ferguson_tom Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 Hi Everyone I have finally got some money together to replace my discovery to something a bit more refined and looking at the MLs, I am interested in the ML270 diesel and looking at something around year 2000, 100000 miles ish. They seem a lot of car for your money with some of the diesel doing very high mileages. What are peoples general opinion on them for reliability and ownership costs? Thanks, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 If you want to own a Merc you need to either have deep pockets or be a good mechanic, my turbo went on a 60,000 mile car And they were only interested in selling me a new part, they also threatened to eject me from their showroom when I questioned them charging me £1800plus VAT for a replacement turbo that I could buy down the road for half that price ( minus the cardboard Merc box) The diesels only do high mile ages with regular servicing which isn't cheap either , get a jap car , better built , cheaper parts and go on forever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 webbers wingman had a Merc ML diesel. Turbo issues, suspension issues. Took webbers advise and got shut. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88b Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 German engineering assembled by rednecks in Alabama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malik Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 I have owned a couple of mercedes, i still own one. The mercedes ML from that period gets awful reviews... Id keep clear if i were you. Better to be safe than sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88b Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 I have owned a couple of mercedes, i still own one. The mercedes ML from that period gets awful reviews... Id keep clear if i were you. Better to be safe than sorry. I have a friend who lives close to the plant in Al he told me they fired about 80% of the staff and started again because the build quality was so bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seph234 Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 My Parents Have a 52 plate Ml270 when its running right its not bad and my dad reckons its the best towcar he has had for towing his caravan. But he has had some issues with it not starting randomly, after replacing most of the cheaper items like sealing washers and pipes it was still doing it, it turns out the injectors were at fault so i think he had two rebuilt as they showed up to be leaking too much back. Since then (touch wood) it has been running and starting nice. and the black smoke is a lot better from the exhaust. it has 88k on the clock. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westley Posted January 2, 2014 Report Share Posted January 2, 2014 The earlier MLs were not as good as the later face lifted ones. If you can, go with one with the indicator lens in the wing mirror At least they have indicators, seems they are an optional extra in this part of the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypaint Posted January 3, 2014 Report Share Posted January 3, 2014 At that age and upto 2004. MAJOR RUST on front wings. Bonnet edge. Bottom of doors. Boot by handle. Inner sill. Floor pan. Please check very very carefully as they rot fast if be bodged. Personally buy a tourag instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted January 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2014 Thanks for the information everyone, seems as though they are cheap for good reason I do not need another car with rust and all seem to have started on the arches in my price bracket. As gutted as I am we have decided not to get another 4x4 as can get a lot more car for my money in my budget and running costs are obviously a lot cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dk6052 Posted January 4, 2014 Report Share Posted January 4, 2014 Sold my 2001 ML270 about a month ago now, I searched long and hard before I found a nice example with manual transmission. The only problem in 22k of motoring was the 'o' rings in the fuel lines perished last winter and let in air, causing non starting issues. On a run 35+ mpg was possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itchy trigger Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 (edited) have the 2004 facelift, bought from a mercedes dealership at 3 years old, one owner with 35,000 on the clock, fuel pump leaked after 12 months, nothing since, except for a bottom ball joint at mot time, serviced properly as required, 107,000 now , great motor, pulled me mates motor and horse box out of a sodden field this morning, run it on at2's, for the money a much under valued and under rated motor, just need to be carefull as with any car purchase, was thinking of having a change, looking at allsorts of 4x4's nothing compares to mb Edited January 5, 2014 by itchy trigger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted January 5, 2014 Report Share Posted January 5, 2014 I bought an ML 270 from new. Genuinely the biggest mistake I ever made. One of those made in USA and it showed. EVERY service the discs were replaced, never below £1000 each time. When I came to sell it, 80% of the motors directing air were defunct and I was quoted £3000 to put it in good order. Decided to sell 'as was' and it went for £17,500 after 3 years (easily) - initial purchase price £32,000. Plenty of people wanted one until they got it. Worse than the Range Rover 4.0SE it replaced. Very, very, strongly advise you against buying one and advise almost anything else is better, (excluding landrover naturally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgguinness Posted January 6, 2014 Report Share Posted January 6, 2014 (edited) My father has an ML500 and so far it's been great. A couple of electronic glitches, it's done 86k miles, but on the way back from Edinburgh it went nuts and now says the mileage is 860k!! The alternator went, replacement cost was over £400, but a DIY fix of brushes etc came in at £30 max. He loves his. He is a Merc fan and currently owns that and a SL500 and a C250 diesel, and previously had a 500SEC and a 280CE. Jonathan Edited January 6, 2014 by jgguinness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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