What year W164 is most problem-free?
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 68
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From: Pasadena, CA
2011 CL550, 2011 XKR Coupe, 2015 RX350
What year W164 is most problem-free?
I'm looking at a 2009 ML550 4Matic AMG Package with 120k mi, $15k, silver/black, appears very clean. What could go wrong? I'm thinking buying Fidelity Warranty. Anyone has experience with this company?
Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 157
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From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C63, 2008 ML550, 2014 KTM 500 XC W, John Deere 990
I have the 2008 version of what you are looking at with airmatic, HK audio, keyless go. So, what could go wrong? I'll just list what has gone wrong with mine.
1. All three rear light units failed/leaked
2. Rear SAM failure (due to leaking lights)
3. Battery full drain (due to SAM failure)
4. Steering rack failed
5. Cooling fan replaced twice
6. Airmatic ALL OF IT $$$$$$.
7. 1 rear adjustable shock
8. Thermostat and coolant temperature sensor
9. Rear wiper motor
10. Rear lift gate latch motor
11. rear door window trim, due to clear coat peeling off (both sides)
12. Currently has a shudder when shifting while accelerating. i think it's a torque converter issue.
The usual: accessory belt, brakes, rotors, plugs, wipers, tires, oil, filters, etc.
Fortunately, I was able to make most of the repairs myself. I hope you have better luck.
1. All three rear light units failed/leaked
2. Rear SAM failure (due to leaking lights)
3. Battery full drain (due to SAM failure)
4. Steering rack failed
5. Cooling fan replaced twice
6. Airmatic ALL OF IT $$$$$$.
7. 1 rear adjustable shock
8. Thermostat and coolant temperature sensor
9. Rear wiper motor
10. Rear lift gate latch motor
11. rear door window trim, due to clear coat peeling off (both sides)
12. Currently has a shudder when shifting while accelerating. i think it's a torque converter issue.
The usual: accessory belt, brakes, rotors, plugs, wipers, tires, oil, filters, etc.
Fortunately, I was able to make most of the repairs myself. I hope you have better luck.
Last edited by Euler; Nov 1, 2016 at 07:58 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
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Mercedes Benz 2009 ML550 (W164)
Only problems I have had are:
1. Bulbs burning out pretty quickly in the headlights and fog lights, but that is inexpensive.
2. The steering rack seems to be a big problem with these cars as lately my car has just been drinking power steering fluid like its nothing, so I have to check that out.
3. The trunk doesn't go down sometimes when I press the button on the car or even on the keys. When it does go down, sometimes it doesn't lock, so I have to put it up and put it down again.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 64
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ML550 2008
I have a 2008 ML550 with all the options but RES, bought it almost 2 years ago and at the 50k mark I had to replace all 4 airmatic suspensions. Once one goes it's just a matter of time for all of them to fail and the rears should be replaced in pairs. Not to bad to replace if you go with arnott replacements. I think in total I spent $1650 with labor and they come with a lifetime part warranty. Other than that I love the car, sometimes I wish I got the ML63 but the ML550 is perfect. A annoyed that even with the car having excellent care and low miles I had the added cost and inconvenience of replacing all four. For me I love having airmatic and the ability to transform the way the ML handles, through it in sport mode or for those long lazy drives put it in comfort mode and enjoy the ride. Looked at the others and was looking for a well cared for premium SUV and ran across this one and jumped at it. I plan on keeping it for many many years and hoping that they are as trouble free as possible. I would stay away from RR, many of my friends have had them and they all needed to use the factory warranty extensively and dumped them before the warranty expired. If I had to do it again I would narrow the list down to a few models and find the best cared for one with extensive records. I literally found one owned by a little old lady who basically drove it to the hairdresser and got oil changes done at MB every 3k miles even though it didn't need it.
