1998 ml 320 103500 miles has noise in rear. The pinion gear is bad. How much does a job like this cost ? Is it cheaper to get a new rear, used rear or a rebuilt rear. I can't believe that it went bad with so few miles . Do you think MB will help with the repair OR is ti time to "abandon ship" .............Still like the ml I justify it by saying "I am restoring a 1998 ml 320". Last three years I have spent $3500 ( thank God for extended warranty )....to make things worse I just bought a 2005 C240 4 matic..........."Serenity now"...teacher

Thats weird. I have never seen that before.

use the web to find the name and telephone number of the engineer in charge
of Q.C. (In Germany) and call Him/Her.

You can start with your dealer and the Representative that services them
for D.C.,but from what we've seen ,going directly to someone who can and
will make decisions is much more effective.

freetranslation.com (for anyone who claims not to "Sprechkenzie Anglisher")

You are only as effective in demanding your rights as an owner...as the
response (Positive) you achieve.

"What are they going to do? Ignore you? Steal the "M" back in the dead of
night to silence you? "

You purchased what was alleged to be one of the finest automobiles in the
world...This kind of bull#### does not happen except as a result of poor
Q.C.

When you have someone in Deutchland in tears asking you, "What will make
you happy?" You have fufilled your duty as an owner of a Mercedes.

I've been riding horseback A LOT in the last several weeks, so I can definitely identify with rear end trouble.

Now for the rear end of your ML. There are NO MB models that have a poor design or poor quality control in this area. It's unbelievable that anyone would be ready to string up the engineer because you're having trouble at OVER 100,000 miles. It wasn't long ago when 100,000 miles was considered the life of a car if it were properly taken care of.

In MOST cases where one is having such problems it is due to the lubricant level being allowed to get low OR hauling or pulling extra heavy loads or driving the vehicle abusively.

As far as the best course of action goes, unless you have someone who is accustomed to rebuilding and setting up rear axles, your best bet would be a salvage yard center section. The ML's have been out long enough now that it shouldn't be too difficult to find a salvage yard unit. Make sure it is the correct ratio before purchasing.

Good luck,

Hi Teacher, are you sure the noise is from the differential? I only ask bacause I've never seen an ML rear fail. I have seen plenty of driveshaft center support bearings wear out though. Plenty of my clients' said it sounded like a differential noise. As to compress ignites' suggestion about calling Germany I'm sure he's joking. Good luck