I am split. Can anyone please help me see the bigger picture. I will keep the ML for a long time and no towing. Basically debating if the diesel version will outweights the gas version in terms of fuel economy and most importantly maintenance in the long run. Diesel owners please chime in regarding maintenance of your rides.

 

I never owned a diesel but almost bought one when I decided on the 2012 ML gas version. Right now in most places diesel is much more expensive than gasoline, even the premium our cars take. A year ago it was the other way around. You can never tell about fuel prices as they flip flop around often so that should not be a big consideration for you. What is more important is how you use the car.

I looked at the attributes of diesel vs gas and although diesel was compelling, my situation pointed me towards gas for several reasons. A diesel engine is suppose to last a long time and they do not really even get broken in until 40 or 50,000 miles. I don't care about longevity because I trade cars when the warranty is up and I never put more than 8,000 miles a year on a car. So that advantage is not one in my case.

Another factor was maintenance. From what I read, diesel requires a bit more maintenance, hence it is more expensive to maintain but I don't know how much more. Diesel's are great for towing. Although both gas and diesel motors were rated for the same towing capability, the diesel will make it seem effortless. But I don't tow anything - I do not even own a hitch. Diesel engines are great for soaking up huge distances of highway miles because they excel at cruising at low rpms. Well, I only drive country roads and seldom get on an interstate or do any long drives. I seem to recall the initial cost of the diesel model was a couple thousand dollars more expensive to start with. For all these reasons a few others I don't remember now, I decided a gas version would suit me just fine and indeed it has - I could not be happier.

Decide what kind of driving you do and then look at the attributes of both engines. The decision should then be easy.

 

I've a ML350 Bluetec and am very much happy with it. BUT if I had to buy a ML tomorrow, I'd buy the ML400 in lieu of the diesel which only has that four cylinder diesel and only??? 190 hp and less torque than the ML350 Bluetec which has been discontinued.

No, I've never driven the ML250 so maybe somehow I'm all wet on this. I doubt it though.

 

The 250 is more than adequate. It's peppy around town and gets out of its own way easily. It's not going to win any drag races, but that's not exactly its intended purpose. 200HP and 369 ft/lb torque is fine, and is more torque than the ML400.

The maintenance intervals on the diesel are the same, and the only real addition is that it requires DEF be added every 8-15K miles (depending on driving style).

For me, the choice to go diesel when I order my ML was made by driveability characteristics - it is quieter and doesn't really seem to ever feel like it is exerting itself even when wound to redline. IMO the 3.0tt and 3.5 are not pleasant engines to listen to... there's no denying that the ML400 is quick, though.

 

Already fell-in-love with a gas palladium silver 2014 ML350 almost fully loaded. The wife will just drive around 15k kilometers a year which makes me wonder if the diesel will be worth it in the long run. She will be doing 60% highways most of the time. The car will only see 3 people max 2x a week and only for a few kilometers. We will keep the car for at least 6-7 years unless something happens again. I told my sales person to give me a diesel loaner for tom to lug around town so that I will see if i won't regret my decision with the gas.

I was told that the diesel engines cost more to mantain after the factory warranty is up as the injectors and filters sometimes gives magically after 4 years. Is this true? I was told also by the MB head mechanic that become a close buddy that they see a lot of diesel MLs wit check engine lights on because of injector problem which trace back to dirty diesel fuels being used and was told if planning of keeping the car a long time better use the expensive diesel fuel or stay with a gas.

So folks better chime in fast as I am about to buy my most expensive car to date and I do not want to kick myself on my nuts for not doing my homework properly.

 

My 2014 ML is my second diesel as I owned a 300D many years ago. I like the diesel as overall the motor is more quiet and I love the low end torque. I will not keep my BT long enough to worry about the after warranty Maint but will not buy another if my only choices in diesel are smaller. I do pull a small fishing boat and do not feel the smaller diesel will do.

Likely I will be back to a gas engine.

 

I wonder how many people who keep claiming the 250BT "won't do" have actually driven it back to back with a 350BT.

 

Well I drove a ML350 Blutec for two years and have been in my ML250 for about two weeks. I will say the 250 is more than adequate but I prefer the 350 blutec. For fuel economy and all around performance I would say the 25o still beats the gas equivalent (which I have also driven).

If you want an awesome ML350 blutec mine is for sale at the dealer who I got the 250 from.

20k miles, special order so many good options, oh and its white/black w/ 20in wheels and running boards, lighting, satin ash wood, parktronic, trailer hitch, ambient lighting. Its really like new. PM me for dealer info. Best dealer I have ever worked with and I am not easy to please.

 

I have driven a 250BT and I am not saying it "won't do".

I am saying I prefer the 6 over the 4. When I can no longer get the 6 I will go to gas

 

Today I took a extra long test drive of both the 2014 350 gas and 350 diesel. The dealer gave me both trucks to drive around town with the same half tank full of gas and I spend 2 hours on each truck driving the same route (1 hour bumper to bumper, .5 hour around the city going to the same parking space that I have, then .5 hours of highway driving with passing big rigs). I also filled them back up to the same level of gas to somehow see how both compare to the driving habit the car will have here in Vancouver. This is what I noticed:

1. Diesel pulls harder than the gas from stand still but the gas is not slow in comparison I would say almost the same unless you really gun it. So at bumper to bumper traffic they are just equal in my opinion.

2. The Diesel is a little noisy when you push the pedal hard all of the sudden. It is clunky in a way but not obtrusive to make the ML feel like a dodge ram. The gas engine on the other hand is just refined.

3. I noticed the diesel is somehow trying to catch it's breath when passing a long rig while doing 110 kph while the gas is like "push me more!"

4. The Diesel truck came with the standard suspension while the gas truck with the airmatic. I find the airmatic a gem and a must have also found the regular suspension too bouncy.

5. Pull my service adviser on the side and ask for a break down of the service cost and found out that the cost of the diesel service is around 20-30% more than the gas counterpart.

6. Was told again that the diesel will cost more to maintain in the long run because it has more emission sensors that always causes the check engine light to come-on and replacing the sensors will cost between $300 to $1200 depending which one was bad.

7. After doing the math for the gas consumption of the route that the car will take everyday the diesel came to a 13.5L/100 kilometers and the gas at 14.2L/100 kilometers which is a little shocking to see the diesel did not have a big difference. In comparison my GLK is doing 13.2L/100 kilometers.

So after all of this at hand and after reading and taking the advise that some of you gave I decided the diesel is not the right ride for me and for my other half. So here is winner! 2014 palladium silver ml350 gas with 13,800 kilometers and have the following options: premium pack,sport pack, driving assist pack, bi-xenon pack, black roof liner, anthracite poplar wood trim, climate controlled cupholders + the useless running boards. Will do the paperwork on Monday and it is mine!

 

"Decide what kind of driving you do and then look at the attributes of both engines. The decision should then be easy." This was contained in my first post to you. It is obvious you did your homework and made a rational decision based on your driving habits and needs. Good for you!

Now, here is something else I would like you to do. I notice from the photos that the rain is not beading tightly, nor is it sheeting on your paint. It is sort of streaking with the drops just staying there. You need paint protection. After you take it home and give it a thorough shampoo, clean the paint with P21S Paintwork Cleanser (a German brand). This will prep your car better than anything else short of clay or abrasive polish (I will assume you need neither but check for marring, swirls and scratches to see if paint correction is required).

After doing the prep work, put on a coat of Sonax Net Polymer Shield (another German brand) which is a long lasting sealant - not a coating and not a wax. After every three washes or so give it a "topper" or "booster" spray of Sonax Brilliant Shine Detailer. And watch what the rain drops will look like then! You will be good for nearly a year and the shine will be outstanding! You can find out how to do all this stuff by searching on google and youtube for video instructions. Good luck with your ML and enjoy the ride!

 

Sounds like you made a good choice.

Not sure what kind of driving you are doing but I do much better on fuel than your numbers. Around town I do at least 11L/100 km. My worst was 13.4L/100 km while towing a 4300 pound trailer on a trip to the mountains of Tennessee.

 

I was driving it like how I was driving my C-class and GLK which is not being gentle on the gas pedal. I do not want to change my driving habits when I test drive a new ride as it will not show what I will really expect after I sign my life for it later on. Also maybe the cold weather was also a factor as it was 2 degrees Celsius yesterday.

 

I spend 3 hours last night just planning on what to do after I get the ride. I will do a protective coating on the car maybe a CK quartz finest but after winter. I was already thinking if my old 20" GLK AMG rims will fit and not sell it anymore which I think will give a more square look on the car as the offset of the GLK rims are 44 vs to 57 of the ML AMG. Only thing is the GLK rims is only 8.5" wide which I think would not be a problem for the stock 265/45 tires that comes with the ML. If I do this setup I won't look like the rest of the MLs around town anymore

 

What is really nice is that you have two great choices to choose from.

Congrats and hope you enjoy!

 

Just noticed something on the pictures I took yesterday. I don't see the ECO button and DSR buttons on the centre console. I though 2014 ML350s have these? I do know the diesel does not have the ECO button. Should I be concerned?

 

My 2015 ML 350 delivered on 11/11/2014 does NOT have Eco Stop/Start. Thank goodness... don't need the A/C compressor shutting down at each traffic light here in S. Florida.