The verdict: #4 Fuel injector experienced a mechanical failure - got stuck in the open position, flooding the cylinder with fuel and causing it to "hydrolock", bending connecting rod and scoring the cylinder wall.

Bottom line - need a new shortblock and injectors... $10,000 repair. Anybody else have had any issues with fuel injectors?

If this had happened at a 300,000mi mark, heck - even 200,000, I would not bat an eye, but the truck has only 108,000mi - 8,000mi past extended waranty I had purchased from MB. Apparently, with an MB, you dont' necessarily get what you pay for. I'm a sucker for cutesy adds, I guess.

I am waiting to meet with MB regional rep to discuss my options and see if MB will stand by the reputation they espouse in the media. The most ironic twist - my wife, who is (was) the one driving the ML daily, would get another one in a heartbeat...