My 2000 ML320 did great recently pulling a 4000lb. trailer from Atlanta to Littleton, CO. 1400 miles!

Ever since she (ML320) arrived in Denver shes been acting up. He are some specific symptoms encountered with the "stuck" buzzer/warning chime:

1) only happens on cold start up
2) turn the ignition off and back on and the buzzer unsticks
3) sounds as if buzzer/chime is below the instrument cluster
4) despite seat belt on, parking brake released and no other buzzer related faults, the buzzer/chime comes on and stays on unless ignition turned off and on.
5) I'm thinking the cold weather here is sticking a relay that drives buzzer/chime module.
6) took her to the Littleton, CO. benz dealer and they could not re-create the problem.
7) never happens on warm start up but about 85% of the time on cold start up despite her being in a garage and not in the sub zero outside stall.

Gilly, I have never addressed you before but sure have read alot of your advises. Good stuff, any ideas on this one?

I had a similar situation, mine turned out to be a blower motor.

Thanks Q, I will investigate the blower and cabin filter, apparently the blower motor is relatively easy to pull in some threads that I read from Gilly. I have also read some threads that make me think its the aux water pump.


I too bought the extended warranty, about 2 weeks ago right before the 50,000 roll over.

What a coincidence. I just hit 50k and bought the warranty too. This thing has been a terd, but the wife loves it and we are not in the market for a new car. The warranty seemed like a no-brainer.

I have also been thinking about buying an extended warranty for my 2000 ML320 with 42,000 miles on it and have been looking at various warranties. Whose warranty did you end up buying and why did you choose that company?

I sent the wife to the dealer. I figured for whatever savings I would get by shopping around, I would pay for in frustration of getting things covered/paid for. This way, I have a little leverage, since I bought it from them.

We got maximum coverage for right around $3900.

Benzbob,

I bought the Warrantech-Repair Master Warranty.

Despite the warranty critics I have had good luck with this firm. On my wife's Volvo 960 its been great. Re-cooped about three times the warranty investment.

Don't get me wrong, I will do brake jobs, on the ML... experience from my teen age years working on my 1974 BMW2002 but now in my 40's I prefer major work to hit my warranty investment. The 100K 5 year warranty on my wife's Volvo was $900 and some change about 3 years ago. Since then these warranties have tripled in price. The ROI is still in my favor.

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2000 ML320 48750 miles
Stout 1974 BMW 2002 245,000 miles
Stout 1997 Volvo 960 Wagon 69.000 miles

After second trip to dealer the mysterious buzzer chime noise was diagnosed.

The problem a blower motor, that cools the fuse box and relay housing. Blower motor apparently worn and started making noise. No problems since repair three days ago.

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2000 ML320 48750 miles
Stout 1974 BMW 2002 245,000 miles
Stout 1997 Volvo 960 Wagon 69.000 miles