Long Road Trip ahead for the ML
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St Louis
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
01 ML55, 05 Jaguar X type, 05 mini Cooper convertible, 03 VW Eurovan
Long Road Trip ahead for the ML
Well after much debate w/ the wife I have decided to drive the ML from St Louis to Sacramento for a business trip. I need some contemplation time and this seemed like a good opportunity. I will post a couple pics on the way. Hopefully the truck is up to it. I have 95K on the clock now but everything seems fairly well sorted out, guess I will find out.
Steve
Steve
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St Louis
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
01 ML55, 05 Jaguar X type, 05 mini Cooper convertible, 03 VW Eurovan
It will be interesting to see just how much the fuel expense is. Fortunately it is a business expense as I will be delivering a very expensive load of electronics for a project we are working on.
Steve
Steve
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St Louis
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
01 ML55, 05 Jaguar X type, 05 mini Cooper convertible, 03 VW Eurovan
1/2 way through the trip and no problems, the truck is bad *** on the road!!
I averaged over 85MPH rolling time not including stops. A lot of the time was 125-130 and absolutely loving it. There is no way to open the truck up like that in Missouri / Illinois w/o spending the night w/ a new boyfriend. I have a total new respect for the AMG driveline. I have had numerous BMW, Porsche, Audis, but nothing compares to the ML55. I will be heading back from Sacramento to Stl Monday with a few dollars in my pocket and looking forward to having to come back out to LA for the next phase of the project I am working on. Somehow my little company's reputation is growing, I have a very bright staff of young engineers working for me that keep me in the loop. I just have to learn how to text to be in with the crowd. They still maintain that I have the baddest mini-van around. Some of these kids are very bright and have very very good real world problem solving skills when given enough chain to hang themself, I have become optomistic about the world we have screwed up that they will be inheriting to correct. I still have to figure out the tatoo and hip-hop thing but my parents also had to deal w/ Jimi Hendrix and various other idiosycrocies that I was involved with. One of the finest young engineers I have ever had the pleasure to employ has a "full sleeve" that I don't get. He is now in commercial jet pilot school wanting to get into that field. I have even altered his schedule to allow his ambition to not interfere with "work". I just explained that you have to make me more money than you cost me. He has brought in a ton of very cool work. I will post a few pics of the return trip, nothing like looking at somebody elses vacation pictures to have a good time.
Steve
I averaged over 85MPH rolling time not including stops. A lot of the time was 125-130 and absolutely loving it. There is no way to open the truck up like that in Missouri / Illinois w/o spending the night w/ a new boyfriend. I have a total new respect for the AMG driveline. I have had numerous BMW, Porsche, Audis, but nothing compares to the ML55. I will be heading back from Sacramento to Stl Monday with a few dollars in my pocket and looking forward to having to come back out to LA for the next phase of the project I am working on. Somehow my little company's reputation is growing, I have a very bright staff of young engineers working for me that keep me in the loop. I just have to learn how to text to be in with the crowd. They still maintain that I have the baddest mini-van around. Some of these kids are very bright and have very very good real world problem solving skills when given enough chain to hang themself, I have become optomistic about the world we have screwed up that they will be inheriting to correct. I still have to figure out the tatoo and hip-hop thing but my parents also had to deal w/ Jimi Hendrix and various other idiosycrocies that I was involved with. One of the finest young engineers I have ever had the pleasure to employ has a "full sleeve" that I don't get. He is now in commercial jet pilot school wanting to get into that field. I have even altered his schedule to allow his ambition to not interfere with "work". I just explained that you have to make me more money than you cost me. He has brought in a ton of very cool work. I will post a few pics of the return trip, nothing like looking at somebody elses vacation pictures to have a good time.
Steve
#5
[QUOTE=shikzachaser;2946553]1/2 way through the trip and no problems, the truck is bad *** on the road!!
Stevie, I have same truck. What kind of fuel mileage are you getting. I average about 16-18 on the road, closer to 16 when I am at 85 MPH or above. If I really back er down, I can see 20 on cruise control.
Also, on bad roads, you get any tramlining??? What kind of tires you running???
Stevie, I have same truck. What kind of fuel mileage are you getting. I average about 16-18 on the road, closer to 16 when I am at 85 MPH or above. If I really back er down, I can see 20 on cruise control.
Also, on bad roads, you get any tramlining??? What kind of tires you running???
#6
1/2 way through the trip and no problems, the truck is bad *** on the road!!
I averaged over 85MPH rolling time not including stops. A lot of the time was 125-130 and absolutely loving it. There is no way to open the truck up like that in Missouri / Illinois w/o spending the night w/ a new boyfriend. I have a total new respect for the AMG driveline. I have had numerous BMW, Porsche, Audis, but nothing compares to the ML55. I will be heading back from Sacramento to Stl Monday with a few dollars in my pocket and looking forward to having to come back out to LA for the next phase of the project I am working on. Somehow my little company's reputation is growing, I have a very bright staff of young engineers working for me that keep me in the loop. I just have to learn how to text to be in with the crowd. They still maintain that I have the baddest mini-van around. Some of these kids are very bright and have very very good real world problem solving skills when given enough chain to hang themself, I have become optomistic about the world we have screwed up that they will be inheriting to correct. I still have to figure out the tatoo and hip-hop thing but my parents also had to deal w/ Jimi Hendrix and various other idiosycrocies that I was involved with. One of the finest young engineers I have ever had the pleasure to employ has a "full sleeve" that I don't get. He is now in commercial jet pilot school wanting to get into that field. I have even altered his schedule to allow his ambition to not interfere with "work". I just explained that you have to make me more money than you cost me. He has brought in a ton of very cool work. I will post a few pics of the return trip, nothing like looking at somebody elses vacation pictures to have a good time.
Steve
I averaged over 85MPH rolling time not including stops. A lot of the time was 125-130 and absolutely loving it. There is no way to open the truck up like that in Missouri / Illinois w/o spending the night w/ a new boyfriend. I have a total new respect for the AMG driveline. I have had numerous BMW, Porsche, Audis, but nothing compares to the ML55. I will be heading back from Sacramento to Stl Monday with a few dollars in my pocket and looking forward to having to come back out to LA for the next phase of the project I am working on. Somehow my little company's reputation is growing, I have a very bright staff of young engineers working for me that keep me in the loop. I just have to learn how to text to be in with the crowd. They still maintain that I have the baddest mini-van around. Some of these kids are very bright and have very very good real world problem solving skills when given enough chain to hang themself, I have become optomistic about the world we have screwed up that they will be inheriting to correct. I still have to figure out the tatoo and hip-hop thing but my parents also had to deal w/ Jimi Hendrix and various other idiosycrocies that I was involved with. One of the finest young engineers I have ever had the pleasure to employ has a "full sleeve" that I don't get. He is now in commercial jet pilot school wanting to get into that field. I have even altered his schedule to allow his ambition to not interfere with "work". I just explained that you have to make me more money than you cost me. He has brought in a ton of very cool work. I will post a few pics of the return trip, nothing like looking at somebody elses vacation pictures to have a good time.
Steve
#7
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St Louis
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
01 ML55, 05 Jaguar X type, 05 mini Cooper convertible, 03 VW Eurovan
That is pretty close to the mileage I got. It was worse the first 500 miles. I ran a couple bottles of Techron through and the mileage definately improved. I don't know if it was the Techron or simply opening it up for a while that did it. I went back to the Contis about 6 months ago. They are much better w/ the suspension I have. I have the H&R rear springs w/ Bilsteins and after having the front Bilsteins pogo terribly I went w/ Monroe Reflex heavy duty pick up shocks, they are great. I think they are such a good ride partially because as I loosened the torsion bars to lower the truck to the same height as the back and they are very stiff, also very very cheap. The gas gauge even started working!!! I have replaced the stereo w/ a serious upgrade so all-in-all it is a great road car. I am on "business" but this is a lot more fun than flying. I should start the return on Monday. I am going back through Wyoming. It's boring but faster.
Steve
Steve
Trending Topics
#8
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St Louis
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
01 ML55, 05 Jaguar X type, 05 mini Cooper convertible, 03 VW Eurovan
I had almost 500 lb of extra gear I had to get to Sacramento. The ride back should have even better performance w/o the weight.
Steve
Steve
#9
That is pretty close to the mileage I got. It was worse the first 500 miles. I ran a couple bottles of Techron through and the mileage definately improved. I don't know if it was the Techron or simply opening it up for a while that did it. I went back to the Contis about 6 months ago. They are much better w/ the suspension I have. I have the H&R rear springs w/ Bilsteins and after having the front Bilsteins pogo terribly I went w/ Monroe Reflex heavy duty pick up shocks, they are great. I think they are such a good ride partially because as I loosened the torsion bars to lower the truck to the same height as the back and they are very stiff, also very very cheap. The gas gauge even started working!!! I have replaced the stereo w/ a serious upgrade so all-in-all it is a great road car. I am on "business" but this is a lot more fun than flying. I should start the return on Monday. I am going back through Wyoming. It's boring but faster.
Steve
Steve
I drive across the plains quite a bit, I average about 18-20 on my ML 55, much worse if I am getting on it. Still, for the $$ and the performance, you can't beat it. I'd love a ML63, but the mileage on that thing has to be worse. I use the C32 for the performance and the ML 55 for hauling.
#10
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St Louis
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
01 ML55, 05 Jaguar X type, 05 mini Cooper convertible, 03 VW Eurovan
The return has started. After 4 straight days of 14-16 hrs I had to go. The project is totally cool. Check out www.skyzonesports.com
We designed and installed the initial franchise A/V systems and they are killer, seriously.
Mileage has been better than expected on the road w/ cruise @ 80-85. I have gotten well over 16MPG average. At 100+ not so good.
Gas gauge is out again. It will pop back up @ 3/4 or else sittting overnight. At least the odometer works.
We designed and installed the initial franchise A/V systems and they are killer, seriously.
Mileage has been better than expected on the road w/ cruise @ 80-85. I have gotten well over 16MPG average. At 100+ not so good.
Gas gauge is out again. It will pop back up @ 3/4 or else sittting overnight. At least the odometer works.
Last edited by Speakerdude; 07-22-2008 at 12:20 AM.
#11
The return has started. After 4 straight days of 14-16 hrs I had to go. The project is totally cool. Check out www.skyzonesports.com
We designed and installed the initial franchise A/V systems and they are killer, seriously.
Mileage has been better than expected on the road w/ cruise @ 80-85. I have gotten well over 16MPG average. At 100+ not so good.
Gas gauge is out again. It will pop back up @ 3/4 or else sittting overnight. At least the odometer works.
We designed and installed the initial franchise A/V systems and they are killer, seriously.
Mileage has been better than expected on the road w/ cruise @ 80-85. I have gotten well over 16MPG average. At 100+ not so good.
Gas gauge is out again. It will pop back up @ 3/4 or else sittting overnight. At least the odometer works.
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#12
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: St Louis
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
01 ML55, 05 Jaguar X type, 05 mini Cooper convertible, 03 VW Eurovan
Well I logged another 900+ miles yesterday. It could have been 25 miles less but I decided instead of taking the I80 tunnel through White Mountain, WY I would take the "scenic" route via unpaved crude roads. Don't ever doubt the ML's ascent / descent capabilities. It is truly a truck, even lowered.
I detoured for the Bonneville Salt Flats and had intended on making a run at speed to see what the truck would do. They had 3 inches of rain the night before (the first all year) and the flats were completely submerged.
I should be home tomorow. I need to be as it Mrs. ML's birthday. My wife has been really cool about not giving me too much s*** about not flying on this trip. The next one to LA will have me on a plane.
I did figure out that the camera had a delay so I did a self portrait in case I went over the edge of White Mountain hanging onto the wheel free falling 5000 ft. What a way to go!! It would be a shame to ruin the truck though.
100,000 miles will be here this morning. I am looking forward to another 100,000.
Steve
I detoured for the Bonneville Salt Flats and had intended on making a run at speed to see what the truck would do. They had 3 inches of rain the night before (the first all year) and the flats were completely submerged.
I should be home tomorow. I need to be as it Mrs. ML's birthday. My wife has been really cool about not giving me too much s*** about not flying on this trip. The next one to LA will have me on a plane.
I did figure out that the camera had a delay so I did a self portrait in case I went over the edge of White Mountain hanging onto the wheel free falling 5000 ft. What a way to go!! It would be a shame to ruin the truck though.
100,000 miles will be here this morning. I am looking forward to another 100,000.
Steve
Last edited by Speakerdude; 07-23-2008 at 07:54 AM.
#13
[QUOTE=shikzachaser;2952394]Well I logged another 900+ miles yesterday. It could have been 25 miles less but I decided instead of taking the I80 tunnel through White Mountain, WY I would take the "scenic" route via unpaved crude roads. Don't ever doubt the ML's ascent / descent capabilities. It is truly a truck, even lowered.
I detoured for the Bonneville Salt Flats and had intended on making a run at speed to see what the truck would do. They had 3 inches of rain the night before (the first all year) and the flats were completely submerged.
I should be home tomorow. I need to be as it Mrs. ML's birthday. My wife has been really cool about not giving me too much s*** about not flying on this trip. The next one to LA will have me on a plane.
I did figure out that the camera had a delay so I did a self portrait in case I went over the edge of White Mountain hanging onto the wheel free falling 5000 ft. What a way to go!! It would be a shame to ruin the truck though.
100,000 miles will be here this morning. I am looking forward to another 100,000.
Check out the new vid of the 09 ML63, that'll give you reason to look forward to another 100 K
I detoured for the Bonneville Salt Flats and had intended on making a run at speed to see what the truck would do. They had 3 inches of rain the night before (the first all year) and the flats were completely submerged.
I should be home tomorow. I need to be as it Mrs. ML's birthday. My wife has been really cool about not giving me too much s*** about not flying on this trip. The next one to LA will have me on a plane.
I did figure out that the camera had a delay so I did a self portrait in case I went over the edge of White Mountain hanging onto the wheel free falling 5000 ft. What a way to go!! It would be a shame to ruin the truck though.
100,000 miles will be here this morning. I am looking forward to another 100,000.
Check out the new vid of the 09 ML63, that'll give you reason to look forward to another 100 K