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  #1  
Old 11-05-2003, 11:13 PM
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Problem severity VS BMW x5

Ok,
Some of us have had our gripes with the ML. But consider the X5 - a BMW product also built in the US (in SC). This is their recall list:

A) the grommet holding the brake line to the front struts may slip out of its bracket. Consequently, the brake hose attached to the brake line may come in contact with the tire and be subject to wear and abrasion. This could cause some brake fluid leakage which would eventually illuminate the brake warning indicator light. If a loss of front brake performance occurs, the rear brake circuit will still be functional, and will be able to slow and stop the vehicle

B)On certain passenger vehicles the brake pedal arm pivot shaft could loosen from its support bracket. Eventually, the brake pedal arm could detach from the bracket, rendering the braking system ineffective, increasing the risk of a crash.

C)During assembly of the vehicle, the lower end of the upper steering spindle may not have been inserted completely into the aluminum u-joint assembly (coupling). In such a case, the fastening bolt used to secure the connection may not completely engage the spindle within the coupling. This would make it possible for the spindle to disconnect from the coupling, resulting in loss of steering capability and a possible crash

D)The engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating. If this were to occur, engine overheating and subsequent engine damage could result. In addition, it is possible for the failure of the electrical circuitry to cause a fire in the fan control unit located in the front of the engine compartment.

E)The nut that secures the axial joint of the left steering tie rod to the steering gear box may have not have been tightened securely. This could lead to loosening of the nut and, initially to steering wheel play and/or misalignment, as well as noise from the steering linkage. If vehicle operation continues, the tie rod could disconnect from the steering gear box. If this were to occur, loss of steering control could result

F)The plastic collar which fits over the lower steering rack input shaft may not have been pushed down fully onto the rack at the assembly plant. As a result, there can be substantially more clearance between the steering rack and the collar than the design clearance. This could eventually result in the input shaft separating from the rack with subsequent loss of steering capability.

It makes the ML recalls (pwr steering fluid clamp) look like a bug on the windshield.

ENJOY YOUR ML!!! Expect things like batteries and light bulbs and brake pads to wear out!
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  #2  
Old 11-06-2003, 08:50 AM
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Interesting philosophy, find something worse to justify buying/owning something known to be problematic. Yeah, enjoy your ML's, and the dealers service loaners too
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  #3  
Old 11-06-2003, 10:21 AM
Q Q is offline
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You mean the Neon that my wife was offered?
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Old 11-06-2003, 10:35 AM
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OK, so if a dealership has 20 loaners and they are all out being used, and here comes customer # 21, are they supposed to go tell the sales manager they need another loaner, and get a new car prepped and ready to go into loaner service, or what? What if MOST weeks they have 4 or 5 of these cars just laying around idle, but then they get busier one week and they are 4 or 5 cars SHORT? Or are you saying it's not so bad being GIVEN (free) a rental car, as long as it's in the same caliber or class as what you are having serviced? I've heard this moaning and griping before, it's really something, like this is the end of the world "Oooooo, I had to drive a Neon, Ooooooo, I had to drive a Cavalier. MAN, some peoples kids.

Gilly
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  #5  
Old 11-06-2003, 07:24 PM
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Gilly, I can appreciate your side of the "loaner" issue. I have chosen my BMW service point based on them using BMW cars as loaners. It sure beats the heck out of a used Taurus from the competeing dealer I wish one of the MB dealers offered something other than basic rentals but I am happy to have anything when it is free! I did have to make a stop at a dealer in Albequerque once, they had ML320 loaners, a nice touch over the domestic rentals at my local dealers.

Point being, a nice loaner sure helps to earn my business. Lexus requires it of their dealers, makes for a better service experience. I'll take what I can get though, no complaints
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Old 11-07-2003, 03:04 PM
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Re: Problem severity VS BMW x5

Quote:
Originally posted by roadsession
It makes the ML recalls (pwr steering fluid clamp) look like a bug on the windshield.

ENJOY YOUR ML!!! Expect things like batteries and light bulbs and brake pads to wear out!
Good point...but consider some of the faults that MB REFUSES to issue as a recall...like the dreaded harmonic balancer. There are other known defects with the ML that have not been addressed by MB as recall issues. If they have, I'm sure it would eclipse the BMW list quite readily.

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE my ML and have had few problems. Those that did emerge were fixed under warranty.

I have a real problem with MBs denial of problems despite the mounting claims that say otherwise...
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Old 11-07-2003, 06:51 PM
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G Man:

I would think eventually even the Lexus dealers have to run out of Lexus loaners.

At the dealership I worked at, the scenario was about like I detailed: when things are hopping, you run out of MB loaners, but in a warranty situation, MB picks up the tab on a rental. At that point you're kind of at the mercy of whatever the rental company has available. I'm not sure if MB specifies what type of rental they'll pay for.

Seems like of all the car lines we had, the AUDI owners were the worst about complaining about the quality of rental.

Gilly
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Old 11-07-2003, 08:11 PM
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My MB dealer just uses Enterprise rent a cars. I have had Pontiac Grand Ams and Jeep Liberty's, nothing fancy but they pick up the tab regardless, if you need a car, they rent you one. They do not have any of their own loaners.

Not sure on Lexus, my mother in law has been driving Lexus autos since '94, she has always had a Lexus loaner. It is actually a good sales tool if you ask me. They had given her an RX300 to drive and she liked it so much she bought one when she traded her SC400 after 100k miles or so. If I had room for another car, I love the 3 series bimmers I get for loaners at the BMW store too!
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Old 11-07-2003, 08:22 PM
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OK, the dealer I worked at, which I consider to be "a little hole in the wall" compared to the larger markets, had loaners for about every brand they sold except Porsche. They had ML's, C classes and E classes, about 2 of each normally.
From what I recall they had a few BMW's. I remember 3 series for sure and a 5 series wagon, pretty sure they had an X5 also.
But still, eventually you run out--like a few warranty concerns and you end up ordering a part and the owner is in the loaner longer than expected, next thing you know your calling Enterprise (which is who the dealership also used to cover loaner shortages).

Gilly
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  #10  
Old 11-09-2003, 09:21 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by G-Man
Interesting philosophy, find something worse to justify buying/owning something known to be problematic. Yeah, enjoy your ML's, and the dealers service loaners too
Yeah...I actually do enjoy my ML!
Anyway, only reason I made this comparo is that myself and a lot of other ML owners I know had considered X5's at some point or another... Maybe I'm not one of the unlucky % that ended up with a faulty car, but my ML has been pretty problem free till now...
Frankly it's been less than the attention needed on my old 300D from college, but since the ML has 70K miles and the 300D had over 240K, I have yet to do a comparo on actual longevity of the vehicle. I guess time will tell...
Let's just all enjoy our respective MB's! I love this forum for it's great advice and to discover things about the ML that I didn't know before, and also to get motivated to look at adding a G wagen to the stable....not to disparage other MB models.

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  #11  
Old 11-09-2003, 09:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by G-Man
My MB dealer just uses Enterprise rent a cars. I have had Pontiac Grand Ams and Jeep Liberty's, nothing fancy but they pick up the tab regardless, if you need a car, they rent you one. They do not have any of their own loaners.

Not sure on Lexus, my mother in law has been driving Lexus autos since '94, she has always had a Lexus loaner. It is actually a good sales tool if you ask me. They had given her an RX300 to drive and she liked it so much she bought one when she traded her SC400 after 100k miles or so. If I had room for another car, I love the 3 series bimmers I get for loaners at the BMW store too!
My dealer provides only MB loaners. I've never seen them run out of MB's. The MB loaners consist of ML's, C240 4matics, and C230K Coupes. Last week the car wasn't ready at the end of the day (for B service) as promised so they gave me the sales manager's car - a nice E500, because the loaner car office was closed... The sales manager took a cab home!
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  #12  
Old 11-09-2003, 09:37 PM
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OK, so what if ANOTHER owner needed a loaner??!!

Gilly
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