MBUSI Vance, AL Assembly & Off-Road Test Track
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Atlanta, GA USA
2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
MBUSI Vance, AL Assembly & Off-Road Test Track
Had a chance to tour the MBUSI assembly plant in Vance, AL (home of the M-Class) this week, and got a ride on the off-road test track in a 2015 ML250BTC. That little engine did very well through the pretty intense obstacles, but blew both front street tires on one of them. The obstacles on that test track are very tough. With the right tires, it would have been just fine; but they want to do the run on the factory supplied tires.
PS - The off-road test track ride is not part of the factory tour, but was arranged by a friend with some internal influence at the facility.
PS - The off-road test track ride is not part of the factory tour, but was arranged by a friend with some internal influence at the facility.
Last edited by DUTCH; May 16, 2015 at 09:33 AM.
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From: Boston area
2019 GLS450
Had a chance to tour the MBUSI assembly plant in Vance, AL (home of the M-Class) this week, and got a ride on the off-road test track in a 2015 ML250BTC. That little engine did very well through the pretty intense obstacles, but blew both front street tires on one of them. The obstacles on that test track are very tough. With the right tires, it would have been just fine; but they want to do the run on the factory supplied tires.
PS - The off-road test track ride is not part of the factory tour, but was arranged by a friend with some internal influence at the facility.
PS - The off-road test track ride is not part of the factory tour, but was arranged by a friend with some internal influence at the facility.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 35
From: Atlanta, GA USA
2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
I was a passenger only on a VERY rough off-road test track, so there's no way to compare it with my 014 ML350BTC.
I also think that the test track ML250BT was a non-North American model. It had Airmatic and Off Road, and the Off-Road package is not to my knowledge available on US ordered ML250BT's. The 4 banger was noisier and had more vibration than my 6 banger, but it was really busting its chops on that test track; and we were also hearing a lot of the 4-matic doing its thing under extreme duress.
I also think that the test track ML250BT was a non-North American model. It had Airmatic and Off Road, and the Off-Road package is not to my knowledge available on US ordered ML250BT's. The 4 banger was noisier and had more vibration than my 6 banger, but it was really busting its chops on that test track; and we were also hearing a lot of the 4-matic doing its thing under extreme duress.
Last edited by DUTCH; May 16, 2015 at 08:56 PM.
