About concerns with quality on this model, you have to look at the details. As they say the devil is in the details and although I've had my truck into the shop more times than I would like for a $50k vehicle, they were minor things which I wanted to get right.

I'm very exacting when it comes to my cars, I'm amazed by how little rattles or noises go unnoticed by most people. Well, it's these types of things I've been to the dealer for. As I read other posts here and on other forums, I find the problems with the ML to be similar minor detail issues with early American construction.

As the factory got more experience with production and procedures, the minor problems diminished. I've rarely if never heard of major things like the drivetrain or electrical systems freaking out on these trucks. So follow the advice given here and buy as new as you can afford and preferablely a 2000 or newer.
Keep in mind that a well cared for 99 with pride of ownership would have all the bugs taken care of by now. I would avoid a 98 simply because I would avoid the first production year of any vehicle, but the same is true for them.

Best wishes and let us know how your hunting goes!

__________________
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