Today I took the ML55 to the dealership to get the 2 front seats and the rear armrest releathered. When we got the car the seats looked to be scrathed up and had inperfections all over. The salesman at the time we got it said it was "normal" for these things, after seeing a couple other 55s I wasn't convinced. I just hope they do a satisfatory job. The truck is fast and has lighting acceleration, but over all quality is way down. After having it for 4 months heres what Ive encountered. Transmision Leak, Steering Sound, Sunroof Leak, interior rattle,treads coming apart, loose trim and the sratched seats.Looks like their cutting corners in building these things. I am not used to these types of problems in a new car, especialy a 70k MB. Any comments on the ML55 or quality, any one else experiance such problems?

Welcome to the new Mercedes for the 21st Century. Frankly, I would rather have spent another 10k and have a car that is built solidly.

I brought my mom to the dealer to have a look at the ML320. She was put off immediately. She said the interior had too much plastic, and that the tight fisnishing wasn't there. The interior was tan. She said it didn't feel solid and would have gone for the Toyota Cygnus instead. MB, it's time to make improvements. BTW... I simply love the C320 Avantgarde (except for the Alu-quadra Aluminium trim) and the new Amethyst Blue color made specially for the Avantgarde.
Regards,
Chung

I'm worried, maye its just becasue the ML 55 is built in Alabama, by (i hate to say this: Americans who don't care about old world craftsmanship). I am worried MBZ will fall behind Lexus,bImmer etc. Uhh I even tget the goosebumps thinking about it.

__________________
"Damn the torpedos, four bells full speed ahead"
-Admiral Farragut




-1987 300E Smoke Silver
-1997 S320 Black on Black
-Soon To be E55 AMG
-27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

Although the M-class Line overall are great verstile cars, it has draged Mercedes great reputation for reliabilty and quality way down. Building the ML was a great idea but MB made a huge mistake in my opinion setting up shop in Alabama, not only is this trend notable in the Ml models but in quite a few newer MBs. I mean how do you expect an owner to feel after cashing out 75 big ones on a Benz to find that its leaking oil after 2 weeks? Mercedes-Benz sad to say these days is more of "profit hungry" company allowing their once flawless old world built automobiles to be just "Good" compared to competition.

I was at the dealer last week getting a new EHA (dripping fuel!!) for my 300E, and I had a chance to sit in some of the showroom cars. They had a 2000 ML430, and a used 1999 (or maybe 98) ML430. The difference in interior build quality and materials was amazing. I sat in the 2000 ML first, then I moved over to the 1999 and was shocked at the difference. Much more plastic in the '99, and everything from the doors to the turn signal felt lightweight and cheap - something I didn't find in the '00.

I don't know what the difference will be in terms of reliability, but from an apparent quality basis, the new ML's seem like they're a totally different beast.

anthony

I totally agree with you on that. These cars have been upgraded to a new class of interior a bit more to what we are used to. The reliabilty issues have also improved from the first Ml320s. Even though the cars interior is a lot more mercedes like, the cost cutting designs aren't, for instance placing the rear window switch out of normal reach on the rear of the front center console, just to save the cost off running wires to the rear doors, or the fact that even the top premium models like the 430 or 55 are not even availible with the duel zone Climate control found standard on lower MBs. Not a totally differant beast but a much more refined one!