Expected Reliability
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Joined: Aug 2011
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Yugo
Expected Reliability
I'm going to be new to MB with the 12ML. I have friends who had horrible German (BMW, MB and Audi) cars the past decade. Plus you hear similar stories everywhere. So I stayed Japanese relatively problem free.
I read that the new head of MB has acknowledged MB lack of reliability in the recent past with a vow to turn it around. Is there any empirical indication that long term reliability of MB vehicles will improve?
I want to keep this ML for 8-10 years without huge repair bills.
I read that the new head of MB has acknowledged MB lack of reliability in the recent past with a vow to turn it around. Is there any empirical indication that long term reliability of MB vehicles will improve?
I want to keep this ML for 8-10 years without huge repair bills.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,770
Likes: 1,264
From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
ML reliability
I'm going to be new to MB with the 12ML. I have friends who had horrible German (BMW, MB and Audi) cars the past decade. Plus you hear similar stories everywhere. So I stayed Japanese relatively problem free.
I read that the new head of MB has acknowledged MB lack of reliability in the recent past with a vow to turn it around. Is there any empirical indication that long term reliability of MB vehicles will improve?
I want to keep this ML for 8-10 years without huge repair bills.
I read that the new head of MB has acknowledged MB lack of reliability in the recent past with a vow to turn it around. Is there any empirical indication that long term reliability of MB vehicles will improve?
I want to keep this ML for 8-10 years without huge repair bills.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2011
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Yugo
I found another JD article:
2011 Vehicle Dependability Study Results
Measuring vehicle quality after 3 years of ownership
—vehicles produced by Asian manufacturers experienced fewer problems—141 problems per 100 (PP100)—than those produced by European (159 PP100) or domestic (162 PP100) automakers. (A lower PP100 score reflects higher quality.)Even though, according to consumers, Asian manufacturers achieve higher levels of long-term vehicle quality than do their counterparts in Europe and North America, further analysis reveals that significant differences in the levels of long-term vehicle quality exist depending on where a vehicle was built.
For example, vehicles built by Asian manufacturers in Asia achieve a score of 133 PP100, whereas those built in North America achieve a score of 146 PP100—a difference of 13 PP100. Likewise, vehicles built by European manufacturers in Europe come in at 156 PP100, whereas vehicles built by those same automakers in North America have 170 PP100—an even bigger difference of 14 PP100. This suggests that manufacturers have some work to do when it comes to making sure that quality standards are fully understood and adhered to by their overseas workforce—
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/article...Study-Results/
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Yugo
Thanks. At the end of 7 years, would you have felt comfortable taking the vehicle cross country with a family?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Reliability
Yes, with qualifications. I'm at 6 yrs 2 mos and am leaving on a 750-mile round trip Thursday. The car has never not started or left me stranded. Except for the camshaft sprocket and an Airmatic issue, it has been pretty reliable. That being said, I usually change with each model cycle. I find 6 yrs/60k miles is a good point where there is still reasonable resale value and reliability is still good. I'm not one to keep cars 100k or more. I think the complexity of the systems in today's cars works against that.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
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Yugo
Yes, with qualifications. I'm at 6 yrs 2 mos and am leaving on a 750-mile round trip Thursday. The car has never not started or left me stranded. Except for the camshaft sprocket and an Airmatic issue, it has been pretty reliable. That being said, I usually change with each model cycle. I find 6 yrs/60k miles is a good point where there is still reasonable resale value and reliability is still good. I'm not one to keep cars 100k or more. I think the complexity of the systems in today's cars works against that.
If the 12ML stickers at $65K, what should I expect for it after 6 years if it is in good condition with avg mileage?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,770
Likes: 1,264
From: Lake Oswego, OR
2020 GLE 450; 2023 BMW M2 Coupe
Resale
I have not researched that. Will be checking values on my '06 soon, as I plan on selling it about February of next year. Sold my '98 after 6 years for $15k, but that was a less expensive vehicle.
Last edited by GregW / Oregon; Aug 31, 2011 at 08:07 PM.
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Ml350 bluetech
Reliability
Interesting JD chart. Not sure what the other one says but I'm guessing that is looks good for MB.
I found another JD article:
2011 Vehicle Dependability Study Results
Measuring vehicle quality after 3 years of ownership
—vehicles produced by Asian manufacturers experienced fewer problems—141 problems per 100 (PP100)—than those produced by European (159 PP100) or domestic (162 PP100) automakers. (A lower PP100 score reflects higher quality.)Even though, according to consumers, Asian manufacturers achieve higher levels of long-term vehicle quality than do their counterparts in Europe and North America, further analysis reveals that significant differences in the levels of long-term vehicle quality exist depending on where a vehicle was built.
For example, vehicles built by Asian manufacturers in Asia achieve a score of 133 PP100, whereas those built in North America achieve a score of 146 PP100—a difference of 13 PP100. Likewise, vehicles built by European manufacturers in Europe come in at 156 PP100, whereas vehicles built by those same automakers in North America have 170 PP100—an even bigger difference of 14 PP100. This suggests that manufacturers have some work to do when it comes to making sure that quality standards are fully understood and adhered to by their overseas workforce—
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/article...Study-Results/
I found another JD article:
2011 Vehicle Dependability Study Results
Measuring vehicle quality after 3 years of ownership
—vehicles produced by Asian manufacturers experienced fewer problems—141 problems per 100 (PP100)—than those produced by European (159 PP100) or domestic (162 PP100) automakers. (A lower PP100 score reflects higher quality.)Even though, according to consumers, Asian manufacturers achieve higher levels of long-term vehicle quality than do their counterparts in Europe and North America, further analysis reveals that significant differences in the levels of long-term vehicle quality exist depending on where a vehicle was built.
For example, vehicles built by Asian manufacturers in Asia achieve a score of 133 PP100, whereas those built in North America achieve a score of 146 PP100—a difference of 13 PP100. Likewise, vehicles built by European manufacturers in Europe come in at 156 PP100, whereas vehicles built by those same automakers in North America have 170 PP100—an even bigger difference of 14 PP100. This suggests that manufacturers have some work to do when it comes to making sure that quality standards are fully understood and adhered to by their overseas workforce—
http://www.jdpower.com/autos/article...Study-Results/
Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: Endicott NY
2014 ML350 Bluetec, 2016 GLC 300, 2023 Corvette, Z51 Stingray
I just traded my 2009 ml350 with 100k in on a 2014 ml350 Bluetec. Had no major problems and was planning on keeping it well past 100k and would not have hesitated to take it on a long trip. The only reason I traded it was I could not pass up the deal I got on the 2014. Loaded, 7,000 miles got 19 for my trade in.
