Hooray!

Greetings... New here and have a 2008 ML350 lined up to buy, 74,000 for $19,000, mint condition, garaged, white on black (see Russian VIN code data below). Question is what am I missing on the "do I pull the trigger" checklist:

1. Engine SN beyond cam issue or cam magnet issue
2. Steering rack replaced recent
3. Left and right CAM seal (?) replaced recent
4. No accidents, dings, damage, garage queen condition, syn oil every 5k w/ records
5. Tires good
6. No shifting issues

What am I missing... I have a 2002 530i so know temperamental cars but don't want a dud. Seems like 2008+ MLs dodged the bullets. Do I need to worry about bearings, the AWD linkages, other big items?

Thanks for the insights. Look forward to learning here... Love cars and even working on them.

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Main data
Parameter​Value
Ident. number (FIN)​4JG1641861A404564
VIN​4JGBB86E78A404564
Baumuster​164186
Sales name​ML 350 4MATIC
Permanent link​http://carinfo.kiev.ua/cars/vin/merc...eck?su=ljy5l23
Order number​0 8 714 70974
Delivery date​2008-03-27
PAINT1​650U
Interior color​141A
Engine​272967 30 897696
Variant
A 272 010 59 00
Number for spare parts
27296730
Text
BITTE BASISMOTOR A 272 010 79 44 80 BESTELLEN. PLEASE ORDER BASE ENGINE A 272 010 79 44 80.
Text
Front axle 2​AL063080251806
Gearbox​722906 01 679877
Class​1
Infotable on engine​A01000272 59
Audio serial number​AL063080251806
General data for model code 164186


Baumuster​Модель​Платформа​Модель​Двигатель​КП​Кол-во дверей​Date From​Date To
164186​ML-class​W164​ML350​Бензин
272.967​АКП
722.906
5​​
SA codes
Code​Value
140A​IMITATION LEATHER
141A​IMITATION LEATHER - BLACK/ANTHRACITE
182​CONVERTER WITH DEV. CHARACTERISTIC
212B​OP. INSTRUCT. AND MAINT. BOOKLET-ENGL. FOR USA/CAN
218​REAR-VIEW CAMERA
232​GARAGE DOOR OPENER WITH 284 - 390 MHZ FREQUENCY
280​LEATHER STEERING WHEEL AND LEATHER GEAR SHIFT KNOB
284B​AIRBAG LABEL - ENGLISH FOR USA
293​SIDEBAG IN REAR LEFT AND RIGHT
301​ASHTRAY PACKAGE
342B​INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/HU LANGUAGE - AMERICAN
345​RAIN SENSOR
359​TELEAID USA
389​MOBILE PRE.-INSTALLATION (MTUS) USA/CANADA COMPL.
414​ELECTRIC TILT/SLIDE SUNROOF IN GLASS VERSION
427​AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 7-SPEED
438​CRASH-ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINTS (CAK)
461​INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
470​TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR (TPM) LOW LINE
494​U.S. VERSION
519​REAR AUDIO SYSTEM
524​PRODUCT PROT. F.PAINT - TRANSPORT VEH.PRESERVATION
530​COMAND DVD APS USA WITH NAVIGATION
536​"SIRIUS" SATELLITE RADIO COMPLETE SYSTEM
551​ANTI-THEFT/ANTI-BREAK-IN WARNING SYSTEM
560​ELECTRIC. ADJUSTABLE DRIVER SEAT L. AND R.
580​AIR CONDITIONER
636​DELETION - WARNING TRIANGLE
650U​CALCITE WHITE - STANDARD FINISH
666​PRODUCT PROT.F.TRANSPORT VEH. W/O TIE-DOWN HOOKS
673​HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY
690​EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE (MINI SPARE)
691​BLUE HEAT-INSULATING GLASS ALL-AROUND, GLASS REAR
705L​UNITED STATES (USA)
720​ROOF RAILING
723​TRUNK COVERING
763​RADIO REMOTE CONTROL W/ PANIC SWITCH (315 MHZ)
7XXL​NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA
808​AEJ 07/1
810​PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM
840​DARK TINTED GLASS
846​SCUFF PLATE IN ALU-APPEARANCE WITH RUBBER STUDS
873​SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEATS
890​AUTOMATIC REAR-END DOOR
989​IDENTIFICATION LABEL UNDER WINDSHIELD
A05​TRANSMISSION ALL-WHEEL CAPABLE
A21​SHIFT BY WIRE
A39​N - VALVE BODY ASSEMBLY WITH VGS 2
A44​SOFTWARE 3
F164​SERIES 164
FW​LIMOUSINE
G906​TRANSMISSION CODE VERSION 06
GA​AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
H04​TRIM PIECES - WOOD BIRDS EYE FINELINE
J58​RIGHT BRACKET
K14​STEUERCODE FUER SERVICEINTERVALL 20000 KM
L​LEFT-HAND STEERING
M272​V6-GASOLINE ENGINE M272
M35​DISPLACEMENT 3.5 LITER
P96​SPORT PACKAGE EXTERIEUR
R02​ALL SEASON TYRES
R39​LIGHT ALLOY WHEEL 5-SPOKE DESIGN 19" ALL-ROUND
U10​FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH WEIGHT SENSING
U12​FLOOR MATS - VELOUR
V59​SPEED- + LOADINDEX 107H XL
System information
Code​Value
Data language​en
DB storage version​1.0
Data display version​2.1
Manufacturer's data version​DW 11/2014 Delta 2 from 2014-11-26

Hooray!

So my research continues, here is the latest list w status on my particular target ML. Comments encouraged, trying to be complete for me and others.

2008 ML Known Defects
Lift gate sensor (ok, later SN)
Rear light leaks (no signs)
Engine cam failure (ok, later SN)
Engine cam sensor (ok, later SN)
Engine cam seals (fixed)
Steering rack (replaced)
Steering sensor (replaced)
Steering reservoir leak (replaced?)
Transmission reservoir seal (fixed?)
Transmission shifting (no signs)
Front differential bearings (chked?)
Steering alignment (done)
Tire balance (?)
Fluids (rec 75k front / rear diff, tranny)
Excessive tire wear (no signs)
Excessive break wear (no signs)

Akinola

Hmm...Also in the same situation mate. About to acquire a 2008 ML 350 (W164) and need to consider possible issues with this model. Also need ideas on possible upgrades and face-lifts to the 2012/2013 model...IS this possible? Someone told me i can only achieve a 2010 face-lift without significant changes to hoods, bumpers etc. Help!