to retrofit without much effort?
What would you do? I'd ideally like to spend low 20s which is what I understand the ML350s are going for in auction. Is it worth the extra $5-8K to get the ML500. I understand these are going for mid to upper 20s in auction.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
I currently have a 911 Turbo and an older (1998) ML320. Love the ML, but it's getting to 120K miles and was thinking of switching.
Question is should I get the ML350 or 500. Gas mileage is somewhat important but not a big deal unless there's a huge difference in the 2. Options wise I'd like to have xenons, navigation and satellite radio. Side question - if an ML doesn't come with xenons, nav or xm/sirius is it possible to retrofit without much effort?
What would you do? I'd ideally like to spend low 20s which is what I understand the ML350s are going for in auction. Is it worth the extra $5-8K to get the ML500. I understand these are going for mid to upper 20s in auction.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Get the 320 Bluetec, far better fuel economy and resale, nothing else comes close. Not to mention it will drive like the 500 with all of the torque.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 647
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From: Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe
2011 E-class coupe, 2012 C-class
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 359
Likes: 1
From: Kelowna, BC
'09 ML550
And where does the OP get hold of a BlueTec ML priced "in the low 20s" or even the "mid to upper 20s" which is the budget he said he was looking at?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 242
From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
Retrofit is possible but it's prohibitively expensive.
Trailer hitch, for example, is a $500 option but it's $2K to get one retrofitted at a dealer.
For grownup HID lighting, the only option is completely different headlight units. Sticking HID burners into units designed for Halogen bulbs is illegal and the light isn't any good in any event.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,778
Likes: 1,270
From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,778
Likes: 1,270
From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Used ML
Hi All,
I currently have a 911 Turbo and an older (1998) ML320. Love the ML, but it's getting to 120K miles and was thinking of switching.
Question is should I get the ML350 or 500. Gas mileage is somewhat important but not a big deal unless there's a huge difference in the 2. Options wise I'd like to have xenons, navigation and satellite radio. Side question - if an ML doesn't come with xenons, nav or xm/sirius is it possible to retrofit without much effort?
What would you do? I'd ideally like to spend low 20s which is what I understand the ML350s are going for in auction. Is it worth the extra $5-8K to get the ML500. I understand these are going for mid to upper 20s in auction.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
I currently have a 911 Turbo and an older (1998) ML320. Love the ML, but it's getting to 120K miles and was thinking of switching.
Question is should I get the ML350 or 500. Gas mileage is somewhat important but not a big deal unless there's a huge difference in the 2. Options wise I'd like to have xenons, navigation and satellite radio. Side question - if an ML doesn't come with xenons, nav or xm/sirius is it possible to retrofit without much effort?
What would you do? I'd ideally like to spend low 20s which is what I understand the ML350s are going for in auction. Is it worth the extra $5-8K to get the ML500. I understand these are going for mid to upper 20s in auction.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
2009 ML350
Hi All,
I currently have a 911 Turbo and an older (1998) ML320. Love the ML, but it's getting to 120K miles and was thinking of switching.
Question is should I get the ML350 or 500. Gas mileage is somewhat important but not a big deal unless there's a huge difference in the 2. Options wise I'd like to have xenons, navigation and satellite radio. Side question - if an ML doesn't come with xenons, nav or xm/sirius is it possible to retrofit without much effort?
What would you do? I'd ideally like to spend low 20s which is what I understand the ML350s are going for in auction. Is it worth the extra $5-8K to get the ML500. I understand these are going for mid to upper 20s in auction.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
I currently have a 911 Turbo and an older (1998) ML320. Love the ML, but it's getting to 120K miles and was thinking of switching.
Question is should I get the ML350 or 500. Gas mileage is somewhat important but not a big deal unless there's a huge difference in the 2. Options wise I'd like to have xenons, navigation and satellite radio. Side question - if an ML doesn't come with xenons, nav or xm/sirius is it possible to retrofit without much effort?
What would you do? I'd ideally like to spend low 20s which is what I understand the ML350s are going for in auction. Is it worth the extra $5-8K to get the ML500. I understand these are going for mid to upper 20s in auction.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 1
From: New York, Westchester
2017 GLE 350 W4, 2016 C 300, 2012 E 350 W4 Lux, 2006 ML 350
From what I understand the mileage difference between the 350 and 500 is negligible.
I would suggest you test drive your options and pick the one you like best.
Not sure what you're going to find in the low $20s but good luck with whatever you decide.
I would suggest you test drive your options and pick the one you like best.
Not sure what you're going to find in the low $20s but good luck with whatever you decide.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
2007 ML 500
Hi All,
I currently have a 911 Turbo and an older (1998) ML320. Love the ML, but it's getting to 120K miles and was thinking of switching.
Question is should I get the ML350 or 500. Gas mileage is somewhat important but not a big deal unless there's a huge difference in the 2. Options wise I'd like to have xenons, navigation and satellite radio. Side question - if an ML doesn't come with xenons, nav or xm/sirius is it possible to retrofit without much effort?
What would you do? I'd ideally like to spend low 20s which is what I understand the ML350s are going for in auction. Is it worth the extra $5-8K to get the ML500. I understand these are going for mid to upper 20s in auction.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
I currently have a 911 Turbo and an older (1998) ML320. Love the ML, but it's getting to 120K miles and was thinking of switching.
Question is should I get the ML350 or 500. Gas mileage is somewhat important but not a big deal unless there's a huge difference in the 2. Options wise I'd like to have xenons, navigation and satellite radio. Side question - if an ML doesn't come with xenons, nav or xm/sirius is it possible to retrofit without much effort?
What would you do? I'd ideally like to spend low 20s which is what I understand the ML350s are going for in auction. Is it worth the extra $5-8K to get the ML500. I understand these are going for mid to upper 20s in auction.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
as the others have said, the gas mileage is only 2-3 mpg different.
i have a 500 and get 350's as loaners everytime i go for service.
the 350 feels really underpowered for the ml body while its fine for the c and e class.
resale value is also not going to make much difference. you are still going to be selling a suv that eats up gas and buyers aren't really going to care if its a 350, or 500.. its still a suv.
if the buyers are looking to save on gas and want a suv, they will get a rx400 or a highlander hybrid.
just get what you want, and make sure you get a ml with air suspension. day and night difference from air vs standard steel springs.
