2000 Mercedes-Benz M-Class ML review from North America
"A 98% well designed car, poorly built"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Power Steering Hose blew at 9,000 mile
Power Steering Hose blew at 24,000 miles
Power Steering hose blew at 37,000 miles
Tape player & navigation systems replaced at 37,000miles
AC not working - replaced cooling assist fans at 9,000 miles
AC not working - replaced front cooling fans 24,000 miles
Navigation system gets lost - replaced Antenna (water intrusion) 2 times
Sun-Roof Jammed - entire assembly replaced at 34,000 miles
Excessive wear on front middle arm rest - replaced at 24,000 miles
Head light went out at 6,000 miles
Gas tank access door locking mechanism frequently jams - numerous complaints
Rear seat release cable broke at 35,000
Transmission leaks - continuous - no resolution yet
Glove Box is currently broken - can't close without pushing up on door
Rear hatch hydraulic support is leaking
Rear Pads worn down to the metal at 15,000 miles - No sensor light - replacement cost for just rear was $554
Rear Brakes again worn at 31,000 fronts still OK. Sensor still does not work even though replaced at 15,000 miles.
General comments?
1st let me say I love driving this car, however:
I have owned a 78 450SL, a 96 320E, a 2002 320E, a 318 BMW, 528 BMW,535 BMW, and as a result have a general feel as to how long brake pads should wear. When I complained about only 15,000 miles of wear on the rear pads which also required rotor replacement, having had no warning, I was told by the service manager that I was lucky, that many customers were only getting 12,000 miles. When I pushed the issue with the manager of the dealership, I was told that all sophisticated drivers know that high performance cars like the Mercedes will only get 10,000 to 15,000 miles wear on their pads. I took this fight all the way up to a VP in New Jersey, and got nothing, but arrogance.
I can't imagine buying another Mercedes.
Recommended reviews
| 2001 - M-Class 320 gasoline 3.2L V6 215hp 233lb./ft. torque Not the best car, but certainly an engineering masterpiece |
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| An expensive car to have in the shop |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 430 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 2 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 1 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 46000 miles |
| Previous car | BMW 5 Series |
| Date of Entry | 20th February, 2004 |