god_dk

Thinking about purchasing a 2011 ML 350, maybe even an 2014 If i get a good deal. But has anyone drove both the 2011 ML and the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee? Last time I've rode in / driven an ML, the experience was okay, but acceleration lagged, and also steering was a bit inaccurate. The vehicle did not feel stable, as I would turn a corner and it feels as if the back tired roll a little. Does anyone else have these problems or did I just experience a default vehicle? Although I have not driven the latest generation ML, maybe its better! The new Grand Cherokee seems like a nice truck, with same amount of features + more for a little less than the ML. What do u guys think?

N_Jay

My brother just got the CG.


It is nice but not as quiet as our GL. You do need to get the Air Suspension on the CG to get a decent ride.

god_dk

Yes, if I get the Grand Cherokee I would get the Overland model with the adjustable suspension

Rick Hohwart

My wife and I actually test drove the GC before buying our 2011 ML350 (30k miles). I preferred the far more modern amenities of the GC but my wife had her heart set on the ML and considering it would be here driver, we went with it.

As far as I am concerned, it was the worst purchasing mistake I have ever made. The ML is just not a very good vehicle when it comes to build quality. If you have an aversion to creaking, squeaking, and rattling, I'd avoid the W164 ML like the plague.

N_Jay

Don't worry, the GC will sound about the same in 4 or 5 years, it just does not start out as quiet so you won't notice.


Did the ML have AIrmatic or springs?

Rick Hohwart

I don't doubt it. But the ML has been worse than any car I have experienced from my pool of owned cars, friends cars, work vehicles, and rentals.

The dealer (CPO car) did make an effort to fix it but ultimately gave me the "they all sound like that" excuse.

It does not have airmatic.

N4HHE

Thats what mine does but not knowing any better I attributed it to having gone through the used car lot at least twice. Three times as I believe there was a dealer transfer before the first off-lease sale.

Dealers soak the interior with shiny stuff that gets in the cracks and preps plastic to make noise when rubbed against another piece of similarly treated plastic. In other vehicles I have cured similar plastic-on-plastic noise with WD-40 but it took months for the odor to dissipate.

Rick Hohwart

I might give the WD40 a try. My C55 had some issues as well that I fixed with felt tape but did not work with the ML. it is going in for its first scheduled service this month so I am hoping that my regular guys will be able to fix some issues.

N4HHE

Surely if we scratch our collective heads we can find something that doesn't stink. How about a simple silicone spray? Don't know if silicone is the problem or the solution.

N_Jay

Silicon (carefully applied) is certainly a better solution for rubbing plastic pars than WD-40

fireken57

...step up to the 550... the GC is nice for sure, but I'm sure you will find that age and miles will shake it loose. The 550 is strong, well built, rides wonderfully, and if you can keep your foot out of the throttle, gets over 17mpg around town.

Dave T

My 2011 ML Bluetec has no creaks at 75K miles and drives like it did when it was brand new. But I've had many warranty repairs, probably totaling over $20,000 if I hadn't purchased the 5yr/100,000 mile extended warranty. If you're not willing to go with that, my personal recommendation would be to stay away from the MB.

Rick Hohwart

UPDATE:

I brought my car to my usual service center (MB Laguna Niguel where my C55 gets serviced) for an A service and asked them to check into the rattles that the dealer I bought it from (Fletcher Jones Newport Beach) could not solve. There were two significant problems that I asked them to look into. A very hard rattle under the dash near the glove compartment over cobble type surfaces at low speeds and a rattle/shudder from what seemed like the back seat area.

Knowing that Fletcher Jones could not fix the problems (even though they acknowledged them, they said that “they all do that”) I told the service guy that I thought it was the suspension making a sound but could not tell if it was the front or rear, just that it was the right side of the car. It turns out that this is what the problem was all along!

Apparently the right front strut was bad so the dealer replaced it as well as the lower control arm bushings and the steering ball joint. I am happy to say that the rattles and shudders are gone and some of the other minor rattles seem improved as well. The car driver better as well.

Luckily this work was covered under warranty as was the center console cover and driver’s sun visor which had developed squeaks as well.

I want to commend MB Laguna Niguel for their hard work as effort to get the car to the level I had expected. The fact that the suspension fixes solved the problems was not something I expected and I thought I was stuck with a dud. But it seems OK now

cohenmd86

Between my wife and myself, I have a 2014 jeep grand cherrokee overland sumit air suspense v8 which my work truck, distortion, 2010 ml350 and 2013 ml550, if you load up with jgc you'll be happy, it's super smooth and has many features that ml does have let alone the 350. The jgc doesn't steer as good as either ml and the fuel consumption is 15mpg. My 550 gets 21-22mpg and is retardly fast and a blast to drive, handles like a sports car, the 2010 350 isn't far off from the 550. It's a nice truck, it's more solid then the jgc and has the prestige of being an mb. If your gonna load up the jgc then go for that, has paddle shifters, infotainment is dope, remote start, pano roof, auto high beams, cooled seats, led lights, seats are definitely more comfortable in the jeep then either Benz, and the jgc is built on ml platform and you can get an unlimited lifetime warranty for like 3100$ it's ano brainer

keitha1

I actually own both a 2010 ML350 Bluetec and a 2014 Grand Cherokee Limited with the EcoDiesel.
(If I were to do it over, I would probably look for the Overland model - still with the diesel. Alot of nice standard features come with that trim level.)

They are both great vehicles, but to be honest, I really like the Jeep better.

The Jeep is actually is based on the ML350, and you can tell.

I have not driven a newer ML350, so I can't weigh in on that.