Am I buying a headache?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, Ohio
2011 ML 350
Am I buying a headache?
Hey all --
New to the forum, but looks like I am in the right place!
I wanted to get your opinions, as I have always loved the MB M class suv's. I am in the market and was thinking of spending about $12,000 on a used one. My only question though is .. is it going to be worth it and am I going to be buying a headache with all the repairs and maintenence it may need.
I have been doing some research online, and while I know there are people out there that I am sure have had their M clas go well into the upper 100,000 miles with not many an issue, I am reading and finding out that these cars simply are not meant to go into the 100K+ miles and you will no doubt be making a lot of costly repairs to the car.
So I am re-thinking my decision .. should I just wait until I am ready to get into a newer model that is certified and won't be such high risk, OR are they typically reliable cars that can last a good amount of time?
(and obviously I know to have the car looked at, checked out, etc before making any purchase .. I just wnated to get the over all feeling and history of something like my situation here)
Thanks a ton!! Welcome all your feedback!
New to the forum, but looks like I am in the right place!
I wanted to get your opinions, as I have always loved the MB M class suv's. I am in the market and was thinking of spending about $12,000 on a used one. My only question though is .. is it going to be worth it and am I going to be buying a headache with all the repairs and maintenence it may need.
I have been doing some research online, and while I know there are people out there that I am sure have had their M clas go well into the upper 100,000 miles with not many an issue, I am reading and finding out that these cars simply are not meant to go into the 100K+ miles and you will no doubt be making a lot of costly repairs to the car.
So I am re-thinking my decision .. should I just wait until I am ready to get into a newer model that is certified and won't be such high risk, OR are they typically reliable cars that can last a good amount of time?
(and obviously I know to have the car looked at, checked out, etc before making any purchase .. I just wnated to get the over all feeling and history of something like my situation here)
Thanks a ton!! Welcome all your feedback!
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 349
Likes: 47
From: Brooklin, Ontario
JGC SRT, ML 550, GLB 250
I regret it and bought mine with 45K miles on it. Will never buy another MB. Its fun and the 550 moves. But the stupid things that go wrong with it is redonculous.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, Ohio
2011 ML 350
But maybe I will have others on here tell me something different?????
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 507
Likes: 25
From: Massachusetts
2014 Smart ForTwo Passion Cabrio
In my experience the ones having the most trouble are the ones who don't follow the maintenance schedule religiously. The 550 is not a normal SUV; it's a beast that, for me at least, easily cruises on the German autobahn between 120 and 140 mph like a starship with a well-tuned warp drive. But if you want to play at that level, you have to be ready to pay and take good care of your ship.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, Ohio
2011 ML 350
In my experience the ones having the most trouble are the ones who don't follow the maintenance schedule religiously. The 550 is not a normal SUV; it's a beast that, for me at least, easily cruises on the German autobahn between 120 and 140 mph like a starship with a well-tuned warp drive. But if you want to play at that level, you have to be ready to pay and take good care of your ship.
I am just not sure what to expect and if this would be a wise buy or not? Is it really as simple as just having a really good mechanic (which I have) take a look at the car and under the hood and get his blessing?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, Ohio
2011 ML 350
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Super Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 507
Likes: 25
From: Massachusetts
2014 Smart ForTwo Passion Cabrio
Oh absolutely and I have no problem and will have no problem doing the routine maintence on the car. I also am not planning on taking it to those speeds consistently... lol.. just normal travel.
I am just not sure what to expect and if this would be a wise buy or not? Is it really as simple as just having a really good mechanic (which I have) take a look at the car and under the hood and get his blessing?
I am just not sure what to expect and if this would be a wise buy or not? Is it really as simple as just having a really good mechanic (which I have) take a look at the car and under the hood and get his blessing?
I enjoy the hell out of my 550, for obvious reasons, but not just because I can set cruise control at those speeds. I need the towing capacity on a regular basis, and I take long trips in Europe with my wife and dog, sometimes my grown son, of as much as 8-12 hours driving time to visit in-laws waaaaaay on the SE side of Poland, at fart-detection distance from Ukraine. Look up the route on Google Maps, from Berlin to Przemysl.
It is very advantageous to have a respectable vehicle that gets you there comfortably, especially now that they've finished most of the planned high speed freeways in Poland. The 4-matic also came in handy when navigating muddy trails in the forests while looking for WW1 fortifications I wanted to see. Trips to places like Prague, Szcezin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf... all a heck of a lot more pleasant in a 550.
I will tell you this... this is one of those cars where it pays to have an extended warranty. Mercedes parts are not cheap, neither is the labor. If you can't buy an extended warranty for the 550 you want... well, I would walk away, but I am not you.
I would shop around for extended warranty plans and then go find a car I know I can put in the plan, and make it part of my budget calculations for the purchase.Good luck!
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, Ohio
2011 ML 350
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 349
Likes: 47
From: Brooklin, Ontario
JGC SRT, ML 550, GLB 250
Well I just found a oil leak. After looking around and reading its the Cam Plugs in the back. Not expensive. Its a DIY fix. But still another problem. This is common for both gassers 350 & 550.
Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 108
Likes: 10
From: Switzerland
2019 S560 Maybach
I love my 06 ML500, had it since new. Sure it has its flaws here and there (thank you cheap plastic parts), but some basic mechanical knowledge, a good indie shop for bigger jobs, and a retail source for OEM parts at distributor prices and this car is as complicated as any other. It's also fun to tune if you like a challenge! A lot less bothersome than the electrical gremlins living in my SC Rover (now that's a headache).
As long as you maintain it and give it a very thorough once-over before/upon purchase you should be able to see if it's a dud or gem. Just have a good mechanic do a detailed pre-purchase inspection if you can't yourself. Very well worth the $$$. Oh, and like it was said before, Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance.... An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
As long as you maintain it and give it a very thorough once-over before/upon purchase you should be able to see if it's a dud or gem. Just have a good mechanic do a detailed pre-purchase inspection if you can't yourself. Very well worth the $$$. Oh, and like it was said before, Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance.... An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Junior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
2006 ml350
I’m a retired mechanic with a lift and nothing but time. All the preventative maintenance in the world doesn’t help with one of these nightmares. It’s one oil leak after another part failure etc. Believe me I would rather be sitting here praising this car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,107
Likes: 765
From: Bronx, N.Y.
2002 ML 320 & 2006 ML500
Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 108
Likes: 10
From: Switzerland
2019 S560 Maybach
