Difference between 99 and 00 (or newer) ML430

[argyleco]

What is the difference between the 99 and 00 (or newer) ML430. I am looking at getting one for my wife and was wondering if I should spend the extra $$ for a newer model. Thanks in advance

[Gilly]

Boy, lots of changes in 2000. I think it was a better truck, but not an extreme departure from the 1999.
The 99 ML430 already had the body colored bumpers and mirrors, but the 320 did not, but they went body colored in 2000.
The hood prop rod was replaced by the gas struts in 2000, people disliked the prop rod, felt like some cheap asian car with the prop rod. I do like the prop rod as a mechanic as it's easy to open the hood up farther to work on things.
A second door seal was added in 2000 at the factory, some at this site have retrofitted these to the earlier models, but 2000 it is original equipment.
The interior was really much better in 2000. Redesigned the rear seat and is a lot less prone to rattles. They also started covering some of the hard plastic with vinyl, and some things that wouldn't lend themselves to the vinyl were coated with a "soft touch" paint. The earlier trucks I believe used fake wood instead of real wood, in 2000 it is all burl walnut. The door handles ditched the fake wood look altogether and went with leather. The backs of the front seats got map pockets. The front footwells got entry lights, also lights at the bottom of the inside door panels. The rear seat got a center armrest (fold up). The center seating position in the back seat also got a 3 point seatbelt instead of just a lap belt, and the belts were all color coordinated, not black only.
One of the most noticeable changes was the switch from the radio to the MCS, Modular control system. Basically a big ol' radio faceplate to which you can add a navigation system or single CD player. The ML430's I believe all came with the nav system upgrade from the factory. In 99 the only Nav system available at all was an add-on pod type system. So if you'd like nav, the 2000 is the way to go. Be aware this is, however, a CD ROM based system, not dvd. Also in my opinion, the bright blue glow from the MCS unit is a little annoying. In 2002 they went to a darker background for the screen, a gray color, much better.
OK, the "touch shift was introduced in 2000, that's where you just tap the shifter one way to upshift and the other way to downshift. Just leave it in drive and it work normally. It's kind of nice. You got rear side airbags in 2000 too.
The ML430 has bigger brakes than a 1999 ML430.
That's the main stuff. Oh, the pillar trim on the interior (windshield pillar, B pillar, and the pillar trim in the rear loading area all are padded and covered in headliner material in 2000 also, all hard plastic in 98-99.

Gilly