Alex, good to know that the cat conv is fed mandated if I need it, still 3 hrs diagnostic time isn't cheap at MB. Ken, how many miles do you have on the ML? That oil consumption is excessive. MB extended to warranty for oil ring problems as a settlemet to a class atcion suit. Maybe you should get them to do a ring job on warranty? How much did it cost for an extended warranty from MB? What were the terms?

Edge, our ML oil consumption is about the same as Ken's, approximately one quart of oil every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. Apparently this is within the specifications for the engine and, based on information I have read from various sources, is not all that uncommon. From the service booklet synthetic oil has been used in the engine for all but the first oil change. I am not that concerned about the consumption unless that is the reason for the plugged catalytic converter.

Mercedes said it is within spec to burn that much oil!! I am in Canada, don't remember exactly how much I pay but it is roughly around $1800 in US dollars. It extended the warranty to 6 year or 100000 miles. It is called the signature class warranty. Check mercedes web site for detail.
ken

I know MB says it ok to drink a quart every 3000 miles, but it's not ok with me. My 1 quart every 3000miles at 19,000 became 1 quart every 700 miles before they rebuilt the engine at 31,000. I haven't had a problem since. I think the 3.2 engine is not strong enough fo the size of that car, it's a 3.5 liter in the new ones.

__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

Here is a link to the emissions warranty information:

http://www.sema.org/content/?ID=22238

In my case, the dealer did all the research. At first I was quoted around $2000 for the diagnostics, parts, and labor to install a new catalytic converter. Thankfully, a couple of hours later the dealer called back and said that the parts and labor would be covered by the emissions warranty and my only costs were the diagnostic time.

This was my first trip to an MB dealer since acquiring the vehicle and I was very impressed. We were out of town, this would probably be our one and only visit to the dealer, but we were treated as if we were local customers. We did have to leave the vehicle and return a week later after the repair but this was a small price to pay compared with the cost of a new catalytic converter.

alex,

Thanks for the link.

Do you find it amusing that SEMA listed the Clean Air Act info just below the Magnusson Moss Act?

"Sir, the oil from the K&N filter you installed caused the mass air meter to fail thereby allowing the vehicles engine to run lean... Also, the non-Bosch sparkplugs are too 'hot' for your application. The excessive heat from running lean, in turn, caused the catalytic converter to prematurely fail. Sorry, but there is nothing we can do. Therefore, your total for this repair is $2000 thank you very much..."



FR