DC-IT

I took delivery of my 2011 ML350 BlueTec on 30th June and immediately left on a 2,400 KM (1,490 Miles) road trip with the family.
We drove from Toronto to Montreal to Matane back to Quebec City and back to Toronto.
The ML is a great vehicle for long distance travel.
With it’s ample torque (400 Lb-Ft) and adequate HP (201 HP) it was well up to the task of getting the four of us to our destinations in comfort yet it gave an impressive fuel economy of 9 L/100 KM or 26 US MPG.
When I made the first fuel stop at 862 KM (536 Miles) it still had over 200 KM (124 Miles) range left.
When we left Toronto there was heavy traffic on the highway and for almost 1.5 hours the fuel consumption was showing 14 L/100 KM (16 US MPG) and my heart sank!
But once the traffic cleared up and we started cruising at a steady pace of 110~120 KM/Hr the FE improved to 9 L/100 KM and at one stage it even showed 7.8 L/100 Km for quite some time.
But the average FE at the first fill up showed an actual consumption of 9 L/100 KM which is excellent for such a large/heavy vehicle.
I find that the ML is slow to start up but once it gets to highway speed it’s fine. Starting off it seems to hesitate a bit. I quickly learnt to depress the fuel pedal at just the right amount to achieve a smooth take off.
I had the A/C on automatic climate control set at 22 degrees C for the whole trip and the FE was still very acceptable.
The M-B NAV with Command APS & Linguatronic voice control performed flawlessly throughout the trip.
I was able to use voice command to set my destinations and even search POIs for Hotels, make a phone call to check availability and use the NAV to get us there.
There is no need for push buttons or touching the NAV screen to enter your destinations. Voice command works as it should to let me make full use of the technology safely and without any fuss.
I actually prefer the M-B system to the BMW’s NAV which lacks the following features that the M-B NAV has:
1. Tells you the names of the street/Hwy you are turning onto.
2. Displays Gas stations that sells Diesel on the route.
3. Automatically switch over to Night or daytime display modes.

OTOH, the BMW’s NAV+iDrive has several features that are done better than the M-B:
1. Let’s you rotate the knob to zoom the map in/out in a split second whereas in the M-B I have to press a couple of buttons. Wait a minute I have not tried voice command to see if this will work.
2. Displays 3-D and satellite views of the maps which is pretty cool in the cities as you can see the sky scrapers in 3-D.
3. You can search your destinations/POIs on Google Maps and send them to your NAV and retrieve them when you are in the car.
4. Large Hi-Def display screen which you can set to split screen display.

BlueTooth phone and HomeLink set ups were easy and works well for my BlackBerry and two garage doors.

I am very pleased with my ML and hope to take it on many more road trips for many years to come.
Below are several pictures of the ML at the Matane resort taken at sunset.

Cheers.

GSD

Very nice indeed, I haven't been on a road trip in my ML320CDI since driving it back from Ohio. I drove it to Buffalo and it topped 30MPG once or twice.

I like the leather dashboard in your pics. Nice ride indeed.

A fellow Ontarion whereabouts are you located?

Keep us updated on your review of the new ride.

Thanks

DC-IT

Thanks GSD.
I'm in Durham/GTA.
When I saw the Grand Edition I was immediately sold on the special features like the Artico leather finished dash with contrast stitching which is also on the door inserts and front and rear seats.

The steering is also the AMG version while the 20" rims are bi-colour.
The ambient lighting is neat for night time driving.

I figured I might as well get the best of the last model year which hopefully has all the bugs taken care off.
Also the 2012 ML will not have all these features initially and all will be optional.

My one serious concern is the design of the gear shift lever.
There is no prevention from shifting into Reverse gear from Drive!
In a panic situation I can imagine doing that at highway speed and wrecking the tranny!
I wonder has this happened to any M-B owners?
With all the engineering expertise of M-B why wasn't a safe guard added to prevent anyone shifting into Reverse from Drive?
This can easily be incorporated by making it necessary to push in the lever before you can engage Reverse.
But I make a mental note to remind myself to not touch the gear lever once it's set to Drive.

Other than that the Diesel ML is the ideal long distance hauler.

I am researching what Winter tires + size to get for the ML.
Would 18" (245/60 R18) be fine? My ML comes with 265/45 R20 Continental RFT.
I found out that in Canada we do not need to fit TPMS sensors for our ML which is a pleasant surprise as we can get any after market rims of our choice.
I intend to get non RFT which I also have for my BMW and they worked fine and are more comfortable and a lot less expensive.

Cheers.

GSD

Hey DC_IT

I am in Ajax! All the upgrades on your limited edition look great! The tranny has to go into neutral first before it goes to reverse?

Haven't really looked into winter tires yet, I'm running 255/50/19's with Michelin Latitude HP's.

I may see you around Durham Region

GateKeeper

Nice trip and nice vehicle......

I just got my first ML350, had a C350, but needed something a bit bigger.....

GSD

I sold my 2000 Jetta TDI with 396,000kms and bought the 2007 ML320CDI. I still have a 2004 Jetta TDI with 308,000kms.

DC-IT

You betcha! I'm also in Ajax! Moved from Toronto last June.

Thanks GateKeeper.
I got rid of a Suzuki Grand Vitara that was sucking gas @ 12.9 L/100 KM which I traded in for the 2011 Jetta TDI that seeps Diesel @ 6 L/100 KM!
BTW I bought my ML from Mercedes-Benz Mississauga.
How reliable are your TDIs?
I just got mine in Feb. Then my daughter moved home and I let her use the Jetta and got the ML which kind of replaces the Suzuki!
So no more gassers in the family.

jon2002

That's a very nice Bluetech, I particually like the curvatures on the hood. I had just recently taken delivery of my special ordered 11 ML550, and your mpg is significantly higher than my V8. Looks like you are getting ~10mpg higher than me, however I have yet to take the new truck on a high way trip. I have noticed that the on board computer is optimistic with the mpg calculations, the actual mpg from fill up calculations are about half a mpg or so lower.

Love the leather dash, I got that as well, it was a special order for the US market.

DC-IT

Thanks jon2002. Congrats on your '11 ML550. That V8 sure packs a lot of power.
I fully agree on the hood curvatures and the Artico leather covered dash with contrasting stitches.
The two chrome exhausts are also one of the reasons I got the 2011 ML instead of waiting for the 2012 which from photos I've seen have concealed the exhaust/s.

I cover between 60~70,000 KM per year which is why I went totally Diesels on all my vehicles.
The SUV I got rid off in Feb was getting 400 KM per tank while each of my current Diesels are getting more than double that: '10 335d (780~800 KM range), '11 Jetta TDI (870~900 KM) and now the '11 ML (1,000+ KM).

Cheers

KA8

Nice! Just traded my 08 ML for 2011 ML. This time I almost got the bluetec but I chose gasoline model at the last minute.

DC-IT

Congrats KA8.
What color & options did you get?

GSD

Been driving diesels for ages since I was in England and moved over here. The TDI's are very fuel efficient and reliable. The TDI is my daily driver into Toronto from Ajax and the ML is the wifes car around Durham region.

I'll keep my eye out for you, I have a platinum grey TDI and a black ML.

KA8

Got Arctic White with COMAND, factory hitch, running board, keyless-go, P1 package I think?

eeferber

245/60/18 would be a good substitute size-wise. Only .639% difference, 15mm, in circumference. Negligible speedo difference.

GSD

Is there a reason why 18inch rims have different rotors than 19inch rims?

DC-IT

I'm interested in 18" 'cos the smaller rim with higher side wall on the tires may give a better ride?
Also I can get after market AMG style alloys in 18" at a reasonable price for the Winter tires.

mike_1103

Nice pics from Matane.

I know exactly where these pictures were taken: just north of the Marina, east of what they call the "Vieux-Port" (the Old Wharf). I was raised in Rimouski, 60 miles west of Matane. I went there quite often with my parents when I was a kid... That was more than 35 years ago!

Thanks for posting

Mike.

DC-IT

Thanks Mike.

We stayed overnight in Montreal Marriott Hotel near the old city.
In Matane we stayed at Riotel which had a special that included "all you can eat Lobster dinner!!!".

On the way back we drove on through Rimouski along the river side and it was a very scenic drive including a stop over at a light house.

We tried to stay over in Old Quebec city but all Hotels were fully booked 'cos of the visit by the Royal couple!
So we drove back all the way from Matane to Toronto with a 2 hour stop over in Quebec.

Cheers

newyorktoLA

to the OP, did you have a clear bra installed? did you do anything to protect the bumper from nicks and bugs?

DC-IT

I got the M-B Dealer to install a Clear Bra and tint the front windows to the same shade as the rear.

The road trip saw the front bumper and windshield plastered with bugs!
The windshield washer wasn't able to remove the bugs effectively once they dried.

Fortunately on the return trip when we were closer home there was a severe thunder storm and heavy rain fall which washed away all the bugs stains on the front and windshield.

I know some go to the extent of covering the entire front bumper + side view mirrors which can cost over $1,000 for such a large vehicle.
But being a lease vehicle I didn't want to go overboard since I may want to get the new ML after the lease expires.

So far I am liking this ML more and more and if it proves to be reliable I am leaning towards buying it when the lease is up.