dougiebear

Its all beyond me why anyone thinks they need an OFF ROAD pkg.
Who will really need more then what comes standard maybe 1-2% of people and they have too much money already and should just by a GL or better yet a "G" a true off roader........guys your "stick" really wont get bigger with an off road pkg especially when it delays your ride....wifes ride for one of our friends.
Just trying to be realistic here......same with Active curve system buy a AMG 63 if your spending that much money to start get a real ROD hahaha

serge01

wake up and smell coffee. you should not be rude for nothing.No one will ever be able to pull a heavy boat out of the water unless he has transfer case.whats good for you may not be for someone else.it appears as though you are the one with ego here.you should be in a BMW forum.

dougiebear

Same TOW rating
Perhaps ML is wrong vehicle. Wife unlikely to pull a boat
Think friend. GL or G
BMW? who is rude.
All reality ML is not the one. That's why we don't get the 2wd here. ML off road is beyond the need of 98% of ML owners in NA
Main point guys wife is pissed (read HURT)so no Off Road pk useless perhaps selfish.

YYZ-E55

At the risk of getting caught up in this, the GL powertrain is identical to the ML. Why would it pull better? The extra approx 10" of wheelbase? Unlikely to make much difference.

Also, do you realize that the North American spec G-Wagen doesn't come with a hitch?

Think friend!

dougiebear

YYZ does the GL not have a HI/LO 2spd transfercase option in Canada like the US
A hitch for a framed G wagon should be easy to get or make

YYZ-E55

It was offered on the 450, never on the BlueTEC.
If it was the ultimate Benz solution for towing as you lectured above, wouldn't you think it would come with one?

dougiebear

Thought on the G was off road capability not towing but I guess if you can tow in Africa and SA it can tow in NA just saying. There are vehicles better designed for towing large boats etc then an ML. Many here seem to think the ML should be all things but it simply can't and development costs including crash testing a substantial amount of units for each change is hugely prohibitive.

iankayem

The G is very much a special purpose vehicle which has distinct advantages for certain conditions. These include live axles, recirculating ball steering, bigger 70 or 60 profile tyres, not to mention all the traction aids. I test drove one, got out onto the highway, felt all the vibes on the smooth bitumen and within one mile decided I could not buy it for love of money.

The GL is longer than the ML but without all the options available. Its great if youv'e got a tribe and need the seats, otherwise why bother.

The OnOff road pack adds 3% to the total price but the 350 I ordered with all the kit is still well below the base price for the 500 let alone 60% of the 63 price.

Many reading this are pleased and proud to have spent the money for a 500 or 63.

If I realy wanted to save the money, rather than go short on an option I may rarely use, I would go look for a Great Wall or Tata and pay only 25% of the price, and have all the availble options and colours on the showroom floor.

MD Boy

Gentlemen,

We had a change of plans in our vehicle purchase. (I tried posting last week, but had to delete my post because pictures wouldn't load).

With MB pushing our 2013 delivery from late July to September/October, based on our option choices, we ventured out to see what else was out there.

Long story short, went to another manufacturer to see one car, saw something else they had on the lot, was enamored by it, waited for them to get the 2013 from the port and BAM! Done. It's not a SUV but it is all wheel drive and has every gadget/gizmo and upgrade that I would've loved to have in the ML. We'll still need a SUV down the line and the ML will be on the top of the list - as long as delivery experience isn't as it was this time

Wanted to thank all of you guys for the great information and kind words since we placed our order back in December '11. Happy driving to all of you and good luck with your ML's. And of course, for those waiting, hope you guys get your ML's delivered soon

Michael

MD Boy

Got her with 13 miles on the Odometer, straight from the port. Having the clear bra installed on the front and rear, as we speak.

Won't be ale to go off roading in this but I guess it'll do for now