How can you tell the difference - 550 vs 350?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 53
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
ML550
How can you tell the difference - 550 vs 350?
I know the AMG has the exhaust out the back and the badge and the bigger motor (yea, yea). But if you took the badge off (AMG not included) the 550 and 350 how can you tell the difference between the two?
I think my 550 is a "sleeper" next to a WRX or a Camaro SS. I can't wait to find out.
I think my 550 is a "sleeper" next to a WRX or a Camaro SS. I can't wait to find out.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 331
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From: Orange County, CA
'16 Jaguar F-Type R, '21 GLE63s
ML550 comes with the sport package with a different front bumper and body-color side panels while the sport package is optional on the ML350
ML63 has front and rear bumpers that are not available on any of the lower models, even as options.
ML63 has front and rear bumpers that are not available on any of the lower models, even as options.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
To me, it is always such a shame when MB decides that just because someone wants the bigger engine, they MUST want all of their AMG body panels, ridiculous wheels & tires and all that other "boy racer" crap they put on the ML550. I would have loved a 550 V8 in my 2014 ML, but I wanted mine to have the standard, normal look of the "truck" that it is. When it was available, the ML550 should have been available as a regular version, with the Sports Package available as an OPTION. Luxury is all about choices, but over the past few years, MB has taken many of our choices away, which is NOT very luxurious.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Los Angeles
2025 Panamera GTS
To me, it is always such a shame when MB decides that just because someone wants the bigger engine, they MUST want all of their AMG body panels, ridiculous wheels & tires and all that other "boy racer" crap they put on the ML550. I would have loved a 550 V8 in my 2014 ML, but I wanted mine to have the standard, normal look of the "truck" that it is. When it was available, the ML550 should have been available as a regular version, with the Sports Package available as an OPTION. Luxury is all about choices, but over the past few years, MB has taken many of our choices away, which is NOT very luxurious.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
The v8 has always had the sport body panels. It's never had regular body panels. Your choice was never taken away if it's never been there. Even in the older body styles. Re: wheels you can get the smaller more off-road friendly wheels as standard with an option for larger wheels.
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Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Los Angeles
2025 Panamera GTS
You are missing the point: I WANT the choice and there is no good reason why I shouldn't have it. The "Sports" package styling, for all the boy racers out there, should be an option on any and all MB cars they wish to offer it on. The plain vanilla, conservative styling should be available for those of us who want it, regardless if the model is a 4, 6, 8 or 12 cylinder vehicle. In any case, traditional styling should be the norm, with the sports styling optional.
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 350
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From: North East
07 TL, 05 350z, 08 MDX
@Streamliner - There is a choice. Don't buy it if you don't like it.
There is also another choice, trade your nicer AMG rims w a member that has the regular ones. I'm sure many people would be happy to make that trade.
There is also another choice, trade your nicer AMG rims w a member that has the regular ones. I'm sure many people would be happy to make that trade.
Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 204
Likes: 52
From: Calgary
GLE63S 2016
Echo the opinions on choice. I really like the power in the AMG, but I liked the designo leather in the 550 so much more than the limited designo package in the AMG....that I ordered two 550's with the designo leather package instead. The AMG is a "racer" with a lot of the luxury stuff removed and less choice on colours in Canada. Not really what I wanted. Would have been better to have the choice of all the luxury options for the AMG.
Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 204
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From: Calgary
GLE63S 2016
The Designo leather in the ML550 is way nicer than the one in the AMG. The ML550 gets the nice triangular quilted leather and the AMG get a more "plain" perforated leather. I've sat in both and the 550 Designo is WAY more comfortable. I believe that the 6 option towing package is also more limited in the AMG for some reason.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 53
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From: Littleton Colorado
ML550
From Car and Driver -
"The ML550 might not make 500-plus hp and it might not gurgle on overrun and when shifting like the ML63 AMG, but it’s a 400-plus-hp SUV that does sub-five-second 0-to-60 times. It’s more than comfortable picking up the groceries and hauling the kids to band practice and is far easier to wield than luxury utes such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lexus LX570. At tens of thousands of dollars less than its ultra-high-performance AMG counterpart, the ML550 occupies, yes, a sweet spot directly between bang and buck in the mid-size-luxury-SUV market."
"The ML550 might not make 500-plus hp and it might not gurgle on overrun and when shifting like the ML63 AMG, but it’s a 400-plus-hp SUV that does sub-five-second 0-to-60 times. It’s more than comfortable picking up the groceries and hauling the kids to band practice and is far easier to wield than luxury utes such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lexus LX570. At tens of thousands of dollars less than its ultra-high-performance AMG counterpart, the ML550 occupies, yes, a sweet spot directly between bang and buck in the mid-size-luxury-SUV market."
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 331
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From: Orange County, CA
'16 Jaguar F-Type R, '21 GLE63s
The Designo leather in the ML550 is way nicer than the one in the AMG. The ML550 gets the nice triangular quilted leather and the AMG get a more "plain" perforated leather. I've sat in both and the 550 Designo is WAY more comfortable. I believe that the 6 option towing package is also more limited in the AMG for some reason.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 60
Likes: 3
From: Winnipeg!
C300/STi
You are missing the point: I WANT the choice and there is no good reason why I shouldn't have it. The "Sports" package styling, for all the boy racers out there, should be an option on any and all MB cars they wish to offer it on. The plain vanilla, conservative styling should be available for those of us who want it, regardless if the model is a 4, 6, 8 or 12 cylinder vehicle. In any case, traditional styling should be the norm, with the sports styling optional.
Come to Canada, the ML550, and 350 look identical.
There is a sport package available on the 350, which adds airmatic and 20 inch wheels, and is std on the 550. the body is the same, and the wheels are the same (if the 350 has the sport package).
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 60
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From: Winnipeg!
C300/STi
Echo the opinions on choice. I really like the power in the AMG, but I liked the designo leather in the 550 so much more than the limited designo package in the AMG....that I ordered two 550's with the designo leather package instead. The AMG is a "racer" with a lot of the luxury stuff removed and less choice on colours in Canada. Not really what I wanted. Would have been better to have the choice of all the luxury options for the AMG.
Whst luxury features were removed other than the heated steering wheel?
Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 204
Likes: 52
From: Calgary
GLE63S 2016
Call me a spoiled princess, but the lack of a heated steering wheel is a deal breaker for me. I agree about the ML550. It's just hard to spend $108k on a vehicle without really being able to see one all configured even close to your preferences. And I ordered two of them like that!
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Los Angeles
2025 Panamera GTS
Call me a spoiled princess, but the lack of a heated steering wheel is a deal breaker for me. I agree about the ML550. It's just hard to spend $108k on a vehicle without really being able to see one all configured even close to your preferences. And I ordered two of them like that!
Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 204
Likes: 52
From: Calgary
GLE63S 2016
I have always been disgusted with friends/colleagues of mine who drive nice cars like the ML550 or AMG63.....and their poor wives end up driving some crappy old minivan. The wives often don't care, because they are not in any way "car people".....but it still bugs me to think that my wife is in a lower end car than me. I have always tried to buck that trend and to ensure that I do the opposite. So I got one in Palladium Silver, loaded with the AMG appearance package for me - and the same one in Diamond White for my wife. I wish that they would arrive at the same time, but we had to each take a separate production slot. Where we live in Calgary, you literally have to "get in line" to buy an ML 550. The dealers only get limited production slots and they have roughly at least 2-3 clients that want each production slot. There are only two Mercedes dealers in our city of 1.5M people where the economy has been red hot for 20+ years due to the highly productive oil industry.
Interestingly, I saw the new CLA class (new SUV-ish vehicle) and I loved it. I am thinking of getting one for my 18 yo daughter who is in University. She is currently in a Chevy Cruz RS, and I am very impressed with the Cruz. But the CLA looks great and I think that it would probably function very well in the nasty winter weather that we get in Calgary.
Interestingly, I saw the new CLA class (new SUV-ish vehicle) and I loved it. I am thinking of getting one for my 18 yo daughter who is in University. She is currently in a Chevy Cruz RS, and I am very impressed with the Cruz. But the CLA looks great and I think that it would probably function very well in the nasty winter weather that we get in Calgary.
Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 204
Likes: 52
From: Calgary
GLE63S 2016
That is very nice of you to offer! I really appreciate it. But I feel like I have an agreement with the sales consultant I dealt with, and I would not want to subject him to uncertainty on his sales efforts towards me. He's a good guy and he's been very helpful at the Hyatt Auto Gallery in Calgary.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 60
Likes: 3
From: Winnipeg!
C300/STi
That is very nice of you to offer! I really appreciate it. But I feel like I have an agreement with the sales consultant I dealt with, and I would not want to subject him to uncertainty on his sales efforts towards me. He's a good guy and he's been very helpful at the Hyatt Auto Gallery in Calgary.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 53
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
ML550
This weekend while out to dinner I parked next to a 350. It was a bit hard to tell the difference. The 550 has a bit larger front "air intakes" and I do have the intelligent light system which this 350 did not. I noticed the lower bodywork was not painted on the 350. The rear bumper looks about identical. As for the side panels I could not tell any difference. I was going to snap a few pics but when I walked back the owner was driving off.
Last edited by ColoML550; Oct 29, 2014 at 12:51 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 714
Likes: 10
From: Los Angeles
2025 Panamera GTS
I have always been disgusted with friends/colleagues of mine who drive nice cars like the ML550 or AMG63.....and their poor wives end up driving some crappy old minivan. The wives often don't care, because they are not in any way "car people".....but it still bugs me to think that my wife is in a lower end car than me. I have always tried to buck that trend and to ensure that I do the opposite. So I got one in Palladium Silver, loaded with the AMG appearance package for me - and the same one in Diamond White for my wife. I wish that they would arrive at the same time, but we had to each take a separate production slot. Where we live in Calgary, you literally have to "get in line" to buy an ML 550. The dealers only get limited production slots and they have roughly at least 2-3 clients that want each production slot. There are only two Mercedes dealers in our city of 1.5M people where the economy has been red hot for 20+ years due to the highly productive oil industry.
Interestingly, I saw the new CLA class (new SUV-ish vehicle) and I loved it. I am thinking of getting one for my 18 yo daughter who is in University. She is currently in a Chevy Cruz RS, and I am very impressed with the Cruz. But the CLA looks great and I think that it would probably function very well in the nasty winter weather that we get in Calgary.
Interestingly, I saw the new CLA class (new SUV-ish vehicle) and I loved it. I am thinking of getting one for my 18 yo daughter who is in University. She is currently in a Chevy Cruz RS, and I am very impressed with the Cruz. But the CLA looks great and I think that it would probably function very well in the nasty winter weather that we get in Calgary.
Last edited by jtorrebl; Oct 29, 2014 at 01:27 AM.
