I couldn't help thinking how all the announced new engineering changes in the new Jeep Liberty are those already present in the ML.
The parts sharing aside, it got me thinking about what the ML designation stands for? The L is probably some form of "Lande" but I'm definitely GTL (German as a third language).

Anybody know what ML stands for? Any guesses???

I know, I know..."thought you would know dude"

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

How about Mountain Luxury?

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

To my knowledge, there is do designation to ML. ML is simply a code.
I heard back in 96 of 97 that it was originally going to be M320, but the M would somehow conflict with BMWs M-division. Thus, the L after M.
But I can't be sure it means nothing, that's just the impression I have. I COULD be wrong, not likely, but possible. Just kidding.

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

You may be right david, but you never know. I kind like mine though. it is a luxurious mountain capable vehicle. hehe

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

Alon,
Well I definitly can't deny that one!

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

david,

i also read something like that, adding the "L" to not conflict with the BMW Motorsport designation.

but why did they choose "M" in the first place? dare i say Minivan?

it could be some sort of Multipurpose vehicle. with some touch of Luxury.

or it could be just plain Marketing Lingo.

at least the 320 means something meaningful ...

If I'm not mistaken, the first MLs were actually called the AAV, for All-Activity Vehicle. Or this was the first concept of an SUV/All Activity Vehicle by MB, and they made a few of them, more of concept cars I believe. I'm not even sure if they ever went into production.
Back to the M designation.... I still don't know

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

Hmmmm

I'd go with the M-ultipurpose L-uxury designation except for those miserable cup holders and poor excuse for a climate control system.

(my only real complaints with the vehicle so far)

Anyone who thinks it's a minivan needs to take the California 4X4 offroad certification course to regain their first love with the ML!

[Edited by ML Dude on 05-26-2001 at 04:27 PM]

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

Ed,

Again, i think the Climate Control will be different (and the rear will be seperate) on the 2002 ML.

The cup holders are actually something that I liked about the ML. They are quirky and do just as well at keeping in the coffee/soda can type drinks as anything else. I am not really a "big gulp" person, so, yeah, they are pretty worthless for that.

The Cup Holders are one of my favorite features about the ML, I love how the A/C vents keep your drinks cold (even if they are not cold to start out).

__________________
Factory trained Mercedes-Benz Technician
Look At My Website
-2002 C32
(E420 has passed away)
The best way to contat me is e-mail.

you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all...

I guess I'm nitpicking on the ML by saying the cup holders are lame and there is no climate control in a 50K dollar vehicle... Because I really do think it's the best compromise of onroad ride and offroad capability.

Fact is though, MB has better cup holders in the Cclass and climate control too. So I've just chalked it up to that spartan German(Alabamaian?) design mindset that thinks it's a truck and trucks don't need such things... Oh well!

Porsche, where'd you get your info on the climate control. I waited until the 2001 features were known before buying my 2000 with the rebate simply because the 2001 didn't have climate control!
I would be willing to look at retrofitting mine

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

Ed,

The changes to the ML for 2002 came from an MB spy site in belgium that I can no longer locate as a documented reference.

The changes that I have here listed for 2002 ML's are:

- front and rear climate control
- Side airbag curtains (for side front windows)
- Parktronic as an option
- BiXenon lights with washers, all fogs in bumper
- Larger fuel tanks
- New center console with dual storage compartments
- Electronic Brake Proportioning
- SMART Key
- Automatic lighting system
- Auto up/down windows
- Turn-signal in mirrors
- ML430 replaced by ML500
- New front and rear bumpers

- New colors: Alabaster White, Andracite Green, Capri Blue and Orion Blue

- Release date: Sept?

Whether all of them make it into production is questionable.

I like the cup holders too. BTW, we found some extraordinarily insulated 16 oz cups at the local Target store. Made by miGo, and they keep a cup of coffee hot for HOURS even when the air conditioner is chilling one side.

ML Dude: in addition to the MB spy site that Aaron mentioned, another good sources of ML info is at Edmunds.com at: http://townhall-talk2.edmunds.com/WebX?50@8.k8a8akOWc71^1@.ee95173

There are several people there who are arguably the most ML versed on the planet!

Another excellent site is Wolfgang’s ML page at http://www.whnet.com/4x4/

I’ve read early production for the ’02 in late July/early August but the parktronic feature (at least) won’t be available at that time.

Regards to fellow MLophiles (MLologists?)

…Tracy

http://mbspy.bacosys.be/index2.html

This is the website it is great. Check it out.

One problem that I am haveing with the ML is that I can never fill the damn thing up all the way it always stops befor it gets full anyone haveing the same prob.

And I feel ya' on the climate control.

__________________
Factory trained Mercedes-Benz Technician
Look At My Website
-2002 C32
(E420 has passed away)
The best way to contat me is e-mail.

Subman,

Yep, you're the man. That's the site from which I am ablactating the above information.

Thanks for helping me find it again. heh