Once upon a time I saw a magical machine at the Toronto auto show. It was the Mercedes AAV prototype. I fell in love with it immediately. I said if they built it it will sell like hotcakes and I wish I can afford one. Fast forward to late 1998, after 18 months on the waiting list I got my Ml 320 with third seats. Loaded all the kids and inlaws. Went skiing, drove thru the worst snow storm and life was good. Then the Gremlins attacked. After fighting the Gremlins for five year, I am tired, the Force is no longer with me. I joined the Dark force and return to Planet Toyota and in 4 weeks I'll be assigned a boring silver colour RX330. I am leaving a journal of my fight with the Gremlins for younger fighters who is still with the Force and I 'll be lurking these forums still to see how is our magical machine doiing.

LAMK's Journal
Frequent false alarm- change trip computer

Spark plugs- don't believe the 160000km crap, change after 100000km mines were totally corroded by then.

Check engine light- Fuel cap not tight, check engine ligth should go away after 3 start after the fuel cap tighten. If rough handling then it is most likely the Mass air flow sensor. If the code shows multiple random misfire it iis a plugged catalytic convertor

Front shocks and rear strut- inspect for leak regularly

If intermittent dash instrument or AAM module type of problem check ground behind the drivers head lamp

Insisit on the ball joint inspected at every service, it's written right there in the service booklet. All but one of the dealers I have dealt with never check it. All mines were replaced under warranty but it was I who ask them to check.

Inaccurate fuel gauge- New fuel pump and new filter system, fixes the inaccurate fuel guage and nostart due to pump failure

Car fails to start. Besides the usual, check key transponder module.

Rear hatch refuse to lock with remote. Need new actautor. Mine replaced 3 times

Low drone from the middle of the vehicle, worse in cold more noticeable above 40 km/hr- Drive shaft center bearing

High pitch noise from driver side last a few minute after startup- E BOX fan, search this forum for instruction.

Your dash bulb will die within the first few year, search this forum for instruction.

Oil leak at the base of the oil filter housing. Replace o ring checkfor oil filter housing crack and retorque properly according to what is wriiten on the housing

Black sticky stuff on the window due to insulation material not properly glued inside the door panel. Dealer to replace or reglue insualtion.

Not enough heat to the foot. Set the vent switch to 6 o clock Thermostat to 2 o'clock, close central dash vent. put on recirculation

Early ML chattering on full lock turning, replace with newer design transfer case

Leaking transfer case, replace with new design

Best Forum: this forum
Best mailing list: M-class mailing list
Best searchable archive http://www.escribe.com/automotive/european/mbmc/index.html
Best sites:
http://www.whnet.com/4x4/
http://www.keysolutions.com/M-Class.nsf

May the Force be with you

I had it for almost five years. My experience with the dealer will be different from you because I live in Canada. I have been thru 3 different dealers and the last one was better compare with the first 2. We don't get loaner in Canada. If you want a car it is 30 canadian a day, what a rip off. One time it took one week for them to replace the transfer case. I will have approx 140000km when I trade it in next month for my rx330. It is excellent value to buy a used Ml because they are cheap. Buyiing a new one is a serious mistake in terms of deprecaition. The ball joint is just one of those wear items that will go after a certain mileage which I don't mind replacing but it irritates me that I have to remind them to check it. I love the vehicle when it runs but the expereince with the dealers and the poor reliability had turn the dream machine to a lemon. My trade in is only worth 20000 canadian wholesale.

My ML is a classic with the third seat about 39k US new before tax(15% tax for us poor Canadian!!). The trade in is approx 15K US. So it has dropped 62% in value in 5 years. Now this is the wholesale value, you can probably get more if you sell privately. The first 2 dealer have no clue about some of the well known problems. Frequently I have to bring them the info that I gather from the M-class mailing list to enlighten them. The ball joint is not a failure but rather a wear item and the service booklet mention it specifically.