just got my ml and issues
 

just picked up a 2001 320ml and drove it 200 miles home, pulled in the drive and no power steering, felt good all the home and its only at lower speed or stopped thats hard? other than that it feels alot different from old 300e and 300d but very stable and firm

I think there was a recall on the 2000s and newer for failure of the power steering. I assume the reservoir is dry? What I was told is when the suv leans and has a slight flex it will pull the pwr steering lines/hose out and cause it to leak. Or like my ML just a bad connector leading to the pump had come loose.

The W163 ML's have always had P/S fluid leaks. Several campaigns to fix issue, but still can be the cause.

not a leak, it is like no power at low speed, I ordered a new pump, the recall was for the leaking hose

That's just physics. Have you ever driven a car with no power steering from the factory? At speeds they're easy to turn, but stopped and in low speeds like parking lots its much more challenging.

I once drove a 70s F series truck with no power steering and can't imagine how someone could drive one of those safely.

had a 67 ford f250 no power anything, big steering wheel made it easier at low speed and to easy at high speed