Rate Your ML Experience
Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 89
Likes: 34
From: New England
2004 E 500 4MATIC Wagon; 2015 ML 350 4MATIC; †2003 C 240 4MATIC Wagon (2003-2022)
I have a 2015 ML 350 4MATIC with ~91,000 miles.
The only thing that ever broke was a couple of the rubber windshield wiper spindle grommet seals. They were the originals and eventually cracked and tore last summer after years of exposure to the elements up here in northeastern New England. Unlike on older models, the grommets cannot be replaced individually. I had to replace the entire plastic water drain panel/cowl (w/o Magic Vision, Mercedes-Benz part#: 166-830-00-28 — my local dealership's parts department managed to locate one, even though it was listed as "discontinued" on all parts ordering sites, and special ordered it).
As far as unscheduled maintenance, one of the ignition coils shorted and blew the fuse for its bank last summer (car was at 88,000 miles), but it is not uncommon for the original coils installed in that model year (BERU) to start failing before 100,000 miles/10 years. I just replaced the entire set of ignition coils with the latest revision from the dealership (the new Genuine Mercedes coils are manufactured by Bosch).
I did have one completely random, bizarre low fuel pressure error from the low pressure fuel pump system in the summer of 2022, but it never occurred again, and the Mercedes-Benz master techs at my local indy shop were never able to reproduce the problem or figure out what had happened after extensive testing and diagnostics.
Other than that, I've never had any other problems. No rattles. No misfires. No leaks of any kind (just had it in for its annual service and checkup last month). No other electrical gremlins. No interior creaks/rattles. No suspension issues. No water intrusion/leaks. No rust issues.
I have an Autel tablet and periodically perform a full scan of all of the car's modules (I last pulled down the Benz updates for MaxiSys in late 2022) and perform periodic engine live data monitoring. The only code it found came up in recent weeks and is from the TPMS module: C159916 (The battery of the tire pressure sensor has a malfunction. The limit value for electrical voltage has not been attained.). Tire pressure monitoring seems to be working fine right now (and I'm not getting any error messages in the car's cluster), but one of the TPMS sensors seems to have a battery that is getting weak, I presume. I don't know if they've ever been replaced, so I might be doing that soon. I assume that the Schrader OEM TPMS sensors are perfectly fine as replacements over the Genuine Mercedes ones, which cost 3x as much, right?
The only thing that ever broke was a couple of the rubber windshield wiper spindle grommet seals. They were the originals and eventually cracked and tore last summer after years of exposure to the elements up here in northeastern New England. Unlike on older models, the grommets cannot be replaced individually. I had to replace the entire plastic water drain panel/cowl (w/o Magic Vision, Mercedes-Benz part#: 166-830-00-28 — my local dealership's parts department managed to locate one, even though it was listed as "discontinued" on all parts ordering sites, and special ordered it).
As far as unscheduled maintenance, one of the ignition coils shorted and blew the fuse for its bank last summer (car was at 88,000 miles), but it is not uncommon for the original coils installed in that model year (BERU) to start failing before 100,000 miles/10 years. I just replaced the entire set of ignition coils with the latest revision from the dealership (the new Genuine Mercedes coils are manufactured by Bosch).
I did have one completely random, bizarre low fuel pressure error from the low pressure fuel pump system in the summer of 2022, but it never occurred again, and the Mercedes-Benz master techs at my local indy shop were never able to reproduce the problem or figure out what had happened after extensive testing and diagnostics.
Other than that, I've never had any other problems. No rattles. No misfires. No leaks of any kind (just had it in for its annual service and checkup last month). No other electrical gremlins. No interior creaks/rattles. No suspension issues. No water intrusion/leaks. No rust issues.
I have an Autel tablet and periodically perform a full scan of all of the car's modules (I last pulled down the Benz updates for MaxiSys in late 2022) and perform periodic engine live data monitoring. The only code it found came up in recent weeks and is from the TPMS module: C159916 (The battery of the tire pressure sensor has a malfunction. The limit value for electrical voltage has not been attained.). Tire pressure monitoring seems to be working fine right now (and I'm not getting any error messages in the car's cluster), but one of the TPMS sensors seems to have a battery that is getting weak, I presume. I don't know if they've ever been replaced, so I might be doing that soon. I assume that the Schrader OEM TPMS sensors are perfectly fine as replacements over the Genuine Mercedes ones, which cost 3x as much, right?
I just had routine maintenance service performed since then, including replacement of the 4MATIC all-wheel drive components' fluids, replacement of a set of rusty exhaust clamps, a brake job, and replacement of the old tires and their TPMS sensors. The TPMS C159916 code went away after replacing the sensors in the tires, so it was due to one or more weak batteries in the old sensors. Still no oil found in the camshaft position sensors and engine's wiring harness during the annual maintenance inspection. No oil in the air intake filter box, and no suction when attempting to remove the oil filler cap while the engine is idling, so PCV system is still working just fine. Had the NHOU treatment refreshed in early December of last year. That's been it...
Later this year/early next year, I plan to take care of some preventative maintenance ahead of/at 100,000 miles, including replacing the serpentine drive belt, tensioner, and pulleys; installing aftermarket engine harness extension "sacrificial pigtails" at the camshaft position sensor connectors; and performing engine cooling system maintenance, in addition to the scheduled maintenance (Service B + engine air filter). I've already stocked up on the parts.
Last edited by Œuvre; May 24, 2025 at 03:02 PM.
Member
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 117
Likes: 45
From: Buchanan, SK CANADA
2013 ML350 Bluetec
I'd have to say my experience has been ugly. I bought an admittedly high mileage ML350 close to 2 years ago. I've struggled to log 20,000 km since then because its been in the shop so much of that time. In fairness to the car it was high mileage and I expected to work on it before I considered it reliable but the thread topic is rating my experience and so far that experience hasn't been good. I had a prolonged episode repairing serious black death on Bank 2. Then I had a long fight with the rail control pressure system that I eventually gave up on and turned over to my Indie. A month later he was stumped too but we eventually put our heads together and got the car out of his shop. Since then I've been able to just drive it. I'm now coming up on the first oil change cycle without a period of open hood surgery to interrupt it. Time will tell. I love driving the car. When I can.
