2012 ML350 BT - Keep or Sell?
03-22-2018, 04:47 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
2012 ML350 BT - Keep or Sell?
Sorry - rambling questions ahead.
We have a 2012 ML350 Bluetec. 50k km/ 30k miles. Yes, it's very low mileage. There is one year left on the extended MB warranty. It's been a good car so far. Both the adblue heater and push button start electronic thing have been replaced under warranty - other than that, I do my own oil changes and inspections every year so its been cheap to own.
We have a cottage about 4 hours flight away from our home. We leave a vehicle there that we drive whenever we visit. It's a garage queen as we put less than 5000km/ 3000 miles per year in the summer. In the winter, it's in storage. Our current vehicle is a 2002 Xterra with 160k km/ 100k miles on it. No rust anywhere, and never any problems - we change the oil, add fuel stabilizer and disconnect the battery in the fall. The following summer, we turn the key and it goes for another summer. In 14 years, I've been through a couple of batteries, a set of tires, an AC hose, and I've changed the water pump and timing belt.
We're thinking of selling the Xterra and have been looking for a vehicle to replace it. General requirements are
1) 5 people in comfort,
2) can tow a 5000lb boat and trailer 10 miles to the boat launch ramp.
3) good mileage & performance (the xterra had neither of these).
4) reliable, and maintainable for a reasonable price.
Of course, the perfect vehicle would be just to drive the ML350 there from home and promote it to garage queen... except for the 'reasonable price maintenance' criteria. That is my major concern about keeping the ML.
We have been looking at a 4Runner, Tacoma, Pathfinder. So should I sell my ML before the warranty runs out and buy one of those?
Is it possible to maintain an ML350 cheaply in the long term? I'm happy fixing stuff, but I don't want to die a death of 1000 cuts by having to buy expensive parts.
On a slightly related topic Has anyone been keeping a 'they all do that' page listing all the common problems of the W166 ML? I understand the oil cooler gasket leaks were fixed by a switch to viton in 2010 & later models. DEF heater seems common. Anything else?
On another slightly related topic, has anyone seen info on putting the ML into winter storage? Specifically, is the adblue system designed with freezing in mind?
We have a 2012 ML350 Bluetec. 50k km/ 30k miles. Yes, it's very low mileage. There is one year left on the extended MB warranty. It's been a good car so far. Both the adblue heater and push button start electronic thing have been replaced under warranty - other than that, I do my own oil changes and inspections every year so its been cheap to own.
We have a cottage about 4 hours flight away from our home. We leave a vehicle there that we drive whenever we visit. It's a garage queen as we put less than 5000km/ 3000 miles per year in the summer. In the winter, it's in storage. Our current vehicle is a 2002 Xterra with 160k km/ 100k miles on it. No rust anywhere, and never any problems - we change the oil, add fuel stabilizer and disconnect the battery in the fall. The following summer, we turn the key and it goes for another summer. In 14 years, I've been through a couple of batteries, a set of tires, an AC hose, and I've changed the water pump and timing belt.
We're thinking of selling the Xterra and have been looking for a vehicle to replace it. General requirements are
1) 5 people in comfort,
2) can tow a 5000lb boat and trailer 10 miles to the boat launch ramp.
3) good mileage & performance (the xterra had neither of these).
4) reliable, and maintainable for a reasonable price.
Of course, the perfect vehicle would be just to drive the ML350 there from home and promote it to garage queen... except for the 'reasonable price maintenance' criteria. That is my major concern about keeping the ML.
We have been looking at a 4Runner, Tacoma, Pathfinder. So should I sell my ML before the warranty runs out and buy one of those?
Is it possible to maintain an ML350 cheaply in the long term? I'm happy fixing stuff, but I don't want to die a death of 1000 cuts by having to buy expensive parts.
On a slightly related topic Has anyone been keeping a 'they all do that' page listing all the common problems of the W166 ML? I understand the oil cooler gasket leaks were fixed by a switch to viton in 2010 & later models. DEF heater seems common. Anything else?
On another slightly related topic, has anyone seen info on putting the ML into winter storage? Specifically, is the adblue system designed with freezing in mind?
03-22-2018, 05:21 PM
#2
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Join Date: May 2017
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2012 X6 35i Sport, 2013 ML 350 BT, 2019 4Runner TRD Pro, 2020 CRV-AWD
I feel your pain...
Our 2012 X6 with 75k kms is stored down in Florida and only gets used during the 5-7 times per winter when we go down, only for 2-3 weeks each visit. Warranty is over this coming February. Just had it repaired under warranty (water pump & oil leak) and it still cost me $1200 USD for a thermostat and belly pan LOL.
We have a 2013 ML350 BT with 22k kms here in Mtl and its warranty is up this coming October. My pucker factor is right up there, but I'm doing oil/filter changes every 5k kms and will hope for the best. I think we're both lucky because of the low mileage. I think that if you decide that every year, you should put aside a coupla thousand a year in the "Repair the MB Fund", you should be ok. And if nothing takes a major crap, you've got cash saved up for cool toys.
As far as the Adblue tank is concerned, the general consensus is that it's normal for the stuff to slush, but topping the tank up is supposed to help prevent tank ruptures. Makes no sense, but that's what I've read.
Our 2012 X6 with 75k kms is stored down in Florida and only gets used during the 5-7 times per winter when we go down, only for 2-3 weeks each visit. Warranty is over this coming February. Just had it repaired under warranty (water pump & oil leak) and it still cost me $1200 USD for a thermostat and belly pan LOL.
We have a 2013 ML350 BT with 22k kms here in Mtl and its warranty is up this coming October. My pucker factor is right up there, but I'm doing oil/filter changes every 5k kms and will hope for the best. I think we're both lucky because of the low mileage. I think that if you decide that every year, you should put aside a coupla thousand a year in the "Repair the MB Fund", you should be ok. And if nothing takes a major crap, you've got cash saved up for cool toys.
As far as the Adblue tank is concerned, the general consensus is that it's normal for the stuff to slush, but topping the tank up is supposed to help prevent tank ruptures. Makes no sense, but that's what I've read.
03-23-2018, 03:35 PM
#4
Senior Member
I would not use the ML350 Bluetec as a garage queen, meaning only get's driven over short distances and a few times a year. Diesels are meant to be driven and driven a lot, ie 15,000+ miles/24,000+ km per year. Anything less than 10,000 miles/16,000km a year is a waste of a diesel and invitation for problems down the road. Just my opinion.
04-28-2018, 11:38 AM
#5
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Join Date: Oct 2016
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ML 350. 2013
Read http://www.stephensservice.com/bluet...ssuesproblems/. I own a 2013 by. Had to replace def tank heater also heated def line to engine.1 grand, in Fla this winter had to replace not sensors $24C.
05-19-2018, 09:19 PM
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
I’ve got a ‘12 Bluetec with 136K miles. Had the adblue heater replaced under warranty and the oil cooler replaced split with dealer under good will as I had all the service records by the book.
I’ve found a local MB indep guy who was the head service tech in Scottsdale. I had a broken driver seat that the dealer wanted $2200 to fix. He fixed it for $150. The key is oil service on these. Forget he factory recommended. Do it every 3-5k miles. I love the range and the cheaper fuel. I drive it from Scottsdale to Newport Beach (380 mi) every two weeks. Changed shocks at 90K rides like new.
If you have a low mileage one they bring strong money. My thought is if the repair is less than 5% of new keep it.
I’ve found a local MB indep guy who was the head service tech in Scottsdale. I had a broken driver seat that the dealer wanted $2200 to fix. He fixed it for $150. The key is oil service on these. Forget he factory recommended. Do it every 3-5k miles. I love the range and the cheaper fuel. I drive it from Scottsdale to Newport Beach (380 mi) every two weeks. Changed shocks at 90K rides like new.
If you have a low mileage one they bring strong money. My thought is if the repair is less than 5% of new keep it.
