Looking for capable off road rig
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Looking for capable off road rig
Hi all
this in the US
we recently said goodbye to an ml320 (W163) that was a great rig. But sadly parts availability and a leaking head gasket caused us to let her go.
we spend winters in Yuma area (lots if time on improved roads in imperial county CA). The W163) was a champ navigating challenging terrain and soft sand.
I had assumed that getting a newer replacement for the W163 would be easy. But now questioning the decision to let her go.
can not afford a g wagon. Is the w166 the place to look? will they perform well off the paved roads? Our 320 had a low range that, if I understand, is not generally available on the W166 platform?
if not the W166 is there any other platform (other than Gwagon) available in the US that will perform well off road
this in the US
we recently said goodbye to an ml320 (W163) that was a great rig. But sadly parts availability and a leaking head gasket caused us to let her go.
we spend winters in Yuma area (lots if time on improved roads in imperial county CA). The W163) was a champ navigating challenging terrain and soft sand.
I had assumed that getting a newer replacement for the W163 would be easy. But now questioning the decision to let her go.
can not afford a g wagon. Is the w166 the place to look? will they perform well off the paved roads? Our 320 had a low range that, if I understand, is not generally available on the W166 platform?
if not the W166 is there any other platform (other than Gwagon) available in the US that will perform well off road
Member
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 104
Likes: 20
From: Texas
2015 ML350, 2020 BMW X7, 2005 LS430
Hi all
this in the US
we recently said goodbye to an ml320 (W163) that was a great rig. But sadly parts availability and a leaking head gasket caused us to let her go.
we spend winters in Yuma area (lots if time on improved roads in imperial county CA). The W163) was a champ navigating challenging terrain and soft sand.
I had assumed that getting a newer replacement for the W163 would be easy. But now questioning the decision to let her go.
can not afford a g wagon. Is the w166 the place to look? will they perform well off the paved roads? Our 320 had a low range that, if I understand, is not generally available on the W166 platform?
if not the W166 is there any other platform (other than Gwagon) available in the US that will perform well off road
this in the US
we recently said goodbye to an ml320 (W163) that was a great rig. But sadly parts availability and a leaking head gasket caused us to let her go.
we spend winters in Yuma area (lots if time on improved roads in imperial county CA). The W163) was a champ navigating challenging terrain and soft sand.
I had assumed that getting a newer replacement for the W163 would be easy. But now questioning the decision to let her go.
can not afford a g wagon. Is the w166 the place to look? will they perform well off the paved roads? Our 320 had a low range that, if I understand, is not generally available on the W166 platform?
if not the W166 is there any other platform (other than Gwagon) available in the US that will perform well off road
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 5,152
Likes: 1,766
From: Colorado
G550
I have a G wagon, but here in Colorado I drive my '16 Rubicon off-road. It's been a surprisingly reliable vehicle -- nothing but the usual periodic maintenance and it's clocked 72K miles. It's hell to drive on a road trip, so it's all local driving and off-road use. Plan to keep it.
Member
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 104
Likes: 20
From: Texas
2015 ML350, 2020 BMW X7, 2005 LS430
The LX is an amazing vehicle, but atleast here in texas it's hard to find one with under 150k miles and newer than 2008 for under 20k thats in decent condition. On the other hand you can find ~75k mile optioned up ML350's all day long for around 15k and even slightly higher mileage ML400's for that price, and they have better tech than the LX in my opinion when optioned right. The LX is great, but it's definitely in a different price category compared to the ML.
