advice on buying a ML320
 

I have a cousin that called me up yesterday. Her and her hubby are looking at a '99 ML 320 with 37k on it for $21k. They know I'm the token family Mercedes "expert" (:rolleyes: ) so they called me up to ask if they should buy it.
I don't know squat about the ML model. I perused this forum and don't see any major repetitive issues. So I'll throw this out to you guys. Anything they should be aware of? They're used to Hondas and Toyotas with their dependability. My cousins hubby is not any kind of mechanic, so they'll just end up making a shop very rich if this thing turns into a lemon.

If they really want an ML, they should start looking at 2000 or newer. I've seen that a lot of people have had all kinds of issues with the 98 and 99 models on the forum here.

Rick
It seems like a good enough price for that amount of mileage.
Are they looking at this truck at a dealership, some other used car lot, or private party (or some other deal i can't think of at the moment)?
If it were a one owner with a documented history, or a dealership selling it with a 1 yr Starmark, I'd recommend it.
Hopefully you know about the well covered 112 motor oil consumption problems, if not look those over before making a recommendation.
There are issues with the keys on this truck, you can only get 8 keys before major cash has to be expended (new control units etc, so you can start over with 8 available keys again), so it would be good to try to find out if they've ever had to order extra keys or not.
Fuel pumps have been a problem on the ML's, the new replacements seem to be good. There is also a new style fuel filter, it's the only one available, and takes about 1.5-2 hr's to install the new hoses required to use the new filter.
On maintenance, there actually is some work required when the truck has 60,000 miles or 4 years on it, and the spark plugs (all 12 of them-dual plug motor) are also due at 100,000 or 4 years, so some maintenance is due on this truck due to it being 4 years old such as the fuel filter, air filter, and spark plugs. The plugs are a little expensive-Plat tipped plugs.

Gilly

m112 oil consumption
 

What oil consumption? Here in Oz, while i was working in service, seeing at least 10 - 15 m112 powered cars running Mobil one 0w-50 engine oil (viscosity similar to that of water), not once did i have any issues with oil consumption.

Thanks for the responses thus far:) I'll pass this on to them, and any other info that makes it here in the next day or so. (Not sure how fast they want to buy it)
I'm not quite sure where they found it. I assume at a used car dealer, but I don't think it was a Benz dealership.
The price seemed fair to me too, for what little I know about these vehicles. The mileage is right in there too, if not on the low side for a '99. (would be way low for a car I own:D ) So my first impression to her was to look into it further. I told her to check on the warrenty and see what was left, and make sure it would be transferable to them. I assume it would be.
Some thing I wasn't sure about on warrenty stuff, is if you can take a Benz to an independant for warrenty work or not. I would assume you can't. The nearest dealer to them is a ways away, so that wouldn't be real handy if the thing needed much attention.

Factory warranty is only 4yrs/50,000, so it would be in effect out of factory warranty by now based on time.

Gilly

Oh bummer. I figured 5yr/50k. I'll pass that on too. Thanks.

I think the harmonic balancer defect is common enough to be an issue. I suppose you could check the part number to make sure the car doesn't have an early one (p.n. ending in 00 00). No way is it going to be as reliable as Honda or Toyota (although I've heard of lemon Hondas), but for the money I don't think you can find a nicer truck.

Check Out Blenny's Comments!
 

Currently under "Tech Help" there is a post under the title "ML320 Timing Chain Replacement" that brings up a reliability discussion of the ML320. Blenny has the highest mileage ML320 I have seen to date at 200K miles. See what he has replaced to date. I hope mine will be as reliable.

Thanks guys:)
I did see that balancer issue awhile ago, but had forgotten about that. I told my cuz that if she buys this thing to get that fixed first thing if the current owner hasn't already. And the fella with the 200k miles has had the fuel pump problem too. So I passed that on.
I'm thinking these issues will probably discourage her from buying it, unless the current owner can show he's already addressed these issues.

ML quality
 

The later MLs are a little better, There were fuel pump issues, locking issues, and many minor problems. Since the truck is out of warranty get a "starmark" if it is a MB dealer, if not budget for some contingencies. I had a (99) and got rid of it after a healthy loss, after a year since it was in the shop so often

Thanks for the input guys. They decided to pass on the one they were looking at and look for a later model still under warrenty. But at least they're not discouraged from looking at a Benz:D
BTW, I did some fast talking to steer them away from the BMW's they were origionally looking at awhile ago. And I think my 'ol SD with over 300K on it helped the Mercedes image in their eyes;)

Nothing wrong with the BMW's, if you can live with less room inside!

I have (my wife's car) a 99 ML320 and it has had NO problems at all. The warranty is just coming to an end and the dealer has run a check on it for me to make sure there are no potential issues coming up (as far as possible) OK, the car has only done 40k but in the 2 years we have had it the only item requiring replacement has been a window switch.

I would suggest that you get an MB dealer to run the VIN through their system and you should be able to tell what has been done if it doesn't have a service history. When I checked my wife's, the fuel pump had already been replaced under warranty with the previous owner.

Like a previous post says, great truck for the money. Even the lure of a 2001 SLK or 98SL has failed to part my wife from her ML. She will only let me change it if I get her another ML. If it keeps her happy.......you know the program......

TC