Doesn't seem to be too much info out there yet. I found this recent posting: http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1...-benz-ml-class. Anyone have others?

I put in a pre-order a few months ago; since I've had one of the first of the last two generations, I may repeat, though I will consider others.

 

Not bad, but nothing changed dramatically. I guess after the MY 2012, there will be a totally MB SUV.

 

The 2012 will be a new SUV, W166 body. The first one will come through the line in December.

 

December '11?

 

Not to vent on you...because l know you just put them together, but my 2010ML350 has been less than stellar...........Here is my 10 month history.....

1. Rusting front and back stainless steel skid plates and bolts...
2. Peeling(discoloring) and flaking weatherstripping...passenger side window.
3. 4-5 months of a thumping front suspension..control arms..ball joints...
4. Defective fuel sending unit, almost left my family and l stranded on the New York State Thruway @ 3 in the morning with a fuel gauge reading "EMPTY"..

Embarassing to be honest...for a $73,000 dollar vehicle, completely unacceptable...Almost makes me laugh when l see the Mercedes commercials claiming the "best or nothing"......Again "V"...not to shoot you down, but what is up with the part suppliers down their ??????? Maybe you could show your QC department this thread and have them keep a closer eye of these parts.............

 

No, this December.

 

Wow, so 5 2/3 years between model turnaround! Last iteration was 7 years. Competition is heating up!

 

C-rod, not sure on the process MBUSI uses on quality after the sale but I do know that changes happen through a model year run because of issues that come about in the field. I will pass word along though my channel.

 

MB is always gunning for the top spot in the food chain, I imagine its heated lol. Theres alot of processes that MBUSI has to go through before the actual "customer cars" W166 roll off the line. This is why its starting when it is.

 

It would be much appreciated..................

 

i would avoid a new body in its first year, personally

 

Wow...that sucks...on your umpteenth ML.

The ML will be the first vehicle to leave our current garage.

 

It will be my last !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

a completely new body W166 ML to roll out in December 2010?????????

am i reading this correctly? i thought the all new ML will be out late 2011 or early 2012.

 

Theres alot of production trials to go through before customer cars will be built.

 

Seems to sit lower than our version.
I like it.

 

I just drove a 2011 ML350 yesterday as my loaner when the AMG was getting service B done to it, compared to my wifes 2009 ML350, bigger side mirrors with lane assist, there was a compass in the rearview mirror, new style 19" wheels and of course the LED light strips in place of the fog lights which remain on as the daylight running lights. I wouldnt say the 2011 sits lower, it is the same ride height and nothing else jumped out at me, in fact, parked besides my wifes 2009, from the rear looked identical.

 

jditom's comments above are comparing the current W164 to the 2012 W166 in the picture.

 

I had these too:

1. Rusting front and back stainless steel skid plates and bolts...
2. Peeling(discoloring) and flaking weatherstripping...passenger side window.
3. 4-5 months of a thumping front suspension..control arms..ball joints...

But service fixed it all.

 

So your saying that the pic above is of a W166? Seen one today in person, thats not it.

 

Sneak us a photo!

 

Put it to you this way, i had to turn in my cell phone to security to go near it. I am also not allowed to discuss what it looks like in detail.
It would be alot easier to tell you whats simular to the 164 than to tell you whats different.

 

and your impression is? Do you feel that it's a respectable evolution of the W164? Would YOU buy one?

 

I like it overall as much as the 164. I would buy one because Im going to help build them lol.
Seriously though I would buy one for my wife(which I plan to) weither I worked there or not.

 

Interesting topic here; really cool that we have a member "on the inside" so to speak . From the videos of the stealthed prototypes of the new W166, it looks like the shape (particularly nearing the back/posterior) has been changed to a more GL/GLK style. Is that something you noticed Veloci, or were we just mislead from the camo on the prototypes?